The debate on deploying a mobile app for the business is long gone. Where earlier businesses focused on whether or not, they require an app for the business, today the topic of discussion revolves around how to develop a mobile app. By how we mean to say which development platform is used to build the app.
The reason why choosing a platform seems important is because of the difference in the features and functionality rendered by all. Where some would focus on react native app development, others would incline towards cross-platform apps, few focus on reducing the development speed, others target the feature-set offered by them.
Given the above, it is important that every developer or the app development company picks up the ideal software for the development. Cutting the chase, we have handpicked two of the most trending mobile app development platforms you can consider while planning to develop an app.
- React Native
- Progressive Web Apps
Both of these are known for the development of cross-platform apps. What separates the two are the range of functions and the toolset of each. Without wasting much time, let’s move ahead towards a detailed description of both and further, concluding which one is better and when.
Progressive Web Apps
One of the most trending platform arena for mobile apps, progressive web applications have been in the industry for quite some time. As the name suggests, progressive Web apps are the Web version of mobile apps. What this implies is that progressive apps are so tailored that they act as a web application but behave like an app.
The interface of the app is destined to imitate an app but the download and installation track the web form. It sits in the app drawer without actually downloading it. PWAs are built using JavaScript and behave like a native app.
Now the apps aren’t just about being the amalgamation of a web app and its mobile counterpart. The feature list of the same is indefinite and that is the reason why it is emerging as the first choice of developers.
Features :
- Offline Compatibility
One of the vital aspects of progressive web apps is its offline compatibility. The inception of service workers within its infrastructure makes it capable of storing documents or pages in the cache which can be retrieved when the device goes offline.
- Ultra-Fast Speed
Here again, the idea of using service workers does the job for the apps. All of the regularly used content is cached so that next time, when a user asks for the same page, it is sent by the cache, reducing the response time and in a way, triggering the speed and performance of the website.
- SEO Factors
Unlike traditional mobile apps, progressive web apps are designed to be the web version of a native app. This implies that the app will have a URL that can be indexed in the Google search engine. This increases the visibility of the app and further enhance the discoverability as users can search for it in the browser and trace the same.
Apart from the above, progressive web apps are secured and have an app-like interface supporting push notifications. What’s more? The app doesn’t consume much space and is proven to improve site performance.
Twitter noted a 75% increase in tweets when they migrated to PWA. On the other hand, Flipkart experienced a 50% higher rate of acquisition post converting to a progressive web app.
Now, this is all about progressive web apps, let ride on to react-native.
React Native
React Native is another popular cross-platform app development framework. The fact that it allows the creation of apps both for the Android and the iOS platform, it has gained tremendous attraction.
React Native uses an array of UI components to design and deploy a JavaScript code. Using react, developers can inject the same piece of code to deploy applications both for the iOS and Android platforms.
Features
- Accelerates Development Time
Employing the write-once and user everywhere concept, react-native enables developers to use the same piece of code for building applications across different platforms. This reduces the efforts taken, further cutting down the overall development time.
- Native Constructs
Native apps rather the react-native platform enable developers to put native components to use, even the ones that aren’t present on the web. Where a web interface would limit the usability of virtual doms, native apps allow you to put them to use without worrying about the performance issues.
Making The Choice
After stating all of the above, we now head towards driving a comparison between the two.
Considering the above definition, we are pretty much clear on the fact that both PWA and react native is tailored to our build cross-platform apps. However, with react native, developers need to have access to the native component to move further. Also, they need to comply with the app store rules to find a place in the store.
Progressive web apps, on the other hand, aren’t loaded on the app store and hence, neither they require the access to components not are bound to adhere to the play store rules. Further, building apps using the progressive platform is cheaper and best for companies looking out to upgrade their business offerings.
React Native, is suitable when organizations are to build a minimum viable product and do not both about spending a few more bucks. In terms of security too, progressive web apps lead the charge. Though both adhere to their own specifications with native apps that can opt for dual-factor authentication and PWA relying on SSL certificate, the latter is more competent to fight threats as compared to the former.
Final Word
It would not easy to state which is better now, but fast forward ten years, progressive web apps would definitely take over the traditional form of react native app development. Be it a faster time to market or the security protocols and the offline compatibility, PWAs are way better. True that there are certain areas such as the push notification feature and the device feature accessibility where progressive apps lag behind, but the pace at which they are growing, it would not take much time for them to outgrow others in the competition.
Author Profile
Nikhil Bansal is the CEO and Founder of Apptunix, a leading Progressive Web App Development Company helping businesses in streamlining their processes with powerful and intuitive mobile apps. With extensive experience in iOS app development, he has established himself as a highly-focused Solution Architect and UX expert, the one who is always ready to make efforts in the direction where technology blends with lives.
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