PWA or native app?

"PWA or native app?" is a question almost every company starting a mobile project faces. Both options offer an app-like experience on the phone, but the structure behind them, the cost drivers and the maintenance load differ. In this article we compare the two paths without drowning in technical detail and list the questions to ask when making the decision.

First, let's simplify the two terms. A native app is built specifically for iPhone (iOS) or Android and downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. A PWA (Progressive Web App) is a web app that runs in the browser but can be added to the home screen, opens full screen and in some cases works offline. There is also a hybrid / cross-platform path in between, which produces app store apps for both iOS and Android from a single codebase.

When is a PWA enough?

The biggest advantage of a PWA is that it reaches everyone through a single web address without going through the app store process. When you release an update, users don't need to tap "update"; the new version arrives when the page reloads.

A PWA is usually the right choice when:

• Your user base is defined and closed (dealers, staff, existing customers), and you don't need to be discovered in an app store.
• The app mainly handles tasks like filling in forms, viewing lists, placing orders and reading reports.
• You want to start fast and test the idea in the field.
• You already have a solid web platform or portal, and the PWA will be its mobile face.

You also need to know the limits. PWA support on iPhone has improved over the years, but it is still not as free as a native app when it comes to notifications, background processing and some hardware access. Getting users to install the app via "Add to Home Screen" also takes a little guidance the first time.

When is a native app a must?

For some jobs, the native path (or cross-platform close to native) is almost mandatory:

• When you need deep hardware access, such as continuous background location tracking, Bluetooth device connections or NFC reading.
• When the app must work offline for long periods and keep large amounts of data on the device.
• When being in the app store, being searched for and downloaded, is part of your business (for example, a consumer loyalty app).
• When notifications are at the center of your communication strategy and must work reliably on iPhone as well.

The price of a native app is tracking two platforms separately, passing app store reviews and keeping up with operating system updates all year round. We cover this topic separately in our article on app maintenance and updates.

Comparison table

The "low / high" labels in the table are relative; the real deciding factor is the complexity of the work the app will do.

Five questions to ask before deciding

1. Who is the user? A closed group such as staff and dealers, or consumers who don't know you yet?
2. Is there always an internet connection? If people work at construction sites, warehouses or rural locations, the need for offline use changes the decision. For details, see our article on apps that work offline.
3. What hardware will it touch? Camera and location usually work with a PWA too; Bluetooth printers, barcode scanners and NFC generally require native.
4. How critical are notifications? "Nice to have," or does the workflow depend on them?
5. Who will maintain it? After launch, who will track operating system changes every year, and where will the budget come from?

The answers usually point toward "PWA first, native later if needed" or "straight to cross-platform." Fully native makes sense for projects with genuinely deep hardware needs.

Common mistakes

• Treating the app as a copy of the website. Moving your corporate website's content into an app gives users nothing new. An app should make a task that is done repeatedly on the phone easier.
• Starting with two separate native apps. Opening two separate codebases in the first version, before the idea is validated, burns through the budget early.
• Forgetting the back end. An app does not live on its own; orders, stock and customer data come from a server and often from the ERP. That connection is integration work and must be part of the plan from the start.

How we do it at Globya

First we talk about the user and the task to be done on the phone; technology choice comes after that. In most corporate projects we build a PWA on top of the existing portal or web platform, and if the need arises, we move to an app store app that uses the same back end. That way your investment is not wasted. Because the server, integration, app and maintenance are handled by one team, you avoid orphaned problems like "the app works but the data isn't coming through." Details are on our mobile app service page.

Frequently asked questions