Are progressive web applications (PWAs) the future of apps?

Several years ago native mobile apps got a decent competitor - progressive web apps.

PWAs help brands enhance their web presence and create a user experience very close to that of a native app, at the same time requiring less time and costs to create than a native app.

I can definitely say that PWAs are in high demand now. You will be impressed to know what brands and e-commerce platforms have already shifted to PWAs. These are AliExpress, The Washington Post, Forbes, Pinterest - it is quite impressive.

People all over the world show great interest in this technology.

Take a look at this screenshot from Google Trends:

Progressive web applications indeed have a high potential to become the future of apps. Here is why.

1. Fast loading

We all know that 40% of users leave a website that loads more than 3 seconds. With the PWA technology your site will load within 1 second. Service Workers will cache all the required data. 

As a result, visitors will get positive user experience.

2. Small size

PWAs are much lighter than native mobile apps. They use less device memory and data.

3. Security

All PWAs work via HTTPS. This protocol ensures the security of your data and prevents unauthorized access.

4. Offline mode

Thanks to pre-caching the data, users can browse the pages even if they are not connected to the Internet. If Service workers did not finish caching for some reason, users will get a customized offline message.

5. Reduced development time and cost

When building a progressive app, you need one team to develop a single solution. At the same time, a web + native application requires three teams. They develop a web-based solution and separate versions for Android and IOS.

As you can see, PWA technology seems more preferable option there. It is cheaper and takes less time.

6. Quick installation and update

Users can add a PWA to the home screen in a blink. They open a progressive website in a browser on their smartphones and click on “Add to the home screen”. That’s it.

When it comes to mobile apps, everything takes more time. First, users have to find the required app in the App Store. It’s no easy feat considering more than 2 million applications there. Then they need to download it, and, after that, install.

It is worth mentioning that PWAs updates are also very convenient for users. PWAs are tied to the web. It means that the developers don't need to release updates right after the launch of a new version of OSs. Progressive web apps always have the latest version.

7. Increased conversion rates

Companies get exciting results after moving to PWA technology. For example, AliExpress can boast a 104% increase in conversions for new customers.

How did this business manage to reach such heights?

For starters, when added, PWA appears on a users’ home screen and stays there. It attracts users’ attention and as a result, increase the number of visits.

Besides, push notifications bring the native mobile experience. They are a perfect engagement tool that reminds users of the recent news.

Here’s an example of push notifications from a Twitter progressive app:

8. Independence from any app store

PWA technology makes it unnecessary to submit the app via Google Play Market or Apple App Store. Users just allow “Add to home screen”. Nothing more.

Additionally, PWAs are clickable, shareable, Google-indexed. Users find such apps much faster.

For further reading and to get a better insight into the PWA technology, I recommend reading my article: What are Progressive Web Applications and How They Can Benefit Your Project.