The whole world already “lives” on smartphones. For businesses, this means one thing: if your website or service is inconvenient to use on a phone, you're losing customers. The first thought many entrepreneurs have is: “We need our own mobile app!”. But as soon as you see the estimate for developing an app for iOS and Android, the enthusiasm noticeably fades.
Native mobile app development is long, expensive, and requires ongoing maintenance. In 2025–2026, businesses gained a more rational alternative: PWA (Progressive Web App). This format allows you to have an icon on the customer's phone screen and behave “like an app,” but save up to 50–70% of the budget compared to a classic mobile application.
In this article, we’ll break down what a business should choose - PWA or a mobile app, how development costs differ, what limitations exist, and which strategy will be more profitable in 2026.
What Is a PWA and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
Simply put, a native mobile app is a program that users download from the App Store or Google Play. Such apps are developed using languages like Swift and Kotlin and are typically built separately for each platform: iOS and Android.
PWA (Progressive Web App) is essentially your website “pretending” to be an app. Using modern web technologies, a PWA can:
- be installed as an icon on the phone’s home screen;
- operate quickly and smoothly, visually and functionally resembling a native app;
- send push notifications;
- work partially offline thanks to caching;
- open via a regular link without installation from an app store.
The main difference: a PWA doesn’t need to be downloaded from a store. This reduces friction and increases the chances that a user will actually start using your product.
Budget Battle: Where You Lose and Where You Save
The reason PWAs vs mobile apps are actively discussed in 2025–2026 is simple: money. The question “what should a business choose?” almost always comes down to development and maintenance costs.
1. Development Costs of PWA vs Mobile App
A native app means two platforms (iOS and Android), separate UI adaptation, testing, and publication.
To reduce development costs, businesses often use cross-platform solutions like React Native and Flutter. These allow developers to write one codebase that compiles for both platforms.
React Native is a JavaScript- and React-based technology suitable for products with complex interfaces, personal accounts, marketplaces, and enterprise apps.
Flutter is Google’s framework built on Dart. It is known for extremely high performance, especially valuable for animations, chats, maps, and UI-heavy applications.
Despite being cheaper than fully native development, React Native and Flutter apps still require:
- full mobile UI/UX design;
- publication in the App Store and Google Play;
- platform-specific maintenance;
- certification, moderation, and frequent updates.
A PWA is built as a single web product that works everywhere - on iPhones, Android devices, and desktops. As a result, development costs are typically 2–3 times lower than mobile apps, even those built on React Native or Flutter.
2. Launch Time
An app built with Swift/Kotlin or even React Native or Flutter takes 4–9 months of work. A PWA can be launched in 1–2 months, especially if it builds on an existing website.
3. Store Fees and Payments
Apps in stores must pay 15–30% commission on in-app purchases. PWAs handle payments directly - without Apple or Google taking a cut.
When Is PWA the Ideal Choice?
A PWA works well for most small and medium-sized business projects. It's an excellent choice if you are:
- an online store: catalog, search, cart, account;
- a service business: booking, appointments, delivery, clinics, beauty salons;
- a startup: need to test MVP fast without spending the entire budget;
- a media project: readers can “install” the site on their home screen;
- building an internal tool: for employees, couriers, partners.
When Do You Still Need a Native App?
Despite the advantages of PWA, there are cases where React Native, Flutter, or full native development is superior:
- Deep device functionality: stable work with Bluetooth, NFC, accelerometers, motion sensors, and complex background processes.
- Games and high-performance graphics: Flutter can handle some of this, but demanding 3D games still need native code or specialized engines.
- Brand prestige and trust: banks, marketplaces, and large ecosystems often require an official presence in the App Store and Google Play.
Conclusion: Strategy for 2026
The world is moving toward simplicity: users are tired of dozens of apps. PWAs are a fast, accessible, and cost-effective way to get onto a customer’s smartphone without overspending.
A rational approach:
- start with a PWA if you don’t need complex mobile-only features;
- transition to Flutter or React Native as the project grows and requires richer UI or deeper functionality;
- choose full native only when maximum performance and device-level integration matter.
This way, you avoid overpaying at the start while preserving room for scaling later.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can a PWA send push notifications?
Yes. On Android it works reliably. On iOS, support appeared in recent system versions but requires adding the PWA to the home screen.
2. Will my PWA appear in the App Store or Google Play?
By default, no. But a PWA can be wrapped and submitted to Google Play. The App Store has stricter rules and generally favors native apps, including those built with React Native or Flutter.
3. Does a PWA work offline?
Partially - previously visited pages, catalogs, and articles can be available offline thanks to caching.
4. Is maintaining a PWA difficult?
No - it’s usually easier. Updates deploy instantly, without store moderation.
5. When should you choose React Native or Flutter instead of a PWA?
When you need native gestures, high-performance UI, deep device integration, stable push notifications, complex navigation, or when presence in app stores is important.
Need help choosing?
The Folia Design team can analyze your project and recommend the most cost-effective solution - PWA, React Native, Flutter, or full native development. Submit a request and we’ll help you choose the optimal path without unnecessary costs.
