Almost 60% of internet users are strictly mobile users. The number of people utilizing the internet through desktop computers is diminishing every year. Smartphones accompany people wherever they go, so they have become the primary means to stay connected. A Mobile App and a Mobile Website may have an identical user interface, yet are two completely different things. A mobile website has become a basic requirement for every website, so the question of getting it is a no-brainer. The need for a mobile app (or native app) depends on the nature of your business, or the purpose you wish to serve.
Mobile Apps vs. Web Apps
Native mobile apps have become a popular means to achieve a more intimate connection with mobile users. They are made for a specific operating system, such as Android, iOS, and Windows. A native app built for Android will not work on Mac, and vice versa. Mobile apps can be installed from the designated app store of a phone, and may receive regular updates. They are enabled to provide a faster and highly responsive user experience, opposed to a mobile website.
Native apps appear on the home screen of a mobile user, so they are constantly aware of their existence. They may be used on a daily basis and play an important role in our lives throughout the day. Mobile apps have an interactive design and incorporate wider features as compared to a simple mobile website. These applications can work online and offline; although most of them require the internet to function, they still provide partial features without an internet connection.
Mobile apps offer an intuitive user interface, which makes it easier to manage certain tasks. Unlike mobile websites, they can access user data and in-device features like camera and GPS. The idea is to assist the user on a personal level and allow them to indulge in your products or services.
A Mobile website is simply a website that can adjust to different screen sizes. Websites that are not mobile friendly will lose the opportunity to connect with smartphone users. Given the high percentage of users that access websites through mobile devices, it will deliver a fatal flow to a website’s repute.
Mobile websites are cheap to develop in contrast to mobile apps. A mobile website is compatible with all platforms and operating systems. They do not have to be installed or updated by the user. Native apps have to be built separately, explicit to different mobile platforms. They tend to become a very costly affair if you need to incorporate complex features.
Final Verdict
A mobile website is more than enough if you are just trying to increase visibility of your website on various platforms. It is sufficient for websites restricted to company profiles and portfolios; they are perfect to enhance online presence of physical organizations like a school, hospital, or law firm.
Mobile apps are more suitable if electronic interaction is a major aspect of your business. Applications like Uber and DoorDash are designed to accommodate users on a routinely basis, and therefore require a more direct approach. A mobile website is mandatory, and pairing that with a mobile app is ideal, if your budget allows.
