First impressions about website performance and user-friendliness result in site abandonment if it doesn’t meet customer expectations. To win from the start, some businesses launch Progressive Web Applications (PWAs). The PWA benefits may lead to a 60% drop in bounce rates and double conversions.
But what is the PWA meaning? Why is it different from a Single-page Application (SPA)? Finally, what are the advantages of progressive web apps over native ones? We often hear these questions from our clients, so we’ve provided comprehensive answers in this article.
What Is a Progressive Web Application (PWA)?
A Progressive Web Application (PWA) is a web application that uses web browser APIs and features to make a cross-platform web app look like a Native one and bring the same experience. In other words, it is sort of a Native app that opens with the help of a browser. You can install it on the mobile home screen, access it offline, and receive push notifications. Among the most successful PWAs are Pinterest, Starbucks, Twitter Lite, The Washington Post, Forbes, and more.
Let’s compare PWA to single-page applications (SPA) and Native apps to better understand its features and specifics.
|
Feature |
Progressive Web App (PWA) |
Single-Page Application (SPA) |
Native App |
|
Deployment |
Web browser |
Web browser |
App marketplace (Play Store, App Store) |
|
Cross-platform compatibility |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Installation |
Add to home screen |
N/A |
App store download |
|
Offline access |
Yes |
No |
Limited |
|
Push notifications |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Examples |
Pinterest, Starbucks, Twitter Lite, The Washington Post, Forbes |
Gmail, Google Maps, Facebook, LinkedIn, GitHub |
WhatsApp, Spotify, Pokemon Go |
What Are the Main Components of Progressive Web Apps?
Not every web app can be called a PWA. The real PWAs consist of an encrypted HTTP protocol (HTTPS), one or several service workers, a manifest file, and a core architecture that facilitates fast loading. Let’s look closer at these components and the progressive web apps advantages they offer.
Encrypted HTTP protocol (HTTPS)
Any web application should be a secure site and browsed through a secure network. This makes a website a trusted place and allows users to make secure transactions without having second thoughts.
Service workers
Service workers are scripts that control the way a web browser handles network requests and asset caching. With the help of service workers, web developers create reliable and fast web pages that can work offline as well.
Manifest file
The manifest file is a JSON file. Its main role is to control the way an app appears to the end-users. Also, it ensures PWAs discoverability by describing the name of the app, the start URL, icons, and any additional information to shift from the website format into an app one.
Core Architecture
The core architecture of PWAs encompasses efficient resource caching strategies and a responsive user interface design. The primary benefits of progressive web apps include faster loading times and a seamless transition from website to app format, enhancing the user experience.
PWA Benefits for Businesses, Developers and Users
Several types of apps are deployed today besides PWAs: native, single-page, and hybrid. However, the type of app that will suit your particular business should be chosen based on your business needs, requirements, and the key features an app will offer to your customers.
For these reasons, let’s discuss the benefits of progressive web apps:
Benefits of PWA for businesses
1. Native-like user experience
Today, mobile applications have become a far better choice than web browser ones. Statista reports that in 2023, global mobile app users installed approximately 257 billion apps.
PWAs look both good and feel like mobile apps with website-like performance. They mimic the design of native apps, offering a comparable user experience. In particular, PWAs ensure better speed, responsiveness, and functionality, akin to websites with database access and automatic data. For this reason, Bing, Google, and other search engines index PWA pages and find them in no time.
2. Lower user abandonment
One of the progressive web apps benefits is that users install them straight from the web browser to any device. It makes user abandonment significantly lower. The installed app remains on the desktop or mobile device home screen and can be easily accessed from there. Also, it is not obligatory to install the PWA app. Users can easily access it via a URL.
3. Enhanced performance
The running speed of a PWA improves because this app can function efficiently, operate like a website, cache, and serve text, images, and other content. This type of software enhances not only the page-load speed but also the user experience, improves retention rates, and promotes customer loyalty. Thus, if you have a business in retail or content provision, this type of app is just for you!
4. Efficiency and cost savings
PWA functions on different devices, adjusting to screen sizes. Therefore, businesses can reach users across devices and operating systems. This broad reach increases the potential for cross-platform conversions, maximizing the app’s impact and revenue generation potential. Being so convenient and cross-platform, a PWA reduces developers’ time for its deployment and the customer’s costs.
