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