Progressive web app vs Native App: What Will Lead The Trend | 2024 Updated

There’s no denying one thing: Smartphones appeal to everyone these days. This influence makes the entire e-commerce industry forced to have a balance change from a computer platform to a smart mobile platform. Progressive web apps have since emerged as a phenomenon.

Many people feel confused about the two top solutions for attracting mobile users to e-commerce websites today: Progressive web app vs Native App. Have trouble choosing a medium to attract mobile users to your website? Don’t worry. Because this article will help you answer that question.

I. Why does your business need a Progressive Web App or a Native App?

The ultimate goal of businesses is to make as much profit as possible. When there is a good product, the production process and management are all good, the problem is set, and deciding whether the business is successful or not is a matter of approaching customers and consuming it.

You may not know, that 56.3% of online traffic on e-commerce platforms today comes from mobile phones. Using applications, whether Progressive Web App or Native App, helps your business to reach customers in the fastest and most accurate way. From there, advertising costs are also used more effectively and optimally.

In this mobile-first era, even giants like Alibaba, Forbes, and Amazon have made obvious changes. What is your reason for procrastinating?

Breakthrough to succeed, change to lead. If you are looking for a way to grow your e-commerce store, this is exactly what you need to do right away. Choose a platform that is right for your business and grow it.

II. An overview of Progressive Web App vs Native App

2.1. What is a Native App? 

Native Apps appeared at the beginning of the smartphone era. Simply put, it is the applications we often see today, built specifically for a specific operating system like iOS or Android.

Users can easily access Native Apps through app stores like Apple App Store or Google Play Store. With Native App, users can easily leverage their device’s hardware and software capabilities, providing a smoother experience.

2.2. What is a Progressive Web App? 

Progressive Web App (PWA) is simply understood as a software application built on the web platform. In essence, it works like an app, but across browsers. Therefore, it can work well on any platform without being dependent on any operating system.

It can be said, PWA is a combination of the website and Native App.

2.3. Progressive Web App vs Native App: Pros & Cons

2.3.1. Progressive Web App

Pros:

• Works on all platforms: Accessed through a browser, PWAs are unaffected by any platform and can work on any device (including mobile phones and tablets)
• Cost Savings: In essence, a progressive web application is still a website. Moreover, PWA is compatible with all platforms and devices. So you don’t need to make a new investment from scratch and spend too much budget on it.
• Access URL: Users will not need to download and install the PWA. The PWA can be easily accessed and shared via a URL link.
• SEO Advantage: PWAs can still use Google’s SEO privileges for websites to promote themselves. Besides, your app also has a higher chance of being ranked due to google’s mobile app preference policy.
• Immediate page load times, saving memory: The original goal of a PWA was to provide a better experience for app users. That’s why it’s surprisingly light. Besides, the page load speed every time a customer requests a website is also shortened quickly.
• Automatic Updates: Users will not need to install or click any buttons to update the application.
• Offline browsing: PWA allows users to still access their store offline through a cache from previously retrieved data.
• Push Notification: PWA provides a push notification feature even when offline. This helps to increase user engagement with your store.

Cons:

• Some features and functions are limited: As the brainchild of Google, PWA has quite a few limitations. Especially on the iOS operating system. Home screen adds and push notifications cannot be displayed. In addition, it cannot take full advantage of the hardware features. For example, for Apple, PWA does not work with Face ID, Touch ID, Siri, …
• Cannot be found on the App Store: This can be considered both an advantage and a disadvantage. On the one hand, users do not need to download applications to still be able to use them. However, the general psychology of users is still eager to find the desired application in the store.
• Performance and UX are not as good as Native Apps: Although improved many times. However, the performance and UX of the PWA are still not equal to the Native App.

2.3.2. Native App

Pros:

• High Performance: Native App is developed for a specific operating system. Therefore, it has the ability to use the features of both hardware and software of the device without going through a plugin or other additional tools. It can provide a wide range of sophisticated features and high speed without consuming too much battery.
• Good UI/UX experience: Smooth operation, easy to use. Beautiful application, intuitive interface, and attractive layout are the outstanding features of Native App
• Full access and use of hardware functionality: With Native App, users can easily access all hardware features such as GPS, Camera, copy memory, etc. With Native Apps designed for iOS, users can fully use the features: face ID, Face Touch, …
• High security: Have complete access to the hardware. Obviously, the security feature of Native App is higher, ensuring information safety for users. Example: 2-factor authentication

Cons:

• High costs for developing and maintaining apps: Each native app is created specifically for an operating system. Therefore, you will have to hire a developer team to develop separately on each platform IOS, Android, … This requires high requirements from both resources and human resources.
• Installation and update process: Native app is not uniform in all versions of the operating system. In each version, the programmer needs to write a separate code. At the same time, users are also forced to update the application to be able to continue using it.
• Memory consumption: It must be downloaded and installed on the device. Native App will consume a lot of memory space on the phone.
• Promotion costs: You are forced to use ads in the app store to make the app more popular.

III. Progressive web apps vs Native App: Details Comparison

From the pros and cons of Progressive web apps vs Native App pointed out above, we have somewhat got an overview of them.

Before going into a detailed comparison, let’s take a look at the characteristics of these two solutions!

At a glance, it can be seen that PWA is dominating quite a lot in many aspects. Specifically:

PWA gives users the same experience as a native application. One-tap downloads, installations, and updates without spending too much time or updating each version. Besides, it can work on any platform and any device and with a much lower development cost than normal Native Apps development.

