Mobile vs Web: A Balancing Act Between the Two

What are Web Apps?

Web apps are web-based applications that are designed to be accessed via the Internet. They are usually developed using a combination of programming languages and technologies, such as JavaScript and HTML5, and can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from simple tasks like managing your finances or communication, to more complex ones, such as online shopping or social networking.

Web apps are exclusively developed to be accessed via a browser, and place priority around being optimised for mobile browsers. This essentially makes these apps alternate forms of a website, holding a variety of features and interactive tools that provide a similar usability to mobile applications.

Web apps are becoming increasingly popular as they offer several advantages over traditional desktop applications. They are usually more affordable to develop and maintain and can be accessed from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

What are Native Apps?

A native app is a smartphone application that is developed specifically for particular operating systems, such as Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Native apps are usually written in the programming language of the respective platform, and they have access to all the device’s features, such as its camera and address book.

Native apps offer several advantages over other types of mobile applications. For example, they can be designed to take full advantage of the features and capabilities of the device, making them more user-friendly and efficient. Another advantage is that they can be distributed through official app stores, such as the App Store or Google Play, which helps to ensure they are safe and secure to download and use.

One of the main drawbacks is that they can be more expensive and time-consuming to develop than other types of mobile apps. This is because they need to be specifically designed and coded for each individual platform. In addition, native apps may not be compatible with all devices, which can limit their reach.

What are Hybrid Apps?

A hybrid app is a mobile application that combines the best of both worlds: the native functionality and user experience of an app built for a specific platform (iOS or Android), with cross-platform compatibility and web-based code of a web app.

In other words, hybrid apps are like any other mobile app you’d find in an app store, but they’re built using web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) instead of platform-specific languages.

This means that hybrid apps can be published to multiple app stores using the same code base, which saves developers a lot of time and effort. It also makes it easier to update and maintain the apps over time, since all the code is in one place.

However, because hybrid apps still need to be packaged up as native apps and run inside of a web view, they can sometimes suffer from performance issues. But overall, hybrid apps offer a great compromise between native and web apps and can be an excellent solution for many businesses.

Web App vs Mobile App – How to Know Which is Better for Your Organisation?

So, which type of app is better for your business? The answer depends on several factors, including your budget, your timeline, and the features you need.

If you’re looking to move quickly and don’t need access to all the platform’s features, a web app might be the way to go.

If you’re willing to invest more time and money up front, and you need access to native features, a native app might be the better choice.

And if you want the best of both worlds, a hybrid app might be the perfect solution.

Whatever type of app you decide to build, the important thing is to make sure it’s something that your users will love. So, take your time, do your research, and build something amazing. Should you need assistance from experienced professionals in the industry with your app design and development, please contact us at Jaarvis today.