What is a PWA (installable web app)?
A PWA (progressive web app) is a website that behaves like an app: it installs on the home screen of your phone or computer, opens full screen, works without signal and can send notifications. It is not downloaded from the App Store or Google Play: it opens from a link.
How to install it
There is no need to look for it in any store:
- On Android (Chrome): when you open the website, “Install app” appears, or go to the ⋮ menu → “Install app”.
- On iPhone (Safari): Share button → “Add to Home Screen”.
- On desktop (Chrome or Edge): the install icon in the address bar.
What a PWA can do
More than many people think:
- Work offline and sync when the signal comes back.
- Send notifications, on iPhone too once installed.
- Use the camera and location, and share files.
- Store data on the device itself.
- Update itself: all users always have the latest version.
Its limitations
On iPhone, the browser does not allow some features such as Bluetooth or NFC, and a PWA does not appear on the App Store, so people do not discover it by searching the store. To sell content or subscriptions inside the app, or to appear on the stores, you need a native app.
Which businesses it suits
It is ideal for internal tools and for customers who already know you: catalogues and ordering for sales reps, technicians' job sheets, bookings for a centre, customer areas. It is ready sooner and costs less than a native app because it skips the store testing and reviews. That is how Catalenza works, our ordering tool for sales reps on the road.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PWA secure?
Yes. It always runs over an encrypted connection (HTTPS) and with the same security controls as the browser.
Does it take up a lot of space on the phone?
Usually much less than a native app, because it only stores what it needs.
Can you take payments with a PWA?
Yes, with card payments as on any website (for example, with Stripe). What it does not have is Apple and Google's in-app payment system.