Technology Comparison

Progressive Web App vs Native App - Which Should You Use?

Comparing Progressive Web App and Native App for your next project. Honest analysis of performance, ecosystem, and suitability for Australian businesses.

2 weeks

Prototype Delivery

50+

Businesses Served

under 2 seconds

Average Load Time

Book Free Assessment Build Your Stack

Our Development Capabilities

Custom-built solutions for your specific business needs.

API Development and Integration

RESTful and GraphQL APIs that connect your systems seamlessly. Custom integrations with 150+ business tools.

AI and Automation Features

Intelligent features powered by AI - chatbots, recommendation engines, automated workflows, and data extraction.

Cloud-Native Architecture

Applications designed for scalability and reliability on modern cloud infrastructure. Auto-scaling, CDN, and edge deployment.

Progressive Web Apps

Web applications that feel native on mobile devices. Offline support, push notifications, and app-like performance.

Quick Comparison

Side-by-side comparison to help you decide.

Criterion	Progressive Web App	Native App
Development cost	Single codebase for all platforms - web technologies only	Separate codebases for iOS and Android, or React Native/Flutter cross-platform
App store distribution	No store required - install via browser; optional PWA store listings	App Store and Google Play - required for most mobile distribution
Hardware and OS API access	Limited - camera, GPS, push notifications (improving); no NFC, Bluetooth on iOS	Full access - biometrics, Bluetooth, NFC, background processing, health APIs
Offline capability	Service Worker caching - robust for read-heavy offline scenarios	Full offline capability - local SQLite, background sync, complex offline states
Performance on low-end devices	JavaScript runtime overhead - slower than native on constrained hardware	Native code - best possible performance, smooth animations at 60fps
Update distribution	Instant - update the web app, users get it on next visit	Store review process - 1-3 days for iOS; near-instant for Android

Our Verdict

Choose a PWA if your product is primarily content consumption, form submission, or workflow management where native hardware APIs are not required and the distribution simplicity of a URL outweighs the store presence. Choose native (or React Native/Flutter) if you need hardware APIs (Bluetooth, NFC, biometrics, background processing), smooth animation performance is critical, or your target audience expects an App Store/Google Play experience. For Australian B2B software, PWAs are under-utilised - most internal tools and field-staff apps do not need native capabilities and would benefit from the simpler update model of a web app.

Choose Progressive Web App when:

✓ Internal tool or field staff app where app store distribution is a friction point
✓ Content or form-heavy workflow where camera and GPS (supported in PWAs) are sufficient
✓ Rapid iteration is required - instant update without store review is a real advantage
✓ Budget does not support maintaining separate iOS and Android codebases

Choose Native App when:

✓ App requires Bluetooth, NFC, or background processing (native only on iOS)
✓ App Store/Google Play presence is a discovery or trust requirement for your users
✓ Performance-critical animations or game-like interactions where native rendering matters
✓ Health integrations (HealthKit, Google Fit) that are not available to web apps

Frequently Asked Questions

Pricing depends on what you need - a simple web app costs less than a complex system with multiple integrations. We provide fixed-price proposals after a free discovery session.

Yes, our team has experience with both Progressive Web App and Native App. We choose the right tool based on your project needs and recommend accordingly during our free assessment.

Yes. Every project includes 3 months of post-launch support covering bug fixes, performance tuning, and minor feature additions. We also offer ongoing retainer plans.

It depends on your project requirements. Progressive Web App and Native App each have strengths. Our detailed comparison above covers the trade-offs to help you decide.

We specialise in integration. Whether it is your CRM, accounting software, or industry-specific tools, we connect your new application to your existing systems.

Timelines depend on scope, but most projects go from kickoff to launch in 4-8 weeks. A working prototype is ready within the first 2 weeks for early feedback.

Our core stack is Next.js, React, and TypeScript, but we select technology based on your project needs. We have experience with Python, Node.js, PostgreSQL, and all major cloud platforms.