It is vital to choose a progressively effective platform to develop a robust mobile application. The native approach is excellent and efficient. However, it takes a significant amount of time for application development and maintenance. So, developers today look for modern trends and opportunities for app-making. Progressive Web App and Hybrid Mobile App developments are the most discussed and compared platforms in recent times. This article will provide essential tips for choosing the perfect mobile application from these both.

Progressive Web Application (PWA)

JavaScript and HTML5 is a basis of Progressive Web Applications. They are not real mobile applications. Instead, they are the websites that perform like installed apps. You can use such apps offline and can add their shortcuts to your home screen.

Hybrid Application

A Hybrid application is also built using CSS, HTML5, Angular, and JavaScript like platforms, wrapped in the native container. It follows a single code for multiple platforms approach. That means it works similarly to a native application based on the device platform. However, developing a hybrid app is fast, efficient, and cost-effective compared to native apps.

PWA Vs. Hybrid

There is no perfect approach that satisfies all users or business needs. However, below quick tips will help you to choose the right mobile application according to your requirements and interest.

1. Distributions: You can find PWAs on search engines or through URL distribution as they are not available on App Stores. While, Hybrid apps are available on ‘App Store,’ and you can download them just like you do for native apps.

2. Device Support: Hybrid apps can retain the use of device features as they have similar coding to native apps. PWA only can access the features supported by the device browsers. So, in most cases, PWA can’t use fingerprint, NFC, and other such functions of the destination device.

3. Development & Tools: Developing PWA is faster & cost-effective than hybrid apps. Developers can utilize PWABuilder to create Progressive Web Apps. Tools like Webpack and Knockout also used wisely to develop PWA. Ionic is an open-source tool to create hybrid applications. Developers today prefer to React Native environment to build such apps though as it provides numerous ready-to-use UI components.

A Quick Comparison between PWA and Hybrid Apps

Which is right: Hybrid or PWA?

Choose PWA if;

• Your site has less intuitive sessions.
• It is required to provide a mobile-app like web-app to user’s devices quickly.
• Your target OS is only Android.

Choose Hybrid app if;

• You want a multi-platform app that performs like a native application.
• A mobile app approach is needed that stays with animation, interaction, and performance.
• You require a ready-to-support app for your existing business.

The choice of the right mobile app between PWA and hybrid is based on the priorities and goals of businesses or individuals. App environment, usage, targeted devices, and other features influence the decision of going for a PWA or hybrid mobile development. This article highlights some of the critical pointers to chose either of the application environments, and I hope it will help you to pick up the right option.