A business idea without a suitable platform is just like a cruise without an ocean. Technical advancements in cell phones have made passage for all sorts of businesses to appear online. Whether you want to have a pizza, or you want to travel the world, you will get the best resources only on your cell phones for doing the same. The mobile app or custom web app development company these days are also focusing on app development rather than on websites.
65% dependability on smartphones and more business opportunities have made this shift happen. Although websites are still in the game for their reasons, the app market grows day by day. Users want to perform just a few clicks to get what they want. Opening a website, and navigating it on cell phones seems troublesome. Therefore, web app development services have become less prominent in front of mobile app services.
Now comes the point, which is best the resource to kick off the startup? Is it the web apps or mobile apps to go with? The article is a good guide on which platform will serve you best if you plan to start your business online. So let’s take a tour of what will be best.
What Are Web Apps & Mobile Apps?
When you plan to be an entrepreneur, you have to contemplate various aspects. It would help if you had a roadmap within your head of all possibilities. That is why we are up with a guide on what to choose: web app or mobile app? But before we kick start our research, let’s take a look at the sense, and utility of both platforms.
Web Applications (Web Apps)
Web apps are self-managed systems that only operate on the web (Internet). The software is known as an application and is capable of being operated on any operating system. Simultaneously, you have entered the name on the browser, and you are good to go. No need to download and install. These apps are made up of single pages or multiple pages and are termed Websites.
You can find any business’s website over the Internet. The best examples are Apple, Samsung, Zomato, Swiggy, Paytm, e-Commerce Website, etc. All these run over the Internet. However, they carry their mobile apps, too, for more reachability. But first comes the website or web app, and then comes the mobile apps.
Mobile Applications (Mobile Apps)
Mobile apps are shorter versions of websites and are downloadable from their respective platforms. There are two kinds of apps available in the market, i.e., Android apps and iOS apps. Android app development is meant for people having Android smartphones. iOS apps are available for people having iPhone or Apple gadgets.
In the present world, every business has created its online presence via mobile apps. From entertainment to games, doctor to medicine, and food to fashion, all businesses are online by creating their mobile app version on the respective platforms.
You must have ordered pizza from Zomato using a mobile app or purchased a summer collection from Myntra or any other brand via the app only. Mobile apps are fast to operate, give a seamless experience, and are available anytime on your cell phone. Moreover, this is the most significant source of generating revenue for companies instead of websites or web apps.
Quick Comparison Between Web App Vs Mobile App
Here’s a quick comparison between the web app and the mobile app:
| Web App | Mobile App |
| A web app is software that runs in a web browser only | It is designed for smartphones to download and install via the app store |
| It needs the Internet to function | It can work online and offline both |
| It runs in a browser and can slow down based on internet connectivity. | It performs faster than web apps. |
| It has limited access to device features | It has full access to device features |
| It’s cheaper to build and work on all devices | It’s more expensive to build and requires separate apps for both Android and iOS |
How to Pick Between Web App or Mobile App For My Startup?
It is kind of troublesome to choose between web apps or mobile apps. Both have their perks and target audience. For instance, any person with shopping habits won’t like to visit websites again and again. Here, the best mobile app development services are rendered through mobile apps only. Accessible anytime, anyplace.
But, when it comes to healthcare startups, the website will perform great as it will showcase the entire service and facility properly. Simultaneously, it will show you as an established solution provider. So here, the healthcare provider will choose a platform for custom web application development.
For a precise understanding of both of the apps, let’s take a look at the significant differences and benefits. After this, one can make up their mind on what to prefer: mobile or web apps.
Advantages of Web Apps
1. Visibility
Web apps offer superb visibility to your business as it is available over the Internet. The best example goes like “find urban claps near me.” For this query, you will not go to the respective app store to find it. You will google it.
Now, that is where you get the visibility of your business. Anybody who is looking for something online (over the browser) will reach your business directly. Around 39.2 billion searches are conducted on Google each week. This clearly states the dominance of web apps over the browser.
2. Cost-Effective
It is always affordable to have custom web app development instead of mobile apps. An explanation here goes like this, in developing an iOS or Android app, native features and functionality require your hired app developer to manage them.
Now, if the app has to be displayed on different screen sizes and compatible with different devices, the developer must do more coding. It will be time-consuming, and tedious, and needs more expertise than that of web apps. So, people prefer websites.
3. Easy to Update and Maintain
Web apps are easy to update and maintain. Significant changes are made on the servers, reflected across all the devices in real time. Their centralized control makes maintenance much more straightforward than mobile apps.
4. Wider Reach
Since web apps are not dependent on app stores like Google Play Store or App Store, they are accessible over the Internet globally. This helps businesses widen their audience reach via search engines, social media platforms, or direct links, which will help increase visibility and availability.
5. Scalability
Web apps are straightforward to scale according to business needs. So, if your business has a growing number of users, it will auto-scale without making significant changes in the infrastructure. This is essential for companies to handle sudden traffic or user growth.
