How to develop a progressive web application

Progressive web applications, also known as PWA (progressive web apps), combine the characteristics of mobile and web platforms. Such applications can be added to the device's home screen, but the pages are accessed through a browser. Thanks to its fast speed and low development cost, PWAs have become popular among startups.

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Compared to native apps, PWAs are faster, better optimised for SEO, and cheaper to develop.

PWA development costs about 37549 Dollars. The final budget will depend on the contractor's rates and the number of hours/sprints required.

With native web app development, you will need to create two separate apps (Android and iOS) in addition to the website, and then work on promoting the platforms. PWA is a convenient, SEO-friendly, low-cost app option for startup owners.

What is PWA

A PWA, or progressive web app, is a web page that you can add to your device's home screen. It simulates a traditional mobile application and can be partially accessed offline.
There are two ways to install PWA on a mobile device:

Android users should go to any browser ➡️ open the website with PWA ➡️ click “Install” ➡️ follow the on-screen instructions;

iOS users can use the Add to Home Screen action, which is only available in Safari.

4 main advantages of PWA

Compared to native apps, PWAs have a lot of advantages. They are faster, available on multiple operating systems, SEO-optimised, and cheaper to develop.

We've compiled a short list of 4 key benefits of any progressive web app:

1. Work offline

PWAs can be accessed offline even if the user does not have access to the Internet. For example, such web application development company can be used during a flight or on the subway (yes, for example, in London there is still no Wi-Fi in trains ). Initially, the PWA needs to be downloaded from the Internet so that the browser can add data to the cache, and then you can use the application offline.

2. Cross-platform

Users can install PWAs on almost any device, regardless of model, operating system or preferred browser. For startups, this means you can reach more users and customers with a single app.

3. Fast loading speed

Experienced startup owners know that the longer your website or app takes to load, the more customers you lose in the process. According to a study conducted by Imperva, most users will not wait longer than 5 seconds for a website to load.

The average loading time for a PWA on a mobile device is just 2.75 seconds

This speed is possible due to progressive dynamic loading. First, PWAs cache the main content, and only then load secondary pages.
4. Push notifications

Push notifications help you interact with users even if they are not visiting your site. For example, they can be used to warn about technical work or send a personalised discount on products.

Until recently, push notifications were not available for PWAs, but progress continues. Currently, you can send push notifications to Android users and some iOS users, depending on their operating system version.

Other benefits of PWA

We can talk about the benefits of PWA endlessly. You can read more about why PWA will be useful for your startup here.

PWA vs. native apps: What's the difference

Let's discuss the difference between progressive web apps and native solutions. But not from the point of view of the developer, but from the position of the user and owner of the startup.

💰 Development cost

Creating a progressive web application is cheaper than native development.

If your project involves native development, you will need at least two versions of the web application development : for Android users and for iOS users. In this case, you need to take into account the requirements of different marketplaces, device settings, screen resolutions and behaviour patterns on different operating systems. Twice the billable hours for your development team.

Cross-platform PWAs can be created based on an existing HTTPS website. The development process is much cheaper and faster, which allows you to release the product to the market sooner.

📲 Installation

PWA is much easier to install on your device.

To install a native app, users must first find it in the marketplace. Sometimes this can be difficult: for example, if the application is not available in the user's country or region.

PWAs have no location restrictions. They are accessible to users all over the world, just like your website. It only takes a couple of seconds to add a progressive web app to your home screen.

🔎 SEO and search app

Progressive Web Apps are SEO-optimised but are not searchable on the marketplace.

For your native app to show up immediately in search results, it must be Apple Store Optimised (ASO). For PWA, simple and basic SEO is enough. By using keywords, titles, and meta descriptions, you can influence your website's index in search engines and make your platform easier to find.

🔐 Security

Both native apps and PWAs are quite secure but at different levels.

The security of native applications is directly related to the OS since each platform has its own specific data protection requirements.

PWAs can only be created on sites that use HTTPS. This standard ensures that all data transmitted between a website and a web browser is encrypted. HTTPS is considered more secure than HTTP. Therefore, progressive web applications are better protected than most traditional HTTP websites.

📴 Offline access

PWAs pre-cache content so they can be partially accessible without the Internet.

Some native apps can work offline but offer a limited set of features. With PWAs, the story is much the same - they pre-load the main content and retrieve the content from the cache when the device is not connected to the Internet.

How much does PWA development cost?

Let's talk about money. Overall, PWAs are much cheaper than a native mobile app or web portal.

The final price will depend on the complexity of your PWA and other details. But here's a rough estimate:

Important addition: At sparkout tech, the cost per hour is the same, regardless of the complexity of the project - we are for fair and transparent pricing for all clients.

💰 The cost of progressive web app development starts from 37549 Dollars. On average, it takes at least 20 weeks to create a PWA. The final budget will depend on the contractor's rates and the number of hours/sprints required.