PWA vs Native Apps: Performance, Cost & UX Compared

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and native apps represent two different approaches to mobile software. PWAs run in the browser but feel like apps. Native apps are built for iOS and Android using platform-specific tools. The right choice depends on your use case, audience, budget, and performance requirements.

This guide covers what PWAs are, capability comparisons, performance, offline support, app store presence, push notifications, cost comparison, when to choose each, and examples of successful PWAs and native apps.

What Are Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)?

A Progressive Web App is a website that uses modern web APIs (Service Workers, Web App Manifest) to deliver an app-like experience. Users "install" it from the browser to their home screen. It can work offline, send push notifications, and access some device features — without going through the App Store or Google Play.

| PWA Characteristic | Description | |--------------------|-------------| | URL-based | Loaded from the web, no app store required | | Installable | "Add to Home Screen" creates an icon | | Offline capable | Service Worker caches assets and data | | Responsive | Adapts to phone, tablet, desktop | | Secure | Served over HTTPS | | App-like | Full-screen, splash screen, standalone mode |

PWAs are built with standard web tech: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like Next.js, React, Vue, or plain vanilla JS.

Capabilities Comparison

| Capability | PWA | Native (iOS) | Native (Android) | |------------|-----|--------------|------------------| | Offline support | Yes (Service Worker) | Yes | Yes | | Push notifications | Yes (with limitations on iOS) | Yes | Yes | | App Store / Play Store | No (or limited) | Yes | Yes | | Home screen icon | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Background sync | Limited | Full | Full | | Biometrics (Face ID, fingerprint) | Limited (WebAuthn) | Full | Full | | Camera / microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Location | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Bluetooth (BLE) | Limited | Full | Full | | NFC | No | Yes | Yes | | In-app purchases | No (web payments) | Yes (IAP) | Yes (IAP) | | AR (ARKit/ARCore) | Limited | Full | Full | | Background location | Limited | Full | Full | | Access to all sensors | Limited | Full | Full |

Key takeaway: PWAs cover most common use cases (content, forms, e-commerce, dashboards) but fall short for hardware-intensive or store-dependent apps (games, AR, strict in-app purchase requirements).

Performance: PWA vs Native

| Aspect | PWA | Native | |--------|-----|--------| | Initial load | Depends on network; can be slower first visit | Installed; typically faster cold start | | Subsequent loads | Fast with Service Worker cache | Fast | | Animation smoothness | Good (60fps possible) | Excellent (native 60/120fps) | | Memory usage | Can be higher (browser runtime) | Typically lower | | Battery impact | Varies; generally good | Optimized for platform | | Bundle size | Single codebase; smaller than 2 native apps | Platform-specific; often larger per platform |

Modern PWAs with good optimization (code splitting, lazy loading, efficient Service Workers) can feel nearly as responsive as native for many workloads. Heavy gaming, complex animations, or real-time processing favor native.

Offline Support

Both PWAs and native apps can work offline. Implementation differs.

| Approach | PWA | Native | |---------|-----|--------| | Caching | Service Worker caches HTML, CSS, JS, API responses | File system, Core Data, Room | | Storage | IndexedDB, Cache API, localStorage | SQLite, Realm, file system | | Background sync | Background Sync API (limited) | Full background execution | | Sync conflicts | Manual implementation | Platform tooling available |

PWAs can cache pages and API data for offline reading. Background sync queues actions (e.g., form submissions) for when the connection returns. Native apps have more control over background execution and sync strategies.

App Store Presence

| Factor | PWA | Native | |--------|-----|--------| | Distribution | Direct URL, "Add to Home Screen" | App Store, Google Play | | Discoverability | SEO, links, ads | Store search, featuring | | Trust | Varies; some users prefer store badge | Store approval adds perceived trust | | Monetization | Web payments, subscriptions | In-app purchases, store billing | | Updates | Instant (no review) | Review process (days) | | Platform policies | Fewer constraints | Must follow store guidelines |

PWAs: No store review, instant updates, no store fees (except payment processors). Lower discoverability for users who only browse app stores. Some platforms (e.g., iOS) historically limited PWA capabilities; support has improved.

Native: Store visibility, in-app purchases, subscription billing. Review delays, store fees (15–30%), and policy compliance overhead.

Push Notifications

| Platform | PWA Push | Native Push | |----------|----------|-------------| | Android | Full support | Full support | | iOS | Supported (iOS 16.4+) | Full support | | Desktop | Supported (Chrome, Edge, etc.) | N/A (or limited) |

PWA push notifications work on Android and, as of 2023, on iOS. Setup requires a push service (e.g., Firebase, OneSignal) and a Service Worker. Native push uses platform APIs (APNs, FCM) with mature tooling.

Cost Comparison

| Factor | PWA | Native | |--------|-----|--------| | Development | Single codebase (web) | 2 codebases (iOS + Android) or cross-platform | | Timeline | Often faster (one build) | Longer (2 platforms or cross-platform setup) | | Maintenance | One codebase, one deploy | 2+ platforms to maintain | | Hosting | Web hosting (existing site) | Web hosting for backend; app distribution via stores | | Build cost (typical) | $20,000–$80,000 | $60,000–$200,000+ | | Ongoing cost | Lower (single codebase) | Higher (multiple platforms) |

PWAs are typically 40–60% cheaper to build and maintain than native apps for comparable scope. The gap narrows when you need native-only features (AR, NFC, strict IAP) that require native development anyway.