Normally, the minimum cost to be able to develop a Native App is $10,000. Businesses will also have to spend about $70-$320 per month for servers, $25 for Google Play, and $99 for Apple Store to maintain apps. However, with PWA, this number drops to around $3000 for development and $20-$60 in case of feature updates.

Even so, Native Apps still have features that PWAs can’t have. For example, the ability to take advantage of the device’s hardware. Especially for iOS users, the feature is very limited. While today, the number of iOS users worldwide is more than 1 billion people, accounting for 27.47% of mobile device users worldwide (StatCounter, 2021).

IV. Examples of the  Progressive web apps vs Native App

4.1. Progressive web apps examples

4.1.1. Spotify

Due to disagreement over the app store commission agreement between Apple, Shopify decided and develop a PWA version for their app. In fact, this is a completely right move for Shopify. The PWA version is significantly faster than the original native application. The user interface is also more flexible and unique.

Besides, users are also prompted to PWA to their home screen for easier access.

4.1.2. Pinterest

Not only Pinterest, but many social networks such as Instagram, Telegram, and Twitter, .. have also built their own PWA. This is towards the goal of reaching international reach and attracting many users around the world. Because many people are afraid that downloading applications, and installing, and registering applications in a series of applications will affect phone performance.

In fact, building a mobile web using PWA has helped Pinterest increase its time-to-use rate by 40%; Core engagement rate increased by 60% and ad revenue increased by 44%.

4.1.3. Flipboard

Flipboard is known as the most popular social magazine in the world today. It allows readers to be able to update all the information in the world from a single source.

Before the development of PWA, Flipboard only appeared on mobile devices. Building a PWA version helps readers access information from all devices: computers, tablets, etc. Besides, minimizing data also helps to speed up page loading.

4.2. Native apps examples

4.2.1. WhatsApp

Among the Top most downloaded applications in the world (more than 5 billion downloads). Whatsapp is a messaging and calling application designed for iOS and Android users with full features: messaging, calling, video calling, …

Along with high security, WhatsApp is the first choice of communication tool in both daily life and business today.

4.2.2. Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go is the AR mobile game that stormed the App Store for a while in 2016. By turning the real world into a game map. Take the player directly out to make the game. This original app has been a huge hit.

4.2.3. Waze

Waze is one of the most used and loved GPS software by drivers worldwide. This native app makes it easy for users to navigate by providing user-submitted route details and travel times.

V. Progressive Web App vs Native App: What Will Lead The Trend?

A Progressive Web App will not be able to replace a Native App even though it possesses almost all the features of an application. Both types of applications have irreparable flaws. Therefore, deciding which will lead the trend in the near future also needs to consider many factors.

While you are having a headache seeing which application will lead the trend. Then I think it’s better to focus on your business. Clearly define your vision, strategy, and approach to customers. From there, realize what is the most suitable solution for your business.

5.1. Choose a PWA for your business if:

1. Just starting an eCommerce business: As a new e-commerce site, it will be difficult to convince users to find and download your native app. With PWA, the application can appear right on the user’s screen in just a few seconds after 1 press. This will help increase user engagement with your app and dramatically increase brand awareness.

2. Low application development budget: PWA will be the perfect choice for small businesses and the budget is not too much. Developing a PWA doesn’t just save you time starting a project. You are also not part of application development so many types of platforms and devices are available.

3. Your target audience has poor internet connection: PWA allows it to work with poor connection speed. Especially targets suburban, and rural areas. This will be a great option for them.

4. The developed application does not require too many hardware elements or does not comply with the policies of the app store.

5.2. Choose a Native App for your business if:

1. Assert brand credibility: App store presence as a surefire way to assert credibility and recognition. That’s why all the big brands are available on the app store. Assert brand credibility: App store presence as a surefire way to assert credibility and recognition. That’s why all the big brands are available on the app store. 

2. Enhanced access to devise hardware: Especially for iOS users, only native apps allow businesses to use those features. Accessing this feature makes the UI/UX more intuitive, enhancing the user experience. Besides, 97% of mobile marketers say that customer loyalty is greatly determined by their experience with that app. And Native App is the key that can handle this problem well.

Back to the original question: Progressive Web App vs Native App: What Will Lead The Trend?

There is an undeniable fact about the attraction of PWA in recent years. Although Progressive Web App vs Native App is suitable for different types of businesses. However, looking at what PWA has done and actually proved what it brings to giant companies in the world, especially e-commerce is not small.

The “big guys” have changed. There is no doubt that a wide range of small and medium-sized companies will continue to adopt this technology to increase sales. And I believe that in the near future, PWA will be the solution that many businesses choose to trust.

VI. The Best PWA Development Provider?

At this point, you must already know what is needed for your business, right?

However, PWA is a new technology, and not everywhere offers reliable PWA development services. If you are looking for a PWA development provider, Landofcoder is the answer for you.

At Landofcoder, we offer a Progressive Web App Development Service according to customer needs. Our products are suitable for all types of businesses, with the most optimal cost and time-saving.

Furthermore, we also provide the Multivendor Markeptlace PWA Studio solution for your eCommerce website which definitely enhances the customer’s experience. Believe that with this top-notch solution, your multivendor site will reach out to more customers and get more sales.

With more than 10 years of experience in Magento development, Landofcoder always puts quality first. We believe that developing together with technology is our mission.

VII. Last Word

As you can see, Progressive Web App vs Native App are both very cool technologies, they have all the potential to take your business to the next level. However, the choice of platform depends largely on the budget and expectations for the application of the enterprise.

Even so, with outstanding features, PWA still promises to be an explosive technology in 2022. Order the demo now and see more applications for your Magento store at Landofcoder to see the difference.