Mobile website, native mobile application, Progressive Web App (PWA), you may be wondering about the different possible interfaces to offer the most pleasant and adapted experience to users on mobile.
More and more companies are opting for the PWA, an application that we presented in a previous article . How does this differ from the classic mobile applications we have been used to for several years?
Comparison of the two types of application
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The Progressive Web App needs to be developed only once in order to adapt to different operating systems (iOS and Android). It is therefore less expensive and takes less time to develop . In comparison, a native application requires the development of several interfaces to fit each operating system.
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Access to the Progressive Web App is directly via the website, without the need to go through the app stores. In contrast, native applications are dependent on the app stores. They must be validated before they can be added to the download platforms.
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PWA content is accessed directly through the web. It does not need to be downloaded, so it is faster and more direct to use. A native application, on the other hand, must be installed and its content fully downloaded to be used
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The PWA is updated in real time, automatically. On the other hand, the modification or improvement of a native application must necessarily go through the store and be installed.
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The PWA uses very little storage space compared to a native application. Indeed, the content is accessed directly via the web browser.
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Since PWAs are accessed by search engines, they benefit from natural SEO . Their reputation comes from the structure, content or keywords. Google, through its algorithm, also highlights this type of application. On the contrary, native applications are mainly accessed through the stores. Thus their reputation depends on the ASO, i.e. their reputation on the platform (number of downloads, services offered, description, reviews).
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A native application works best. Its development is specially adapted to each operating system, allowing it to use all the functionalities of the smartphone. The PWA is an optimised website in the form of an application. This means that some features can sometimes be reduced.
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Just like a native app, it is possible to create user engagement through the PWA through access to certain features. However, iOS restricts some of these. This is the case with push notifications, which are not compatible with Apple devices. Overall, the PWA remains less powerful on iOS than on Android for the moment.
While the native application and the Progressive Web App may seem similar, the PWA is ideal if you want a mobile application that mirrors your website. Less expensive and quicker to implement, the PWA will increase customer engagement, among other things.
