In trying to develop of a new software application, you may be contemplating on what way to go about it. The popular platforms to choose these days seem to be geared towards mobile friendly applications. But which format should you choose, a mobile application that can be downloaded on an app store, or a web application that can be viewed on mobile web browsers? The answer may not be so simple and we will cover some of the key differences for each mobile application type.
Programming
Creating a new application for mobile devices is nothing new and anyone can hire an experienced programmer to complete the project with relative ease. However, the cost can vary significantly between projects for mobile applications and web applications. There may be much less leg work involved in developing web applications, thus it may not cost as much to complete the project. Consider your budget and determine whether a mobile app is a must or not.
Development
The development phase of your application will have drastic differences in programming as well. Choosing to go with a web based application will require one set of code that is compatible with operating systems like Android, iOS, etc. More platforms and code equals more time and money. Allowing users to have a good experience with your application can be done either way, but the web version will be easy to develop for mobile devices.
Updates
Once a web application is published, the only time it would require an update is if you decide to add new features or make slight modifications. This can be done simply and may not require much work to update. A mobile app, however, may need to be constantly tested for compatibility issues and ever changing platform updates. If any changes occur with a device platform, you will need to test your app and ensure it works properly.
Deciding how much time and money you want to invest in your mobile application will ultimately be up to you. Based on the information we have pointed out, developing a web application versus a mobile app will save you time, money and possible maintenance in the long run.
