A Website or an App?
It is a relevant question, but what if it were possible to have both in one? Indeed it is! These are called web apps, and they are making their way in the digital world.
Surely you have already accessed sites with these features through your smartphone without even realizing it.
A progressive web app (progressive web app, PWA or site mobile) is a website that offers an experience similar to an app on a smartphone. This means that it is able to load instantly, send push notifications, work offline, and load quickly even on weak connections.
It is a site that is accessed via a browser or mobile browser and makes the user feel like they are in an app.
So to the question: a website or an app? the answer is: both!
Why is it important and why should we care about web apps?
In short, a web appis a website that can ‘install’ itself on a mobile device as if it were a mini-application. This means it has certain abilities and features of native apps (iOS or Android), without relying on third parties or native code. It is not mandatory to install, you can just benefit from the better user experience it provides, but if a shortcut is installed, users can return to your site by launching the app on the home screen and interacting with the site through an app-like interface.
Unlike previous web page loads, once the page reaches 100% at once, we can see all the elements on the page more quickly.
You can install it or just browse/use it as a responsive website on your smartphone.
Simply access the site using a mobile device. If the site is viewed on a larger device (desktop) it will display the corresponding version, remaining a “normal” site if you wish.
It is important because it provides the best user experience, regardless of the theme of the website. It offers quick access to what is most important to the user in a convenient way, free of potential barriers. It could be, for example, a clinic with online appointments, an events site with an agenda, a news site, a company selling products and many other examples.
With google’s new algorithm update, if your site has a very slow loading speed and does not adapt to mobile devices or is not optimised, no matter the quality of the content, it will certainly be hurt in the searches.
Can any website have a web app?
Yes, provided you have the technical configurations that allow it. Right now the trend is to have responsive websites that adapt to the device, but this is not ideal on a smartphone where millions of apps proliferate and where ease and convenience are above all else. Being able to offer a similar experience, using the same existing structure, is an incredible asset for those who already have a site or an app and also for those who are creating a new project.
What are the main advantages?
- They offer a satisfactory user experience and are cross-platform.
- They take up less storage space.
- They are more disposable than native applications.
- They do not need to be updated. It is the website that updates and the user sees the new version when they log on.
- Existing work or content can be leveraged.
- All the main browsers support them and allow their installation.
Famous examples of mobile sites
- Uber
- Washington Post
- Starbucks
- Forbes
- In addition, all the major technology companies have projects along these lines.
Exxa Studio has been recognized as one of top digital strategy agencies by designrush.
I want to know more
Now that you know that a website or an app is not the question, but how long it takes me to get a web app or transform my website, feel free to throw us the challenge. For those who only have a website (or don’t yet but want to) this is the best solution to offer your users or customers the best possible experience on a mobile device.
It is a silent revolution in the world of mobile browsing, but here at Exxa Design we are perfectly prepared for this reality and offer this possibility in the creation of any website. For us is a standard.
