The idea of a PWA was not conceived by Google or Apple, but it was Steve Jobs who first introduced this concept to the world during the iPhone launch in 2007. At the time, it seemed logical that external apps would help increase the popularity of the device, and Jobs wanted developers to create apps using standard web technologies.
However, while Steve Jobs has introduced the concept, Google has since picked up the idea, both coining the term itself and establishing the standard by which the progressive/hybrid web app is now described. In fact, in 2015, Berriman and Russell found a new class of websites that offered a better user experience than conventional web applications. All of these applications were distinguished by one common feature: they gave up the window tabs to live on their own while preserving their ubiquity and linkability.
Today, a Progressive web applications or PWA refers to an app that uses modern Web capabilities to offer users a very similar experience to a native app. It is anticipated that PWA will replace 50% of consumer-facing apps. PWA can be a perfect choice for those who want to make their business unique, impress the customer, and pioneer in such a promising field. But, before entering the field, you should consider both advantages and disadvantages, opportunities and risks, pitfalls and benefits PWA brings. In the following, we talk about the pros and cons of using progressive web applications.
Pros of Progressive web applications
1.Offline Connectivity
Using PWA, you can load the entire page or application without requiring an internet connection, the ability that both native apps and websites can not offer. This feature increases user engagement rates and potentially leads to higher revenue.
2.No Need to Installation or Manual Update Progressive web applications
PWAs can directly be downloaded on your mobile devices. You don’t have to visit the app stores to install it. When a company updates its PWA, users don’t have to install it manually. All new features and bug fixes are available without any manual action required.
3.Push Notifications in Progressive web applications
PWA notifications are absolutely similar to any native app notifications and can alert users to come back to the site even days after they have left, maintaining contact with consumers to make the brand an integral part of their daily lives.
4.Progressive web applications are Safe and Secure
Progressive Web Apps follow the HTTPS protocol, so the information cannot be displayed, spoofed, or altered.
5.Fast Performance
Compared to native apps, progressive web apps are much smaller and often weigh less than 1 megabyte. This makes them lighter and faster to work, even with a weak internet connection. And you don’t need to refresh the page every time. They make any web experience faster and boost functionality reliability without needing any assistance.
6.SEO-Friendly
Since these are web applications with URLs similar to a website, they can be indexed easily by search engines. In addition, SEO techniques are also applicable to PWAs, as is the case for any website.
7.Lower Cost
PWAs are more economical than native mobile apps to create and integrate. They don’t need special technologies, just pure javascript, HTML, and CSS. PWA developers do not need to write separate codes for different platforms, which dramatically decreases the total cost of the final product and the time spent developing it.
8.Responsive
Progressive Web Applications adjust to a range of screen sizes: desktop, mobile, tablet, or sizes that might become available later.
9.App-Like
PWAs can be used just like your native apps, both in terms of interaction and navigation. With app-style navigation and interactions, you won’t notice the difference.
10.Linkable
PWAs easily shared via URL without complex installation. Most native applications don’t have links to their pages, so you can’t share them with others.
Cons of Progressive web applications
1.Limited iOS Features
It has been possible to run PWAs on Apple devices since iOS 11.3, but you should forget about compatibility with older devices.
2.More battery consumption
Developers use high-level programming to build PWAs, so the battery power will run out quickly.
3.Cross App Login
Logging into your PWA using another application such as Facebook or Instagram is not supported using this technology.
4.Limited Access to Other Applications
PWAs cannot access other applications, like your contact list, camera and etc.
Conclusion
After mentioning the main advantages and disadvantages of Progressive Web Applications, it is evident that the advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages. If you are ready to transform your brand using a PWA, we provide the latest technologies and the professional experts to bring your brand into the future. You can create a beautiful PWA and reach a bigger audience by partnering with AminSoft. Feel free to contact us.