What is the Difference between a Mobile App and a Web App ?

1. What is the Difference between a Mobile App and a Web App ? There is a common misconception that native mobile apps and web apps are same — but actually, these two are quite different. Not only they are developed and deployed differently, but also they have certain differences for the user; so it’s important not to get confused between these two. It can be useful to differentiate between web apps and websites. Simply, a web app is a website that is designed fluidly, and designed responsive, works perfectly when viewed on a smartphone. There are various types of websites out there, some of them are static and rarely updated, and while others are responsive, dynamic and have a great deal of interactivity. Web apps perform a function like the downloadable apps, but all from the comfort of your phone’s browser. But the question here is what is the difference between a mobile app and a web app? Let’s find out. Mobile apps vs. web apps The Native mobile apps are built for a specific platform. For Example, Android apps will work for a Samsung device running on Android and iOS for the Apple iPhone. They are downloaded and installed via a Google Play store, App store and will require the access to system resources, such as GPS and the camera function. Snapchat, Instagram, Google Maps and Facebook Messenger are some popular examples of mobile apps.

2. Web apps are accessed via the internet browser and they will adapt to whichever device you’re viewing them on. They are not native to any particular system and don’t need to be downloaded or installed on the device. Due to their responsive nature, they do look and function a lot like mobile apps — and this is where the confusion begins. Let’s take an example of the Yelp native app vs. the Yelp.com web app. When you install the Yelp app on your mobile and then access Yelp.com via the browser on your phone, you will notice that the web app has been made to look and feel more like the native mobile app: as it turns your browser bar red, and when you scroll down, it locks the search bar in place. While they both have similar designs and even the same fonts and color scheme, but in the end, these are essentially two different products. Web apps require an active internet connection in order to run, whereas mobile apps can work offline. Mobile apps have the huge advantage of being faster and more efficient than web apps, contingent on the app getting updated regularly. In the case of the Web apps, they get automatic updates. Mobile apps and web apps both are designed and built very differently. How are mobile apps built? As Mobile apps are platform-specific they are more expensive to develop than web apps. Launching an app across different platforms means starting from scratch in terms of design and development.

3. However, they are much faster and tend to be more advanced in terms of their features and functionality. Native mobile apps are built on the specific languages and Integrated Development Environments (IDE) depending on the intended platform. Apple devices run on the iOS operating system, so their apps are built with the help of either Objective-C or Swift and the X code IDE. Native apps for Android are commonly built using the Android Studio or Eclipse IDE and are written in Java. Apple and Google both provide their own development tools, interface elements and software development kits (SDK) which are used by the developers to build native mobile apps. How are web apps built? Web apps are built using JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5. Unlike mobile apps, there is no standard software development kit for creating web apps. However, developers do have access to templates. As compared to mobile apps, web apps are quicker and easier to build — but they are quite simpler in terms of their features. Mobile apps vs. web apps: The pros and cons Native mobile apps Pros: • Faster than web apps • Better functionality as they have access to system resources • Can work offline

4. • approved by the app store They are safe and secure — as each native app must first be • interface elements, and SDKs They are easier to build due to the availability of developer tools, Cons: • More expensive to build than web apps • usually which means designing and building the app from scratch Compatibility with different platforms (i.e. iOS and Android) • Expensive to maintain and update • by the app store Sometimes it becomes very difficult to get a native app approved Web apps Pros: • function in-browser They don’t need to be downloaded or installed — as web apps • works on all the mobile platforms. Easy to maintain — as they have a common codebase which • Will update themselves. • Web Apps are quicker and easier to build than mobile apps. • approval, These can be launched quickly, as they don’t require any store

5. Cons: • Do not work offline • terms of their features Web Apps are slower than the mobile apps and less advanced in • the database, such as the app store They are not discoverable as mobile apps as they are not listed in • need to be approved by the app store Quality and security is not always guaranteed as web apps don’t If you’re interested in building your own app, connect with us for a NO-OBLIGATION consultation: business@i-webservices.com