Web Apps vs Mobile Apps: A Detailed Comparison

There’s a common misconception that native mobile apps and web apps are the same thing, but actually this couldn’t be further from the truth.

It’s important not to get the two confused—not only are there large disparities for the user, but also in how they’re also developed and deployed. All in all, there are quite a lot of differences between a mobile app vs. a web app, and any web developer worth their salt should be able to spot them.

First though, it can be useful to distinguish between web apps and websites. So, what is a web app? Simply put, it’s a website that is designed fluidly, responding to being viewed on a smartphone.

But what is the difference between a mobile app vs. a web app? Let’s take a look. If you’d like to skip ahead to a certain section, simply use the table of contents.

As smartphones continue to dominate the technology landscape, businesses must decide whether to build a web app or mobile app to meet their goals. With over 6 billion mobile users worldwide, mobile apps present huge opportunities to engage users and grow revenue. However, web apps also offer advantages like broader reach and lower development costs. I’ll compare web apps vs mobile apps in depth so you can determine the best option for your needs.

What are Web Apps and Mobile Apps?

First, let’s clearly define what web apps and mobile apps are:

Web apps are accessed through a web browser. They are not installed on a device. Web apps are built using web development languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Examples include Gmail, Google Docs, and Slack.
Mobile apps are installed on devices like smartphones and tablets. They are built using native languages like Swift for iOS and Java for Android. Mobile apps can access device features like the camera GPS, and more. Popular examples are Facebook, Instagram, and Uber.

Key Differences Between Web Apps and Mobile Apps

While web apps and mobile apps both deliver digital experiences, they have fundamental differences:

1. Installation

Web apps do not require installation, Users simply access them through a web browser,
Mobile apps must be downloaded from an app store like the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

2. Development

Web apps have a faster and lower cost development process. They use common web programming languages and can be built for multiple platforms easily.
Mobile apps require expertise in native languages for each platform like iOS and Android. Development is more complex and expensive.

3. Offline Access

Web apps require an internet connection to function. They rely on real-time server access.
Many mobile apps can work offline once downloaded. This allows uninterrupted usage.

4. Hardware Access

Web apps have limited access to hardware features like GPS, camera, and more.
Mobile apps can directly access all native device hardware features. This enables richer functionality.

5. Updates

Web apps update automatically without user intervention.
Mobile apps require users to download updates periodically from the app store.

6. Discoverability

Web apps may be harder to find as they are not listed in app stores.
Mobile apps are easy to find by browsing category listings in the app store.

7. Performance

Web apps may experience lag due to reliance on internet connectivity and remote servers.
Mobile apps are optimized specifically for mobile devices so they often feel faster and smoother.

8. Security

Web apps are more prone to security issues like malware, phishing, and hacking attacks.
Mobile apps offer more built-in security through app store vetting and access to device features like fingerprint login.

This table summarizes the key differences:

Factor	Web App	Mobile App
Installation	None required, browser-based	Downloaded from app stores
Development	Faster, cheaper, cross-platform	Slower, costlier, platform specific
Offline access	Requires internet connectivity	Can work offline
Hardware access	Limited	Full native access
Updates	Automatic	Manual
Discoverability	Harder to find	Easy discovery through app store
Performance	Potential lag due to connectivity issues	Smoother performance from device optimization
Security	More vulnerabilities	Enhanced through vetting and device security features

When Should You Build a Web App?

Given their advantages, here are some of the best cases for developing a web app:

You want to reach the widest possible audience across all devices and platforms.
Your app needs to be accessed on both desktop and mobile so responsive design is optimal.
You want a faster and cheaper development process to build and iterate your app.
Your app needs to be frequently updated so automatic updates are beneficial.
You have a limited budget so the lower cost of web app development is appealing.
You want to launch quickly without the delays of app store approval.
You want broad discoverability without being restricted to app store listings.

When Does a Mobile App Make More Sense?

