In today's digital age, mobile apps have become an essential part of any business. But when it comes to building an app, the first question is, "Should we build a Native App or a Progressive Web App (PWA)?"
If you are a service provider or considering developing an app for your business, this blog is for you. Here we will explain to you in simple language what Native App and PWA are, what their advantages and disadvantages are, and which app will be right for you in which situation. Let's start with Native App vs Progressive Web App (PWA) in 2025.
What is a Native App?
A Native App is a mobile application that is made for a specific operating system (such as an Android/iOS app). You use it by downloading it from your phone's App Store or Google Play Store.
Nowadays, everyone uses a smartphone, and most people work on their mobiles through apps only. Whether it is ordering food, calling a taxi, or doing banking, everything can be done through apps. But a good mobile app is successful only when its performance and user experience are excellent.
A native app is the same as a mobile application that is made separately for a specific system (like an Android/iOS app).
Advantages of Native Apps:
When you think of getting a mobile app for your business, the first and most important decision is, you get a Native App or something else.
A Native App is an app that is developed separately for a specific operating system (like Android/iOS app). This means that if you are building an app for Android users, it will be fully optimized only on the Android system. The same applies to iOS (iPhone) as well.
Now, let's understand the benefits of a Native App in detail:
Excellent speed and smooth performance: Native apps make full use of all the power of your mobile device, such as its processor, RAM, graphics card, etc. So these apps run much faster and smoothly.
The app opens quickly.
The scrolling and tapping experience is smooth.
There are fewer chances of any lag or hang.
For example, when you use native apps like Instagram or YouTube, everything feels very natural and fast. This is the magic of native technology.
Offline access: Native apps can be designed to perform some tasks without the internet. For example:
Save and display data that the user has previously seen
Save drafts
Run some part of the game offline
Push notifications: You can send direct notifications to the user, which increases engagement, for example:
A new offer has been launched
A service update
A new message from the user
A reminder or promotion
This keeps the user coming back to the app and connected to your brand.
Proper use of features: Native apps work well with the hardware of your mobile. That is, these apps can use every feature of the phone, like the camera, mic, gallery, GPS, Bluetooth, and fingerprint sensor, properly.
Example:
If your app has location tracking, like Zomato or Ola, it won’t work without GPS.
If your app accesses the camera, like KYC apps, camera integration is a must.
Strong build quality and security
Native apps have to go through very strict checks before being put on the App Store or Play Store. Therefore:
The security level is very good.
There is less chance of bugs and crashes.
There are more options to keep data safe.
If your app is related to finance, health, or personal data, then there is nothing better than a native app.
Support and updates are easy
In native apps, you can add new features from time to time. Whenever you release an update, the user gets a notification from the App Store. This ensures:
The user gets the latest version
You can always keep the app up-to-date
It is easy to fix bugs
Disadvantages of Native App:
Although Native App is well-known for its excellent features and performance, it also has certain unavoidable drawbacks. Knowing these items in advance is crucial for service providers and anyone considering developing an app for their company. Here are details about the drawbacks of native apps and how they may impact time, money, and management.
High Development Cost: Native apps require different codebases for each operating system. This means
If you want to target both Android and iOS platforms, you need to build two different apps.
This requires two teams or developers—one for Android (Java/Kotlin) and the other for iOS (Swift/Objective-C).
This not only doubles the development cost but also increases the cost of maintaining your technical team. This can be a big challenge for small or mid-sized businesses.
Time-consuming: The biggest challenge with a Native App is that
Each platform-specific app has different guidelines and design systems.
You have to design, code, and test both versions (Android and iOS) separately.
This means your app will take longer to be available in the market. And if any changes need to be made during development, they will have to be made in both versions separately, which further lengthens the timeline.
Problem in updating: Whenever a feature is added or a bug is fixed in a native app, the developer has to create a new version and send it to the App Store or Play Store. This process can sometimes take
24–48 hours (or more).
Updates take time to reach users.
And users must update manually—if they have auto-updates turned off.
This can delay your service and leave some users using old, buggy versions.
