Mobile apps used to be cool and a reasonable way to get software into mobile devices. But:
- People are reluctant to install yet another app
- App stores have too much control over what you can publish
- App stores take too much of your in-app revenue
AppBrain stats reveal that a staggering 2.2 million apps on Google Play have less than three ratings. This means that even the developers themselves have not downloaded the app or bothered to rate it. It’s a ghost town out there.
What if there was a better way?
Well, there is.
It’s a Progressive Web App (PWA)
PWAs are essentially websites that deliver app-like experiences.
Some quick facts:
- Installation is optional
- No royalties on sales
- Zero control from an app store saying you can or can’t do
Here you can read more about why Bjørn from Trailguide decided to keep his product as a PWA.
One of the biggest reasons, especially for early stage businesses without a lot of cash to throw away:
“Having one codebase: If we created Trailguide as a native app, we would need to have three codebases. One for iOS (Swift), one for Android (Java or Kotlin), and one for the Web (JavaScript). Having three codebases would require a lot more developer skills and resources, something we do not currently have.” – Bjørn, Trailguide
A PWA is a single codebase for your mobile users and computer users. This is BIG during early stages!
PWAs are “instantly there,” as they can be accessed through a browser without the need to download a bloated 50MB app. Even game developers can export for WebGL instead of building a native app. It’s a no-brainer.
“But can I put this on an app store?”
You can, but you don’t have to.
“Does it work offline?”
Yes! PWAs can be made “offline-first” just like a native app.
Conclusion
Hope this made you consider a PWA!
Are you wondering if a PWA makes sense for you, or do you have other questions about the direction of your tech business?
I offer fractional CTO services for businesses like yours. If you have hard problems you want to tackle but feel your organization lacks the perspective to tackle fully, get in touch! I guarantee to ask very hard questions that lead to solving hard problems.