In other cases, a mobile app may be the better choice:

You are targeting users primarily on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
You want to provide advanced device-specific features like GPS, camera, push notifications, etc.
You want the smoothest possible performance optimized for mobile.
Being able to work offline is an important capability for your users.
You want users to be able to easily find your app through app store search and categories.
Enhanced security features like fingerprint login are needed.
You want to leverage both Apple iOS and Android platforms to maximize reach.

Progressive Web Apps As a Hybrid Option

Progressive web apps (PWAs) are a relatively newer option that combines attributes of web apps and mobile apps:

They are accessed through the browser like web apps so have wide reach.
But they also offer some mobile app features like working offline, fast performance, and push notifications.
PWAs load much faster than traditional websites while being easier to build than native mobile apps.
They require no app store installation while offering app-like engagement.

For many use cases, PWAs offer the best of both worlds between web and mobile apps.

Key Takeaways

Mobile apps must be downloaded while web apps are simply accessed through any browser.
Web apps provide faster, cheaper development while mobile apps enable access to native device capabilities.
Offline usage, performance, updates, security, and discoverability differ between the platforms.
Web apps suit cost-effectiveness, broad reach, and frequent updates.
Mobile apps are best for leveraging mobile features, reaching mobile users, and smooth performance.
Progressive web apps combine advantages of both for some use cases.

Making the Right Choice for Your Needs

By weighing the unique advantages and limitations, you can determine if a web app or mobile app better aligns with your goals and target users’ needs. Consider your budget, features, performance, security, and development priorities. In some cases, you may even decide to pursue both web and mobile apps to maximize presence. With a clear understanding of the web app vs mobile app comparison, you can craft the optimal digital experience.

Frequency of Entities:

web app: 23
mobile app: 23
web apps: 7
mobile apps: 7
progressive web apps: 3
app store: 3

web app vs mobile app

How are web apps built?

Web apps tend to be built using JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and Python.

Unlike mobile apps, there is no standard software development kit for building web apps. However, developers do have access to templates. Compared to mobile apps, web apps are usually quicker and easier to build—but they’re much simpler in terms of features.

If you’re interested in learning HTML, CSS and JavaScript, our free 5-day short course boasts a series of useful tutorials to get you started.

How are mobile apps built?

Mobile apps are more expensive to develop than web apps. Because they’re platform-specific, launching an app across different platforms pretty much means starting from scratch in terms of design and development.

However, they’re much faster, and tend to be more advanced in terms of features and functionality.

Native mobile apps are built using specific languages and Integrated Development Environments (IDE), depending on the intended platform.

Apple devices run on the iOS native operating system, so Apple apps are built using either Objective-C or Swift, and the Xcode IDE. Native apps for Android are written in Java and are commonly built using the Android Studio or Eclipse IDE.

Apple and Google also provide their own development tools, interface elements and software development kits (SDK) which developers can use to build native mobile apps.

If you’d like to try it yourself, we’ve created a complete guide to how to code a mobile app from scratch.

Progressive Web Apps (PWA) Vs Native Apps

What is the difference between web apps and mobile apps?

Although they tend to serve the same functions, web apps and mobile apps are two different products. The main differences between them are: Mobile apps are built for one specific mobile platform, and they can usually be downloaded from that platform’s application store service.

What is a mobile web application?

Mobile web applications are built using the same programming languages used for creating websites. They can be accessed by users through a web browser following a dedicated URL link. These applications are not downloaded to the device, so can be built as cross-platform compatible.

What is a web app?

A web app is an internet-enabled application that runs through a web browser, designed and developed for many devices, independent of the operating system. Easy maintenance: with a single codebase, developers only need to make one set of updates. Quick launch: there is no formal approval process or centralized marketplace for web apps.

Are mobile apps better than web apps?

Mobile apps have the advantage of being faster and more efficient, but they do require the user to regularly download updates. Web apps will update themselves. Above all, the difference between a mobile app and a web app is that they’re designed and built very differently.