Why Are Mobile Apps Better Than Websites?

There’s no doubt that mobile apps have become an integral part of our daily routine. Whether it’s checking the weather, ordering food, or catching up on the latest news, there’s an app for nearly everything. And despite the growing competition for consumer attention, the amount of time people spend on app usage continues to increase on a year-to-year basis. 

But what is it about these mobile add-ons that make them so special? And how do they differ from their web-based counterparts? Let’s figure out the benefits of mobile applications for business and explore what sets them apart from traditional mobile websites.

Why do businesses need mobile apps?

The rise of smartphones and tablets has caused a shift in how users interact with digital content. While websites were present long before mobile devices even existed, they can’t provide immersive experiences, personalized solutions, and functionality that modern consumers seek.

To satisfy that need, software companies have turned to app development to create native experiences that could leverage the full capabilities of mobile devices, and entice users with intuitive interfaces, optimized performance, and context-aware services that traditional websites can’t deliver. 

Today the dominance of mobile apps in the digital landscape is undeniable. According to the latest statistics, a staggering 91.9% of the time spent on smartphones is dedicated to mobile apps, with only 8.1% going to web browsers. 

The most popular activities driving the app usage include communication, entertainment, e-commerce, and business-related tasks. Notably, the weighted average for time spent in apps across the top 10 mobile-first markets last year was greater than 5 hours per day.

Overall, mobile devices generate around 59% of global website traffic. Certain industries like finance, travel, and news see even higher percentages of traffic coming from mobile – up to 60-70%. The retail industry also yields significant benefits from mobile usage, as people view 4.2x more products per session within a dedicated app versus a browser. On top of that, applications drive a 3x higher conversion rate compared to mobile sites.

Mobile web usage still plays a significant role in the market dynamics. However, mobile apps are increasingly becoming the dominant digital channel in terms of traffic, time spent, and engagement.

What is the difference between an app and a website?

While mobile apps and websites both serve as digital platforms for businesses to connect with customers, they differ significantly in terms of their capabilities, user experiences, and overall approach. They have unique strengths and limitations that companies must understand to effectively cater to the evolving needs of their clients.

Level of personalization 

When discussing the difference between a mobile app and a mobile web, it’s crucial to highlight the aspects of functionality and personalization, which are more extensive in the case of mobile apps.

With mobile applications, users can customize their experience based on individual interests, usage behaviors, or location data. This level of personalization enables apps to deliver tailored content, features, and user interfaces that cater to each person’s unique preferences.

In contrast, mobile websites, while optimized for smaller screen sizes, are essentially scaled-down versions of their desktop counterparts. Their ability to provide personalized experiences is often limited, as they typically offer a more generalized, one-size-fits-all approach to content and functionality.

Streamlined customer experience

When it comes to providing a seamless and engaging experience for customers, the advantages of mobile apps over websites become even more apparent. While modern mobile websites offer a convenient way to access information and services on the go, they still fall short of delivering the ease of use that smartphone users expect. 

Let’s compare apps with websites from a customer’s perspective. With a mobile website, a person has to go through multiple steps:

1. Open their web browser.
2. Google the product or service they are interested in and scroll through dozens of search results including your competitors.
3. Find and open your website.
4. Search the product they are looking for.
5. Create an account and fill in their personal and payment info to make a purchase.
6. Complete the checkout.

This process is quite elaborate and thus prone to distractions and dropoffs. Moreover, if the customers can’t find what they are looking for with ease or lose interest at any point, it can lead to search abandonment, where they simply give up and potentially switch to a competitor.

On the other hand, a mobile app offers a significantly streamlined and personalized experience:

1. The app is readily available on the customer’s home screen.
2. Their account and payment info is already saved.
3. They can quickly find the desired product and buy it with just a few taps.
4. If they exit before finishing the purchase, a push notification can remind them to complete the process. 

The customer experience gap between websites and mobile apps is significant, with applications emerging as the clear winner in meeting the evolving demands of the modern, mobile-centric consumer.

Faster performance

Websites generally depend on servers for data processing and storage, while mobile apps handle these tasks internally, using the device’s capabilities. That allows them to work faster, offering quick access to frequently used features, streamlined processes, and optimized user flows. 

Furthermore, mobile apps are designed to harness the power of smartphones and tablets, both in terms of hardware and software. This native integration allows apps to deliver advanced functionalities and richer, more immersive, and context-aware experiences that traditional mobile websites may struggle to match.

What are the advantages of mobile applications?

In today’s digital economy, companies quickly recognized the immense potential of mobile as a powerful tool for enhancing customer experiences, driving engagement, and fostering brand loyalty. Here are the top reasons why mobile apps are good for business.

Reason#1: Expanded functionality

By utilizing device capabilities, like cameras, sensors, GPS, phone calls, contacts lists, and notes, mobile apps can provide unique functionalities that enhance customers’ experience and make their interaction with the app more efficient. Furthermore, mobile applications can offer context-aware services, such as location-based recommendations, real-time updates, and content tailored to the user’s current situation.

Reason#2: Engagement and communication

Companies use in-app messaging, push notifications, and gamification elements, to boost customer engagement and encourage users to interact with their platform more regularly. On top of that, mobile notifications allow businesses to stay in touch with their customers in a subtle, non-intrusive manner.

Reason#3: Offline access

The offline capability is one of the most compelling reasons why people choose to use an app instead of going to a website. While websites can’t work without an internet connection, many mobile applications can function partially or fully offline, ensuring that users can access essential features, complete tasks, and view content at all times.

Reason#4: Higher conversion 

Mobile applications can serve as a powerful tool for boosting customer conversion rates, ultimately leading to more business deals and revenue. Since apps offer valuable analytics and user insights, they enable businesses to understand their clients better and tailor their conversion strategies according to their behavior, preferences, and pain points. 

Reason#5: Brand awareness 

With billions of mobile users worldwide, app stores have become a primary platform for customers to discover and engage with brands. Therefore, a well-designed business app can increase brand awareness, establish a direct communication channel with customers, and create a sense of brand loyalty.

Website or app – which is better?

While websites were the initial gateway to online services, mobile apps have emerged as a superior platform, providing a more immersive, personalized, and seamless user experience. They have revolutionized the way we interact with online channels, offering a significant advantage to businesses and delivering convenient solutions to customers. 

It’s without question that mobile apps have changed the game for good. The mobile market is thriving and continues to unveil innovative solutions that transform our daily lives.

We hope this article has provided valuable insights into the transformative power of mobile apps. If you need assistance in developing an engaging mobile app for your business, reach out to us.

FAQ

Are mobile apps more expensive to develop than websites?

Mobile app development is generally more expensive than website development due to platform-specific requirements and ongoing maintenance.

Which provides a better user experience, mobile apps or websites?

Mobile apps generally provide a better user experience due to their ability to leverage device-specific features, offer smoother performance, and provide a more tailored interface optimized for mobile screens. However, websites can be improved significantly with responsive design and progressive web app technologies.

Can I use a mobile app and a website for the same service?

Yes, it’s possible to use both a mobile app and a website for the same service, and many businesses do this to cater to different user preferences and needs. This approach, often called an omnichannel strategy, allows users to seamlessly switch between platforms, providing flexibility and improving overall user experience.

Do apps use less data than websites?

Mobile apps typically use less data than websites because they store some data locally and only update necessary information. However, this can vary depending on the specific app and website designs.

Expand Your Knowledge Here
Fintech App Development: Building A Trustworthy Financial App
Custom App Development: From Planning to Post-Launch Success