Web App vs. Native App: Which best suits your business?
Hi folks! We, the 20IT, would like to share some information about the Web App and Native App. What exactly are they? What are the differences? And which one is suitable for which business? Well, when you start to create an application, the development team or project manager may ask the top question like “Do you prefer it as a web or mobile application?”. However, if you’ve never gotten this kind of matter, we hope that this article will give you a better understanding of how they differ.
First of all, let’s understand what Web App and Native App are.
What is Web Application?
The web application is an application development based on a business model. It enables users to interact through web browsers with the processed data. Is it another term of website? The answer is — No. Although they seem similar in terms of usage, the website tends to be used to provide information only.
Website Examples
Web Application Examples
Therefore, the difference between a website and a web application is that the web app can do a lot more than the website: it’s not just a place to present information. From the examples above, we can develop an application for e-commerce web apps to solve customers’ pain points or provide services on our way.
What is Native Application?
It is an application developed for a particular platform or device, such as Android and iOS. Due to this attribute, it has the ability to access specific hardware and software.
In other words, it is the mobile application that we can download from Google Play Store and App Store.
The Differences between Web App and Native App
Both of them share the same objective — application development that meets or solves business problems. However, let’s move to the common ground before making any decision.
Mobile Hardware Access
If your application needs to access mobile hardware, e.g., GPS, camera, Bluetooth, then the native app is the best option. The native app has been designed to be compatible with this device and operating system, yet it doesn’t mean that the web app can’t do the same. It’s just more restricted.
Application Performance
Nowadays, technology and programming tools developed up to this point have enhanced the web app to perform similarly to the native app, whether it is the speed or smoothness of usage. The native app, nonetheless, still can’t be defeated, for it enables applications to run much more smoothly.
Application UI/UX
I would say the native app kills it on UI/UX. Although web apps can be opened on mobiles without any distortion of the UI, users tend to be more familiar with the user interface of native apps displayed on each operating system. The Facebook application, for example, contains different UIs as follows:
Facebook Application (Native App UI vs. Web App UI)
Even though they operate identically, user interfaces and user experiences are distinct. So, if you’re willing to provide great application experiences that are best tailor-made for a particular operating system, the native app development carries a huge advantage.
At this point, you may get a rough idea of the differences between native apps and web apps. It seems that native app development holds superior potentials, yet these facts are from the technical side only. We also need to dive into the business analysis, which helps guides us in making a better decision.
Product Characteristics
How strong is your product? How complicated is your business? Do you have a target audience expecting your product? Or are you just starting the product? These questions need to be analyzed before programming as they allow us to determine the scope and direction of application development straightforwardly.
The larger the product, the higher its value. If you have a large product that has already been launched in the market, it indicates that your business is complicated with abundant work systems. Any problems or terrible work adjustments that extend the time to market may cause damages to the business as well.
You may need new features proposed by a product owner or marketing in the future to differentiate your business from competitors or expand customer base with unfair advantages. On the other hand, fundamental features can be gradually added to a brand new product since this kind of business is less intricated.
Target Audience
Who is your target audience? Are they general users or a specific group?
Which age range is covered? Does it include all genders and ages?
Why is this matter? That means the more users and variety we have, the more chance to encounter device fragmentation. It forces you to deal with a variety of devices all the time. Additionally, problems arising from those devices are diverse; therefore, the risk is not only limited to technical issues but also product changes.
Development Time or Budget
This case often becomes the turning point of many people. To create a native app requires twice the resources of a web app because the development team needs to work on Android and iOS separately. On the other hand, the web app isn’t high-maintenance; building responsive web apps to provide wonderful user experiences will do.
How to choose between Native App and Web App?
The answer is risk consideration. If your product comes with high risk, then the native app can help you to handle future problems better. As you can’t foresee what kind of situation may occur, it’s prudent to choose the most flexible choice.
For a brand new product starting from scratch, you may want to test the market first. So, the web app is considered the most reasonable option for the initial stage. Once the product seems going places, you can switch to the native app for long-term changes with quality. 💪
Or you can choose both! Your product can have both web app and native app available for users. However, everything depends on the time to market eventually. How much development time would you like to invest in it? Would you like to have MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to play catch-up in the market and steadily add the rest after receiving product feedback from early users? These kinds of questions need to be considered. 👍
Wrap it up
Whether the web app or native app development has the same core purpose — solving problems or providing services to users. The faster we realize how each model works, including their pros and cons, the better we can manage risks and make the most out of it. That is the most crucial thing for us, the 20IT. Besides punctual project delivery, the best experiences for our clients is what we hold dear.
Happy Planning ❤️
Are you still having no clue about where to start making applications or looking for a buddy who helps you brainstorm and analyze? The 20IT are happy to be your partner shooting you to the star! We provide a one-stop service with a highly experienced team for application development. ✌️