5. Expanded reach
PWAs use the device’s push notification feature. This is a perfect capability for companies and their advertising campaigns. Why is this opportunity so great? Users allow their PWAs to send them notifications that are highly noticeable on mobile screens. Thus, the companies can access their target audience, reach out to their users more often, and become more recognized as a brand.
6. No dependency on app distribution platforms
Distribution platforms like App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store have specific software requirements for apps stored on them that are sometimes too burdensome to meet. The app can be removed without prior notice. By choosing PWAs, you free yourself from the distribution platform requirements and the possible risks of failing to meet some minor requirements.
7. Streamlined development and updates
PWAs offer the convenience of unified development, updates, and product information. Simplifying the entire process, they streamline updates. Thus, businesses can enhance user experiences swiftly. Thanks to the agility and adaptability of PWAs, companies respond quickly to market changes and customer needs.
8. Uninterrupted communication and engagement
Today, we can download apps from different distribution platforms. For instance, the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store, have their specific requirements for software stored on them. Sometimes, it becomes a burden to meet these requirements or the app can be removed without prior notice. Hence, by choosing PWAs you choose to be free of the distribution platform requirements and possible time waste and cost lost based on missing to meet some of the minor requirements.
9. Improved search results visibility
PWAs provide SEO benefits by consistently featuring content in search results. Google tools directly assess PWA scores in search results. Moreover, PWAs align with a mobile-first approach, which boosts their visibility. It increases the app’s discoverability and drives organic traffic, facilitating business growth and customer acquisition.
10. Decreased customer acquisition costs (CAC)
Businesses leverage PWAs to decrease customer acquisition costs through efficient marketing strategies and enhanced user experiences. This cost-saving benefit contributes to improved profitability and sustainable growth for businesses of all sizes.
PWA advantages for developers
1. Modern development approach
PWAs offer developers a modern approach to app development, leveraging web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It ensures faster development cycles, easier maintenance, and seamless integration with existing web infrastructure.
2. Positive developer experience
Developing PWAs provides flexibility and ease of use. It comes with standardized development practices and a robust ecosystem of tools and libraries. As a result, developers can focus more on creating innovative features and less on platform-specific intricacies.
3. Headless architecture compatibility
PWAs support headless architecture. Thus, developers can separate front-end and back-end. This decoupling enhances flexibility, scalability, and adaptation to changing business requirements without compromising performance.
4. Cross-platform development
Building PWAs doesn’t require separate development efforts for iOS and Android platforms. PWAs are compatible across devices and operating systems, making them available for a broader audience with a single codebase.
5. No paid developer accounts
Unlike traditional mobile app development, PWAs don’t require paid developer accounts on platforms like the App Store or Google Play. It reduces financial barriers and encourages innovation.
6. Short time to market
PWAs offer a shorter time to market compared to native apps, thanks to their simplified development and deployment. Developers quickly iterate on features, gather feedback, and deliver timely updates.
7. Back-end independence
PWAs provide developers with platform-agnostic solutions, offering independence from specific back-end technologies. Due to this flexibility, specialists choose the most suitable back-end stack for their projects with enhanced performance and scalability.
Advantages of PWA for users
1. Quick and easy to install
PWAs offer quick and effortless installation directly from the web browser to any device, improving the overall user experience. Once installed, the app icon remains on the desktop or mobile device home screen for easy access. Additionally, users can access the PWA via URL without installation.
2. Access from everywhere
PWAs can work everywhere. Users, who often switch between their devices, can receive cross-support anywhere. It ensures continuous user experience and optimal platform or app version performance. PWAs are highly responsive to various form factors, as they adapt properly to various screen sizes.
3. Offline access
PWAs operate offline, ensuring seamless functionality even with unstable network connections. Thanks to built-in service workers, app features and information are saved and cached. Users access content without downloading it. This feature is crucial for the retail industry to prevent user abandonment during internet crashes.
