PWA or native app?
Short answer: if you want a fast and economical mobile experience from a single codebase, discoverability in search engines and updates without waiting for store approval, choose a PWA; if you need deep device features such as the camera, Bluetooth or background work, maximum performance and app store visibility, a native app is the better choice. For many businesses it makes sense to start with a PWA and move to a native app once the need is proven.
| Criterion | PWA | Native app |
|---|---|---|
| Development | A single web codebase; runs on phones, tablets and computers. | Separate codebases for iOS and Android, or a cross-platform codebase. |
| Distribution | Opens from a link and is added to the home screen; found in search engines. | Through the App Store and Google Play; goes through store review. |
| Updates | Instant; users see the current version every time they open it. | Requires store approval and the user downloading the update. |
| Device features | Basic features such as camera, location and notifications; some features are limited on iOS. | All device features, background work and system integrations. |
| Notifications | Common on Android; on iOS, for web apps added to the home screen since iOS 16.4. | Full support on both platforms. |
| Cost | Lower; same team and code as the website. | Higher; two platforms, store processes and version maintenance. |
| Who is it for? | Web-centred jobs such as ordering, booking, catalogues, content and customer panels. | Heavy device use, products used constantly, games and businesses where store visibility matters. |
- 01
The real question: why would users download the app?
Downloading a new app is a hassle for users; most people keep only the few apps they use often. If your customer interacts with you once a month to order or book, a PWA that opens instantly from a link and can be added to the home screen can do the same job with less friction than an app downloaded from a store. If your product is used every day, needs heavy use of device features or must be discovered in the store, a native app's investment pays off.
- 02
Limitations on iOS
PWAs are widely supported on Android; on iOS, some features are more limited. For example, on iOS, web notifications have worked since iOS 16.4 only for web apps added to the home screen, and the user must first add the app to the home screen. Some device features such as Bluetooth and NFC are also not available to web apps on iOS. If most of your audience uses iPhones and these features are critical, make the PWA decision after testing these limits.
- 03
The search engine advantage
A PWA is really a website; when built correctly, every page can appear in search engines and a shared link opens directly for everyone. A native app's content does not appear directly in search engines; visibility comes from the store page and app store optimisation. This difference matters for businesses that win customers through product catalogues, content or service pages; often the best solution is a good website plus, where needed, an app that complements it.
- 04
Cross-platform: the third way
If a native app is needed but two separate codebases exceed the budget, cross-platform development produces iOS and Android apps from shared code and publishes them in the stores. Its performance is sufficient for most business apps, and small device-specific parts can be written natively when needed. When deciding, also take into account the device features the app will need in future and which technology the maintenance team can sustain.
- 05
PWA first, app later
In projects where demand is not yet proven, starting with a PWA lets you collect real user data at low cost: how many people add it to the home screen, how often they come back, which features they use. This data shows whether a native app is really needed and which features it should start with. When the same back end and API are used, moving from a PWA to a native app does not mean starting from scratch.
- 06
Doki's impartial note
The wish to “have an app” often comes not from a real user need but from an icon seen at a competitor. For jobs such as ordering, booking, catalogues and customer panels, a well-built PWA can offer the same experience at a fraction of the cost. If your product relies on device features or users will open it every day, let us plan a native or cross-platform app together. Tell us your use case, and we can clarify together which one is really needed.
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