What are The Difference between a Native Mobile App vs a Web App?

The answer is native apps are mobile applications that can be used on a mobile and the web app is basically a website accessible on whatever device a user chooses to use apps run on a browser. There is a common misconception that native mobile apps and web apps are the same things but actually, both are different not only in the app users but developed and deployed apps are also different. The differences between applications and their understanding are key to building a successful digital product. Now, we are going to discuss the difference between mobile and web applications and gain insights that will inform your decision while developing the mobile or web app for your business.

What is a Native Mobile App?

A native mobile app is a mobile application that is coded in a specific programming language, such as Java or C++ for Android apps, Swift or Objective-C for iOS apps, and C# for Windows Phone apps. Native mobile apps are faster in performance and a high degree of reliability and also have access to a phone's various devices, such as its camera and address book. Native mobile apps can be downloaded from app stores and are designed to work with a particular mobile operating system.

Benefits of Native Apps:

App Usage Speed - Native apps are faster than Web Apps

Offline Access and Updates - Work without the internet based on the nature of the app

Higher Security - Increased security because of being approved by the respective app store

Native App Developer Tool Availability - App developers can be easier to develop because of the availability of developer tools, interface elements, and SDKs

Downsides of Native Apps:

Native apps are more expensive to build than web apps - Native apps come with a hefty price tag due to their highly specific nature and optimization by the device

Compatibility with multiple platforms - Designing and building the app from scratch (i.e. iOS and Android)

High Cost to Maintain - Expensive to maintain and update

App Approvals - It is difficult to get a native app approved by the app store

What is a Web App?

A web app is a software program that runs on a web server, rather than on the user's device. It is accessed via a web browser or a mobile app and can perform a wide variety of tasks, such as data entry, calculations, interactive features and other functions. Web apps are often used to provide dynamic content, such as news articles, content management systems, customer relationship management (CRM) systems and more. Web apps are accessed over the internet through a web browser, such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Examples of web apps include Google Docs, Gmail, and online banking services.

Benefits of Web App :

Build Speed - easy to build than mobile apps

Easy to maintain - have a common codebase regardless of a mobile platform

No Download Barrier to Entry - no need to be downloaded or installed

Quick Launch - do not require app store approval, so the apps can be launched quickly

Downsides of Web Apps :

Browser Access - Web Apps function in the browser only

App Speed - The application speed is lower than native mobile apps and less advanced in terms of features

Discoverability - not discoverable as native mobile apps as they are not listed in the app store

Security and Quality Concerns - not always guaranteed because Web Apps need not be approved by the app store

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