Web Vs. App What Is Better For My Project?

Many small, medium, and large companies are in the process of digital transformation. At this point and when considering starting a new project from scratch, doubts arise regarding what technological elements it should have. Web vs. app, which is better to develop? Or maybe bet on a responsive web?

The most important thing is to decide what the idea consists of and have defined all the previous points we need. This includes the brand name, the business plan, the target, what the competition does, if any, and even if the integration with a wearable will be included.

Therefore, once the bases have been laid and a strategy established, it is time to resolve the confrontation between the web vs. app and to know which one to opt for. 

Website Vs. App, What Does It Depend On?

Budget

In the first place, the investment that can be made for the project influences a lot. If budget is not a problem, the ideal is to use each technology for what it is designed for—for example, choosing a native app and a website developed in Laravel or Angular.

If, on the other hand, we have a phased project in which we want to invest step by step and reuse code for later stages, then this question should be asked. This would be the case of those developments where a mobile application is first made and then a web platform with the same functionalities. 

User Experience

The adaptation to the resolution and to the different user screens, a practical structure, an appropriate design, the loading speed, etc. All factors directly affect the user experience to offer a functional platform.

For this reason, it is necessary to assess between a web vs. an app and which one will better penetrate the users and provide them with these factors optimally.

Advantages of Developing an App Over a Website

When analyzing a project's specifications and user experience, we must know how to detect which functionalities are characteristic of an app. And it is that in the development of mobile applications, these functionalities depend on the smartphone. Here are the most common:

Use the device's sensors (such as the gyroscope, accelerometer, and camera).

App design. You have to consider what public the app is aimed at; this can be a specific target, such as iPhone users. In this case, opting for native development could be appropriate. Although it should be noted that Cross technology is very advanced, there is not much difference.

Regarding the last point, once we have decided that an app is the best option, we must consider if we need a hybrid, native, or web app. A native app works only with one operating system (iOS, Android). In hybrid or cross-mobile applications, the app adapts to the device.

This differentiation is less and less necessary since all types of mobile applications can be made in cross. And it is that, from our experience, 95% of our mobile projects can be done by discarding the native code, with the consequent cost savings.

Finally, it must be taken into account that the budget of an app is usually higher than that of a website, whether it is cross-platform application development or not. Of course, the more complex the project, the more similar it will be.

It is known that some of the most recent millionaires and companies that have succeeded in their sector have been thanks to the development of successful apps, but what are the reasons for developing a web page?

Advantages of a Website Over an App

Many projects, especially in the idea phase, consider going out directly with a mobile application instead of custom web development. This is not a bad idea, but it mainly depends on the project type that will be carried out and who its end users are.

You must think of a specific UX design for the project's target in any of the cases. Web development can fit very well into a project, depending on the type, in these variants:

•    Development of a commercial website + custom web platform (for example, a website to create motorcycle routes)
•    Programming a mobile application + a commercial website (such as a job search app)
•    Development of a complex web platform (this would be the case of a corporate ERP)
On other occasions, web development can be considered when the platform is aimed at the general public, and complex functionalities must be offered to the user. Of course, as long as the project does not have specific needs that can only be covered by app development, as mentioned in the previous section.

Web Vs. App?

The type of business, the target audience, and the budget are the key elements that will answer this question. That is why it is important to be clear about these 3 factors before starting technological development. It is necessary to define well from the beginning the amortization of the technological investment or know how to look for investors for our project before starting with it. 

Mobile applications are the best option when the use of the elements of a mobile device, such as the camera, contacts, or geolocation, is required. They are ideal for businesses focused on immediacy, and the target audience is rather young. The apps must also be designed to offer real added value to the user. The choice of technology should be either a hybrid or a native app.

Web developments are designed for sectors with greater desktop use than mobile use. It is a good choice if the user has to navigate many screens or review a lot of data to get to the contracting of the service or purchase. In these cases, even if there is an app, web development is always useful to make things easier for the user.

For web development, the technology will also depend on the type of project. Simple commercial websites have an ideal solution in CMS. On the other hand, if it is a more complex development, a custom web development with a powerful framework such as NodeJs or React is a very optimal and scalable solution. Click here to get started!