Native or Web App

Native or Web App

In this tech-driven world, many of the advancements in technology are surrounding mobile devices. From the capabilities of these devices to the apps that run on them, mobile is becoming extremely relevant in society today. And with this growth in mobile technology comes the growth in mobile applications. But as organizations now understand the need to connect with their customers on mobile, they may not realize the many options at their fingertips when it comes to building apps. So if you’re wondering what are the advantages and disadvantages of apps on the market today, you’ll have to understand the different types. Take a look at the different types of apps out there:

Native Apps

Native apps are the standard when it comes to building apps, but the tide is starting to change rapidly. When native apps are built, they can only be used on the operating system they’re built for. A common list of native apps includes WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.

Mobile Websites

Mobile websites are just like regular websites on a computer, but elements of the website are edited to fit on mobile screens. This involves special development in order for page elements to display properly on mobile devices. These websites are accessed through a browser on a mobile device, and many of them work very similarly to mobile apps.

Progressive Web Apps

Progressive Web App (PWA) A Progressive Web App is an app that utilizes web capabilities to create an outstanding web experience. These apps function just like normal apps, but they use websites for data storage and functionality, instead of the storage on your mobile device. That being said, compared with websites and native apps, PWAs are much more beneficial. So if you’re deciding between a hybrid, native or web app, then a web app is the best choice for your needs. So if you’ve been asking yourself, “why web app?” now you should know what they can do for you!

Progressive Web Application Development

When it comes to web application development, Lumavate is taking the world by storm. That’s because we offer a sophisticated platform that makes it very simple to create Progressive Web Apps. But are you still confused about the differences between web apps, mobile apps, web applications, and websites? If so, see below for some clarification:

Web App vs Mobile App

The main difference between these is that a web app functions on web pages while a mobile app functions on the app itself. Both of these apps can have the same functionalities and features, and web apps can even appear as an icon on your home screen.

Web Application vs Website

The key difference here is that a web app functions like a normal app and a website appears just like the websites you see on your computer. Web apps can also be a feature of a website like a chatroom, word processor, or something else. Some web application examples for beginners include Google Apps, Microsoft 365, and Gmail.

Difference Between App Developer and Web Developer

When it comes to building apps and websites, there are some key differences to understand. App developers just focus on building apps, while web developers might build entire websites or certain functionalities within websites. Being limited as an app developer is one of the disadvantages of native app development.

Native Mobile App vs Mobile Website Statistics

Still need more information on native apps and mobile websites? Now we’ll go into more depth about how these apps work, the pros and cons of each, and some mobile app vs website statistics. Keep reading to learn more.

Native Apps

Introduced by Steve Jobs in 2008, a native mobile app is an application that provides rich, device-specific content at the user’s fingertips. Users can download millions of these apps from the app store and they work to integrate with the capabilities and features of the device they’re using. This app syncs with the user’s camera, address book, push notifications, and other aspects that create an experience that is truly native to the user’s mobile device.

Mobile Websites

In 2018, there were 3.7 billion mobile web users. And in terms of mobile speed, 53% of mobile website visits were abandoned if the load times were longer than three seconds. That being said, it's vital to focus on your mobile site and its responsiveness. But when it comes to mobile websites, there are three types to consider:

• Mobile-friendly websites
• Responsive websites
• Mobile first websites

How to Identify If an App Is Native or Hybrid

Given the similarities between native and hybrid apps, it may be hard to know how to identify app is native or hybrid. Keep reading to learn more about these apps and how they differ, including who wins between the native app vs hybrid app battle.

Native Apps

A native app is an app that is built with a specific programming language. These apps are built to only be compatible with one operating system, which essentially makes them “native” to that device. These apps are built for either Android or iOS devices.

Hybrid Apps

Hybrid apps work by building one app to work on one operating system, then adding a few tweaks to make it work on another platform. These apps are constructed using special hybrid app languages, which gives them the opportunity to quickly make adjustments so the app can work on other platforms. Some of the notable hybrid app examples 2018 had to offer included Marketwatch, Untapped, and Tripline.

Hybrid vs Native App Pros and Cons

Now that you understand a little more about how native and hybrid apps work, it's now time to go more in-depth about hybrid vs native app advantages and hybrid vs native apps pros and cons. This should give you the information you need to understand the native vs hybrid app comparison.

Native Apps

Native apps are great apps thanks to their device-specific features. These work well with your specific device and they have many capabilities. While this means many benefits for the end-user experience, this leaves some limitations when it comes to development. This is because these apps require a totally separate development when developing for iOS and Android.

