Why choose a Progressive Web App (PWA)
PWAs offer ultimate freedom with app-like experiences for the web. They're installable, indexable, discoverable, linkable, accessible, maintainable, and affordable.
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are websites with app-like functionality, built with native web platform technologies, that deliver an experience akin to native mobile apps.
Offering features such as push notifications, the ability to be installed, device hardware integration, and much more.
At Wondrous Creations, one of our core services is the design and development of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), whether you need a (micro to medium-sized) full-on app, or just need need to integrate some app-like functionality on your website.
In this post, we'll discuss what they can do, why they're so great and popular, and why they're the future of apps.
Key highlights
What makes PWAs different from traditional apps, or Mobile Apps (Native Apps)? They're:
- Installable They can be optionally configured to be installed on your user's device (desktop or mobile). (native mobile apps require installation)
- Indexable They can be indexed in search engines, just like a normal website. (native mobile apps are not - they exist in a walled garden)
- Discoverable They're easy to discover, whether in the search engine or by sharing the link. (native mobile apps require an app store)
- Linkable Need to share the app or webpage? Just share the URL like a website! (native mobile apps are not linkable)
- Accessible Access them easily from any modern web browser, from any device that supports a modern browser. (native mobile apps require proprietary platforms, such as Apple's iOS or Google's Android)
- Maintainable With the ability to have a single codebase for web and mobile. (Unlike native mobile apps - which are restricted by proprietary systems)
- Affordable With less complex and more cost-effective development.
Ultimate freedom
Just like a website, you'll have total control over your application, and a direct channel to your audience.
It'll be able to leverage organic discoverability by being indexed in Search Engines — there's no need for intermediaries like app stores. Users will naturally find your site in search, driving more organic traffic to your app.
They're device-agnostic, cross-platform, accessible by any modern browser, and adapt to any screen size, and linkable — just share the URL like any other website, simple!
Break free from big-tech
There's no need for your users to download anything from an app store, or for you to get it into the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and you'll avoid the hefty fees (up to 30% on iOS!) that come with them! They can be configured to be (optionally) installed directly from the browser — let the user decide.
They're also much more lightweight than native apps, so there'll be less bytes to download. Additionally, users don't need to install updates - when a new version of your app is released your users will automatically get the new version.
There's no need to worry about separate websites/apps for different devices, such as having a separate app for Android, iOS, and the web.
Why us and not them?
With us (a web design and development company), your app can be fully customised — you'll own the codebase.
You'll also be supporting an independent small business - that'll be here to help for many years to come.
Using big-tech ecosystems or proprietary website/app builders, you'll be restricted and dictated to about what you can do, and how to do it, and you'll be dependent on them.
Are PWAs more cost-effective than native apps? They're likely to be, considering you have a single app that needs developing, not a separate app for the web, Android, and iOS.
Does custom development cost more than website/app builders or other app-building tools? Possibly, but you have to take into account the absolute power and flexibility they offer, coupled with their longevity.
PWAs are long-lasting, like a website, since they're built on native web platform technologies, and not proprietary systems. And are less likely to evolve into an unmaintainable mess over time — requiring a rebuild a few years later.
A versatile solution
The versatility of PWAs significantly simplifies development and maintenance efforts with a single web-based codebase, with a faster and more cost-effective development cycle and reduced ongoing costs.
PWAs offer a greater level of integration with a user's browser and operating system than a traditional website does. Whether you need a small bit of app functionally integrated into your website or a full-on app, the flexibility is there.
Sounds too good to be true?
Here are some final points to consider.
PWAs are still relatively new, with a fast-evolving landscape. While they offer exciting possibilities, they don't yet match the full range of features and capabilities of native mobile apps, nor are they fully supported across all platforms.
On Android, for example, PWAs can perform nearly all the functions of native apps. However, companies like Apple have been hindering their mass adoption and limiting their functionality.
There are of course benefits to developing native apps on iOS and Android, such as arguably their more stable, mature, and secure platforms and ecosystem, with very large userbases that are available to tap into.
Why you should be hesitant to use Google's (or Big-tech's) ecosystems
Google's recent track record raises significant concerns.
- Erosion of principles Google removed its famous "Don't Be Evil" motto in 2018.
- Monopolistic behavior They're being investigated for monopolistic practices.
- Unreliable legacy Google is infamous for discontinuing its products and services (see killedbygoogle.com). How can you trust the services and technologies you app is built with won't end up in the ever-growing Google graveyard?
- Ad overload Google's search results are increasingly dominated by ads, often requiring users to scroll past 'the fold' to find organic content.
- Search manipulation They're adding "features" in the SERPs that randomly lead you to more vaguely related searches when you click them, optimising for "query growth".
- Inaccurate AI image generation Their Gemini AI image tool they launched generated wildly inaccurate historical images.
- Inaccurate AI Overviews Their AI Overviews have been providing unhelpful, false, misleading, and even harmful answers, without the ability to opt out.
- Plagiarism soup Their AIOs haven't been providing attribution to the source of their information, or fairly acknowledging the authors.
- Unethical data use AI models populate their AI Overviews and train them by scraping web content without consent.
- Favouritism They're prioritising companies like Reddit in search results through exclusive deals, disadvantaging smaller players.
- SEO abuse They've allowed large players like Forbes to benefit from ranking high for content they don't have in-depth experience with, using Parasite SEO.
- Algorithmic harm They recently devastated small businesses with their search algorithm updates.
- Threatening the open web Google's recent approach to AI spam has been a threat to publishers of all sizes and the open web.
Would I want to, or trust them enough, to build an app in Google's ecosystem in 2024? I wouldn’t.
Google acts like an end-stage company, focused solely on squeezing every last drop of profit, and doesn't give a flying flamingo about the users or developers.
I'd also encourage switching your default search engine to DuckDuckGo and your web browser to Firefox, both having strong support for the open web, if you're not already using them.
We're able to design and develop micro to medium-sized custom PWA apps and functionality, that have predominately front-end requirements.
Read more about what PWAs can do today.
