Progressive Web Apps

Clients often ask for "an app" when what they really need is an app-like experience on mobile. A progressive web app, or PWA, can deliver that at a fraction of the cost of building native apps for each platform.

What a PWA is

A PWA is a website built with modern web technologies so that it behaves like an app. Users can add it to their home screen, it can work offline or on poor connections, and it can send notifications on supported devices. It runs in the browser, so there is one codebase for all devices.

Benefits

• One codebase for phones, tablets and desktops.
• No app store approval and instant updates.
• Fast loading, thanks to caching.
• Discoverable through search, unlike native apps.
• Lower development and maintenance costs.

Limitations

• Access to some device features is more limited than in native apps.
• Support for certain features differs between operating systems.
• Less visibility in app stores, where some users expect to find apps.

PWA or native app?

A PWA is often the right choice for content platforms, e-commerce, booking systems, customer portals and internal tools where reach and cost matter most.

A native app makes sense when the product needs deep device integration, heavy offline processing, complex graphics or a strong presence in app stores.

Some projects start as a PWA to validate demand and add native apps later.

Building apps for clients

Start with user needs and business goals, not the technology. Define the core tasks users must complete, then choose the approach that serves them best within budget.

Build with oceanone

We develop web applications and mobile apps white-label, with German-led project management.