Disadvantages of Web Apps
Here are some significant drawbacks of building web apps:
1. No Offline Functionality
Web apps rely entirely on the internet to operate. Unlike mobile apps, which can store data in servers, web apps require the Internet to store data in the cloud, or they will stop working without an Internet connection.
2. Slower than Mobile Apps
Since web apps run through a web browser and mainly rely on an internet connection, performance can fluctuate depending on the internet speed. Plus, the user experience is less immersive than mobile apps.
3. Less Advanced Features
Web apps have limited access to device features like GPS, camera, and push notifications, which makes them less potent than mobile apps that can fully utilize and have advanced features.
4. Security Considerations
Web apps are more vulnerable to cyberattacks than mobile apps. Hackers use methods like XSS and CSRF to steal or misuse user data, so strong security measures are needed to protect the data in web apps.
5. Limited Monetization Options
Web apps have fewer monetization options, such as ads, subscriptions, or premium content, which may not be good enough compared to mobile apps, which can earn via downloads, in-app purchases, and subscriptions.
Advantages of Mobile Apps
1. Personalization
Mobile applications are meant to serve the audience’s preferences. These are customizable as per the client’s customer needs. Moreover, it is also convertible according to the marketing & business conditions. Mobile apps these days are convenient, and people prefer using one instead of websites.
Moreover, mobile apps can work both offline and online mode. Websites cannot do that much. Hence, there is no bar for connectivity, and it works much faster than web apps. Thus, people once building their business’s website prefer to have applications as well.
2. Convenience & Security
It has already come to the attention of experts; that people are spending around 18 times their valuable time using smartphone apps. Simultaneously, they perform different sorts of activities on the app online or offline.
Such activities like surfing page to page, sharing some information, etc., are not that much seen over the web apps. Moreover, mobile apps are more securely developed rather than web apps.
3. Work Online and Offline
Mobile apps can function with or without the Internet. Unlike web apps, which need a constant connection, they allow users to access essential features anytime, which benefits users who live in areas without the Internet.
4. Faster than Web Apps
Mobile apps are installed directly on a device, making them faster and more responsive than web apps, which rely on browsers and the Internet to load content.
5. More Monetization Options
Mobile apps can generate revenue through app store purchases, subscriptions, in-app transactions, and ads, giving businesses more ways to earn money compared to web apps.
Read Also: The Benefits of Mobile App Development: How to Grow Your Business
Disadvantages of Mobile Apps
1. Support & Maintenance
A mobile app needs a timely bug fix and updates. It is only possible by deleting the old version and downloading and installing the new version of the existing mobile app. While in the web apps, the updates are provided automatically.
2. Compatibility
Everybody knows that mobile apps are built from scratch, making any mobile app development time-consuming and tedious. Simultaneously, after all, such efforts mobile applications lack compatibility with all devices or with different versions.
3. Higher Development Costs
Building mobile apps is more expensive than building web apps. Businesses need to develop separate apps for Android and iOS, which increases development time and cost.
4. App Store Approval Process
Before a mobile app can be launched, it must be reviewed and approved by app stores like Google Play or Apple’s App Store. This process can take time, and if the app doesn’t meet its guidelines, it may be rejected, causing delays.
5. Platform Dependency
Mobile apps are designed for specific platforms like iOS or Android, meaning each needs separate development. This increases costs and effort for businesses that want to reach a wider audience.
Why Choose DreamSoft4u For App Development?
DreamSoft4u is a leading mobile app development company with over 20 years of experience. Our team of skilled developers delivers custom app development solutions to meet unique business needs. With years of experience, cutting-edge technologies, and professional developers, we can turn your vision into reality within budget and timeline. Contact us today!
Final Thoughts
The article gives immense information on the benefits, disadvantages, and sense of web apps vs mobile apps. These days, mobile apps are much more common because of the flexibility, facility, and affordability it gives to the users. Moreover, the user can access anything, anytime, using the apps through their smartphones. Thus, we believe that for startups, it is better to build a mobile app instead of a web app in the long run.
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FAQs
Q1. Which is more cost-effective to develop, a web app or a mobile app?
It depends primarily on the project requirements. However, the web because of its limited features is more cost-effective to develop.
Q2. What factors should I consider to decide between a web app and a mobile app?
For startups, the choice should be made after analyzing factors like the target audience, user experience, and required features.
Q3. Can a web app and a mobile app be developed simultaneously?
Yes, we have the resources to develop a web app and a mobile app for the same services simultaneously. However, this will increase the development costs considerably.
Q4. What are some advantages and disadvantages of each?
Web apps need easier maintenance and updates, but they offer limited offline functionality. On the other hand, mobile apps perform better and have a more engaging user experience. But they do have higher development costs.
Q5. Can I switch from one app type to another later on, if needed?
Yes, you can switch from one type of app to the other later on. It may however need hiring developers with specific expertise.
