Native app or web app: What should the company choose?
The choice between native app and web app should start from what users need to be able to do, and where they are, not from what sounds most modern.
Native app or web app is one of the first questions that comes up when a company considers digitising a mobile solution. Both can be the right choice, depending on what the solution will be used for, who will use it, and how it will be operated going forward.
A native app is built specifically for one operating system, typically iOS or Android, and is installed via the App Store or Google Play. A web app is a website built to work and feel like an app in the browser, often optimised so it can be added to the home screen without an installation through an app store.
The advantage of a native app is access to the device's features: camera, GPS, push notifications, and offline functionality typically work better and more reliably when the app is built specifically for the platform. That makes native apps well suited to solutions where user experience and performance are critical, or where the app will be used in the field without a stable internet connection.
The advantage of a web app is that it is one solution that works across devices and operating systems without separate development tracks for iOS and Android. That makes web apps faster to launch and cheaper to maintain, because changes only need to be made in one place, and users do not have to update an app manually.
Distribution is often an overlooked factor. A native app must be approved by Apple and Google, and updates can take time to become available. A web app is available as soon as it is updated on the server, which can be decisive if the solution needs to change quickly.
For B2B solutions where users are employees or customers logging in from a computer or phone in a work context, a web app is often sufficient and significantly cheaper to operate over time. For solutions that require deep integration with device features, or where users expect to find the solution in an app store, a native app makes more sense.
A third alternative is a hybrid approach, where the core is built as a web app but packaged so it can also be distributed through the app stores. That is a trade-off that can give the best of both worlds, but also a complexity that should be assessed concretely against the solution's purpose.
The conclusion is rarely that one is better than the other in itself. The right choice depends on who the users are, what they need to be able to do, how often the solution needs to be updated, and how it will be operated in the long run.
Questions we often hear
- Is a web app always cheaper than a native app?
- Generally yes, because a web app only needs to be built and maintained once across devices, while a native app often requires separate tracks for iOS and Android. The price ultimately depends on how complex the functionality is, regardless of which approach is chosen.
- Can a web app send push notifications like a native app?
- It is possible on some platforms, but support varies between operating systems and browsers. If push notifications are a critical part of the solution, it should be clarified early whether a web app can cover the need, or whether a native app is required.
- Should we choose a native app if we want to be found in the App Store?
- Yes, if visibility in an app store is a concrete goal, it requires a native app or a hybrid solution that can be packaged for distribution there. A pure web app cannot be distributed through the App Store or Google Play in the same way.
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