Short answer:A PWA is a modern website that feels like an app: own icon on the phone, full screen without an address bar, and functions even with a poor or no connection. You avoid the App Store, avoid store fees and update everything directly on the web. For many businesses, it's a faster and cheaper alternative to a real app.
What is a PWA, anyway?
PWA stands forProgressive Web App– roughly “forward web app”. It's a regular website built with extra features to make it feel like an app. It runs in the browser, but can be "installed" by adding it to the home screen. Then it gets its own icon just like any other app, and opens in full screen without the browser's menu bar.
Think of it as your website putting on an app suit. Under the hood, it's still web - but to the user it feels like an app.
What can a PWA do?
- Placed on the home screenwith its own icon, without downloading from a store.
- Work offlineor with a bad connection - it saves parts of itself on the phone.
- Opens in full screenwithout address bar, so it looks like a real app.
- Send push notificationson most devices (on iPhone it needs to be added to the home screen).
- Charge fastbecause it caches (saves) content locally.
What are the advantages over a real app?
This is where it gets interesting for you as an entrepreneur. A PWA has several clear advantages:
- No App Store review.You don't have to wait for approval and avoid the risk of being denied.
- No store fees.Apple and Google take no part of your earnings.
- One codebase instead of three.A real app often needs to be built separately for iOS, Android and web. A PWA is a build for everything.
- Updates instantly.You change on the web and everyone gets it in seconds - no new version to submit.
- Lower cost.Since it is one construction instead of several, it is usually cheaper.
- Found on Google.A PWA is a website and can rank in search results - a regular app cannot.
Rule of thumb: you need to reach many different phones quickly and cheaply, and are not dependent on heavy app functions - then PWA is often right.
What can't a PWA do?
It would be dishonest to just praise PWA. There are limits, especially on the iPhone where Apple has historically been tight-lipped about what the web can do:
- Deep hardware access– advanced use of e.g. Bluetooth, NFC or some sensors are limited.
- Heavy performance requirements- advanced games or apps that require maximum graphics performance are better made as real apps.
- Visibility in the App Store– a PWA is not in the store, so users looking there won't find it.
- Some notification limitations on iPhone– works, but with more caveats than on Android.
For most common business needs – booking, customer portal, store, information app, internal tool – a PWA is more than enough.
When is a PWA suitable - and when is it not?
PWAs are good when:you want to reach both iPhone and Android users quickly, keep costs down, avoid store hassles, and your "app" is mostly about content, booking, accounts or simpler tools.
The right app is better suited when:you need heavy hardware access, maximum performance, or when visibility in the App Store and Google Play is business-critical.
How to build a PWA?
A PWA is built like a modern website, but with two additional parts: amanifest file(which tells the app name, icon and how to open it) and aservice worker(a small program that handles offline mode and caching). You don't need to understand the details - but it's good to know that these are the very pieces that turn a normal site into a PWA.
ZORC builds PWAs that feel like real apps
At ZORC, we build web apps and PWAs that give the app feel without the hassle of the App Store. We help you decide if a PWA is sufficient for your needs – and in many cases it is, at a fraction of the cost of a real app. You get a solution that works on all phones, charges quickly and is easy to update.
Curious if a PWA is right for your business?Get in touch with ZORC and we will look at your needs and suggest the solution that offers the most value for money.
