How PWAs Compare with Native and Hybrid Mobile Apps

Mobile applications have become a large part of our everyday lives. We chat with friends, shop for clothes, play games, and get information quickly by using apps. With the increasing app world, there are three primary types of apps that have emerged: progressive web apps (PWAs), native apps, and hybrid apps. Every type has something special. In this blog, we will see what each of them is and how they differ. At the end, you will be able to understand what type suits you best.

Apps have varied functions. Native applications are developed on a particular phone system, such as Android or iOS. PWAs exist on the web, yet they behave like apps. Hybrid applications are a combination of both web and native code. We shall consider the types and then compare PWA vs native applications and hybrid vs progressive web applications. This will assist you in identifying the strengths and the weaknesses of each. So, let us enter the mobile app world!

Good To Read: Progressive Web Apps: Core Features, Architecture, Pros, and Cons

What is a Progressive Web App?

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are mobile-like websites. You access them in a browser, yet they can be used offline and notify you. They are based on contemporary web tools, and thus there is no necessity to go to an app store. Once you bookmark a PWA, it appears exactly like an app on your phone home screen.

PWAs are quick to load and are smooth. They employ methods such as caching to save some data on your device. This implies that you can continue using the components of the app even when you have a slow or lost internet. They also update themselves in the background, so you never have to go to a store to get the latest features.

What is a Native App?

Native apps are developed using specific tools to a specific system. To give an example, Swift or Objective-C is used in iPhone apps, and Kotlin or Java is used in Android apps. These applications reside in the app store. You download them, install them, and they are on your home screen as any other app.

Native apps can access all the features of the device since they are designed to work on a single system. They can access the camera, the GPS and other hardware more profoundly. It implies that they tend to be more performant and be able to provide more sophisticated features compared to other types of apps. They also adhere to the design principles of every system and thus they are at home in your device.

What is a Hybrid App?

Hybrid apps combine web code and native code. They are created in web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and are encapsulated in a native shell. This shell allows the app to be executed on various systems- iOS or Android- without having to rebuild it separately on each.

Hybrid apps are able to share a lot of their code with both systems. This may save time and money in the app construction. They can also access some device features, such as push notifications and the camera, using plugins. They may not, however, access all new features as quickly as native apps because they depend on plugins.

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Comparing PWAs and Native Apps

Comparing PWA and native apps, a few aspects come to mind. To begin with, PWAs are simple to install and update since they operate using a browser. You do not have to visit an app store. Native apps require a visit to the app store, download and manual or automatic updates. This may be additional work to both users and developers.

• Conversely, native apps have more access to features of the device and tend to be faster. An example is that a native game can directly utilize the GPU to achieve smooth graphics. PWAs can come close, but may not be as fast or graphically impressive as a high-end game. When the app requires intensive lifting, such as real-time video editing, native is usually the solution.
• Offline support is another difference. Native apps are offline by default after installation since all the contents are stored in your machine. PWAs are also capable of offline work, but require a special setup. Developers are required to pre-select files to cache. Unless properly configured, some components of the PWA will fail offline.
• Maintenance and cost are also different. PWAs are written in a single codebase. This implies that one team is able to make changes that are applicable to all. Using native apps, you may require iOS and Android teams. This doubles the labour and expense. A PWA may be a smarter option in case of a small project or a limited budget.
• Lastly, it is discoverability. PWAs are searchable using search engines such as Google, which can attract new users through web search. Native apps are dependent on app stores which are congested and competitive. To be noticed, you have to optimize your app store page with keywords, images, and reviews.

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Comparing Hybrid and Progressive Web Apps

Discussing the hybrid and progressive web apps, the question of code reuse and performance is usually brought up. Hybrid apps allow you to write once and run everywhere. This is good when you need to go on iOS and Android quickly. PWAs are also single-codebase and run anywhere, without a wrapper.

• Hybrid and web apps have limitations concerning performance. Hybrid applications are executed within a web view within the native shell. This may introduce a delay. PWAs are executed directly in the browser, which may be faster when it comes to simple tasks. However, when it comes to complicated tasks, both can seem slower than native apps.
• Access to the functions of devices is also varied. The hybrid apps can access most of the phone features via plugins, such as the camera and accelerometer. Web APIs can be utilized by PWAs in some features, yet they might not be all-inclusive. As an example, PWAs are not yet able to access some sensors or establish complicated Bluetooth connections. Hybrid apps may also offer more hardware capabilities in case of the availability of the appropriate plugin.
• PWAs have an advantage of installation: you simply add them to the home screen. Even hybrid apps need to be downloaded in an app store. Such an additional step may put off some users. However, hybrid apps have the confidence of being on the app stores. People tend to feel safer downloading from a store that is familiar to them.
• It is easy to update PWAs. They fetch new code whenever you open them. Hybrid applications require pushing updates via app stores. This may be time-consuming to approve. PWAs provide you with that speed in case you need to resolve bugs quickly. Nonetheless, app stores do provide some form of quality control over hybrid apps, which can be used to keep standards.

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When to Choose Each App Type

Choosing between these app types depends on your goals. If you want a quick proof of concept or have a small budget, PWAs are a strong choice. They give you reach across all devices with one codebase. For example, if you have a news site that wants to act more like an app, a PWA can fit perfectly.

• If you need deep access to device hardware and top performance, native apps win. Think high-end games, video editing tools, or apps that rely on complex sensor data. Native code gives the speed and power you need. You should also pick native if you plan to sell your app in the store as a big-brand product.
• Hybrid apps sit in the middle. They work when you need to build for both iOS and Android, but also need some device features. They let you save time on coding while still tapping into push notifications or in-app purchases. If your app has moderate performance needs and you want time and cost savings, hybrid is your path.
• Budget and team skills matter too. PWAs and hybrid apps lean on web developers who know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Native apps require experts in Swift, Kotlin, or Java. Hiring or training teams for two native codebases can raise costs. Choose the path that matches your team’s strengths.
• Maintenance is another big factor. PWAs are easy to update since users always get the newest version by reloading. Hybrid apps need store updates, and native apps need store updates and approvals. If you expect to tweak your app often, PWAs let you move faster. If you want the quality checks of a store, go with native or hybrid.

Conclusion

There are three major flavors of mobile apps: PWAs, native apps, and hybrid apps. They all have advantages and compromises. PWA vs native apps demonstrate that PWAs are the best in terms of reach, update speed, and cost, whereas native apps are the best in terms of performance and access to deep hardware. Compared to hybrid vs progressive web apps, we can say that hybrids provide a compromise: they allow you to share code and access more device capabilities, but require an app store.

The type to select is based on your project requirements, budget, and the skills of the team. Choose a PWA if you need quick reach and simple updates. When you require the best performance and access to the entire hardware, create a native app. A hybrid app can give you code reuse and a few native features. Now you know how PWAs compare to native and hybrid mobile apps with the help of this guide. Apply this knowledge and choose the optimal direction for your next project!