Mobile website vs. Mobile App Explained

Since we started offering mobile development I've been hearing two questions: Can you create an app? or Can you create a mobile website? I've noticed that sometimes the terms "mobile app" and "mobile website" have been used as synonyms but, in some cases they get mixed up.

This should not come as a surprise because the mobile universe is fairly young and the general audience (i.e. non-tech users) is still just getting used to it. As a result, literally every conversation I've had about possible mobile development begins by defining "mobile app" and "mobile website" as well as explaining the differences between the two. Thus, I've decided that it makes sense to explain the difference in writing.

The "traditional" website - a website that was built for a traditional computer screen with a mouse/keyboard oriented interface. It can be accessed from a mobile device, but in most cases the user experience is unimpressive, at best.

Mobile app - a native app available for download via an app store (for example, the iTunes or Amazon store). One of the most important benefits of any native app is that it can provide more functionality than a mobile website, like the ability to take photos. In some cases, exposure to the app store provides extra marketing opportunities (arguably, it makes the app more "discoverable" because lots of people access the app store actively looking for apps). Finally, although this is becoming less of an issue, it is "easier" to create an attractive native app in comparison to an HTML5-based mobile website.

The biggest disadvantage of a native app is the fact that it has to be developed for a particular platform. If an app needs to run on iPhone and Android it has to be implemented twice - as an iPhone app and as an Android app. Some (or most) of the artwork can be reused, but close to none of the code is transferable between the two. [Note: there are some cross-platform development tools that allow developers to write an app once and run it anywhere. But, in most cases, there are limitations either in the functionality of the app that could be developed using these tools or the look and feel of the app (i.e the app would look okay on all platforms, but not brilliant in any)].

An important nuance about any mobile app: because the app has to go through an app store submission process, it is impossible to make any changes to the app on a short notice. For example, in the case of Apple iTunes store, it may take up to two weeks from the moment an update has been submitted to the time the updated app becomes available to the public.

Every app store has it's own set of rules and regulations governing what an app can and can not do. Therefore, it is possible that the particular app could be rejected based on these rules.

Finally, it is important to note that both Apple and Google provide a very nice set of APIs to make it really simple to implement in-app purchases, susbcriptions, etc. However, the downside is that the platform providers want their "cut." For example, any financial transaction(s) that goes through iTunes are subject to a 30 percent "processing fee."

Mobile website - a browser-based website that was specifically developed for optimal performance on mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets. The website detects the device visitors are using to access it and delivers the appropriate experience based on the device's capabilities. Traditionally, the layout, navigation and visual elements were simplified to deliver better performance. However, this is no longer necessary due to advances in mobile technology. In fact, the latest mobile websites can be quite sophisticated.

There are two defining features of any mobile website:

1. it has to be designed for a smaller screen (in case of phones, a much smaller screen)
2. it has to be built around a touch-based interface (no mouse or keyboard).

Even though it is becoming less of an issue, bandwidth is usually at a premium, so a good mobile website should be mindful about how much data needs to be downloaded (images, stylesheets, scripts, etc...).

Below are some key benefits of a mobile website vs. a native app:

• no app store
• nothing to install
• the same website will work on iPhone, Android, Blackberry Torch (and, if you are lucky, maybe even Windows Mobile).

The biggest disadvantage of a mobile website (in comparicon to native app) is a reliance on a continuous internet connection. However, recently some new techniques became available that allow the building of an offline capable mobile website.

Both mobile websites and native apps allow you to engage with your users via a mobile experience and both have their distinct benefits and drawbacks. If, after reading this article, you still have further questions or need more information, please feel free to contact us at info@leapingbytes.com and we wil be happy to help you.

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Related articles:

• The fight gets technical: mobile apps vs. mobile sites
• Mobile Web App vs. Native App? It's Complicated