May 30, 2017
Native Apps or Web Apps
Which are better? Well that depends, so here are some Pros and Cons
Pros of Native Apps
- Work with the device’s built-in features, so perform faster and are easier to work with
- Get full support from the relevant app store /marketplace
- Users are familiar with finding and downloading from these stores
- With app store approval, purchasers have a sense of safety and security
- Native apps, with the SDK, provide good tools for developers
Cons of Native Apps
- Native apps are generally more expensive to develop, especially those developing for multiple platforms
- Updating and maintaining native apps are also more expensive, especially if there are multiple mobile platforms
- App approved is a lengthy process and is not assured
- There is no guarantee that the app becomes the instant favourite of a generation
- Different mobile devices may be using different versions of the app, increasing the burden of support and upgrades
Pros of Web Apps
- They are easier to maintain due to a common codebase across plarforms
- They are easily manipulated to be made compatible with older devices
- Developers are not required to submit their app for approval to the store
- Without the requirement of approval, apps can be released at any time
- Users can download or update the apps easily on their mobile device
Cons of Web Apps
- Mobile web apps have limited scope accessing the features on the device
- Supporting multiple mobile browsers can be expensive, in regards development and maintenance
- Finding a Web app may be difficult due to the non-systematic listing in an app store
- Quality and safety of a web app is not always guaranteed
A Checklist
- How importance is speed and performance
- Are device-specific features required
- Does your app need to be Internet enabled
- What platforms need to be supported what is your budget
- Do you want to monetize the app