Web applications and websites are immensely powerful tools to help businesses achieve desired success by climbing to the next level. But, many times, you might feel unsure whether to have a website or a web app for your business and when to use a web application or website for your business? If you are still not sure and wondering whether you need a web app or a website, this article is a must read for you.
Building a website to showcase your business/brand/products/services is crucial for your business growth for sure. However, web application development can open up a whole new ocean of possibilities for your business. Most businesses face this dilemma – whether to have a web app or a website or both? Well, to be able to make an informed decision, you must first of all understand that a web app may look like a website but it is not the same as a website at all. Whether you should have a website or a web app or both for your business will depend largely on your business’ distinct needs and other factors such as:
**Who are your targeted audiences?
What is the intended purpose of your web identity?
How much budget do you have for establishing your web presence?
What all essential features do you want in your web façade?**
Uncertainty in these may result in poor decision-making and you may end up having unrealistic expectations from your website or web application development company. So, let’s understand the difference between the two – website and web app!
Web applications and websites have become an integral part of our lives. We’ve been using YouTube, Google, Wikipedia, Facebook, etc. without knowing the difference between these. Let’s begin with the definition of a website first. With the internet’s advent, information dissemination became a totally new paradigm.
Initially, a website was a collection of a few static pages with some media and content in it that was accessible to users through URL address. The website dwelled on the servers connected to the world wide web and was able to send across information to global users around-the-clock. Website development has come of age from being just the static HTML pages to highly intuitive, responsive, and dynamic ones with powerful languages such as JavaScript and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) with feature-rich, great designs. However, their (websites’) foundation is still providing information to users and allowing businesses & marketers an opportunity to sell.
Web applications, on the other hand, are action-oriented tools that work on the web just like any software solution does. The apps may exploit the powers of RIA (Rich Internet Application), AR (Augmented Reality), and technologies like JavaFX, Silverlight, and Flash. Usually, web apps are used in the internet browser and created on the web. These apps provide a lot more features and functionalities in comparison to a website. Gmail, Slack, and Google Drive are some of the greatest examples of web apps.
Now, you might ask what is the right option for your business – a website or a web application?
To venture online initially, especially if you want to spread information about your brand, business, products, and/or services, you may want to go for a website. But, if you have complex business needs and you want to engage users through greater interaction with lots of features and functionalities, then I would recommend you to go for a web application. Your web development company will create your web app considering your specifications and expectations.
Let’s quickly understand the advantages and disadvantages of a website:
Advantages:
• Quick & easy to implement
• Easily accessible via the internet
• Relatively cheaper to build
• Little risk of error as updates aren’t automatic
• Updating and editing is easy
• Can be built with ready to use widgets & templates
Disadvantages:
• Limited possibilities
• Defective contact forms
Your IT development company can build a website that helps you leverage all the above discussed and more benefits of a website.
Advantages and disadvantages of web apps are discussed below!
Advantages:
• Easy access
• No updates required
• High security of data
• Unlimited possibilities
• Highly profitable
• Easy to scale & update
Disadvantages:
• Relatively expensive
• Delayed implementation
• Frontend & backend improvements require a lot of efforts
You may talk to the web development company in the USA or elsewhere you choose for your web app development about the potential disadvantages and how to avoid these.
Some of the key differentiators between the two are as follows:
- User Interaction: Websites are more of informative sort and there is little scope of interaction with them. On the other hand, web apps require user interaction and input. The interaction may occur in many ways such as form submission, receiving a response, electronic payment, online chat, etc.
- Integration: Web apps are very useful compared to websites when it comes to integrating third-party tools or software. Using third-party integration, web apps gather, store, retrieve, and process useful data. They offer great user experience while making it possible to provide personalized content.
- Authentication: You can restrict unauthorized access to protect the sensitive information on your website via user authentication. The procedure lets only the authorized users to access website data via valid logins and passwords. Authentication may not be needed for websites that provide only information and knowledge.
Other than these, websites are readily available, compatible across browsers & devices, easy to share, and have broader reach as there is no need of a mobile device (only) for accessing websites. On the other hand, web apps are easy to update, and easy to locate but (unlike websites), web apps are difficult to share and can be found only on app stores. You may hire dedicated developers and use their web development services for building separate versions of native and hybrid apps.
The progressive web app development is the latest standard in the web app domain that aims to enhance your website’s performance irrespective of the network or device condition. Progressive web applications use emerging technologies for delivering app-like experience to users while they open on the web browsers only. In other words, users will find a PWA quite like a mobile app (even if they don’t have a mobile device) that runs on any device they have.
Hire the experts for PWA development or website development!
You may hire a web development firm or a website development company to discuss your web app, progressive web application, or a website development needs. Go for web app or website development services bearing in mind your business goals, targeted audiences, and other factors discussed above.
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