Progressive web apps have made a place for themselves in today’s market, and it looks like they are here to stay. PWAs provide an app-like experience on a web browser. They have many benefits. But, on the other side, native apps are still relevant and surpass progressive web applications in some aspects.
As of now, we haven’t seen everything that PWAs are capable of. But it is making everyone wonder whether they are going to replace native apps in the near future. Well, let’s see if that is possible.
Good for the business
Customers seem to prefer a mobile-first experience today as the use of smartphones is increasing day by day. If your app or website works great on the phone, then they are most likely going to stick with you and even avail of your services. The loading speed, the ease of the user, and the check-out experience all impact the user’s decision. PWAs are fast and mobile-friendly. It results in an improved retention rate and boosts sales.
No tiresome downloads
As you know, PWAs don’t need to be downloaded. It is a plus point for the users as well as the developers. Businesses do not have to go through the extensive process of getting an app through the store requirements and the long wait before it launches. Also, some app stores have fees; with a PWA, those can be avoided as well.
And as for users, they can simply pin the progressive web app to the home screen and access it by simply clicking on it.
Improved search engine rankings
The speed of the website, security, responsiveness, and bounce rate are some of the factors that affect the search engine rankings, and a PWA can significantly improve them compared to a normal website.
Google puts mobile-friendly and fast websites at the top. Therefore, PWAs are usually ranked higher than other websites. Also, PWAs use the HTTPS protocol for encrypting communications over networks. That also helps improve the rankings for PWAs.
No constant updates
Users are often frustrated when the apps keep releasing several downloads constantly. It usually makes them weary, and they tend to leave the app. However, progressive web apps do not need to be updated by the users at all. If the developers want to update a website, then they can simply do it over the phone.
Available even in low connectivity
When a user’s journey is disrupted due to bad internet connectivity, the chance that they’ll complete what they started is low. Websites don’t work with low connectivity. However, some features of the native apps still work offline. PWAs also have that feature. Users can have an uninterrupted experience even if they are in low connectivity regions.
So, these are some of the benefits that progressive web applications have. However, there are some aspects like security, high-quality UX, and complex features where native apps are still better than PWAs. Even if PWAs have created a space for themselves, we cannot say for sure that they can completely replace native apps. But do you think that they could one day advance so much that they could overcome their shortcomings today?