Mobile application or FIRST mobile website? What to choose?

If you plan to establish a mobile presence for your business (essential in 2022), one of the first questions that must come to mind is: “Do I have to create A mobile application To download by users or a mobile websiteor maybe both? »Mobile websites and applications may be alike, and determine which is most suited to your needs depends on a number of factors such as target audiences, budget, etc. In this article, we will return to detail on the differences between a mobile website and a mobile application and list the advantages & disadvantages of each of these two options.

What is the difference between a mobile website and an application?

Before you can assess the Advantages of a mobile website compared to an applicationit is important to understand the main differences between the two. Applications and websites mobile are accessible on portable devices such as smartphones or tablets.

A mobile website is similar to any other website in that it consists of HTML pages based on a browser that are connected to each other and accessible via the Internet. Like any website, Mobile/responsive websites can display textual content, data, images and videos. They can also access specific features for devices mobilesuch as Click-to-Call (to compose a phone number) or geolocated cartography.

As of mobile applications, they can be downloaded and installed on your mobile devicerather than being returned in a browser. Users visit specific gates for devices, such as Apple App Store, Google Play Store, etc. to find and download applications for a given operating system. The application can extract internet content and data, in the same way as a website, or it can download the content so that it is accessible without internet connection.

The advantages of a mobile application

Brand image opportunities

THE mobile applications offer a level of experience completely different to users. If your business's website is not attractive enoughyour mobile application can fill this gap and offer users a new commitment mode.

Personalization

Applications Mobiles help companies provide personalized or unique experience to users according to their habits, location, their interests, etc.

Best capacities of devices

Mobile applications have a full access to functions integrated device and use them To offer a better user experience. This characteristic is important for E-commerce applicationsbecause it allows you to improve the customer experience by offering specialties and special offers using the capacities of the user's device, such as push notifications, e-mails, instant or automatic updates, etc.

Customer commitment

The intuitive and interactive interface Mobile applications allows users to live a very interesting mobile experience. You can make your application more interactive By allowing users to interact with the components of the application. Users will frequently visit your application if it is useful to them, and this will contribute to increase the rate of customer loyalty.

Offline access

Mobile applications can operate both online and offline. Their ability to operate offline makes them more friendly that mobile websites. Although some applications require internet connectivity to perform certain tasks, they also provide content and features in offline mode to users.

Convenience

Mobile applications are more popular that mobile websites due to their Ability to provide comfort to users. Unlike websites, applications have push notifications, offer a Best user experienceare easy to loadhave a better response time and better loyalty rate customers.

The drawbacks of a mobile application

Compatibility

You must make sure that your application meets all the requirements of the platform if you want flawless operation. If your application is developed for Android, it may not be compatible with iOS or Windows platforms. This is one of the main drawbacks of mobile applications, as you must create a version of your mobile application For each platform.

Support and maintenance

When you need a multiplatform application, The cost and time required for the support and maintenance of the mobile application increase exponentially. Regular updates, tests and problem solving multiply the cost of the entire development of the mobile application.

Expensive and complicated

The development of a mobile application is a complicated process And often very expensive for businesses. Before you start, be sure that your target is looking for such an application.

Important storage space

Suppose that a user has a 64 GB tablet or mobile and that the storage space is almost full. He now wants to add a game, but the size of the file is about 1 GB, and his tablet is short of storage space. The first thing he will do is delete certain applications and perhaps yours.

Now that we have listed the Advantages and disadvantages From a mobile application, let's do the same for a mobile website and compare!

Reach of the hearing

THE Mobile websites are reappeared and support several devices on different platforms. Mobile websites have greater diffusion capacity and are easier to share that applications Mobiles.

Availability

Users can easily access Mobile websites via browsers from different devices. Unlike applications, users have No need to download them And install them to consult them.

Compatibility

Users can consult mobile websites From different devices (mobile, tablet) without needing a separate version for each device. The integration of mobile websites with other mobile technologies such as NFC and QR codes offers a better user experience.

Scalability

One of main advantages of a mobile website Compared to an application is its nature dynamic and its flexibility. If you want to change the content or Update the design of your mobile websitesimply publish your modifications, which will be immediately visible.

Assistance and maintenance

The cost of a mobile website is not limited to its initial launch, but included also the support And Maintenance after launch. Assistance and maintenance of mobile websites are very profitable.

The drawbacks of a mobile website

Privacy

Many websites require your data be shared For a better user experience. This increases the risk that your data will be hacked by hackers and compromise user's privacy.

User experience

In general, mobile websites are Single page websites Who affect the user experience When you implement the interface of desktop websites in mobile websites. It is almost impossible to add all the data on a single page, as it slows the site's response time.

Navigation problems

Good navigation allows users to easily find themselves on your website and reach the parts of the site they want. If your website is poorly designed Or does not have a good uxusers may encounter accessibility problems and conviviality On your mobile website and has a bad experience.

Mobile application vs mobile website? What option is the best for you?

Despite everything that we developed at the beginning of this article, there are certain things that we do not master. For example, it may happen that some users want to access your website even if your mobile application is installed on their device.

If you don't know what to choose between one application mobile and A mobile website For your business, see the list below to help you:

Why opt for a mobile application for your business?

• You want users to benefit from experience without gap.
• High performance
• Quick loading speed
• Complex data reports and calculations
• You need a GPS or geolocated application

Why opt for a mobile website for your business?

Define the objectives of your business will allow you to choose what is the best of the two options for your business.