Many companies choose can offer both native apps and web apps to their customs, but how do you know what one to choose?
Native Apps: Pros & Cons
A native app is stored on the device itself, and while most people are more familiar with browsing and downloading native apps, with there being so many different versions out there the developer can’t guarantee that every user is using the same version of the app at all times.
Pros:
- They open and perform faster than web apps
- Since native apps work with the device’s built-in features – like the camera, microphone, location services, etc. they can offer richer functionality.
- App stores and marketplaces give native apps full support. This allows users to easily find and download apps of their choice from these stores.
- The user can be assured that the app is secure and fully compatible with their device, since the apps have to get approval from the app stores.
Cons:
- The cost of app maintenance and app updating is higher for native apps, especially since there are two mobile platforms to support sometimes.
- The approval process in the app stores for native apps can sometimes be challenging for the developer.
- When users all use different versions of the app, makes it challenging for the developer to maintain updates and offer support.
Web Apps: Pros and Cons
Web apps are easier to access because anyone is able to access them online at any time, and they’re always up to date. However, web apps aren’t as easy to find because there isn’t a centralized store of web apps for all mobile devices.
Pros:
- Web apps are easier to maintain because they use one code base across multiple mobile platforms.
- Web apps can be made compatible with older mobile devices and more versions.
- You do not have to submit your app for approval to the app stores. This is because Apple App Stores do not list web apps.
Cons:
- Mobile web apps have only limited scope as far as accessing a device’s internal features.
- Web apps can be expensive when they need to support multiple platforms
- It is difficult for the developer to maintain and track the usage patterns and provide support for all the different platforms.
- Web apps are hard to find because they are not listed in any app stores.
- There is no quality control system for web apps, therefore users are not guaranteed safety and security of the app.
Overall, we can see that there are both positive and negative aspects to both native apps and web apps. One thing to always remember is that they world is becoming more mobile each and every day and having a mobile app will allow you to engage more with your audiences.
If you are interested in learning more about our mobile app solutions, contact our Director of Business Development, Sari Zalesin today!
