Mobile app vs progressive web app: which fits your business

The choice between a PWA vs native app comes down to how people will find and use your app, and which device features it needs. A progressive web app (PWA) is a website built to behave like an app: it can be installed from the browser, work with a poor connection and run on any device from one codebase. A native app is installed from Apple's App Store or Google Play and can make fuller use of the device. For many businesses, a PWA is a faster, lower-cost start; for apps that depend on deep device features or store presence, a native app is the better fit.

According to web.dev, progressive web apps are web apps built and enhanced with modern APIs to provide enhanced capabilities while still reaching any web user on any device with a single codebase. This guide compares the two for business owners. If you are planning an app, our mobile app service page explains how we work.

What a progressive web app is

A PWA starts as a website and adds app-like abilities.

1. It runs in the browser, so anyone with a link can use it immediately, without an install.
2. It can be installed, so it opens in its own window and can be launched from the home screen, dock or taskbar.
3. It can work with a poor or missing connection, showing recently used content, if it is built for this.
4. One codebase serves all devices, from phones to desktops.
5. Updates go live when you deploy them, with no store review.

A worked example

A restaurant group wants customers to view menus, book tables and see their bookings. A PWA lets customers open the booking page from a link or search result, book straight away, and add it to their home screen if they visit often. No store download stands between the customer and their first booking.

What store apps can do that PWAs cannot

What a PWA can do depends on the browser and the device, and support differs between platforms. Native apps have the most direct access to the device.

Decision criteria that favour a native app

• The app depends on advanced device hardware, such as sensors, Bluetooth accessories or intensive camera use.
• It needs reliable background activity, such as continuous location tracking.
• It relies on platform features that browsers may not fully support on every device.
• Being listed in the app stores is important for how customers find you.
• Customers expect a store app for this kind of service.

A common mistake and its fix

A common mistake is choosing a PWA and discovering late that a key feature is not supported on some customers' devices. The fix is to list the device features the app needs at the start and test each one on the phones and browsers your customers actually use.

PWA vs native app: cost and time to launch

A PWA usually costs less to launch because there is one codebase and no store process. The backend and admin panel, which a PWA and a native app both need, are the same work either way.

Updates and distribution

How updates reach users differs.

PWA

1. You deploy an update to your server.
2. Users receive it the next time the app loads.
3. There is no store review, so urgent fixes can go live quickly.

Native app

1. You build and submit an update to each store.
2. The update passes review.
3. Users install it, automatically or manually, so some users stay on older versions for a while.
4. Your backend must keep working with those older versions.

Questions to ask about distribution

1. How will new customers discover the app: search, links, social media or app stores?
2. How often will you need to release changes?
3. Can your backend support users on older app versions?

When to choose a PWA

A PWA is usually the better fit when:

• Most customers arrive from search, links or your website.
• The app uses standard features such as forms, bookings, content and notifications where supported.
• You want one codebase and fast updates.
• You want to launch quickly and test demand before investing further.

When to choose a native app

A native app is usually the better fit when:

• The app depends on device features browsers do not fully support.
• Presence in the app stores matters for discovery or credibility.
• Customers use the app intensively and expect a store app.
• You have the budget to build and maintain store releases.

Choosing for your business

1. List the main user journeys and the device features each one needs.
2. Test those features in the browsers your customers use.
3. Consider how customers will find the app.
4. Start with a PWA if it meets the needs, and add native apps later if demand or features justify it.
5. Design the backend and API to serve both, so a later move to native builds on the same foundations.

Our guides on native vs cross-platform apps, how to plan the first version of a mobile app and what it costs to build a mobile app cover the next decisions.

Whichever you choose, our guide on preparing to hire a mobile app developer helps you brief a developer clearly.

Summary

• A PWA is a website that can be installed, work with poor connections and run on any device from one codebase.
• Native apps have the fullest access to device features and a presence in the app stores.
• PWAs usually launch faster and cost less; the backend work is similar for both.
• PWA updates go live on deployment; native updates pass store review and reach users gradually.
• Test the device features you need, start with a PWA where it fits and design the backend to serve both.

The right choice depends on how your customers find and use your service. If you're deciding between a PWA and a native app, you can tell us about your plans here.