Native app vs. web app
The difference is less about what is newest, and more about where users are and what they need to be able to do.
Native app and web app are two different ways of delivering a mobile solution, each with its strengths. Here is a walkthrough of how they differ, and what should decide the choice.
Native app
- Better access to device features such as camera, GPS, and push notifications
- Can work offline or with an unstable connection
- Distributed through the App Store and Google Play
- Requires separate development and maintenance for iOS and Android
- Updates must be approved and rolled out through the app stores
Web app
- One solution that works across devices and operating systems
- Faster to update; changes are available immediately
- Lower maintenance cost over time
- Cannot be distributed through the app stores as a normal app
- Access to device features can be more limited
Native app is the right choice when the solution requires deep access to device features, needs to work offline, or when visibility in an app store is a concrete goal. Web app is often the better choice for B2B solutions, internal tools, and customer portals, where users access the solution from a computer or phone in a work context, and where lower maintenance cost weighs heavier than presence in an app store.
What should decide your choice
- Does the solution need to work offline or with an unstable internet connection?
- Is access to device features such as camera or GPS decisive?
- Should the solution be findable and downloadable via the App Store or Google Play?
- How important is it that changes can be rolled out quickly without approval from an app store?
Questions we often hear
- Can a web app later be turned into a native app?
- Yes, it is possible to package a web app so it can be distributed through the app stores, but that is a technical decision that should be taken based on what the solution actually requires.
- Are native apps always a better user experience?
- Not necessarily. A well-built web app can give an experience close to a native app for many types of tasks, especially where access to the device's deeper features is not decisive.
Is this relevant to your situation?
We will say so honestly if the job does not belong at BEZT.