In today’s digital world, there are two main ways to develop applications for mobile devices and desktop computers: Native Apps and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). Both come with their own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them often depends on the specific needs of a project. In this article, we’ll look at the differences between these two approaches and explain why PWAs are becoming increasingly popular.
This article is based on our podcast episode #56, enriched with knowledge from Wikipedia, and partially generated automatically.
Native apps are applications that are specifically developed for a particular operating system, such as iOS or Android. They are written in platform-specific programming languages, like Swift or Objective-C for iOS and Java or Kotlin for Android. These apps are distributed through app stores like the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and are deeply integrated into the operating system. This allows them to access the full hardware and software capabilities of the device, making them especially powerful and efficient.
PWAs, on the other hand, are essentially enhanced websites that behave like native apps. They are built using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and run in a browser. However, PWAs can also work offline, send push notifications, and even be installed on the device’s home screen. The biggest advantage of PWAs is their platform independence: a PWA can run on any device with a modern browser, regardless of the operating system.
Native apps require specific knowledge of the programming languages and development environments for each platform. For iOS, you need Xcode and Swift, while Android apps are developed in Android Studio with Java or Kotlin. This means that developers need to maintain separate codebases for each platform.
PWAs, on the other hand, use web technologies that work across platforms. Code written once can run on iOS, Android, Windows, and other systems. This significantly reduces the development effort and makes PWAs particularly attractive for projects with limited resources.
Native apps must be distributed through app stores, which comes with certain guidelines and fees. For example, Apple and Google take a 30% cut of revenue from app sales or in-app purchases.
PWAs, however, don’t require an app store. They can be shared simply through a URL, which makes distribution much easier and cost-effective. However, this also lacks the security and trust that an app store can provide.
Native apps have the advantage of running directly on the device’s hardware, providing better performance, especially for resource-intensive applications like games or graphic design.
PWAs can also work offline thanks to the Service Worker technology, which allows content to be cached. This makes PWAs a good choice for applications that need to be usable without an internet connection. However, PWAs can be slower than native apps since they run through the browser and involve an additional abstraction layer. In reality, this is almost negligible.
In recent years, PWAs have gained significant popularity, particularly among companies looking for cross-platform solutions. A well-known example of a successful PWA is Pinterest, which provides a seamless user experience across different devices.
However, there are challenges as well. For example, Apple has historically restricted PWA support on iOS devices, which is driven by political and economic factors. However, with the Digital Markets Act in the EU, Apple has been forced to open up its platform, making the future of PWAs on iOS devices look more promising.
The decision between PWAs and native apps depends heavily on the project’s requirements. Here are the key takeaways:
PWAs are ideal for cross-platform applications that need to be developed quickly and cost-effectively. They are particularly suited for business apps, internal corporate applications, or projects where offline functionality is important.
Native Apps are the better choice when high performance, deep hardware integration, or complex features like graphic design or game development are required.
Ultimately, the choice between PWAs and native apps offers developers and companies the flexibility to find the best solution for their specific needs. With ongoing improvements in web technologies, PWAs are increasingly becoming a serious alternative to native apps.
We also fully embrace PWA technology. Every app you develop and deploy with Heisenware is a PWA and comes with all its benefits.