Dependence on App Store: To publish a Native App, you need to get approval from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. This approval process:
It is very strict (especially for Apple)
The app may also get rejected due to some rules or guidelines
Sometimes it takes time to review even for minor things
If your app depends on an update or emergency fix, this slow App Store process could harm your business.
Choose the native app carefully
Native App can be a powerful and professional solution for any business, especially when you need great performance, fast speed, a great user experience, and full use of all the features of the mobile device (like camera, GPS, mic, etc.). Through this, you can connect directly with users, provide offline support, and create a premium image of your brand. But on the other hand, developing a native app is quite expensive, time-consuming, and technically demanding.
The cost of developing separate apps for Android and iOS, the App Store approval process for each update, and the complexity of testing—all of these can be challenging for small or budget-limited businesses. So if you have enough budget, timeline, and tech support, and you want a high-quality, performance-focused app, then Native App is a smart and long-term investment for you. However, you should also take into account choices like Progressive Web App (PWA) if you want a simpler and quicker solution in less time and at a lower cost.
What is a Progressive Web App (PWA)?
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a website that gives a mobile app-like experience. It does not need to be downloaded from the Play Store or App Store. Just open it once in the browser and create a shortcut on the home screen if you want. These apps are lightweight, load fast, and can sometimes work even when there is no internet. It is less expensive and takes less time to have a PWA created. For small enterprises, this is a fantastic and wise choice—an app-like experience with the ease of use of a website.
Advantages of PWA:
Low development cost: The cost of developing a PWA is much less than that of a Native App. For a Native App, you have to develop separate apps for different platforms (like Android and iOS). This means separate teams, separate coding, and more time. On the other hand, a PWA is built once, and the same version runs on every platform (mobile, tablet, laptop). This:
Saves development time
Reduces development team costs
Reduces maintenance and update costs
Therefore, small and medium businesses can provide an app-like experience even on a low budget.
No installation required: A big advantage of PWA is that it does not require installation from the Play Store or App Store. Users simply open the website in their mobile browser (such as Chrome or Safari) and click "Add to Home Screen." This makes the app appear as an icon on the phone's home screen.
Benefits:
Users don't have to go through the hassle of installation
Saves data and storage
Apps are quick and easy to access
This straightforward procedure keeps users interested longer.
Offline Support: PWA uses caching technology, which allows a website or app to save previously viewed information. This allows a user to access some content or features even when there is no internet connection.
For instance, you can view product details again without an internet connection if you’ve already accessed them online.
Benefit: This feature is especially advantageous for consumers in rural places or with poor network connections.
Search Engine Friendly: A PWA is a website, so it can be indexed in search engines like Google. This allows your app to appear in search results and people can access your service directly without installing it.
Benefits:
SEO can bring more traffic
Increases website visibility
Increases the number of organic (without ads) users
Fast Loading Speed: PWA is designed to be lightweight and loads fast even on mobile networks. With the help of caching, lazy loading, and smart frameworks, it loads in no time.
Therefore, the user's patience remains intact, and he spends more time on the site or app. This reduces the bounce rate and increases the conversion rate.
Disadvantages of PWA:
As we have seen, Progressive Web App (PWA) is a great digital solution at a low cost. But just like everything has two sides, PWA also has some limitations and weaknesses. If you are thinking of building a PWA, then it is very important to keep these things in mind.
Let us now know the disadvantages of PWA in detail:
Limited access to device features: PWA is actually a website that looks like a mobile app. But it cannot make full use of all the features of the phone.
For example:
Features like camera, Bluetooth, fingerprint scanner, and background location are either limited or not available completely in PWA.
Deep integration with mobile hardware is not possible.
If you have a service that requires these features—like delivery tracking, QR scanner, or sensor access—a PWA won't be able to do all the work for you.
Limitation in iOS: PWAs are well supported on Android, but are quite limited on iPhone (iOS). Apple is still lagging in fully adopting PWAs.
Shortcomings:
The Safari browser may not support every PWA feature.
The option to "Add to Home Screen" is not always visible to iOS users.
