Progressive Web Apps vs Native Apps

The "There's an App for that" era is fading. Users are tired of downloading 100MB apps for services they use once a month. Enter the Progressive Web App (PWA).

What is a PWA?

It's a website that behaves like an app.

• Installable: You can add it to your home screen.
• Offline Mode: Service Workers cache content so it works without signal.
• Push Notifications: Yes, web apps can send notifications (on Android, and increasingly on iOS).

The Case for PWA

1. One Codebase: Build with React/Vue once, run on Chrome, Safari, Desktop, and Mobile.
2. No App Store Tax: No 30% cut to Apple/Google.
3. Instant Updates: You deploy to your server, and everyone has the new version instantly. No waiting for App Store review.

When to go Native (Swift/Kotlin)

1. Performance: If you are building a 3D game or a video editor, native code is closer to the metal and faster.
2. Hardware Access: While web APIs are catching up, native apps still have better access to Bluetooth, NFC, and complex sensors.
3. Discovery: The App Store is a search engine. Being there can drive traffic (though it's crowded).

Verdict: For 90% of B2B apps, E-commerce stores, and media sites, a PWA is the faster, cheaper, and smarter route.