Custom software, web apps or native apps?

Some businesses may find themselves in a tricky situation when looking for custom software, does a web app suit their needs better, or does a native multiplatform app? Native applications are designed for one or multiple specific operating systems, whereas a web-based application is accessible through any device with a web browser. With the rise of smartphones, businesses are under pressure to create applications that are accessible on a multitude of devices, and screen sizes, But what suits their need best?

Advantages of Native Applications

1. Better Performance

Native applications are built specifically for the operating systems they run on, which can allow them to take full advantage of the hardware and software features of the device. They can also be more efficient as all the resources are downloaded by the user when they install the app. They tend to also be more responsive than web-based applications, providing a seamless experience for users.

1. More Features

Native applications can access the device's hardware features like biometrics, native notifications, and sensors, which allows for more complex functionalities and better user experiences. They can also provide push notifications, which help increase user engagement.

1. Better User Experience

Native applications provide a better user experience because they are built with the operating system's design and functionality in mind. They offer intuitive navigation and have a consistent look and feel across all screens, which helps build user trust and loyalty.

Disadvantages of Native Applications

1. Costly Development

Native applications require specialized skills and knowledge, and developers often need to create separate applications for each platform, which can be time-consuming and costly. Maintaining the application can also be challenging, as updates need to be released simultaneously on all platforms.

1. Approval Process

Native applications need to go through an approval process with Googles play store or Apples app store, which can take time and sometimes result in rejection. This can delay the release of the application and result in additional development costs.

1. Limited Audience

Native applications are designed for a specific platform, which means they are limited to users of that particular operating system. This can reduce the potential audience for the application, especially if the business is targeting users across multiple platforms.

Advantages of Web-Based Applications

1. Lower Development Costs

Web-based applications can be developed using frameworks and tools that simplify development, reducing costs. As they only need to run on web browsers, all the code is unified and therefore only one version of the app needs to be made.

1. No Approval Process

Web-based applications do not need to go through an approval process with an app store, which means they can be released immediately after development. This helps reduce development time and costs.

1. Accessible Across All Platforms

Web-based applications are accessible on any device with a web browser, which makes them available to a wider audience as they are not limited to a specific operating system.

Disadvantages of Web-Based Applications

1. Limited Features

Web-based applications are limited in terms of the features and functionalities they can provide. They cannot access all the device's hardware features like biometrics, and the geolocation API, while other utilities such as the camera or GPS are also limited. These limitations make certain functionalities impossible or challenging to implement.

1. Slower Performance

Web-based applications run on a browser, which means they are subject to the performance limitations of the device and the browser. They are slower and less responsive than native applications, which can negatively impact user experience.

1. Less User Engagement

Web-based applications cannot provide push notifications on a system level, which can limit user engagement. They also do not have the same level of functionality as native applications, which can make them less engaging for users.

A Third Option?

If you still couldn’t choose between the two options, there is a third option the hybrid app. A hybrid app is an application that leverages the framework of a web application and the performance, features and experience of a native app. This allows you to make multi-platform apps with less expense. The best part is that it utilises web code, so it can also run as a web application (minus some of the features that only work in an app). While this option may be more expensive than a traditional web app, it is far more flexible and provides access to the broadest user base.

Web Apps, Native Apps, or Hybrid Apps, LocalTeam can Help

No matter what type of application you think your business might need LocalTeam can help you work out what best servers your needs and provide a quality software solution. We build all our apps API first to ensure that we can scale to any of these application types and that they will work quickly and reliably. We have built a wide variety of applications, to provide an equally large variety of industries with effective custom software solutions. If you would like to find out more, don’t hesitate, to get in touch with us and book a FREE consultation. We specialise in all things software related and are in this business to help people.?Shoot us an email at [email protected] or call us at (07) 4599 7300 Mon-Fri: 9 am-4 pm