App, PWA, or Website? Choose the Right One!

Deciding between a native app, a progressive web app (PWA), or a traditional website isn’t just a technical decision—it’s a strategic one. It affects user experience, performance, accessibility, and ultimately, the success of your digital product. At marqably, we specialize in building large-scale apps and platforms using the best technology stacks, and we’ve helped enterprise clients navigate this choice successfully.

In this article, we’ll break down the differences between these three approaches, their pros and cons, and when each option makes the most sense. And since we love technology, we’ll also explore hybrid solutions that give you the best of both worlds!

Understanding the Difference

Let’s start with a simple analogy: Imagine you’re opening a restaurant.

• A website is like a public menu outside your restaurant. Anyone walking by can see it, get basic information, and decide whether they want to enter.
• A progressive web app (PWA) is like a food truck. It offers a lot of the functionality of a full restaurant, but it’s mobile, convenient, and doesn’t require customers to book a table.
• A native app is the full restaurant experience. It provides the best service, comfort, and performance but requires people to commit by stepping inside.

Now, let’s look at the technical side of things.

Key Differences:

• Installation: Websites don’t require installation, while PWAs can be added to the home screen, and native apps must be downloaded from an app store.
• Performance: Websites depend on an internet connection, PWAs offer near-native performance, and native apps provide the best speed and responsiveness.
• Offline Access: Websites require an internet connection, PWAs work offline using caching, and native apps function fully offline.
• Device Features: Websites have limited access to device features, PWAs can use some features like GPS and push notifications, and native apps have full access.
• User Engagement: Websites typically have lower engagement, PWAs offer more interactivity, and native apps provide the highest engagement through direct user interaction and notifications.
• Development Cost: Websites are the most cost-effective, PWAs have a moderate development cost, and native apps are the most expensive to develop.

When to Choose a Website?

A website is the simplest and most cost-effective option. If your goal is to provide information, generate leads, or maintain an online presence, a website is the way to go. It’s accessible from any device, doesn’t require downloads, and is easier to maintain.

Best for:

• Corporate websites, blogs, and news sites
• Landing pages for marketing campaigns
• Simple service-based platforms

When NOT to choose a website: If your project relies heavily on user engagement, real-time interactions, or requires offline functionality, a website alone won’t be enough.

When to Choose a PWA?

A PWA is a great middle-ground between a website and a native app. It’s a web-based application that can be installed on a user’s device, work offline, and send push notifications.

Best for:

• E-commerce platforms that want mobile engagement without forcing an app download
• News portals and blogs that benefit from push notifications
• Service-based applications that need some offline functionality

Example: Imagine you run an online store. A PWA lets customers browse your catalog, add items to a cart, and even check out—all without an internet connection. The next time they go online, their order is processed. This can significantly improve conversion rates compared to a traditional website.

When NOT to choose a PWA: If you need deep system integration (e.g., Bluetooth, advanced camera functions, or background processing), PWAs still have limitations compared to native apps.

When to Choose a Native App?

Native apps provide the best user experience, performance, and access to device capabilities. If your application needs heavy processing, advanced features, or high user engagement, native is the way to go.

Best for:

• Apps that require deep device integration (e.g., health tracking, GPS, camera, AR/VR)
• High-performance gaming or interactive applications
• Social media platforms or content-heavy applications

Example: A fitness tracking app that collects real-time sensor data from a smartwatch would require a native app. A PWA simply wouldn’t have the same level of access or performance.

When NOT to choose a native app: If your goal is reach and accessibility over deep functionality, forcing users to download an app might be a barrier. If you can achieve most of your goals with a PWA, it’s often a more cost-effective solution.

Hybrid Solutions: Best of Both Worlds

Here at marqably, we specialize in solutions that don’t force you into one box. With Flutter, for example, we can build a native app that also runs seamlessly in a web browser, providing a unified experience across platforms. This means:

• A single codebase for both app stores and the web
• Reduced development time and costs
• A consistent user experience

If you need the engagement of a native app but also want web accessibility, a Flutter-based hybrid app might be the best solution.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business

Choosing between a website, PWA, or native app depends on your business goals, budget, and the level of user engagement you need.

• If you need reach and accessibility, go for a website.
• If you need better engagement with a balance of cost and performance, go for a PWA.
• If you need high performance, deep functionality, and the best user experience, go for a native app.
• If you want a combination of native performance and web reach, let’s talk about a hybrid Flutter solution.

At marqably, we’ve built over 200 large-scale platforms, apps, and web applications for clients across Europe. If you’re trying to decide which approach fits your project, let’s chat! We love discussing tech, and we’ll make sure your digital product is not just great, but exceptional.

📩 Get in touch with us today!