Progressive Web App vs Native Web App – Pros and Cons

Progressive Web App
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Communication has become very easy than ever before, and smartphone apps are a big part. Statistics suggest that people spend 90% of their time on their phones rather than their computers. In late-2021, the average smartphone user spent 5-6 hours each day on their device. 

These figures demonstrate that the value of adopting a mobile app to increase your company’s exposure and marketing efforts cannot be overstated. Selecting the right kind of application for your company, on the other hand, might be challenging. This blog will discuss the pros and cons of both things. Additionally we will discuss a detailed comparison of PWA vs. Native apps and finally how to choose among them.

What is a (PWA) Progressive Web Application, and how does it work?

PWAs (Progressive Web Apps) are web-based apps that imitate the functionality and user experience of native mobile apps. PWAs use various technologies and languages to simulate the mobile app experience, including Polymer, React, AMPs, and Ionic. The distinction between a PWA and a native application is minimal, if not non-existent, from the perspective of a non-tech app user.

Pros of Progressive Web Application

Compatibility 

A PWA is accessed through a browser. So it can be operated on any operating system and mobile device (smartphone or tablet).

Reduced expenses. 

A PWA is still a website, and it does not require a significant development investment. Due to its cross-platform interoperability, a PWA is only developed once, requiring only one development team.

Access to a URL.

You don’t need to download PWA to use it, and you merely need to open it in a browser and pin it to your home screen to have it available.

Benefits of SEO

A PWA is a website in the technical sense. Instead of initiating a marketing effort, you can use SEO benefits to promote your website.

Memory-friendly.

A PWA requires very little memory because it is not downloadable.

User participation is essential.

A PWA keeps users interested with push notifications, despite it being nothing more than a modified website.

UX/UI that is similar to that of an app.

A progressive web app development  has the same feel as a native app.

Updates.

A PWA updates without the user having to do anything; all new features are automatically available.

Cons of PWA

Consumption of the battery

This web application development requires Internet access and quickly depletes the battery. Another cause of excessive energy usage is that PWAs use technologies not designed for mobile use. As a result, devices must work harder to decode the information.

Functionality is limited.

Because PWAs are Google’s “brainchild,” be aware that not all of their functionalities are supported by iOS.

Access to hardware is restricted.

Hardware and software features are restricted in such programs. For example, they don’t support features that HTML5 doesn’t support. PWA also doesn’t work with Face Recognition and Fingerprint Scanner, Siri, ARKit, In-App transactions, and Apple’s other main features on iOS devices.

What is a native application?

In its most basic form, a native app is an application that has been innovated to run on a particular platform or device. If you’re reading this on a desktop/laptops, you already have at least some native program installed, such as a calendar or email client.

On a mobile device, a native app is intended to function with a particular operating system (OS), such as iOS (for Apple devices) or Android (for Android smartphones) (for others, like Samsung or Xiaomi). Native apps are written in the device’s and OS’s native programming languages. For example, iOS applications are written in Objective-C or Swift, but Android apps are written in Java.

Pros of Native application

Performance.

A native app, as the name implies, is created in the device’s native language. This means that mobile applications use very little battery power while providing fast speeds and a broad range of advanced capabilities. Many businesses prefer native apps to its progressive online counterparts because of their superior performance.

Great UI/UX experience.

The “native look and feel” includes appealing and intuitive layouts, vibrant animations, seamless scrolling, etc.

Access is unrestricted.

Mobile applications, unlike PWAs, have full access to mobile devices’ built-in functions, including Geolocation, camera, Bluetooth, contact details, mic, NFC, accelerometer, etc., player.

Offline mode.

A smartphone app can work adequately in an offline state due to regional storage and seamless data syncing with the cloud. When the network is available, these apps often cache data.

Data security and protection.

Native apps are superior at data security protection as they have complete access to hardware platforms. Two-factor authentication, for example, is available with native apps.

Cons of Native app

Costs rise.

