Web app or native app? How to choose for your business
If the app is for your team or for customers who already know you, an installable web app (PWA) is usually the best option: it is ready sooner, costs less and does not depend on Apple and Google reviews. If you want anyone to be able to find it on the stores, take payments inside the app or use phone features such as Bluetooth or NFC on iPhone, you need a native app published on the App Store and Google Play.
| Installable web app (PWA) | Native app (stores) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is installed | From a link, onto the home screen | Downloaded from the App Store or Google Play |
| Works on | iPhone, Android and desktop at once | iPhone and Android |
| Without signal | Yes | Yes |
| Notifications | Yes, on iPhone too if installed | Yes |
| Apple and Google review | Not needed | For every version |
| Updates | Reach everyone instantly | Users download the new version |
| Visible on the stores | No | Yes |
| In-app payments, Bluetooth, NFC on iPhone | Limited | Yes |
| Time and cost | Lower | Higher (testing and reviews) |
What really drives up the cost of an app
Coding the app is only one part. What takes the most time with a native app is testing on lots of different phones, the store listings and the Apple and Google reviews, which are repeated with every new version. An installable web app skips all of that: you publish it and it is available to everyone straight away.
When to choose an installable web app
It is the best option when:
- The app is for your team: sales reps, technicians, delivery drivers, warehouse staff.
- Your users already know you and you can send them the link (customers, members, students).
- You need it to work on desktop as well.
- You want to launch quickly and improve as you go, without waiting for reviews.
When to choose a native app
Going through the stores is worth it when:
- You want people who don't know you to find and download your app.
- You are going to sell subscriptions or content inside the app.
- You need Bluetooth, NFC or other phone features that the iPhone browser does not allow.
- Being “on the App Store and Google Play” matters for your brand image.
Two real examples
Catalenza, the ordering tool for sales reps who visit shops, is an installable web app: reps open it from a link, it works without signal and every improvement reaches them instantly. Cuentas Claras and DanZela, on the other hand, are apps for the general public and are published on the App Store and Google Play.
And it is not a decision for ever: you can start with a web app and, if the project grows, publish the native version later, reusing much of the work.
Frequently asked questions
Does an installable web app work on iPhone?
Yes. On iPhone it is installed from Safari with “Add to Home Screen” and opens like any other app, even without signal. Since iOS 16.4 it can send notifications once installed.
Can you move from a web app to a native app later?
Yes. Much of the design and logic is reused, so starting with a web app is not money wasted.
Do I need Apple and Google developer accounts?
Only for the native app. An installable web app does not need any store account.