As mobile technologies continue to grow and evolve, more people are looking for ways to optimize their business.
One big question that many businesses have is whether they should build a mobile app or a mobile website. The answer isn’t always simple, but we can help you find out which one is right for you!
In this article, we will discuss the differences between a mobile app and a mobile website so you can make an informed decision about what type of platform your company needs.
So whenever you’re ready to jump in and learn about the differences between the two, keep reading.
What Is A Mobile App?
A mobile app is a program that stores and runs on your phone. There are many different apps, including social media like Facebook or Twitter. There are also games like Candy Crush or even music services such as Spotify.
They also range in price anywhere from free to USD 100+! One can download apps from an online store called the “app store”. Typically operated by Apple or Google depending on what type of phone you have (iPhone vs. Android).
However, there are sometimes ways to get these programs for cheaper through deals with marketing companies. These usually promote special offers.
The most common reasons people download apps include entertainment purposes. However, it also covers work/business-related tasks such as accessing company emails and calendars. They also download productivity tools used to track your fitness activity or time spent working.
The benefits of mobile apps include nearly universal availability. It also involves increased engagement with users through in-app purchases and advertisements.
The biggest downside to an app is that it takes up space on your phone’s memory. This could take away from other important programs you might need like music storage and pictures. It takes some extra battery life for uploading data onto the Internet when using wifi.
How Are Mobile Apps Built?
Mobile apps are built using software coded to run on an operating system such as iOS or Android. There are many different tools and platforms available for building mobile apps, including App Builder (a drag-and-drop type program), visual programming languages like Scratch Jr., and even the more complicated ones such as Java require more advanced coding skills.
The app development process involves collecting all necessary data through research before laying out any design aspect to get feedback from users about what they want.
After this step, developers start piecing together bits of code into various programs until it becomes mobile-ready! In addition to the technical side, there’s also creative work involved so you can give your app a face and personality.
Mobile apps are a great way to reach customers on the go who might not want to visit your site or for those seeking entertainment in their downtime!
Mobile App Advantages & Disadvantages
Many different advantages come with building an app. One of the biggest benefits is engagement through in-app purchases or ads because people who install apps don’t just use them for one purpose. They keep opening them over and over again!
This means more opportunities for advertising which increases revenue potential. This is especially true with recurring streams from customer activity.
Other positives include universal availability and ease of access. This is because they are available nearly anywhere as long as you have your phone out.
The disadvantages associated with apps mostly come in the form of an increased need for resources to run. They also require updates to constantly work at their best.
- Mobile Apps take up space on your phone’s memory
- They can drain battery life, especially if used often
- Apps are subject to updates every time the operating system is updated, and this takes a toll on resources
What Is A Mobile Website?
In contrast, a website requires none of these things! It can be accessed from any web browser on the phone and does not use extra memory or battery life.
Websites are great for basic information, but the downside is that they’re limited to what you see in your phone’s screen size. This may make it harder to access more complex features such as uploading pictures (though this could depend on how the website was designed).
The benefits of mobile websites include no storage limits and cost-effectiveness. It also involves the ease of updating content when needed.
The biggest downsides are less potential for user engagement due to a lack of in-app purchases or advertisements. There’s also inconsistent availability since phones cannot use them without a web browser.
Furthermore, websites are not supported by all phone operating systems. It may be difficult to use online with some models of phones.
In essence, a mobile website is natively responsive on mobile devices. This is achieved by using a coded CMS to render the same page across all devices. It will alter its layout and interface depending on its screen size.
How Is A Mobile Website Built?
The website development process is a bit different from that of an app because it requires HTML code. This means you can’t build mobile websites with drag-and-drop tools or visual languages. You must learn how to write this type of code yourself (or hire someone else who knows).
Mobile web design also includes mastering CSS and JavaScript to create everything. This covers navigation menus, images, animations, and forms. It could take some time depending on your level of coding knowledge.
Furthermore, this is the only way to build a website for iOS devices, as Google Chrome does not support Safari web browsers.
Mobile Website Advantages & Disadvantages
One of the biggest benefits of building a website is increased site-wide usability and accessibility.
