Do you actually need an app? Web app vs. native vs. PWA, decided
Everyone wants 'an app'. Far fewer need one. Here's how to decide between a native app, a web app and a PWA — before you spend a fortune on the wrong thing.
'We need an app' is one of the most expensive sentences in business. Sometimes it's exactly right. Often, what's actually needed is a fast web app or a PWA at a fraction of the cost. Let's work out which.
Start with one question
The three options in plain English
- Web app — runs in the browser, nothing to install, works on everything. Cheapest to build and maintain.
- PWA — a web app that installs to the home screen and works offline. The app experience without the app store.
- Native — built for iOS/Android, full device access and app-store presence. Most powerful, most expensive.
The honest default
For most businesses, a web app or PWA does the job for far less money and reaches everyone instantly. Go native when you genuinely need device features (camera, offline, push) or an app-store presence is core to the product.
App, web app, or PWA?
Tell us what you're trying to build. We'll recommend the cheapest thing that actually does the job — not the most expensive.
See our software services →Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a web app and a native app?
A web app runs in the browser with nothing to install and works on any device; a native app is built specifically for iOS/Android, installed from an app store, with full access to device features. Native is more powerful but far more expensive to build and maintain.
Do I need to be in the App Store?
Only if app-store presence is genuinely important to your customers or business model. Many businesses reach users perfectly well through a web app or PWA, avoiding app-store fees, reviews and the two-platform build cost.
Is a PWA good enough instead of a native app?
For a lot of use cases, yes. PWAs install to the home screen, work offline and send notifications — covering most needs at a fraction of native cost. Native still wins when you need deep hardware access.
How much cheaper is a web app than native?
Usually significantly, because you build once for all devices instead of separately for iOS and Android, and there's no app-store overhead. The exact saving depends on features, but avoiding a dual native build is a big one.