Certain APIs don't function correctly, such as those about the camera or alerts.
This implies that customers who use iPhones frequently might not receive a full experience from the PWA.
Push notification issues: Push notifications are the backbone of any app – you can remind your users, share offers, or send updates.
However, this feature is not available on every platform in PWAs:
Android supports it, but iOS still has limited or no support for it.
This option is hard to find in some browsers (like Safari).
This has a direct impact on your user engagement—that is, the connection with the user decreases, which can be harmful for the business.
Loss in brand value: Users are assured that a brand is reliable when a native app is developed and released on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
However, the reasons why PWAs are not available on the App Store are-
Does not create a premium image of the brand.
Some users may find it "cheap" or "temporary."
Lack of app downloads weakens the brand's mobile presence.
If your business is offering high-end services or wants to be seen as a big brand, a PWA might not fully reflect that image.
Choose the PWA carefully
Progressive Web App (PWA) has emerged as a smart and affordable option in today's time, especially for those businesses that have a limited budget and want to reach a larger audience in less time. It works without installation, loads quickly, offers offline support, and appears in search engines too—giving you a combined website and app experience.
However, it has some limitations: it doesn’t fully utilize all the mobile application features, its capabilities are limited on the iOS platform, essential tools like push notifications don’t work properly on every device, and sometimes the brand value doesn’t appear as premium as it does in a Native App. Therefore, if your business wants a fast and low-budget app with basic features, PWA is a great option. But if your target is high-end users, iOS support is a must, or brand image is very important—it's better to proceed carefully.
Native App vs. PWA—Comparison at a Glance
When to choose a Native App?
You should get a Native App if:
Your app needs high performance and a smooth experience (e.g. gaming, video editing apps).
You want more engagement from push notifications.
Most of the traffic from your target users comes from mobile apps.
You need full access to device features (camera, GPS, sensors).
Example:
Ola, Swiggy, Instagram – These are all Native Apps that require faster speed and deeper device integration.
When to choose PWA?
PWA is best for you if:
You have a low budget and need to launch an app quickly.
You want a simple, lightweight, and SEO-friendly app.
You already have good traffic on your website, and you want to give it an app-like feel.
You want to avoid the app store approval process.
Examples:
Flipkart Lite, Pinterest PWA, Twitter Lite – these are all big brands that use PWAs.
What can we do for you?
Our team specializes in both Native Apps and PWA apps. We offer tailored advice and end-to-end development services based on your needs, budget, and target audience.
Our Services:
Android/iOS Native App Development
PWA Design & Development
UI/UX Design
API & Backend Integration
App Testing & Support
FAQs Native App vs Progressive Web App (PWA) in 2025.
Q. 1 Can the same app be made in both Native and PWA format?
Answer: Yes, it is possible. Some businesses build both native apps and PWAs so that they can cover all types of users. Native apps are for users who want a deeper mobile experience, while PWAs are great for users who want a quick, lightweight, and download-free app. Running both requires a little more maintenance, but it can be beneficial for a broad audience.
Q 2. Can we put PWA in the App Store or Play Store?
Answer: Although PWA runs in the browser, now there are some technical ways to publish it in the Play Store (like using TWA—Trusted Web Activities). This is still difficult in the Apple App Store, as Apple does not yet allow PWAs to be published in the App Store. But in Android, it is possible to put it on the store, giving users an App Store-like experience.
Q 3. Is a native app more secure than a PWA?
Answer: Yes, in general, a native app is slightly ahead of a PWA in terms of security. Native apps take advantage of the security levels of the mobile operating system, and the developer has more control at the device level. PWA is also secure (via HTTPS and service workers), but it must operate within the browser's rules, which may limit some security features.
Conclusion
Native App and PWA – both have their advantages and disadvantages. The decision depends on your business goals, target audience, and budget.
If you want powerful performance, then Native App.
If you want a fast app experience at a low cost, then PWA.
If you are still confused about which option is right for you, contact us. We will give you a free consultation and suggest the right path according to your business.
