Choose Between a Web App and a Mobile App

When creating a new application in ONEWEB you need to select the type of application you want to develop according to your project's requirements. For each development scenario, different tools and features are available.

What is a Web App?

A Web App is a browser-based application that has a responsive interface and displays user experiences optimized for all screen sizes and devices. Users do not need to install a Web App on a device, but only a URL to open it in their browser, in a desktop, laptop, mobile device or any device with a browser. Most of these types of apps are used to display large amounts of data, such as tables and constraints when targeting web pages, desktops, and apps.

What is a Mobile App?

A Mobile App is a hybrid app shell, developed using a mobile application framework like Apache Cordova. The app has mobile-optimized user experience and can access the device capabilities and features using plugins. It can work offline and have data caching features to access the local storage of the device. The code is mostly developed as cross-platform, which means you only have to develop one project and that application project works on both supported mobile platforms (iOS and Android).

Mobile App or Web App: which to choose?

Mobile apps and web apps should be utilized for different purposes, to maximize the advantages in each case. Below we will list several focal points to let you make an informed decision when choosing to develop a mobile app or a web app for your project.

Feature	Web App	Mobile App
Code Reusability	One codebase for all devices and screen sizes.	One codebase for all supported mobile platforms.
Runs on	Runs on the browser. No installation needed.	Runs on Mobile devices. Needs to be installed and is not supported in the browser.
User Experience	Supports Responsive layout for all screen sizes and types.	Dedicated mobile UI patterns and experience.
Performance	Supports AJAX responsive patterns. But depends heavily on the internet connection.	Mobile-optimized performance. App logic can run on the device and the data exchange with the server is reduced.
Access to Device Capabilities	HTML5 supported device capabilities.	Full range of device capabilities access (using Cordova plugins).
Offline Capabilities	No offline or standalone capabilities by default (possible to use third-party components).	Using local storage for storing offline data. Client logic running on the device.
Deployments / Updates	Automatic update on browser page refresh.	Most updates are made automatically on screen change. New installation required only when changing the native shell.
Distribution	Share the app’s link with users.	In-House or via Mobile app stores.