For cross-platform options that bridge the gap, see our native vs cross-platform app development and React Native vs Flutter 2026 guides.

When to Choose PWA

| Scenario | Why PWA | |----------|---------| | Content / marketing sites | Already web; enhance with installability and offline | | E-commerce | Fast iteration, no store review, web payments | | Internal tools | Single sign-on, no store distribution needed | | MVP / validation | Lower cost, faster launch | | Budget constraints | One codebase, lower build and maintenance cost | | Need instant updates | No store review delays | | Broad reach | Works on any device with a browser | | SEO matters | Content is crawlable and indexable |

When to Choose Native

| Scenario | Why Native | |----------|------------| | Gaming | Performance, graphics APIs, store distribution | | AR / VR | ARKit, ARCore, specialized hardware | | Hardware-heavy (NFC, BLE, sensors) | Full access to device capabilities | | In-app purchases as core revenue | Store IAP, subscriptions with native UX | | Offline-first with complex sync | Full background execution and storage | | Store discoverability critical | App Store / Play Store presence | | Premium brand experience | Platform-specific design, gestures | | Access to latest platform features | Day-one support for new APIs |

Successful PWA Examples

| Company | PWA Use Case | Result | |---------|--------------|--------| | Twitter (X) Lite | Lightweight mobile experience | 75% increase in engagement | | Starbucks | Order-ahead, loyalty | 2x daily active users | | Pinterest | Discovery, installability | 60% increase in engagement | | Uber (m.uber.com) | Ride booking in emerging markets | Works on low-end devices | | Spotify (web) | Music streaming, installable | Cross-platform from one codebase | | Flipkart | E-commerce in India | 3x time on site, 70% conversion uplift | | Trivago | Hotel search | Faster load, installable |

These examples show PWAs excelling at content, e-commerce, and transactional flows where store distribution and native-only features aren't critical.

Hybrid: PWA + Native Wrapper

Some products ship both: a PWA for reach and a native app for store presence and advanced features.

| Approach | Use Case | |----------|----------| | PWA as primary | Web-first; native for store-only users | | Native as primary | Native app with web-based secondary experience | | WebView wrapper | Native shell with PWA content; faster iteration for web parts |

Tools like Capacitor and Cordova wrap PWAs in a native shell, providing access to some native APIs and store distribution. You get faster iteration on web content with optional native enhancements.

PWA Limitations on iOS (Historical Context)

Historically, PWAs on iOS had significant limitations. Apple has improved support over time, but some gaps remain.

| Limitation | iOS Status (2024–2026) | |------------|------------------------| | Push notifications | Supported since iOS 16.4 | | Home screen install | Supported | | Offline/Service Worker | Supported (with some storage limits) | | Background sync | Limited | | Full-screen mode | Supported | | Share target | Limited | | Badging | Limited | | Persistent storage | 50MB–1GB limits apply |

Android generally offers stronger PWA support. If your audience is predominantly iOS and needs full PWA feature parity, verify current capabilities before committing.

Migration Paths

| From | To | Effort | |------|----|--------| | PWA | Native | Rebuild; use PWA as reference | | Native | PWA | Possible for simpler apps; feature parity may suffer | | PWA | Hybrid (Capacitor) | Wrap existing PWA; add native plugins as needed | | One native platform | Cross-platform (RN/Flutter) | Significant rewrite | | One native platform | PWA | Rebuild; may simplify to one codebase |

Migration is rarely trivial. Choose the right approach at the start to avoid expensive rewrites.

User Expectations and Perception

Users associate native apps with quality, performance, and trust — especially for paid or sensitive use cases. PWAs can feel "less than" native to some users, especially on iOS where installability has been less prominent. For B2B or internal tools, this matters less. For consumer apps where perception drives adoption, native may still be the safer choice. Run user testing with both approaches if you're uncertain; actual user feedback often clarifies the decision faster than benchmarks alone. Consider your target demographics: younger, web-savvy users may readily install PWAs; older or less technical users may prefer the familiarity of app store download and installation.

Summary

| Factor | PWA | Native | |--------|-----|--------| | Build cost | Lower (single codebase) | Higher (2+ platforms) | | Maintenance | Lower | Higher | | Offline | Good | Excellent | | Hardware access | Limited | Full | | App stores | No | Yes | | Updates | Instant | Store review | | Best for | Content, e-commerce, MVP, internal tools | Gaming, AR, hardware-heavy, store-critical |

Choose PWA when you need broad reach, fast iteration, lower cost, and your requirements fit web capabilities. Choose native when you need full hardware access, app store presence, or the highest performance.

Need Help Deciding?

Our mobile app development team builds both PWAs and native apps. We'll evaluate your requirements, audience, and budget to recommend the right approach — or a hybrid strategy.

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