Progressive web apps

Mobile application development has come a long way in the last several years. Here is another alternative you need to consider before deciding to hire someone to write a native mobile application: progressive web apps or PWAs.

The quick take is

  1. You'll save money writing a single application that runs on every mobile platform.
  2. Hiring someone to write a progressive web app is easier since most developers already know how to write code in html and javascript.
  3. You can host your pwa on your own site without needing to sign up for a developer account or applying for permission to add to Apple or Google markets.

Linkability

Since PWAs live on the web, they can be accessed with a unique link. This makes them easy to share through messaging or social media without involving an app store or installation process.

No installation needed

While PWAs can be added to your device's home screen, there's no need to go through the download and installation process. As long as you have the PWA's link, you can start using it immediately. This is particularly convenient if you only need a PWA temporarily or infrequently.

Lower storage requirements

Since PWAs live on the web, they take up far less room on your device than installed native apps. And, while many PWAs store information for offline access, they're still far less space-intensive than comparable native apps. For example, Starbucks offers a PWA that's over 99% smaller than its native iOS app.

Instant updates

The best thing about PWA updates is that you never have to worry about them. Rather than downloading and installing updates, PWAs are updated as soon as you refresh the page.

More app interaction

The result of all of the above advantages of PWAs is that people are more likely to use them compared to a native app. So, they're also likely to spend more time on a PWA.

Conclusion

This is why so many tech companies spend as much time — if not more time — on PWA development and maintenance as they do on their native apps.