This is because people can access your information from any device or web browser! This means more opportunities for advertising which increases revenue potential.
Other positives include universal availability. It also covers ease of use, availability anywhere as long as you have an internet connection, and a clear focus on one task at a time.
The disadvantages of websites mostly come in the form of minimal engagement. This is due to a lack of interactivity like in-app purchases/ads and no entertainment while browsing.
Sites may also be difficult for phone operating systems that do not support HTML code rendering. For example, iOS devices without Google Chrome installed.
Deciding Which One Is Best For You?
Apps are great for complex features that require in-app purchases or advertisements. For instance, social media games and photo editing apps.
They also increase user engagement through notifications about updates, and shares on users’ newsfeeds.
This can entice people to purchase items from your store (depending on what kind of business). Apps take up space on your phone but offer more potential for interaction than websites do. This is because they have built-in notification systems.
My biggest concern with apps would probably be that there’s such a huge variety, so it would be hard to find specific ones. Websites are more limited in what they can do, but you don’t have to worry about paying for storage. The content is always available because it never needs updating or anything like that!
In my opinion, websites might work better if your business doesn’t need any complex features and all you want is basic information. Think of hotels with just a contact form instead of an app built for booking rooms or something similar.
Mobile apps seem best when user engagement matters (e.g., social media games) and/or people will be spending money on products within the app itself. For example, photo editing apps where users can purchase additional features.
Many people are choosing to build both types since they each have their pros and cons. The most popular choice seems to be developing a mobile site first and then adding an app once the need arises! With so many options, it’s not difficult to find a way for your business to be available on the go!
Which Is Best for SEO?
SEO is a crucial factor in any website or app. The right audience is finding the primary concern for ranking well in Google search results. This is done via keywords and links to your content from other websites.
Mobile apps are not supported on all phone operating systems, so it’s hard for users without an iOS device (which doesn’t have Safari) to access them at all!
This could be problematic if you’re trying to rank higher in searches since those people might never see your application. Unless they know exactly what keyword phrases will bring up your site first.
Website owners can use SEO techniques just like desktop computers. However, mobile sites need more care because there are many different ways that someone can find you when looking online.
For instance: they could be looking for a general term like “restaurant” and then find your mobile site because of the website domain, or they might search for something more specific like “Chinese food near me.”
Furthermore, since apps are only available on certain platforms, ranking well in Google results would be difficult.
Overall, we don’t think SEO should play too large a part in deciding which one is best for you—make sure that whichever type you choose has all the features you need!
Which Option Is More Cost-Efficient?
Apps can be expensive to develop and maintain, so it’s important to plan carefully before deciding. Mobile websites are more cost-efficient because they don’t require as much maintenance or updates; however, apps might work better for you if you want an app available on any phone OS!
The cost-efficiency of the end product will depend on various factors, but you should consider the potential expenses before choosing either option! There are many factors to consider when deciding if your business should have a mobile website or app, and there isn’t one right answer.
The best way to find out which is most effective for you would be by doing some research on how people use their phones in your area and what type of phone they typically own—that can help determine whether an app or mobile site would work well. For instance, if apps are popular amongst users who live nearby, maybe they will rank higher in Google search results.
Additionally, make sure you plan because this process could be more expensive than originally anticipated depending on the features you want (e.g., if you want geo-location features, that could cost more upfront and require a monthly fee).
Which one is right for your business depends on the type of content you want to provide, how people in your area use their phones, what features are necessary for users who live nearby (also known as geo-location), as well as any other factors that come into play when deciding which will work best!
Typically, a mobile website is cheaper to develop and maintain than an app.
Your Choice Made Easy
In conclusion, we recommend mobile websites because they are cheaper to implement and maintain than apps. Do some research on the users in your area to figure out whether having a mobile app or a mobile site would be more effective.
There are many factors that you should consider before choosing which one is best for your business, though.
The most popular choice seems to be developing a mobile site first and then adding an app once the need arises! With so many options, it’s not difficult to find a way for your business to be available on the go!
If you’re interested in full-scale mobile website/app development, get in touch with us, and we will happily take a look at your case.