4. Silent updates
Progressive web apps updates are automatic. The app does not notify its users about upcoming updates and does not require user permission to update itself. Once a user opens the app, it updates immediately without downloading any batch changes and installing them. However, not all PWAs update silently. Some apps send push notifications to users to inform them about the latest updates.
5. Enhanced security
As was mentioned above, PWAs use HTTPS to manage and maintain the safety of data stored within them and eliminate risks of security breaches, snooping, content tampering, and other illegal activity.
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Top Companies Using PWAs to Boost their Performance: Examples & Use Cases
Starbucks PWA
At first, Starbucks was a global mobile ordering app. However, the main need – to be accessible to the existing and emerging markets made Starbucks reconsider its application and re-deploy it into a PWA. And, due to the progressive web app benefits, it resulted in 99.84% more lightweight user experience and enhanced order diversity by 23%.
Uber PWA
Uber happened to be a native app that turned into a PWA. This transition was triggered due to the need to be able to cater to anyone without taking care much about the network connectivity and the device. Thus, Uber’s PWA was designed to work fast even with a 2G connection. It facilitated a 16% year-on-year increase in revenue, amounting to $37.2 billion in 2023.
Pinterest PWA
Back in 2017, Pinterest owned a mobile web app. However, there was a business need intended to offer a better experience for people located in low-bandwidth environments and the ones with limited data plans. Thus, Pinterest had its site rebuilt into a PWA. This was quite a benefit as the site engagement rose to 60%, user-generated ad revenue increased to 44% and the time users spent on the site reached 40%.
Forbes PWA
2017 was also progressive for Forbes. In their aim to re-design the user experience and bring high-speed performance, a PWA was a great choice. Forbes’ PWA experienced double the average user session length, six times the completion rate, and 20% more impressions than the native app. With faster load times dropping from 12 seconds to 0.8 seconds, Forbes reached more readers and expanded content visibility.
Twitter Lite PWA
Twitter sought a more robust experience and delivered its Twitter Lite app with instant loading, greater user engagement, and lower data consumption. The company has witnessed the benefits of PWA in the form of a 75% increase in tweets sent and a 20% decrease in bounce rate. Twitter Lite loads in under 3 seconds, even when the network connection is slow.
Inoxoft’s Experience with Progressive Web Applications
Inoxoft has extensive expertise in PWA development. We’re dedicated to advancing our PWA development skills and leveraging this technology. This way, we empower businesses, accelerate user engagement, and boost product outcomes. Here is one of our recent cases.
Our client, a Canadian-based entrepreneur, sought a reliable solution for documenting events and circumstances. Inoxoft delivered a mobile app that offered documented proof through video, audio, and photo recordings. It provided crucial evidence in legal proceedings to settle disputes and support claims.
Key benefits of the solution included:
- Unique and unedited evidence to attract users
- Guided capture, multiple content types, secure file sharing, and internal wallet features
- Utility across scenarios like accidents, transactions, and property conditions
- User-friendly login, media selection, storage duration, and fee payment
Inoxoft’s solution ensured authenticity, attracting users seeking legally valid evidence. We integrated essential features for secure proof storage, a user-friendly experience, background functionality, and secure payment integration.
Read more about AI-based web development
Summing Up
The benefits of progressive web apps make it an amazing choice for numerous popular companies. With the help of progressive web app advantages, users became more satisfied with the loading speed, home screen access, extra security and data privacy, and offline mode. If you’re looking to achieve the same PWA benefits, contact our team to enhance your mobile app running speed, performance, user engagement, and satisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of PWAs for users?
Advantages of web apps include cross-platform performance and faster loading for enhanced user satisfaction and usability.
How are PWAs different from native apps?
PWAs are web-based. Therefore, users don’t need to download an app from a digital store. It streamlines access and improves user adoption rates.
Are PWAs secure?
Most PWAs use HTTPS for secure data transfer, ensuring user information remains protected and fostering trust in the platform.
Do PWAs work offline?
PWAs effectively work offline by using cached data. It ensures uninterrupted usability and enhanced accessibility despite connectivity concerns.
How can I use a PWA?
You can easily access PWAs through a web browser and platforms that prompt users to add them to their home screens. It streamlines access and provides a more app-like experience.