Hybrid Apps

With only one codebase to manage, many developers and businesses love building hybrid apps. This allows them to crank out apps quicker than ever before without losing out on the app features they’ve grown to love. But when weighing the pros and cons of hybrid apps, you’ll have to pay attention to the lack of performance involved with hybrid apps. This is because these apps load in a browser-like component called webview, which can lack in responsiveness.

Progressive Web Apps

If you don’t like the disadvantages of native and hybrid apps, then a great alternative lies with Progressive Web Apps. These apps work essentially like a mobile web app and are compatible with any operating system on any mobile device! So when it’s a battle of native app vs web app, the obvious choice is a web app. And given that the technology surrounding web apps has advanced at an incredible rate, these apps are faster and more powerful than ever. Take a look at a few different types of web applications out there that are built as PWAs:

• The Weather Channel
• Starbucks
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Uber
• And more!

Lumavate Can Help!

Are you new to app building? Want to create an amazing app, but feel limited since you don’t have any coding experience? Lumavate can help! Our no-code platform makes it simple to create all of the amazing apps you see on a daily basis! When you gain access to our platform, we can even give you an engaging Progressive Web App tutorial that can give you the guidance you need to get started right away!

App Examples

In order to understand the types of apps you can create, it's important to understand some of the common examples out there for each type. Keep reading to see some of these examples for yourself.

Native App Examples

Native apps are the most common type of app out there. Some of the notable apps built with native include:

• Facebook
• Tesla
• Skype
• Wix

Hybrid App Examples

Many companies are taking advantage of the benefits of hybrid apps. Take a look at some examples:

• OffCourse Gold
• Untapped
• Sworkit
• Marketwatch

Progressive Web App Examples

Progressive Web Apps are apps housed within website URLs. Many businesses across the globe use web apps and many of the mobile web app examples we will discuss are extremely successful and well-known. Here are the best examples of web apps:

• Hulu
• Lyft
• Airbnb
• Twitter
• Walmart

Mobile Considerations

In order to understand the benefits that come from mobile apps, it’s important to understand the challenges and concerns faced when it comes to mobile experiences. Keep reading to learn more about some of these concerns.

App vs Website Security

When it comes to mobile applications, users want to make sure that their data is secure. Especially if these apps contain credit card information or other important data, security is a top concern for these users. That being said, app developers and those who design app development software always pay close attention to the security features they want to implement.

Apps vs Websites Usage

When it comes to storage, websites have more storage by far compared to mobile apps. That’s because website data is stored on servers, while app data is stored on your phone. And given the many features and capabilities of apps nowadays, that data can really add up quickly, which might leave you very limited in terms of storage on your mobile device.

Comparing Mobile Channels

Although we’ve discussed a little bit about the different mobile channels out there, there are still some factors to consider. Below you’ll find a more in-depth look at some key differences between native apps, hybrid apps, and web applications.

Difference Between Native and Hybrid App Testing

When discussing the differences in apps, it’s important to consider how these apps are tested. Keep reading to learn about the differences between native and hybrid apps, and we’ll also provide the difference between native and hybrid app with example. Native apps are built differently than hybrid apps. That being said, a variety of tests need to be done. For native testing, a lot of the tests will be focused on how the app integrates with the mobile device it was built for. For hybrid testing, the primary focus will be on how the apps perform on various mobile platforms and if this cross-compatibility poses any issues.

Difference Between Native App and Web App

When comparing these types of apps, there are many differences to consider. Given that a native app is built for a specific operating system, it will be built with those device-specific factors in mind. For web apps, these are compatible across all devices and operating systems, which means the buildout involves many processes to ensure these apps work across all devices and platforms.

Difference Between Web Application and Application

When it comes to the difference between web application and mobile application, the key difference is that a web application has data that is stored on the web, while a mobile application stores data on the mobile device.

Native App or Progressive Web App?

Now with all of this information regarding the different types of apps out there, you may be wondering if a native app or web app is right for you. While you may like the device-specific qualities of native apps, you may really enjoy the functions of progressive web applications. And furthermore, it’s hard to beat the many uses of web application solutions. Keep reading for more information regarding native app vs web app pros and cons.

Greater Efficiency

One reason to choose web apps over native apps is that it can really boost your efficiency as a business. This is due to the fact that web apps can be built extremely fast—especially when you use Lumavate. Our company allows users to create impeccable apps in just a few hours with our easy-to-use, no-code platform. Take a look at some of the top web apps 2018 had to offer:

• Starbucks
• American Airlines
• Google Maps
• Tumbler
• Pinterest
• BMW
• Spotify

With Lumavate’s state-of-the-art platform, marketers are able to build apps in the blink of an eye, which provides measurable results quickly! Reap the benefits by creating a free account today!