How to develop a progressive web application?

Progressive web applications, also known as PWA (progressive web apps), combine the characteristics of mobile and web platforms. Such applications can be added to the device's home screen, but the pages are accessed through a browser. Thanks to its fast speed and low development cost, PWAs have become popular among startups.

In this article, we'll look at the benefits of PWA and discuss how much it costs to create a progressive web app. Go!

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Compared to native apps, PWAs are faster, better optimised for SEO, and cheaper to develop.

PWA development costs about 37549 Dollars. The final budget will depend on the contractor's rates and the number of hours/sprints required.

With native web app development, you will need to create two separate apps (Android and iOS) in addition to the website, and then work on promoting the platforms. PWA is a convenient, SEO-friendly, low-cost app option for startup owners.

What is PWA

A PWA, or progressive web app, is a web page that you can add to your device's home screen. It simulates a traditional mobile application and can be partially accessed offline.

There are two ways to install PWA on a mobile device:

Android users should go to any browser ➡️ open the website with PWA ➡️ click "Install" ➡️ follow the on-screen instructions;

iOS users can use the Add to Home Screen action, which is only available in Safari.

4 main advantages of PWA

Compared to native apps, PWAs have a lot of advantages. They are faster, available on multiple operating systems, SEO optimised, and cheaper to develop.

We've compiled a short list of 4 key benefits of any progressive web app:

1. Work offline

PWAs can be accessed offline even if the user does not have access to the Internet. For example, such web application development company can be used during a flight or on the subway (yes, for example, in London there is still no Wi-Fi in trains ). Initially, the PWA needs to be downloaded from the Internet so that the browser can add data to the cache, and then you can use the application offline.

2. Cross-platform

Users can install PWAs on almost any device, regardless of model, operating system or preferred browser. For startups, this means you can reach more users and customers with a single app.

3. Fast loading speed

Experienced startup owners know that the longer your website or app takes to load, the more customers you lose in the process. According to a study conducted by Imperva, most users will not wait longer than 5 seconds for a website to load.

The average loading time for a PWA on a mobile device is just 2.75 seconds

This speed is possible due to progressive dynamic loading. First, PWAs cache the main content, and only then load secondary pages.

4. Push notifications

Push notifications help you interact with users even if they are not visiting your site. For example, they can be used to warn about technical work or send a personalised discount on products.

Until recently, push notifications were not available for PWAs, but progress continues. Currently, you can send push notifications to Android users and some iOS users, depending on their operating system version.

Other benefits of PWA

We can talk about the benefits of PWA endlessly. You can read more about why PWA will be useful for your startup here.

PWA vs. native apps: what's the difference

Let's discuss the difference between progressive web apps and native solutions. But not from the point of view of the developer, but from the position of the user and owner of the startup.

At Sparkout tech, we help web app development, mobile app development, enterprise software solutions, cloud-based systems, AI development and generative AI development, we have the expertise to handle diverse projects across various industries.