Web app vs. mobile app: which one should you build?

In today’s competitive software industry, apps that reach more users faster tend to have the upper hand over those that don’t.

That’s why it’s best to offer your services a web app and a mobile app. This ensures you give your users flexibility and convenience.

The problem, though, is that you might not have the budget to develop both at the same time.

So, which one should you prioritize and why?

That’s the question we’ll try to answer in this article.

Let’s dive in!

What is a mobile app?

A mobile app is a piece of software installed directly on a user’s mobile device.

Building one can be a great opportunity for your business and the mobile app market is huge – it reached a value of $254.91 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to a staggering $567.19 billion by 2030.

Users can download mobile apps from their app store of choice, like:

• Google Play Store
• Apple App Store
• Samsung Galaxy Store
• Amazon Appstore

Usually, mobile apps are self-contained, i.e. they can handle everything from processing the application logic to displaying the user interface (UI).

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And that’s why, unlike web apps, they can work even when you don’t have an internet connection.

Types of mobile apps

Mobile apps can be broadly categorized into two types: native (iOS and Android) and cross-platform mobile apps.

Native apps are developed specifically for one platform while cross-platform apps work on multiple platforms from a single codebase.

Here’s a detailed comparison between the two:

Mobile app types: comparison

You can also categorize mobile apps into types by industry, like e-commerce apps or fintech apps.

Next, we’ll take a look at the top programming languages used to build mobile apps.

Mobile app programming languages

The programming language you use to develop your mobile app will depend on your target platform and app type.

Here’s an overview of the top languages by platform:

Mobile app programming languages

Finally, let’s go over the pros and cons of mobile apps.

Pros and cons of mobile apps

What is a web app?

A web app is a piece of software that runs on a web server and is accessed through a web browser.

Unlike mobile apps, web apps don’t need to be downloaded or installed on a user’s device – all they need is a browser and an internet connection.

And there’s one important thing you need to keep in mind – web apps aren’t the same as websites.

Here’s an overview of the key differences:

source: Space Technologies

What sets them apart is complexity and functionality – when it comes to how they work, web apps have more in common with mobile apps than websites.

So, how do they work?

Unlike mobile apps, which are self-contained, web apps have 2 component parts – the front-end and the back-end.

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The front-end, or client-side, is the part of a web app that users can  see and interact with while the back-end, or server-side, processes and manages data which users can’t see.

Now, let’s discuss the different types of web apps out there.

Types of web apps

There’s a number of different types of web apps you can build, like:

• Static web apps
• Dynamic web apps
• Single page web apps
• Progressive web apps

So, how do you decide which one best suits your needs?

Here’s a detailed comparison to help you decide:

Web app types: comparison

Next, we’ll discuss the top programming languages used to develop web apps.

Web app programming languages

You can use a variety of different programming languages when building web apps.

Your choice of language will come down to your project’s specific requirements and performance needs.

Here’s an overview of the top languages used in front-end and back-end development:

Web app programming languages

Lastly, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of web apps.

Pros and cons of web apps

Mobile app vs. web app: key differences

So, now that we’ve defined both, let’s explore their differences in more detail.

Here’s a detailed comparison:

Mobile apps vs. web app: comparison

So, while mobile apps are more expensive and time-consuming to build, they offer superior performance and user experience.

And web apps, though cheaper to build, are generally less polished and require an internet connection to work properly.

But, let’s dive a bit deeper and compare them across the 3 most relevant categories – cost, development time, and performance.

Cost

As a general rule, web apps are cheaper to build than mobile apps.

That’s because you need to build separate mobile apps for each platform you’re targeting.

On average, here’s how much developing a web app costs:

• Simple web app – $20,000 – $50,000
• Medium-complexity web app – $50,000 – $90,000
• Complex web app – $90,000+

And here’s how much building a mobile app usually costs:

• Simple mobile app – $40,000 – $60,000
• Medium-complexity mobile app – $60,000 – 90,000$
• Complex mobile app – $100,000+

Of course, your actual development costs will depend on your specific requirements – a complex web app will be much more expensive than a simple mobile app.

But, if you’re on a tight budget and you have to prioritize one app type over another, web apps are the way to go.

Development time

If all things are equal, a mobile app will take longer to build than a web app.

But, why is that the case? And how long does it take to build each one?

On average, building a web app takes between 3-5 months.

On the other hand, a mobile app takes about 6 months on average to build.

source: Appinventiv

Unlike mobile apps, you build web apps from a single codebase, which significantly cuts down on development time.

Also, there’s another reason mobile app development takes longer – you need to get approval to list your app on an app store.

If you encounter issues, this can take weeks and there’s no guarantee your app won’t be denied.

Then, you’ll have to fix it and re-submit for review, which will take additional time.

Performance

When it comes to performance, mobile apps blow web apps out of the water.

If you want to build a high-performance app, building a mobile app is the way to go.

They have an inherent advantage – they’re self-contained and process data on-device, so their performance is faster.

Web apps, on the other hand, have to constantly send data over a network, which causes latency.

source: Key CDN

Latency is the time it takes data to travel from the server to the client and back – this is why web apps don’t respond as quickly to user interactions.

Also, if they have a slow internet connection, it becomes an even bigger problem.

And even under the best conditions, latency will never reach 0, so web apps will always have a slight delay compared to mobile apps.

Mobile app or web app: which one to build first?

The quick answer is that it’s best to have both a web and a mobile app.

Sometimes, though, you can’t develop both right away – in that case, the following questions will help you decide which to prioritize.

Do you need the device’s native features?

While mobile apps have access to the device hardware, not every platform needs it.

For example, stunning graphics or camera support are unnecessary if you want to create a simple webmail app.

Therefore, you need to evaluate if your app needs these capabilities. If not, then a web app might be the better option.

Furthermore, website programming languages like HTML5 can now access hardware components like the camera or gyroscope.

source: Addpipe

This means that basic device features are now accessible to web apps as well, which could impact your decision to use them.

Of course, they won’t be as efficient or fast as mobile apps, but they could suffice for simpler applications.

How many users do you want to reach?

All things being equal, web apps can generally reach more users than mobile apps.

The reason is simple—web apps are more accessible. You don’t need to install them, and you can access them on any device. This appeals to a larger demographic.

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In contrast, it’s harder to convince people to use a mobile app because they must spend time searching and installing it.

Plus, in some cases, the device’s specs might not be compatible with your app.

However, note that this varies by app niche.

For instance, a 2021 survey showed that more people were using mobile food apps than web food apps.

source: Business of Apps

But, despite the rising popularity of mobile apps, the easy accessibility of web apps makes them a better first choice when you want to reach a wide variety of users quickly.

Will your app be used offline?

This is perhaps the easiest factor to base a decision on.

Opting for a mobile app is imperative if you need your app to work without an internet connection.

Good examples of offline-only apps include games, calculators, and other utility apps like maps or translators.

This is especially vital for utility apps with online capabilities. One example is Evernote, which stores notes on the cloud by default.

But its mobile app version allows you to continue taking notes even while offline, thanks to offline sync technology.

source: Evernote

In contrast, web apps are a good alternative if your app needs to function purely online—whether by choice or necessity.

Still can’t decide between web and mobile apps?

So, are you still having trouble deciding which app to build?

Luckily, you’re in the right place.

We can help you make the right decision and pick the right app you need for your project.

And the best part?

Our consultations are free, so feel free to reach out and we’ll set up a call to discuss your needs in more detail.