Especially with the proliferation of apps replacing e-commerce sites and social networks, when thinking about mobile access (on mobile), many companies have asked this question: “What is better, having a mobile website? or an app?”.
This type of questioning is natural, especially for those who don’t know much – or nothing – about what’s behind one and the other, the advantages and disadvantages and even even than intended.
It is not such a simple matter, particularly when looking for an absolute answer that meets 100% of those who ask the question.
The right thing is and it is the way we will follow, it is to give you subsidies to understand what is important and in the end you will be able to find your answer yourself…
What is the difference between a website mobile and an app?
The more layman you are on the subject, the more likely there is the idea that in practical terms they are almost the same thing.
After all, understanding the differences – and also the similarities – between a mobile site and a mobile app, it depends on knowing how both are made and what they depend on to work and that most people do not know.
It is important to emphasize that we do not go much in depth on some details and very technical issues, both because it will not make a difference in practical terms and because it will make the subject difficult to understand for those who do not have such knowledge.
There is not one, but many differences between them, but here we will restrict ourselves to the main ones.
1. Website vs software
The most striking difference between a mobile site and an app is that the first remains just a website, but mobile friendly (mobile-friendly) and the second , it’s actually a software, with a similar design to the different programs you have even on your notebook or desktop.
Although many of the apps we know work and look like the websites that preceded, as the largest and most popular e-commerce platforms, most social networks and banks and financial institutions, to name the most common, they are created and installed on the device, dispensing with a web browser.
two. Installation
As already mentioned, an app requires installation before it can be used, as you do with your office suite or an email client.
Accessing to a mobile site requires only the presence of a web browser, something that every operating system already offers by default. Nothing needs to be downloaded and installed.
3. Local vs Remote Processing
Typically the programming involved in a website is performed on the server and therefore the processing takes place remotely and once the page is “assembled” by the web server, it is delivered to the browser that is only responsible for displaying it.
There are occasional exceptions, as is the case with javascript programming, however, this is not what predominates in most sites.
As for apps, processing is local, that is, on the device on which it is installed. There are also exceptions here, but they do not constitute the majority of situations either.
4. Infrastructure
As a direct consequence of the previous difference – local or remote processing – the infrastructure needed to run a mobile site and an app can be quite different.
However, there are some points in common to both, especially when the apps have the function of dynamic websites, when, like any website, they depend on a database service running on a server or in the cloud.
5. Device features
It is more common for an app to have access to features and access permissions on the device on which it is installed, than a mobile site, such as camera access , sensors (location, accelerometers, etc), storage, among others.
Technically, a website can also implement this type of broader and more privileged access, but it is not common. It is usually restricted to more specific service sites, such as cloud storage or netmeeting, such as Google Hangouts or Zoom.
6. Online vs Offline
In many cases, when an app does not rely on remote database queries, remote authentication protocols, or other condition that depends on a server on the world wide web computers to work, it can operate offline, that is, without Internet connectivity.
A website – mobile or not – in order to be accessed, requires you to be online. Without an Internet connection, the only possibility of accessing and browsing is when a static website has already been fully downloaded to the device, which is no longer possible when thinking about websites such as a social network, whose content is dynamically changed over time. all.
7. Investment
It is true that there are quite sophisticated websites that involve a lot of programming and large development and maintenance teams and for that reason, they also require large volumes of investment.
But in general and considering a mobile site and an app corresponding to it, the investment required for the second is usually considerably higher.
8. Operating Systems
Sites, when created and accessed, do not need to consider the user’s operating system. Any site can be accessed regardless of the operating system used.
In the case of an app, it is necessary to consider the particularities and differences existing in each operating system in its development, so that it is possible to offer versions suitable for each one.
What are the advantages of mobile apps and websites?
What most people usually want to know is what are the advantages of a website mobile has in relation to an app that does the same thing and vice versa and which is usually what leads to the decision.
When dealing with the differences, some advantages of one and the other, already if became apparent. Despite this, we will list in a more objective way the set of advantages in comparative terms between both.
Advantages of the mobile site
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- It does not depend on installing anything, since every operating system has at least one standard browser. This feature is even more beneficial when accesses are occasional, after all, installing an app just for one access does not seem reasonable;
- It follows from the above advantage, that older people statistically have greater resistance to installing apps, especially those they do not know and do not intend to use on a recurring basis;
- Be accessible by any platform / operating system;
Organic traffic as a result of SEO, Content Marketing and Digital Marketing work, making the brand and its products / services appear on search engines and that is still the main path consumers reach companies on the Internet;
- Lower development investment, largely due to the variety and availability of great CMSs, which make it easy to create different types of websites with professional features and presentation;
- Also lower maintenance cost, both because of the immediately above advantage and because there is a large diversity of good hosting companies and equal offer of hosting plans and prices;
- Responsive sites and that adapt very well to mobile devices, are also fully accessible by other devices, such as a desktop or notebook;
- It is easier, faster and cheaper to create and maintain different types of website (institutional website, blog, intranet, virtual store, etc.) for each.
Advantages of the app
The security issue is usually one of the main advantages for those who create an app. This is because by not using the browser, they are not subject to any vulnerabilities present in it. In addition, there is greater power to use mechanisms that emphasize security. This feature that justifies that all banks and major e-commerces prefer apps over websites;
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- When performance is essential, this appears to be an important advantage, both because it is less dependent on remote processing and internet speed, and because it is not dependent on browser performance;
- The variety of features and functionality and the ease of implementation, when making use of device features, also appears as a benefit, although technically many are also possible to a website;
- Differentiation as the brand gains prominence in the mind of the user, when it appears among the other apps on the device;
- When connectivity is not required for operation, it represents savings in data consumption, influences performance, in addition to allowing offline operation.
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Which one is better?
If you have reached this point and still have doubts, we will try to help you decide.
In general terms, having both seems to be ideal.
But for almost all small businesses, mainly due to the need for direct and indirect investment, which makes having both unfeasible, opting for the mobile site seems to be the right thing to do.
More than a matter of cost, as it does not have visibility and is not in the Top Of Mind of users, as is the case of large e-commerce networks, or being a necessity, in the case of banks, giving up the possibility of being found because an app doesn’t put you on Google is not a reasonable option.
In addition, the availability of technologies and information that allow virtually anyone to create, maintain and above all, successfully promote a website, it greatly increases the chances of return that it can give.
Through a conscious and consistent work of SEO, Marketing de Cont eúdo and some other related subjects, such as local search and Google reviews, a small business gets relevant results that are not possible when deciding on an app.
Last, but not least, knowing the persona that you aim your work at, is essential to know what she needs and expects from your company. Practice and experience have sometimes proven that it is necessary to overcome paradigms. How many examples of startups have been successful with their apps, because their audience “demanded” this type of channel?
Conclusion
Choose between having a mobile site or an app, it depends on knowing their differences and the advantages that each one offers in relation to the reality of your business.
