Are you confused if web apps and mobile apps are the same thing? We’re here to explain to you why they’re not. The primary difference is in the user experience. The way they’re developed and deployed is also severely different.
A web app is a website that can be viewed on a mobile device and acts fluidly and responds accordingly. A mobile app on the other hand needs to be downloaded from the play store and comes with a distinct set of characteristics. Web apps can function similar to mobile apps however they’re accessible through your browser of choice.
Calling out the difference
Mobile apps are built for android and/or iOS wherein users can download it from the app store. These are different from the website as they come with a bunch of features specific to the app. They have access to system resources like the camera function or location services. Examples of mobile apps are - Spotify, NewYork Times, YouTube etc.
Web apps on the other hand are not downloadable and are accessible via internet browser. They adapt to whichever device you’re on to help you have a smooth user experience. They’re not native to any particular system and do not need to be installed. Web apps are only highly responsive which is where one can confuse them with mobile apps.
Web apps are often made to look very similar to mobile app versions so that users feel no discrepancies. The design elements are similar and often follow the same layout and categories. It’s important to know that web apps absolutely require fast internet connection for their performance while mobile apps can run offline. Mobile apps are also often a lot faster than web apps. However, to ensure that your mobile app is up and running you will have to ensure it’s updated regularly, web apps on the other hand update themselves.
Building mobile apps vs web apps
Native mobile apps can get exhausting to build, you can use a tool like react native to build your own app for both android and iOS. This allows you to lay back while the team takes care of your content and ensures that you have a pleasant user experience ready for your app users. Building an app is always a great idea as they're highly responsive and take the user experience to a whole other level. The features are more advanced and improve functionality.
Native apps are built using specific languages depending on the platform they’re meant to be on. Doing it on your own could take you months! With a solution like react native you can have your own app in days! You can also control the content for both your website and app through a single CMS.
Unlike this, a web app has no standard software development kit. Developers use templates and these are often quicker to build. They have simpler features and the crucial point is their ability to be flexible.
Pros and Cons of mobile apps :
Pros
Faster
More features and better fucntionaltiy
Works offline
Secure
Easier to built with tools like react native
Cons
More expensive than web apps
Compatability can be difficult depending on the device
Expensive
Requires updates
Getting approved by app stores takes time
Pros and Cons of Web apps :
Pros
Does not need to be installed on the device
Adaptive
Auto-updates
Quicker to Built
Does that require app store approval
Cons:
Does not work offline
Slower without high speed internet
Lacks the level of features
Quality and security only extends so far
Conclusion
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