7 Key Differences Between Mobile App and Web App: You Must Know

Having an application (app) for an e-commerce business is essential these days. Over 70% of the sales online take place through an app, which highlights the importance of having an app for your business. Now, there are two kinds of apps: the Mobile app and the Web app, both offering different features but serving the same purpose. Knowing the difference between mobile app and web app can help you take an informed decision as e-commerce store owner. 

As an e-commerce store, if you are aware of the difference between web application and mobile application, then you can take a call on what would suit more to your audience. The difference between the apps is based on the functionality and ease of setup, and what they offer and also the cost-effectiveness. 

Web Apps: How They Work 

Web apps or web applications work more or less as a website. A web app runs in the browser and is stored on a server. Here, the information displayed is a little static like the website however, they offer an interactive interface to users,  which makes it a more app-like experience.

Web Apps are not installed on the user’s device and work online with a browser and a server. When the user places a query, it connects to the server via the browser and brings the information. Web apps can’t access other apps on mobile, like the camera, caller, messages, etc, they have limited accessibility and functionality. 

Mobile App: The Popular Version of Apps

Most of the time, when we are talking about apps, we talk about a Mobile App. Though there is a difference between mobile app and web app, people use the word app interchangeably, referring to both as apps. In terms of e-commerce business mobile apps are more popular as stats show they drive in 65% of the sales. 

Mobile apps are more extensively developed and offer a better user experience. It is built on the back of well-written code designed to make the app run on mobile. It is installed in the mobile phone and, based on user permission, can access other apps like camera, location, phone book, etc. Mobile apps offer a more interactive and dynamic user interface. Just see any popular app like Flipkart, Amazon, Uber, Zomato, etc they all are mobile apps. 

These apps are designed and coded separately for the two popular mobile OS (operating systems), Android and iOS. Mobile apps are generally more responsive and offer lots of features to the user. One of them is the integration with a payments app on mobile to make checkouts and transactions smooth. 

With a Mobile app, an e-commerce store can utilize the benefit of push notifications for marketing. In a web application, there is no option to have a push notification.

Mobile App and Web App: 7 Key Differences 

As we discussed the working of mobile and web apps, you might have got an idea about the difference between mobile app and web app. To make things clearer, we would take a look at some of the major differences that separate these two types of apps. 

Development: The web and mobile apps differ in the way they are developed.

• A mobile app is developed more extensively and needs a specific tool like an IDE for iOS app development.  Web apps, on the other hand, can be developed via a number of different tools.

• The programming language used for mobile apps differs based on the platform for which they are developed. Web apps are built mostly using JavaScript, PHP, and Python. 

• The development of the mobile app is more cost extensive as compared to web app.

Installation: A web app is easily accessible with the help of a browser, and there is no need for installation on the device. Mobile apps are required to be installed via the app store and are accessible to the users on their home screen.

Performance: Mobile apps have an edge in terms of performance over the two.

• Mobile apps load faster and offer a more responsive interface to users.

• The performance of a web app depends on internet connectivity as it fetches information from the server via the browser.  Mobile apps, on the other hand, can operate offline as they are stored in the mobile and use the resources of the device.

• A web app gives a more static and less responsive interface to users.

Accessibility: A mobile app has more accessibility to the device features and can easily access location, camera, fingerprint, Bluetooth, etc. A web app, on the other hand, has limited accessibility to device hardware.

Security: Web apps, since they work via browser, rely on HTTPS and SSL certificates to provide a secure cyber environment.  Mobile app, on the other hand, can up the security game by utilizing encryption, face ID lock, biometric authentication, etc. 

User engagement:  Mobile apps are known to have better user engagement and retention. The factor that works in favour of mobile apps is the push notification. Apps like Swiggy, Zomato have shown how effective mobile apps are in engaging user with their creative and personalized push notifications. 

Cost-effectiveness: Mobile apps are more costly and require more resources for development. The cost of mobile app development can go higher based on the type of customization that you ask for. Web apps, on the other hand, are more budget-friendly and can serve the purpose at even half the cost of mobile apps.

It is interesting to note that apart from the difference between mobile app and web app, the two have certain similarities as well:

• Both apps offer a smooth experience to mobile users and are designed to cater to users who access the content via smartphones.

• Mobile and web apps are designed to serve the same purpose, that is, to make the content accessible to the users. 

• The two apps utilize the services of cloud integration to offer services to users. 

• Monetization via ads, promotions, etc, is possible in both the apps

Conclusion

An application is an essential part of running a business online. Either a web app or a mobile app can more or less serve the same purpose for the business. Based on our discussion on the differences between the two, you can easily pick the one that suits your needs best. At Provis Technologies, we help businesses build both web and mobile applications tailored to their unique goals.