Platforms vs. Apps
“Platform” is the most overused and misunderstood term in the tech industry.
Platform:
A platform is something (software or tool) that people can use/modify as per their own needs to get something done. Platforms can give birth to or can become a medium to build new apps or functionalities on top of it.
Platforms are not specific to one use case or user group or industry. Platforms might start their journey as an app. But the utility/possibilities and the ease of using it as you wish enable people to utilize it for something else than it was first made for.
Instagram has become a platform (from just a photo-sharing app) by building generalized tools that people can use as per their own needs: build a personal profile, run an online store, curate content, use it for marketing, organize a meet-up, run a photo contest, memes, videos, etc.
From students to artists to brands, everyone can be on Instagram to get something done by using tools that are common for all. Whatsapp similarly became a platform (from just a messaging app) because different people started using it differently (users built new use cases). YouTube is a platform (tool: upload videos on the Internet).
App:
Apps are specifically built for one use case and for one type of user (one segment, one industry) who use it to achieve something. And the tools/features are such that people cannot modify them as per their needs. Either the branding restricts people from various backgrounds to use it or the use case is narrow and people other than whom it is meant for cannot use it for anything. Example: Sleep tracking apps, gaming apps, apps to track food intake, note-taking apps, etc.
Is it possible for an App to become a platform?
Yes, it can follow a development trajectory to build a platform from an app. Some products start out as a platform from the beginning (Shopify) and some start out as an app (WeChat). Apps that are destined or set to become a platform, focus on building tools/features that can be generalized for a number of audiences/users. Development is costly (time and money), thus, to aim for building a platform, focus on building features that can be reused by a new user group without a change.
For example (this is an oversimplification), Uber built “book, track, and pay for a ride” and then focused on using this flexible setup in various industries. That ride can be anything (bus, bike, taxi, food, trucks). “It’s an app to book a taxi and now it is a platform for mobility”.
