Here, we will be taking a look at the difference between apps and websites and trying to answer the question, ‘are apps better than websites?’ We will be revealing the advantages and disadvantages of using apps and then comparing them to the advantages and disadvantages of using a website.
Are mobile apps or mobile websites better?
The number of mobile phone users is at an all-time high, and according to recent reports, more than 60% of the world’s population has some kind of mobile phone or smartphone device that they use on a daily basis. Business owners who have their products and services available online have a couple of options to make their company more accessible to the masses. They can either create a mobile website or they can create a mobile application.
Alternatively, they can do both. Whichever option the business owner goes for is neither the right nor wrong choice. For example, the exact business plan they go for will depend on what type of services they offer and what kind of product it is they are selling. In some cases, a mobile application would be better for the user/customer/consumer, and in other cases, the website would be more convenient and practical.
Pros and cons of mobile apps and mobile websites
There are pros and cons for using mobile apps, and there are equally as many pros and cons for using mobile websites. We can start by taking a quick look at the pros and cons of mobile websites, and then we can take a look at the pros and cons of mobile apps.
If, for example, you live in East Africa, say Tanzania, and if you’re looking to place a real money wager at a licensed online sports betting site, the 10bet betting app in Tanzania would be a better option over betting at the website because you don’t have to worry about getting disconnected when placing a bet from within the app. It’s free to download, and it can be installed onto most modern smartphone and tablet devices in just a few seconds. Let’s now take a quick look at the pros and cons of mobile apps.
Pros
- You have the ability to function, work, and carry out tasks in an offline environment, something which you can’t do at a website
- Mobile apps are more personalised than websites and are great for regular use. For example, you can set personal preferences and keep important information stored in the app, which you generally can’t do when visiting a website
- Mobile apps are extremely convenient, and they tend to be more popular than websites, plus apps can work much faster than websites
- Apps load much faster than websites, plus apps have been specifically designed with most smartphones and tablets in mind
Cons
- Apps often require updates and more maintenance on the user’s part, something that you don’t need to worry about at websites because it’s all taken care of for you. Fixing issues/bugs in apps can be a pain, and they don’t always work as well as you would expect them to
- Mobile apps are not always compatible with every device. For example, apps that have been designed for iOS devices will not be compatible with Android devices or windows devices. You would need to get the app that’s best suited to your device
Now, let’s take a quick look at some of the pros and cons of mobile websites
Pros
- There’s no need to download or install any software programs when visiting a mobile website, which makes websites far more convenient for some people
- Websites naturally have a broader reach
- There’s no need to worry about updates or having to fix any issues or bugs when visiting a mobile website
Cons
- Having to go online and then search for a website each time is far less convenient than being able to just click on the app button from your device
- The user experience isn’t as great as a dedicated mobile application generally is
- If you have no internet connection, you can’t visit a website, whereas you don’t necessarily need internet access to launch a mobile app
While some people will always argue that mobile apps are better than the website version, others will argue the opposite. It all depends on where you are visiting and what you are trying to do. Therefore, there’s a good argument for mobile apps being better than mobile websites and an equally good argument for mobile websites being better than mobile apps. It’s all down to personal preference and what you are trying to achieve.
For those of you who aren’t too familiar with apps, examples of some of the most popular apps in 2022 are Facebook Messenger, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp Messenger.
