We are technologically dependent. Everything we do on mobile phones and laptops, from getting our daily news to buying groceries. It’s nearly impossible to imagine our lives without these devices. Businesses and brands worldwide also recognize the importance of integrating their products and services into mobile devices. However, when it comes to devices, there are two options; responsive website vs mobile app. The question is, which is the best choice?
Now, when it comes to responsive websites and mobile apps, both have their pros and cons, and depending upon your type of business, choosing one over the other may differ. Before you decide which path is suitable for you, it is important to dissect each and talk about its advantages and disadvantages. So, without further a do, let’s begin.
What is a Responsive Website?
The first question we need to ask ourselves is this, what is the difference between a responsive website and a mobile app?
A responsive website is a web design that accommodates several screen sizes. The purpose of this is to ensure that the content present on the website is coherent on all screen sizes, whether it’s a mobile phone, laptop, or a 40” flat screen.
Responsive websites use what is called fluid grid systems (flexible grids rather than static grids), fluid images (images that adapt to the screen size), and media queries (for altering the layout of the website when certain conditions are met).
To see if a website is responsive, you can open that particular website on your mobile, pc, or tablet; it will show the same experience.
What is a Mobile App?
We have talked about responsive websites. It is now time we shed some light on mobile apps. So, what is a mobile app? Mobile apps are developed with a specific mobile operating system in mind. They are developed in programming languages designed for operating systems.
For instance, if you want to develop an app for iPhone, you would need Swift. You would also need to follow Apple’s guidelines and undertake their App Store review process before your app goes live for the audience. The same goes for Android apps. You must carefully follow Play Store’s guidelines when developing an app before it officially gets launched to the world.
Responsive Website VS Mobile App – Which is Better?
Now, the real question arrives, which one is better for you? We have got you covered if you are undecided whether to create a responsive website or a mobile app. In this article, we will dissect each platform and discuss its pros and cons so that you get a clearer picture of what’s best for you and your business.
Pros of Responsive Website
Let’s discuss some advantages of creating a responsive website for your brand or business. Following, we have laid out why it is better to pick a responsive website over a native mobile app. Let’s begin with the first reason.
Cost-Effective
Responsive websites are much more cost-effective than mobile apps if you are just starting out. There are numerous frameworks out there that provide ease for developers and companies. Lightweight and responsive frameworks like Foundation and Bootstrap allow developers to create a web app that facilitates the screen size of all devices.
Cross-Platform Accessibility
If there is one thing responsive websites are good at, it’s that they can be accessed on any browser. The reason is that typically responsive websites are structured on HTML or CSS, and all browsers are compatible with it. Consequently, responsive websites built on CSS or HTML work smoothly on all browsers and devices.
No Need to Install
A responsive website doesn’t need a user to install something compared to a mobile app. You can click on your stock browser and type in the URL of the responsive website. That will take you to your desired destination without having to download anything.
Content Is Shareable
Content is shareable when it comes to responsive websites. If you like a piece of information on a responsive website, all you have to do to share it is copy the page link and share it to your socials, contacts, or email.
Cons of Responsive Website
With advantages comes its disadvantages. Above, we have discussed the pros of responsive websites. Now, it is time to shed some light on the downside of creating a responsive website. Let’s start with the first reason.
Need Internet Connection
Contrary to mobile apps, which don’t always require an internet connection, responsive websites need a solid internet connection each time someone puts in the URL. A responsive website is a website; offline is not an option. To ensure you use a responsive website, you must always have a solid internet connection.
Optimize Content For Mobile Devices
Even though responsive websites are adaptable to all devices and all screen sizes, sometimes, using high-resolution and video animations alters the experience of the website. It needs to get adjusted for mobile devices. If you fail at doing that, users will have a terrible experience and will most likely bounce from your website. You can easily hire web design services in united states and get a competent software team to address this.
Limited Features For Mobile Devices
Responsive websites have little to no support for mobile device features such as access to cameras, microphones, and push notifications. This hinders the experience for mobile users compared to pc users.
Cannot Reap Benefits of App store
App stores provide many benefits for software companies. First, you can monetize your app based on the downloads of your app. Secondly, app stores harbor billions of users worldwide, giving your app the needed exposure online.
Pros of Mobile App
So far, we have discussed responsive websites, mobile apps, and the pros and cons of a responsive website. It is now time to make a case for mobile apps. Following, we will discuss how mobile apps are better than responsive apps and why you should opt for developing a mobile app.
Better Performance Than Websites
A native mobile app always runs faster than a typical responsive website. The reason for this lies in the intricacies of the written code. Mobile apps have the functionality to store data on the device and don’t rely on a web browser to perform basic functions.
Offers Personalization
In today’s time, personalization is everything for a user. Mobile apps provide room for personalization to users where they can input their interests, location, and preferences from the start. This help both the party. It allows users to get a tailored experience based on the information they put. It also helps the app creator to know the interests and preferences of their user in order to provide tailored services/products.
Can Work Offline
Since mobile apps are to be downloaded, the data is stored directly on the installation device. The app creator or the development team behind an app can decide whether to make some content available even when the internet is unavailable. Many apps run offline, which is the edge of a mobile app over a responsive website.
Visually Superior
For developers, mobile apps offer them freedom when it comes to designing. The mobile operating system allows designers to explore their creativity by giving them more options regarding interactive designs and visuals. From interactive functions to animations, the opportunities are endless.
Cons of Mobile App
The pros of creating a mobile app are interesting. However, are there any cons to it? Well, yes. Let’s discuss some of the disadvantages of creating a mobile app.
OS Problem
A mobile app needs to be developed following an operating system. For instance, if you develop a mobile app for iPhone, the same app would not run on an Android phone and vice versa. To make sure you get your app on both OS, you need two versions of your app. Hire mobile app develops in USA and get yourself Android and iOS mobile apps.
Expensiveness
Perhaps the biggest downside of developing a mobile app is the cost that comes with it. Hiring developers for both the OS comes with its cost, and not many carry the capital to do it.
Take More Time To Develop
To develop a mobile app from scratch, developers need time to write code. A responsive web app can easily be created. However, a mobile app will take its due time.
Harder To Acquire A User base
It becomes difficult to acquire loyal users when it comes to app usage. An average user uses 25 apps per month; out of that, 21% of users abandon the app after one usage. The odds are against mobile apps, making it a risky venture.
Conclusion
So, which one is better, after all? Well, in our estimation, both! Each platform offers numerous benefits, and as a business in 2022, you can’t pick one over the other. It is recommended to have both a responsive website and mobile app to cater to your users.
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