Mobile app or Mobile website- How to make a choice?

According to a recent survey by Hootsuite, there are now over 5 billion people using mobile phones in 2018 and over 4 billion people around the world using the internet. These stats are alarming, especially if you are a CEO or a business owner looking to create a mobile presence. Consequently, it brings up the age-old and ever-debatable question of “Mobile App or Mobile website?”-which one to choose for sustainable development of businesses.

At Auxesis Infotech, we’ve had our share of working on a number of projects dealing with both mobile websites and mobile application and would like to share our experiences on this topic. It heavily depends on your business objective whether an app will be suitable for you or a mobile website.

“Mobile App or Mobile Website”- A classic dilemma for brands and business owners

It is significant to first understand the different purposes that are served by both Mobile websites and mobile apps.

MOBILE WEBSITES

Mobile Websites are a subset of basic websites that we see on our desktop, the only difference being that these websites are designed in a way to make browsing convenient for a smaller screen and touch display. These sites are apt if your business goals are more marketing-driven or you want to have a broad mobile presence that is easily shared by users, visible on search engines.

Mobile websites can be used for availing these benefits:

EASILY ACCESSIBLE-

A website can be easily accessed by any browser and every internet user has multiple browsers on their phone

EASILY COMPATIBLE-

A mobile responsive websites can easily run on any of the operating systems, whether it is iOS or Android

HIGH SHAREABILITY-

A website can be shared easily by sharing its link.

LOW MAINTENANCE-

An upgrade to a website is not very heavy on your pocket. Only a single version of a website is needed to be maintained. The content or design can be edited as required and the updates are reflected across all sorts of devices with immediate effect.

MOBILE APPLICATION

After learning about Mobile websites, I am sure that the upcoming description of Mobile apps will get you closer to the answers of the bewildering question “Mobile website or Mobile web application”.
Were you aware that the percentage of mobile minutes spent on apps is 80-90%? How is that for a fact? I’m sure its pretty mind-boggling!

Mobile Applications or apps are extensions to conventional websites, designed to provide users a more interactive and convenient platform. There are specific App stores for every operating system, like Play store in Android or App store in Ios from where users can download and view an app. The content or data of an application is pulled up from the internet just like a website or in some cases the content is downloaded which makes such apps suited for use without internet connection as well.

It shall be considered for the following reasons:

INTERACTIVITY-

If interactive gaming (like Angry Birds) is in your mind, look no further because an application is a default choice for you.

An app is also a suitable option if interacting with users is needed on a real-time basis. A classic example can be a fitness application which tracks your activities and accordingly pushes notifications on your device or sends regular reminders after assessing your activities.

FASTER BROWSING-

Data loading is absent here. Consequently, content can be accessed quickly resulting in smoother interactions.

PUSH NOTIFICATIONS-

This is a significant feature that brings businesses close to their consumers or target group. A message can be sent at any time by the App publishers, irrespective of the fact whether or not the user is surfing on the app or even using their device to receive them.

NATIVE FUNCTIONALITY-

An app can use a wide number of features in a phone (like a camera) to provide a better experience to a user.

FREQUENT USAGE BY CUSTOMER, OR IF A USER WANTS TO USE IT IN A PERSONALISED WAY-

Let me explain this point by taking an example of amazon.com. If a particular user buys all of his stuff from Amazon, that person wouldn’t want to keep waiting for pages to load on Amazon's website nor would Amazon want so. Amazon would want to engage the user more since he is a regular customer. Apps play a vital role in not only facilitating fast surfing to the user but also giving the user a personal experience since they have access to a user’s profile.

OFFLINE USAGE-

Certain apps are developed in a way that they do not need an internet connection to be operated. Since an app is installed on a device, they can keep providing access to content and features even without an internet connection

It is also useful to process complex calculations and build reports, such as in investment and banking, then it’s also better to use an app

In Conclusion

The way in which the number of mobile users is increasing exponentially, the “Mobile app or Mobile website” question will continue to be an existent and crucial consideration for brands seeking to establish a mobile presence. If your mobile goals are primarily market-driven to create awareness about your brand, or if your aim is to deliver content that is easily accessible, compatible and shareable without taking a toll on your organization’s pocket, a mobile-friendly responsive website would be an ideal choice.

On the other hand, if you want to provide an experience that feels more like a gaming interface or a computer program than a website, or if access to a user's phone storage and native functions are required, then an app is a likely an option.

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Let’s not forget that a mobile website and a native app need not be mutually exclusive. You will find a lot of brands and organizations with a mobile website for creating awareness of their brand through general web presence along with a mobile app to serve more specific requirements and to bring their customers or prospects closer. We, at Auxesis Infotech, consistently come in contact with brands who need just a little more coherence to the perplexing question “Mobile app or Mobile website”. Conclusively, it is all about choosing what will help you to accomplish your business objectives.