Listen to the Article
The debate about Progressive Web Apps has heated up. Developers and companies are trying to deal with a split-up tech world. They want to create smooth user experiences but face real limits like time, costs, and tech hurdles.
Progressive Web Apps combine the ease of web apps with the speed of phone apps. They seem like a good solution—but only if the situation fits.
This article looks at the details of Progressive Web Apps without giving simple yes/no answers. Instead, it focuses on key questions developers should ask when making choices.
The Case for Building PWAs
One of the most compelling arguments for Progressive Web Apps lies in their ability to circumvent the bottlenecks of traditional app distribution. Creating native apps makes developers handle app store approvals (which can be slow), follow separate rules for iPhones and Android, and struggle most with getting people to download yet another app they might not even use.
Progressive Web Apps, on the other hand, run in your web browser. Users can open them quickly with a web link—no download needed, just bookmark the site. This saves money upfront (key for new businesses or tight budgets) and lets teams launch projects faster.
Alibaba.com, the world’s biggest marketplace for wholesale goods (used in over 200 countries), saw big improvements after switching to a Progressive Web App. They had 76% more sales across all browsers, 14% more monthly iPhone users and 30% more Android users, and four times as many people adding the app to their home screens compared to before.
Offline Functionality Without Heavy Lifting
Progressive Web Apps use something called service workers—a key tool—to let apps work offline or quietly update in the background. These are features that usually only phone apps have. Service workers save important files and info, so the app keeps working even with spotty or no internet.
For example, Spotify Lite uses this setup to keep music playing in areas with bad internet. Instead of building new tech from zero, teams can use tools already built into web browsers.
This saves months of work on backend systems, letting teams focus on bigger goals and finish projects faster—all while keeping the app easy to use.
Cross-Platform Consistency
Maintaining separate codebases for iOS and Android is a notorious drain on resources, often leading to fragmented user experiences as features diverge between platforms. Progressive Web Apps eliminate this friction by running uniformly across any device with a modern browser, reducing the need for platform-specific adjustments. When Forbes transitioned to a Progressive Web App, the publication saw a 43% increase in mobile engagement, attributed to faster load times and a cohesive experience that mirrored native app behavior without the overhead of managing multiple codebases.
SEO and Discoverability
Unlike native apps, which remain hidden behind app store algorithms, Progressive Web Apps are indexed by search engines, making them discoverable through organic searches.
This visibility is particularly advantageous for content-driven platforms like news outlets or e-commerce sites, where search rankings directly impact traffic. Progressive Web Apps help you drive user engagement by combining fast performance with improved SEO.
The Case Against PWAs
Despite their promise, Progressive Web Apps face uneven support across browsers and devices, with Apple’s Safari being a notable laggard. Critical features like push notifications, background sync, and hardware access (e.g., Bluetooth or advanced camera controls) remain inconsistent or unsupported on iOS, forcing developers to implement brittle workarounds that negate the time-saving benefits of a unified codebase.
This split tech world gets worse because Apple focuses heavily on its App Store. They don’t fully support Progressive Web Apps, which helps them keep control over how apps are shared and how they make money.
Performance Trade-Offs
Progressive Web Apps work better than regular web apps in speed and smoothness, but they aren’t as good as phone apps for heavy tasks. Things like gaming, AR, or live data updates don’t work as well in browsers because they can’t fully use parts like the phone’s graphics chip or sensors.
User Perception and “Appiness”
What people expect from apps heavily influences whether they use PWAs. Phone apps feel more official and long-lasting because they’re listed in app stores and have smooth install steps. Progressive Web Apps don’t have this.
Saving a Progressive Web App to a phone’s home screen requires users to take action themselves. This is very different from downloading apps from stores. In the first half of 2024, about 25% of people in the U.S. downloaded apps from the App Store, and 27% used Google Play.
Missing Ecosystem Benefits
App stores do more than just share apps. They include tools to track app performance and keep data safe—all of which save time for developers. For example, Google Play and Apple have their own payment systems (like in-app purchases) that make buying easy and feel secure to users because they’re approved by the app stores.
Progressive Web Apps, on the other hand, don’t have these built-in tools. Developers must add outside payment systems and security steps themselves. This extra work can slow down or complicate how the app makes money—a big challenge for small teams or startups without much tech experience.
Long-Term Maintenance Risks
Web standards evolve fast, creating uncertainty. The browser tools that power Progressive Web Apps can change or disappear suddenly, risking key features breaking without warning. Native apps, however, use tools built specifically for their platform (like iOS or Android) and update less often. This makes them more stable. For apps in healthcare, finance, or business—where reliability is critical—this stability matters more than the flexibility of web apps.
When Progressive Web Apps Shine (and When They Don’t)
Progressive Web Apps work best for apps that focus on being easy to access and quick to update, even if they don’t need advanced device features. For example, news websites, blogs, or online portfolios benefit because they appear higher in search results and let users open them instantly. Company tools like HR platforms or inventory systems also work well as Progressive Web Apps because they avoid long app store review processes. In regions with slow internet or older phones, Progressive Web Apps are especially useful since they load fast and work offline.
On the other hand, Progressive Web Apps aren’t ideal for apps that require deep connections to device hardware or premium designs. High-performance games, augmented reality apps, or apps that control smart home devices often need direct access to features like cameras or sensors, which Progressive Web Apps can’t easily provide. Similarly, apps that charge subscriptions or belong to luxury brands face challenges with this approach because they rely on app stores’ trusted payment systems and polished reputations.
To Sum Up
Progressive Web Apps work best when you prioritize easy access, saving money, and ensuring the app works the same across all platforms—ideal for websites like news or shopping. They’re also a great fit for users in areas with spotty internet or for startups looking to save money by avoiding app store approvals, showing up in search results, or enabling offline functionality.
However, skip Progressive Web Apps if your app requires advanced phone features like high-end cameras or sensors, needs to feel premium (like high-end apps), is very complex (such as games or video editors), or relies on full iPhone support or special app store tools.
