| Feature | PWAs | Native Apps |
| Discoverability | Easily discoverable via search engines | Limited to app stores |
| Performance | Optimised for mobile devices and networks | Can be resource-intensive |
| Push notifications | Send personalised notifications | Depends on app store integration |
| Offline functionality | Work offline with cached content | Depends on internet connection |
| Installation | It can be installed on the home screen | Require app store downloads |
Benefits of Progressive Web Apps
Take note of the following benefits that are commonly associated with progressive web apps:
Enhanced User Experience
Progressive web apps present you with a significantly enhanced user experience, especially when compared to traditional mobile apps. Due to their offline capabilities, instant engagement, and fast load times, PWAs offer an intuitive and seamless experience for users.
Push Notifications: PWAs support push notifications, allowing you to send personalised updates and alerts to the users’ devices. The result here is that the users will stay informed and engaged.
Offline Functionality: PWAs can cache essential content, which means that they can function online. This will ensure that users have the option of accessing your app even when not connected to the World Wide Web.
Instant Engagement: PWAs can be directly launched from the home screen. This eliminates the requirements for often time-consuming app store downloads/installations. This will offer a highly native-like experience.
Fast Load Times: PWAs utilise prefetching and caching techniques to load quickly, even when the network is slow. This improves the overall engagement and decreases user frustration.
Improved Performance
Progressive web apps are optimised for networks and mobile devices, offering amazing performance, especially when compared with traditional mobile apps.
Service Workers: PWAs utilise service workers to tackle offline functionality and background tasks. This ensures that your app works smoothly even when the user stays offline.
Caching and Prefetching: PWAs make use of caching and prefetching techniques to store frequently accessed resources locally. This significantly improves load times and decreases network requests.
Optimised for Mobile: PWAs are designed to work seamlessly on a host of mobile gadgets. This includes from low-end feature phones to high-end smartphones.
Cost Effectiveness
Progressive web apps present you with a cost-effective approach to mobile app development when compared with traditional native apps.
Wider Reach: PWAs can be accessed by users on the device of their choice that supports the latest web browser, expanding your reach.
Decreased Development Time: PWAs can be quickly developed as compared to native apps, as they do not need separate development for each platform (Android and iOS).
Single Codebase: PWAs can be developed via a single codebase, which decreases maintenance and development costs.
SEO and Discoverability
Compared to traditional mobile apps, PWAs are more discoverable via search engines. This can cause improved user engagement and increased organic traffic.
Improved User Engagement Metrics: PWAs can offer a great user experience, causing higher engagement metrics such as conversion rates and time spent in the app.
Increased Organic Traffic: Better search engine visibility can drive more organic traffic to your app, which will increase your user base.
Better Search Engine Visibility: PWAs can be indexed by search engines, allowing them to appear better in search results.
How to Build Progressive Web Apps
Building progressive web apps demands a good understanding of web development technologies, including JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and Service Workers.
Necessary Technologies:
Service Workers: Enabling offline functionality and background tests.
JavaScript: Adding functionality and interactivity to your PWA.
CSS: Styling your PWA to create a visually appealing interface.
HTML: The building blocks of your PWA.
Testing and Optimisation: Perform thorough testing of your PWA on various browsers and devices. This will make way for a smooth user experience.
Progressive Enhancement Approach: Building your PWA with a progressive enhancement approach will ensure that it works well on a host of browsers and devices.
PWA Manifest File: A JSON file that offers metadata about your PWA, such as its icons, name, and start URL.
Concluding Remarks
Progressive web apps are considered to be the future of mobile app development. By presenting you with enhanced discoverability, improved performance, and superior user experience, PWAs offer a great alternative to traditional native apps. Since technology is evolving, you can expect to witness even more exciting and innovative PWAs emerge.
Finally, understand that in the entire Middle Eastern region, mobile app development KSA is seen as a rapidly growing industry that has been successful in embracing PWAs as a reliable tool for delivering superb mobile experiences.