“We want an app” can mean several different things. Before you start development, it is worth deciding what form it should take. Each option has its strengths and different demands on development and maintenance.
Web app
It runs in the browser on a computer, tablet and phone. Users don’t install anything, a link is all they need. You can roll out new versions to everyone instantly, without app store approval. A web app is ideal for internal systems, client portals and tools used mainly at a computer.
Progressive web app (PWA)
A PWA is a web app that users can add to their phone’s home screen. It opens full screen, can work even with a weak connection and on most devices it can send notifications. For many projects it is a sensible compromise: one codebase for all devices and an experience close to a native app.
Native mobile app
It is downloaded from Google Play or the App Store and makes full use of the phone: the camera, location, sensors, background tasks or in-app payments. It offers the smoothest interaction and is visible in the stores where people look for apps. On the other hand, updates have to go through the stores and their review processes.
How to decide
Ask yourself a few questions:
Will people use the app every day, or only occasionally?
Do you need phone features the web can’t handle, such as background tasks or advanced camera use?
Is it important that people can find you in an app store?
Is the app used mainly in the office or out in the field?
If the answers lean towards “occasionally”, “no” and “in the office”, a web app or PWA will be the faster and simpler route. If you need daily use in the field and full access to phone features, a native app is worth it.
One foundation for web and mobile
The choice doesn’t have to be final. A well-designed application has a separate server side with an API that both a web interface and a mobile app can connect to. You can start with the web and add a mobile app when it makes sense. Data and business logic stay in one place.
We will be happy to go through how your users will use the app and recommend a solution that makes sense for them.