"We need an app" is one of the most common things we hear. Sometimes that is exactly right. Often a fast website or a web app would reach more customers sooner and for less. Here is how to decide.
A website: tell people who you are
A website explains your business, builds trust and turns visitors into enquiries. It is found through Google, opened from social media and shared on WhatsApp without anyone installing anything.
Choose a website when your main goals are to be found, look credible and generate leads or sales.
A web app: let people do something
A web app is software that runs in the browser: a booking system, a customer portal, a dashboard or an online tool. Users log in and complete tasks. It works on phones and computers from one codebase.
Choose a web app when customers or staff need accounts, data and workflows, and you want to launch on every device at once.
A mobile app: be on the home screen
A mobile app is installed from the App Store or Google Play. It can send push notifications, work offline and use the camera, location and other phone features more deeply.
Choose a mobile app when people will use it often, you need device features, or notifications are central to the experience.
What drives the cost
- Number of screens and features. Every screen needs design, development and testing.
- Accounts and data. Logins, roles, dashboards and reports add backend work.
- Integrations. Payment gateways such as JazzCash, Easypaisa or Stripe, couriers, SMS and accounting software.
- Platforms. A mobile app for both iOS and Android costs more than a web app that runs everywhere, although cross-platform tools such as Flutter narrow the gap.
A sensible order for most businesses
For most companies we recommend starting with a fast website, adding a web app when customers need to log in, and building a mobile app once you know people will use it regularly. Each step funds and informs the next.
Not sure where you fit? Tell us what you want to achieve and we will recommend the simplest option that works.