Why would a business push a native app over a website?

This December 2021 analysis explores why businesses might prioritize native apps over websites. The focus is on objective advantages, excluding subjective factors like development speed or intuitive design. While the web offers significant benefits (open standards, cross-platform compatibility, backward compatibility, and readily accessible URLs), native apps possess compelling features.

Key Advantages of Native Apps:

• Home Screen Presence: A native app icon on a device's home screen provides constant visibility and encourages usage. While the "Add to Home Screen" feature exists for websites, it's underutilized. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and platforms like Flutter offer potential solutions by bridging the gap between web and native experiences.

• Faster Launch Times: Native apps often load faster due to locally stored resources. However, web apps with robust caching (Service Workers) can compete effectively in this area.

• Enhanced Ad & Data Control: Mobile ad blockers primarily target web browsers, giving native apps an advantage in displaying ads and collecting user data. However, ethical considerations and user preferences should guide these practices. The lack of user control over resource loading in native apps doesn't necessarily equate to a greater security risk. App store review processes offer a degree of protection absent in web development.

• Persistent User Logins: Native apps maintain login sessions more reliably than web apps, which frequently lose login status. This contributes to a smoother user experience. Solutions like JWTs and improved authentication methods can mitigate this web app limitation.

• Native User Interface: Native apps seamlessly integrate with the device's operating system, providing a familiar and consistent user experience. Frameworks like SwiftUI (iOS) contribute to this. Web development requires significant effort to replicate this native feel. Providing web-based UI kits mirroring mobile platform design languages could help.

• Exclusive App Territory: Native apps offer a contained environment, unlike web browsers where users can easily navigate to competitors. However, this isolation limits the inherent advantages of the open web ecosystem.

• Full API Access: Native apps gain priority access to device APIs (camera, GPS, push notifications, etc.), often unavailable or delayed on the web. This can be a critical factor for apps requiring specific functionalities. Simultaneous API releases for both native and web platforms are essential.

• App Store Discoverability: App stores provide a dedicated platform for app discovery, potentially boosting visibility and user acquisition. However, the web's vast reach and SEO, while challenging, offer opportunities for broader audience engagement. Allowing web apps into app stores would level the playing field.

• Simplified Offline Support: Native apps inherently offer more straightforward offline support compared to web apps relying on Service Workers. Improving the ease of implementing offline capabilities in web apps is crucial.

Conclusion:

While native apps offer distinct advantages, the web's potential is vast. Addressing the challenges outlined above—improving PWA support, enhancing web app caching, providing better offline functionality, and ensuring feature parity with device APIs—can significantly reduce the need for native apps in many scenarios. The ideal future may involve a convergence where websites become the primary platform for all types of applications. The ShopTalk 497 podcast provides further insights into this dynamic landscape.

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