There are two different directions for technical implementation of mobile technologies to move. Primarily it should be solved whether to make a downloadable mobile application or to present a mobile version of a web-site. These two approaches seem to be quite similar at first sight, but they vary enough to affect your possible success. To choose a mobile website or a mobile app, establish the target of your project, finance and finally the type of content presented. That will support your business management in the most efficient way. Don’t forget about your clients’ needs, remember that they must be exactly the base point for your further decision. You could appraise the advantages of a website vs an app easily after elaborate analysis of both to know apart what will be better for business. We are going to review the existing arguments of what platform to choose.

A couple of words about mobile websites

In a nutshell, such websites or online stores are usually built up for functioning on your pocket device. This usual HTML written source can include all the interactive components a regular website has, but usually contents and graphics are bit different to match capacities and particular characteristics of a mobile browser. Unlike responsive design websites, mobile versions reduce the amount of content to streamline user experience and enhance performance. Alternatively to a custom website, they are used for smartphones and tablets. You definitely have come across them, recognizing by subdomain m. or mobile. E.g. mobile.youfruit.com.

What is actually a mobile app?

As happens, it may be necessary to develop a mobile application to represent your business plans. It could be uploaded and installed, making you constantly in ties with users. In order to get a mobile app on a smartphone, you have to visit a specialized portal: Google Play Market, App Store, etc. To enjoy a round-a-clock access and possible interconnection is left. A mobile application is usually designed for a specific mobile platform so if you want the overall market coverage, you have to pay for the development of several applications respectively.

Why a mobile website?

A mobile website would be enough for a promotion of a project only. A mobile website is more dynamic as it could be updated not involving its users. Make a point of the accessibility feature as it is reachable for a lot of types of hand devices. Moreover, there is no need for it to be downloaded and installed, it’s free to use. Actually, to create and represent an unordinary item not bounding yourself by a browser functions and speed, use a website. Being a cheaper option to a mobile app, it will help you to broaden your business ideas to the widest possible audience. According to latest statistics research, percent of buyings through a web interface is constantly growing. A call to a website’s manager also appears to be popular around web users.

Why a mobile app?

In reality, we use a huge number of devices wherever we are, and so do your future clients. To get into the gadget is enough to be in arms reach with your consumers. For example, Starbucks started a program where the every tenth purchase is made with the help of a mobile phone. On the average, the visitors make about 3 million transactions a week. So instead using the old methods of collecting some premiums from your clients, let it work via a mobile app, making people download it and in such a way increasing the number of customers. That might surely help you in your project promotion be it an online store or small cafe.

You might well conclude that apps are better for big-name brands, but, as a rule, small-sized businesses choose such a strategy willing to interact with their clients. The advantage is that all the information to represent is specifically organized and optimized to perform target actions. The proclaimed mobility makes possible for users to be always informed of new events and activities or notified of a delivery in case of an online store. Should the need arise the application could be updated or integrated with the necessary social networks, websites, and other media.

Also, one and considerable point of Mobile website vs Mobile app is that the latter gives an interface you get used to because of coordinating your device constantly. A customized design and all the content of a web app geared towards your device are quite convenient things. Far and by, learn the target audience for your product and if they are active handheld device users, a mobile app is exactly the solution you need.

Differences

Wondering whether Mobile website or app, look through the several key aspects to be highlighted. An app is able to send advertising and notifications to its users, being the instrument for informing people of some new offers or events.

Unfortunately, they need a loyal audience strongly. Besides, here comes not only the necessity of installation of it voluntarily but also starting and must-have updating from time to time. On the other way around, a website is viewed over by a heterogeneous people, we mean business rivals, partners, and so on. As one can see, an app, sending notifications to its clients of new stuff is a straight way to a progress. In the meantime, the indicated alternative is more suitable for news portals.

The development of a mobile app takes more time and usually will be of a greater price. Moreover, you have to decide the platform your application is going to be made for. These may be Android, iOS, Windows, or Blackberry. In order to cover big audience, you may need app development for two or three platforms at a time. And you have to take into account that mobile apps may require an appropriate version of a device to open it.

In terms of performance, apps are better optimized and render contents much faster. Especially interactive mobile websites come short of functioning speed as mobile browsers are not able to cheer you by its high productivity. Furthermore, web-developers most often use the non-optimized version of libraries. As nowadays the power of browsers is getting better, mobile websites could be rather understandable and comfortable in use. On the other hand, platform integration is the area of mobile apps as they have more opportunities for device access.

Some platform applications are bounded by a concrete store (e.g. App store). If not, people are get used to finding them in stores, like Play Market or Google Play. Thuswise, the functions of such applications are limited (foremost by a paid content and mobile services). Whereas, a mobile website is always accessible for browser users and what is more, a new version of every website is accessible after a publication at once.

Find better for a business

When it’s high time to solve the item “Mobile website vs app”, firstly find out the project focus. Explore your potential clients and figure out their needs. Perhaps, it will be enough to create a mobile website for information layout. It could be also necessary to interact with clients through a mobile app to stir up constant interest to your product. What is more important - to provide the customers with an appropriate download speed, customized design, and a number of sales notifications or rewards? Maybe it would be better just to make the process easier and cheaper representing the information on your portal readable for a lot of devices at once.

Representing the idea of project promotion within customers and potential clients, involve them in contact through making a mobile website. Create such an interconnection and invest in an app. Test these ideas with the help of friends, visitors, and passers-by, and make right solutions according to it.