Guest Post - Mobile Website or Mobile Application: Which is Best?
By Juno Yates, Big Human
Accommodating mobile users is no longer a secondary priority for a startup business, as it once was during the early days of the smartphone; it is now necessary for all businesses to establish a mobile online presence.
The main challenge for startups and companies new to mobile presence development is deciding whether a mobile app or a mobile website is best suited to their needs. While a startup branding agency can help solve this issue, many businesses do not have the proper knowledge to make this assessment. Although they are both staples on mobile devices, some differences could impact customer engagement and sales conversions.
Mobile Website vs. Mobile App: What’s the Difference?
Although both are designed to be accessed by mobile devices, they offer fundamentally different ways to access your content.
Mobile websites
A mobile website is identical to a regular website with a graphical layout and interface adapted for use on the smaller touchscreen of a mobile device. Think of a mobile website as a different display mode for an existing website.
Mobile apps
A mobile app is a dedicated program intended to be installed and run on a mobile device. Contrary to a website, accessible through any browser, an app must typically first be downloaded from an app store.
Once installed, the user can access the content by tapping the application icon on the corresponding device. Many apps can be designed for use offline, allowing users access at any time.
Pros of Mobile Websites
Building a responsive mobile website allows mobile device users to access your website and its content without switching to a desktop computer or contending with screen size inconveniences. All your content remains accessible; all that changes is how it is displayed on the screen.
The main advantage of a mobile website is compatibility. It doesn’t matter what device brand or model your users own; as long as they have an internet browser, they can access your mobile site. This compatibility can potentially let a broader audience gain awareness of your startup’s branding.
Mobile websites are also much less expensive to develop and maintain. Updating or editing the site’s content only needs to be done once on the server-side. As soon as the changes are implemented, your users can see them simply by refreshing the page.
Cons of Mobile Websites
Mobile websites require users to access them through a web browser, which means dealing with the browser’s limitations, such as no advanced interactivity and limited access to device features and sensors.
Additionally, accessing mobile websites requires a constant and stable internet connection. If your users lose internet access, they lose access to your content.
Pros of Mobile Apps
Mobile applications can take full advantage of the device’s built-in sensors and capabilities, including GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, camera, and phone dialing, increasing the interactivity and ability to deliver dynamic content.
Apps are the only way to provide content requiring maximum responsiveness and interactivity, from banking operations to video games. They can also communicate with ancillary accessories like fitness tracking devices, download content for offline access (allowing users to continue using the app, even if they lose their internet connection), and send push notifications for updates and reminders.
Cons of Mobile Apps
A mobile application is costlier and more time-consuming to develop. Each app must also be written for and is only compatible with one platform. For example, an Android app only works on Android devices. If you wish to build the same app for iOS, you must separately develop and maintain an iOS version.
Mobile applications store a large quantity of data and content on the phone or tablet it’s installed on, requiring your development team to write updates for each version of your application. Your users must then download them periodically; if they fall a few versions behind, they may lose functionality, adversely impacting the user experience.
The Verdict
If you’re looking for a more cost-effective solution with higher potential audience reach and convenience, or if you don’t need to access more advanced device functions, a mobile website is a good solution for building brand awareness for your company.
However, if you want to provide a more advanced experience, utilize the device’s hardware and capabilities more effectively, or need your content to be accessible offline, the mobile app may be a better choice.
