Web App vs. Mobile App: Which One Is Better for Your Startup?

Once your business gains leverage, creating a business application is the next step.

A company can engage with a customer in two ways: either by a mobile application or a web application.

The purpose of technology is to meet customer expectations and increase sales. There is no doubt that mobile applications are helping today’s businesses to boost their sales. However, in some cases, no mobile apps are needed, and organizations can thrive with progressive web apps. Also, some companies have both mobile and web apps available for their users.

Which One to Choose: Mobile App or Web App

It is no secret that the most significant difference between mobile and web apps is the development cost. However, there are a few other differences.

Typically, web apps are written in CSS, HTML, and JavaScript and are platform independent. On the other hand, mobile apps are written in a specific programming language, such as Swift or Java and are designed to run on a specific mobile platform, such as iOS and Android.

Web apps are easier to develop and maintain, and are more accessible to users, while mobile apps offer a more native user experience and are better for complex tasks.

So which app works best for a startup business: a web app or a mobile app? Let us find out.

What Are Web Apps?

Web apps run in a web browser and can become mobile-friendly if you can shrink them down to your users’ screen size. These apps can be complex or simple and serve a single purpose, like mobile apps. However, developers can also design them to serve different purposes.

Pros and Cons of Web Apps

Pros

Cost-effectiveness

Due to their single operating system compatibility, web apps have the significant advantage of being very cost-effective. As a result, they require fewer resources and no installation, making them an affordable option for startups and small businesses on a tight budget.

Accessibility

Accessing web apps is easy if you have a computer and an internet connection. However, web apps are primarily beneficial for startup businesses as users can access the system from anywhere.

Security

Typically, web apps are hosted on secure servers, which means they are more secure than mobile apps and traditional software.

Scalability

If you are looking for scalable apps, web apps are the better choice. That’s because businesses can quickly remove or add features, according to their requirements, to keep up with changing customer demands.

Cons

Browser Compatibility

Web apps may only be compatible with some devices or browsers, making them complicated for some users.

Slow Performance

Some web applications may need to improve because of slow server response times and high traffic.

What are Mobile Apps?

Mobile apps are developed for use on tablets, smartphones, and other touch devices. Users must go to a store like Windows Store, Google Play, or Apple to install a mobile app. Mobile apps provide a wide array of features, much like browsing a web app from a desktop computer.

Pros and Cons of Mobile Apps

Pros

User-friendly Experiences

We all know how mobile applications are ruling the mobile e-commerce market. They place ultimate emphasis on delivering a user-friendly experience and providing convenience. With speedy loading times and high-end performance, mobile apps offer quick and smooth user experiences.

Personalization

Another significant benefit of mobile apps is that they are developed so that users can make necessary changes to utilize the applications according to their needs. For example, users can set preferences, save data, and share media files. Specialized features like these take the user experience to the next level.

Online and Offline Support

Some mobile apps can also work offline, with no issues but a few limitations. Such mobile apps are suitable for use in locations without the internet.

Cons

Expensive

Developing a mobile app can be very time-consuming and expensive, especially when the app needs to support multiple platforms.

Compatibility Issues

Different devices have different versions and operating systems. That can make it difficult for developers to ensure that an app works on all platforms.

Issues with Updates

Users must download an update manually to ensure that apps are performing to their fullest, which can sometimes be inconvenient.

Data Overload

If a mobile app requires access to a large amount of data, it can cause the app to crash or slow down the device.

Final Thoughts: Which App to Choose

To ensure success with web and mobile applications, startup businesses must consider their budget, goals, and needs. Questions like these can help you determine the type of application that best suits your business.

  • What purpose will the app serve?
  • What kind of environment will the app run in?
  • What is the app development budget?

If you are starting a business with a limited budget, starting with a website or web application is always a great idea. Over time, your business will grow, and so will your customer base. You can then start offering your services with a dedicated mobile application.

However, for a startup business that has the budget to capture a large segment of their target market, developing a mobile app will guarantee long-term success and more profits.

FAQs

What is the Difference Between a Web App and a Mobile App?

Web apps can run on any device with a web browser, whereas mobile apps run on a mobile device, such as a tablet or a smartphone. Mobile apps benefit from the unique features of a mobile device, such as GPS or camera whereas users can access web apps through the internet using a web browser.

Flutter or React Native App: Which One Should You Use for your Startup?

If you are stuck in the Flutter vs. React Native App debate then here is the answer. 

All components are rendered by Flutter on their own canvas, whereas JavaScript components are converted into native ones via React Native. For that reason, component updates do not impact Flutter apps as they do on React Native apps, which can either be a good thing or a bad thing.

For example, Flutter’s method will suit you if you want your components to stay exactly as you want them to. But, choosing React Native is more appropriate when you want your app to be aligned with the latest native component designs. 

In addition, the upgrade is free and occurs automatically in the case of React Native.  However, both are excellent frameworks for creating cross-platform mobile applications. A significant difference is in the programming language: Flutter uses Dart, whereas React Native uses JavaScript.

What is SaaS Development?

Software as a Service (SaaS) development involves creating, deploying, and maintaining applications that users can access over the internet from any device. In addition, users can access these apps from any location since they are hosted in the cloud.

In addition, SaaS development focuses on scalability, as apps must grow or shrink according to the users’ needs. A priority for these apps is also security, as they must protect user data and ensure that only authorized users can access them. In addition, SaaS applications need to be user-friendly and intuitive for users to be able to navigate and use them easily.

What is Chat GPT?

ChatGPT is an NLP or natural language processing tool that allows users to interact with a computer system through human-like language. Users can benefit from ChatGPT to create chatbots and other interactive systems for assisting with sales, customer service, and other tasks. In addition, ChatGPT helps SaaS businesses by enabling them to improve customer engagement and automate specific processes.

How to Make Mobile Apps?

If you are a startup business that needs a mobile app, you should hire a professional and reliable mobile app development company. Intelvue is a premium mobile app development company and agency. Our team of seasoned and expert mobile app developers provides app development services all over the globe.

We plan, develop, test, and maintain mobile apps for our clients, utilizing the latest technologies. We are proud to deliver glitch-free, innovative, and functional mobile apps to our clients. Our custom mobile apps function smoothly on all iOS and Android devices with hybrid/native working. Our expertise in Objective C and JavaScript keeps us at the top of our game. Contact us today to determine how your startup business will benefit from a custom mobile app.

How to Make Web Apps?

If your startup business will benefit from a web app, get in touch with an expert team of web developers. At Intelvue, our team of seasoned web developers delivers the best custom web development services worldwide. Our clientele includes happy customers from the UK, USA, and UAE. Being a top-notch web development company, we fully know how to develop a mobile app that caters to customers’ needs in different niches.

With excellent front-end and back-end tools, we guarantee professional-looking apps for our clients. If you have a web design and development project in mind, get in touch with us today. Our team will happily respond to your messages and design the best web apps for your business.