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November 11, 2024
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This is not about comparing a web application or a mobile application on technical or user-experience grounds but also, and more importantly, on strategic grounds about what best fits your business needs, your budget, and your long-term goals.
Each of them has its perks, but at the same time, unique challenges that need to be weighed and considered. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down cost, time-to-market, platform limitations, and much more to help you find the best choice suitable for your business.
The cost of developing, maintaining, and updating an application is one of the most important considerations businesses have before entering the app development arena.
Lower Upfront Development Costs
Web apps are generally cheaper to develop, particularly when the application is likely to be useful to hundreds of thousands of people using various devices. Because you only need one version of the app, this reduces the number of resources needed for its development, hence making it relatively cheaper for most businesses, especially the smaller outfits with thinner wallets.
Less Platform-Dependent Restrictions
Web applications do not place this burden on the developers to make separate versions for both iOS and Android, hence saving development and maintenance costs for developers. In addition, you will save on the fees that app stores charge, which can be a very significant ongoing expense for mobile applications.
Example
In the case of Dropbox, the company made a cloud storage service and has a simple web interface available from any browser achieving exposure across multiple platforms without the need to set up cost-added native applications.
More Expensive to Develop First
In contrast, building mobile apps commonly requires the development of a different version for iOS versus Android. This may include the hiring of two separate development teams or the purchasing of cross-platform development tools, such as Flutter or React Native.
This is much costlier than with initial development. Mobile applications also require more extensive testing and fine-tuning across various devices and OS versions.
On-going App Store fees
You will find fees to publish your apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Apple will take a 30 per cent cut on all in-app purchases and subscriptions; such may greatly affect your revenue model. However, this is reduced under certain conditions, that is, for developers who earn less than a threshold. Therefore fees should be taken into long-term cost calculations.
Example
One of the most downloaded mobile games, Candy Crush Saga, makes loads of money from in-app purchasing. However, all that cash goes to the app stores in the form of commission.
How quickly you can get your app into the market depends on factors such as development time, complexity, and testing requirements.
Faster Time-to-Market
For the same reason that web applications don't have to wait for app store approval, web applications will get into the market sooner. You can roll out your updates and bug fixes much more quickly without waiting for the App Stores to approve them, which is quite a big advantage if you're going to quickly iterate and get feedback.
Rapid Prototyping
Many web apps go well with rapid prototyping. You could come up with an MVP and get early user feedback without much delay. Also, web apps can be optimized and updated in real time so you can make incremental improvements fast.
Slower Time-to-Market
A mobile app takes a longer time to develop compared to regular apps because there are more rigid testing and approval processes as well as additional specific requirements for iOS and Android.
Apps must be submitted to the app stores, which then review and approve them before publication. This may take days or even weeks. Furthermore, apps must pass through this approval process again when new features or fixes are implemented.
Cross-Platform Development
Tools like React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin make cross-platform mobile application development faster and easier than building both an iOS and an Android version at the same time. However, it's still not faster than developing from scratch a web app.
Example
WhatsApp Messenger is an instant messaging app that was originally developed for iOS and had to be adapted very carefully to fit Android, which was a drag on the application's rollout because it didn't conform entirely to the native style of the platform.
With the proper balance between user satisfaction and business success, the app could be maintained well and up-to-date. When developing a web app or a mobile app, the process to which you would manage in terms of app updates, bug fixes, and new features would differ.
Easier Maintenance
Since web apps run on servers, updates are deployed server-side; you don't have to bother about users updating the app manually. You can change features or fix bugs without users knowing about discrepancies, thus ensuring it keeps running well.
AA web app is usually built using a single codebase, which makes it easier to maintain and add new features. You do not need to make platform versions, which is very beneficial if resources can be limited at times.
Example
With Google Docs, new features and optimizations are rolled out continually, and the user does nothing but refresh their page to get the latest.
Single Codebase
A web app is usually built using a single codebase, which makes it easier to maintain and add new features. You do not need to make platform versions, which is very beneficial if resources can be limited at times.
App Store Approval Process
In addition, to upload each update of the mobile app, it has to be submitted back to the stores for review. This in turn will result in a longer time for updates to take place, and bugs or security vulnerabilities are likely to last longer if they cannot be quickly bypassed.
Separate code bases
If you are developing separate applications for both iOS and Android, then you have two separate code bases, which makes updates a whole lot more complex; because each platform has to be tested separately before getting available in the market.
Example
Instagram constantly releases app updates for mobile within the app, for example, new features like Stories or IGTV. For each one of these, iOS and Android should both be tested to ensure compatibility that when a bug does arise, there are two codebases that need to be debugged.
Dependence on Internet Connection
Web applications are mostly dependent on an Internet connection. If your target group includes people whose internet is likely to be spotty or unreliable, then it's a huge weakness.
Limited Access to Native Features
Web apps are much more powerful nowadays, but still, they can't access features like GPS, camera, or hardware sensors, which native mobile applications do. However, with the advent of Progressive Web Applications, this gap is slowly shrinking and offers many native-like features.
Example
The web-based version of Pinterest is very similar to its cell phone-based version in terms of features and lacks a few services which are cell phone-specific like push notifications or access to location-based services.
App Store Limitations
App store offers have strict rules when it comes to content and functionality. You simply have to follow their guidelines or it runs the risk of getting rejected. In addition, you are subject to their charges and rules for monetization, which may restrain your manoeuvre to manage in-app purchases or subscriptions.
Platform Fragmentation
Device, OS, and Screen Size Variety Android provides a huge variety of devices, operating systems, and screen sizes. After all, this is one challenge when trying to ensure performance optimization and testing across all devices.
Example
WhatsApp had to make adjustments when it first came out with Android support because it recognized problems existed with older Android versions and certain devices.
Each industry has specific needs, and whether you choose a web app or a mobile app would be decided mainly on the basis of those needs.
Mobile App
E-commerce companies can enable personalization to their shopping experience, support mobile payments, and will also be able to engage users through the use of push notifications in mobile apps.
Example
Amazon's mobile app lets its users make purchases anywhere, view order histories, and receive tailored recommendations based on their browsing behaviour.
Web App
E-commerce companies use web apps for wider reach- especially when people would like to shop from their desktop computers or who need to view more information about the products. The web version of Etsy and eBay allows its users to browse products with larger screens and richer content with detailed descriptions, reviews, and images.
Mobile App
Other applications seen in mobile apps are telemedicine, reminders for medications, and tracking health metrics, including steps taken, calories burned, and sleep patterns. For example, MyFitnessPal allows a user of a mobile app to track what he or she intakes in terms of food and exercises-which are perfect for achieving one's health goals.
Web App
Healthcare providers can also design web apps for patient portals where users can access health records, book appointments, or get in touch with doctors. MyChart is a powerful web app that manages healthcare information.
Web and mobile application development differs on various levels: budget, development time, target audience, industry-specific needs, and long-term scalability. From a commercial perspective, in most cases, businesses need to develop both types of applications so they can give the best experience to their users.
Web applications offer a higher reach, lower cost when it is first started, and quicker deployment.
Mobile applications will have superior performance and greater engagement opportunities and vulnerabilities to exploits within device-specific features for an enhanced user experience. Thorough audience needs, industry requirements, and budget considerations will enable you to make the most well-informed decision.
Whether it is a web application mobile application or both, continuous user feedback, upgrading frequently, and aligning it with business goals will ensure the success of the application over time.
If you are a business looking to create intuitive and user-friendly web or mobile apps, Fourchain is here to help you! Get in touch with our experts and we make it into a reality!
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