Mobile App vs. Web App: What to Choose Today and Why

When you have an idea for a digital product, it often feels natural to immediately think of it as a mobile app or a web app. However, the first idea that comes to mind is not always the best for developing a successful mobile app or web app.

For the final product to satisfy both the client and its users, it is necessary to carefully evaluate the options. Therefore, it is crucial to go through a validation phase that allows understanding whether to choose an app or a web app with full awareness of your objective.

But how do you choose the most suitable type of product? And above all, what are the differences between these products that should lead you to prefer one over the other? Let’s find out together.

What is the Difference Between an App and a Web App: Some Clarity

To choose one type over the other, first, you need to clearly understand what we are talking about. It is common for founders to have the development of a mobile app in mind without truly knowing the characteristics of a web app or how it differs from a website.

Web App: What it is and how it differs from a classic website

In definitiva, un sito web e una web app differiscono per una caratteristica fondamentale: lo scopo con cui nascono. Il sito è fatto per guardare e leggere contenuti, mentre la piattaforma può avere finalità diverse, che però prevedono generalmente di interagire con il contenuto.

For non-experts, the difference between a web app and a website may seem subtle. In reality, these are two completely different concepts, with very different costs and development times.

A website is usually a “showcase” where static information is displayed. For example, it can be the website of a restaurant showing its menu and opening hours, a company showing its values, or the institutional website of a university.

Its main characteristic, therefore, is showing the same content to everyone, and consequently, it usually does not require authentication and contains information that changes rarely — in other words, it is not updated in real time based on the user’s actions.

A web platform, or web app, instead, usually shows different information to different users. Think, for example, of Netflix: when you access it from your computer browser, although the content catalog is the same for everyone, you will see your personal list of saved series, whether you have already watched a movie, or you can resume an episode from where you left off.

Furthermore, a web app allows the user to interact with and modify what they see. In our example, you can not only view content, but also save it, indicate whether you liked it, and much more.

In conclusion, a website and a web app differ in one fundamental characteristic: their purpose. A website is made to view and read content, while a platform can have different purposes, which generally involve interacting with the content.

What Changes Between Creating a Mobile App and a Web App: Different Uses

If we consider mobile apps, they usually serve the same function as a web app but do so from a different device, with specific characteristics.

The most obvious difference might be device availability: almost everyone always has a smartphone at hand from which they can easily access their apps, while some people might not own or habitually use a computer.

In reality, however, well-made web apps — if this fits the specific product goal — are usually also optimized for mobile use, meaning they include a responsive version. The potential inconvenience is having to open the browser and search for the desired site, rather than accessing it with a single tap, as with an app.

The device also brings other differences between mobile apps and web apps, such as screen size. If you intend to develop a platform that requires displaying a large amount of data — for example, a management system or a platform for rendering — it is much more comfortable to access it from a computer rather than a mobile app.

However, mobile apps are usually also accessible from tablets, which generally have a screen almost as large as a small laptop, combined with the convenience of a touchscreen.

But if the first two differences mentioned can somehow be mitigated, what is the real difference between a mobile app and a web app, beyond technical aspects? Probably the main distinction lies in the unique smartphone features, such as notifications or the ability to access GPS and the camera, which are not necessarily absent when using a browser, but still depend on it.

One should also not underestimate the offline aspect of our app: web apps, in fact, are available only online unless precautions are taken, such as developing a PWA (Progressive Web App, essentially a version of a web app that approaches a native app) or enabling the download of content needed offline.

Although we live in a world that is almost always connected, depending on the purpose of your app, offline use may be necessary — for example, for apps that display maps in the mountains. It is still possible to work around this from the web side by providing the option to download the content that will be needed offline.

Technical Differences Between Web Apps and Mobile Apps

Beyond different use, there are other aspects that could make you prefer a web app over a mobile app, or vice versa. Even technically, there are substantial differences that should affect your choice. Let’s see what they are and why they matter.

The first major difference concerns distribution. A web platform is available to anyone, easily accessible via a simple link, while mobile apps must be downloaded from stores (App Store or Google Play).

This means availability is different: clicking a link is a quick action that a user can perform even out of mild curiosity, whereas downloading an app requires stronger motivation.

Of course, there is also the opposite side: a link is easy to use and easy to forget, while once downloaded, an app remains on the device, reminding the user of the product’s existence.

Linked to this difference is also a different update management: a website change usually takes just a few minutes; for an app, it is necessary to publish the update on the store and wait for it to be available and downloaded.

Finally, there is a difference in the development method of mobile applications versus web applications. While a web app requires a single language to be used everywhere, mobile development requires specific languages for each device, with consequent higher costs and development times compared to the web. Saving on development also allows investing more in other aspects, such as UX and marketing.

How to Choose Between a Web App and a Mobile App: Conclusions

Coming back to our initial question: what’s better to develop?

The answer, as with many similar questions, is: it depends on the product and context. A common roadmap is to first launch an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) as a web app to validate the idea quickly and cost-effectively, and then later decide whether to expand it into a full-fledged mobile app.

However, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. For products requiring specific mobile-only features, the web-first approach may not be the best option.

Here’s a summary table of the characteristics of both products discussed so far, to help you decide:

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your needs, budget, and target users.

Are There Alternatives to Web Apps or Mobile Apps?

If, while reading this article, you thought: “Wow, I don’t need all these extra features,” perhaps your product does not need a web app or even a mobile app. But what are the alternatives?

One alternative has already been mentioned: a website may be sufficient if, rather than developing a digital product, you want to promote your business or physical product; in this case, a website is definitely the most sensible choice and can save a significant amount of money.

Another simplified alternative to web apps and mobile apps is developing a chatbot integrated with Telegram or WhatsApp, which combines the portability advantage of a mobile app with the fact that nothing new needs to be downloaded, unlike a web app.

There are also more complex or specific alternatives, such as the aforementioned PWA or desktop software. Again, it is important to carefully evaluate whether this is truly the best option for the end user.

Who Can Help You Decide Between a Web App, Mobile App, or Other Products: Discover the Sprint Check

If this article has not been enough to clarify your ideas, or if you want personalized professional advice for your context, the Sprint Check is what you are looking for.

The Sprint Check offers consulting for founders or future founders who are stuck in product development, regardless of the phase they are in. It is a free service created by Mabiloft to give back to the environment from which we come and where we gained experience.

It consists of completing a questionnaire to give us a comprehensive view of your situation and the possibility of booking a call to discuss it together and solve your doubts to unblock your product situation.

If you are still unsure whether this solution could be useful to you, contact us for more information. If we have convinced you and you want to give your product a new chance, click the button below and get started immediately.