Because native apps are tailored to a specific operating system, you’ll need to engage a different project team for every platform. For an Android app, you’ll need a Java or Kotlin developer, whereas, for an iOS app, you’ll need Swift or Objective-C experts. Simultaneously, you can employ a team of React Native developers to build a hybrid project that works on both platforms. Remember that a PWA is not the same as a native app despite its similarities.

Installation.

To use a native app, you must do more than click on the provided link. A user should go to an app store, identify the software they want, download it, and install it. This procedure can take a long time. More than half of users prefer to shop or browse on a brand’s website or web app rather than downloading the app.

Promotional expenses.

Native mobile apps cannot benefit from SEO, and they require special promotions in app stores.

Comparison Of PWA vs.Native app

Installation & Download:

  • Users can save and add the program to their main screen with a few taps from the browser.
  • Users using native apps must first locate the app in the store and confirm that they want to install it. They must now wait for the installation and activation to complete. They may use the application more than once after being granted specific access before removing it.

Offline usage: 

  • A PWA can’t serve all of the applications to them in any situation; specifically, anything that isn’t required for the page’s standard caching structure will be disconnected till the network is reconnected. As a result, if a client needed to submit a contact form to Fortune magazine or reserve a slot on Trivago, they wouldn’t be able to do so.
  • In this category, native applications win. While it’s fantastic that PWA innovation is making up for lost time and allowing clients to access cached information, they’re still not quite there in terms of being able to use a point phone to stay connected regardless.

Security:

  • PWAs must run over HTTPS; they are safer than regular web applications. These security protocols ensure that no client and server transactions are tampered with.
  • When comparing PWAs to native apps, you can work with various safety metrics. If your application needs authentication, you can use Multi-Factor Authentication, and certificate pinning can also be used to communicate securely. Clients are also more likely to trust an application than a URL because it must pass the App Store’s security standards before being published.

Cross-Platforms Accessibility:

  • Progressive web app development use a different approach. Developers create the PWA’s responsive example, publish it, and then pass it on to the client’s software to display it properly inside the screen’s parameters. Because of contemporary web technology, customers from a wide range of mobile browsers can interact with the program.
  • Programmers usually design an app specifically for iOS or Android users. The experiences inside the native app is tailored to each platform. Developers should focus less on cross-platform or web accessibility and more on tailoring their software to a single phone.

Performance:

  • A PWA loads much faster than a responsive or mobile site. Service workers, algorithms that run the framework and are independent of the website page, are at the heart of any PWA. You can use service workers to handle various offline requests, prefetch and save particular resources, sync data with a remote worker, etc.
  • Native apps, as opposed to PWAs, can integrate with the operating system’s core infrastructure. It has access to device equipment, allowing it to perform more calculations and provide a better experience for your customers. Native code is faster, and a Native application looks much better.

Should we go with a Progressive Web App (PWA) or a Native App?

Both native apps and PWAs have advantages and disadvantages. When deciding between them, think about which features each one excels at and how they fit your app’s mission.

If you want to develop a progressive web app, keep the following in mind:

  • You’ve just begun and want to give your users a simple app: No download is required, and you may engage with the users via push notifications.
  • You’re short on time and money: developing and publishing a PWA takes less time and money.
  • PWA is identical to any website and reaches a large audience. Thus you want to boost brand exposure and SEO.

If you’re looking for a unique way to express yourself, consider developing a native app.

  • Apps available on app stores have a higher reputation for reliability, while native apps are more secure.
  • When you need advanced features on your smartphone: For example, when Geolocation and sensor/detection are essential to the user experience or when a large amount of processing power is required.

The variety of options provided by the applications makes it difficult to pick the best decision. The two types of apps have significant distinctions, and choosing the best solution is very dependent on the application. The audience, product, timeliness, primary business, and budget are essential variables considered while developing a PWA or native app. Contact us to make this process easy; we will help you achieve your dreams.

Read more: How To Develop AI-Based Application – A Step By Step Guide

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