Planning to build a highly-engaging mobile app? How about adding some website features to it? Progressive web applications are something in between the website and mobile applications. They leverage the best of both worlds to offer optimal speed, outstanding user experience, and high security. Read along with the article to know the best progressive web application examples for better understanding.
There’s no denying that Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are the next big thing for app development. Developed by Google back in 2015, PWAs offer an easy development process and the best user experience. In simpler terms, think of a mobile app that uses web technologies. Recent technical advancements like cache clearing and push APIs have helped web developers to install web apps on their desktops, stay updated on recent updates through push notifications and work on the server offline.
Particular PWA examples take app development beyond using just the contemporary features and adding dynamics to the overall process. In short, progressive web apps leverage a broader web ecosystem, community, and plugins and relatively more straightforward deployment and website maintenance compared to a traditional Native app. A developer, who builds both applications and websites, can use PWA development methods for a faster development process and easy deployment and maintenance. Because an API does not need to be maintained with backward compatibility, PWAs are easy to use, make and maintain.
Table of Contents:
- Why Switch To Web Progressive Apps?
- Why should developers go for PWAs? Critical Features Of Progressive Web Apps
- Top 7 Progressive Web Application Examples in 2023
- Why Progressive Web Apps Are Better For Businesses?
- Why Progressive Web Apps Are Better For Users?
- Why Progressive Web Apps Are Better For Developers?
- Hire Professional Remote Developers
Why Switch To Web Progressive Apps?
Did you know that 20% of users lose their interest in using your app from the point when they first come in contact with the app to where they actually start using it? In short, the users must search for your app, download it from the App Store or Play Store, sign in and then start using it.
This is where progressive web apps are way better. In the case of a PWA, users can start using it by downloading it. Once they spend a little time on these apps, they will be prompted to download the app if they want a full-screen experience.
It’s true that Native apps are perhaps the best. They have a push notification feature that has a three times higher rate of retaining users. Moreover, most users are predicted to go back to an app rather than a website. Also, a properly-designed app consumes less data and is faster.
A PWA leverages such mobile app advantages without the need of maintaining the application on your device.
For Instance
Why should developers go for PWAs?
Native app development is probably the most common choice. However, PWAs are no different. Flipkart’s Flipkart Lite is a progressive web application, serving as a massive e-commerce platform. If you want to build an app and are confused between going Native or PWA, identify the users and their predictive actions.
A progressive web application will work on every browser and will give optimal performance through recent updates. However, you, as a developer, must identify the functionalities that can be used offline. Moreover, you would also have to add the navigation buttons and offer an application-like interface.
If you need to add some features that are needed for critical user actions but are not available because of the absence of cross-browser support, a Native app might be a better option for you.
Critical Features Of Progressive Web Apps
Here’s why progressive web applications have gained popularity.
- PWAs are highly progressive: By definition, PWAs can work on any device and enhance progressively by taking advantage of the device and browser’s features.
- The apps are easily discoverable: Because PWAs are available on websites, they can easily be discovered by users. This gives you an edge over Native apps that do not have a higher searchability rate.
- A PWA can retain lost information: Like any other website, a PWA can use the URI to indicate the current state of an application. As a result, the app will retain the state once that specific URL is accessed through the bookmark section by a user.
- The apps offer a better user experience: If developed suitably, a PWA’s UI can fit any device’s screen size or form factor.
- Users can enjoy an app-like feel: A PWA should be like a Native app with minimal page refreshes and should be built on an application shell model.
- It requires a lower need for connectivity: A PWA app can be used in areas with low internet connectivity or even offline.
- The apps are re-engageable: PWAs should come with a push notification feature so users can return to it again.
- Users can download them from the web: A PWA can be installed easily on any device so users can access it more frequently.
- It stays updated: Whenever the content is updated on the website, or the user is connected to the Internet, the content should also be available on the app.
- It is highly secure: To prevent any cyberattacks or man-in-the-middle attacks, the app should only be hosted over HTTPS.
Top 7 Progressive Web Application Examples in 2023
Now that you know how companies, users, and developers can benefit from PWA examples, here are some awe-inspiring examples of progressive web apps that you can take inspiration from for your personal projects:
Evernote
Evernote is a popular note-taking app. Through a qualified web application development company, you can also create a highly accessible progressive web application.
Tools like Evernote are still relevant and can be used by anyone. This is why developing a progressive web application is a great idea. Anyone with Internet access can effectively use this tool.
The Pinterest apps (Android and iOS) didn’t have much success when they first launched. Simply because websites perform much better than apps, unfortunately, this leaves app users very frustrated with apps.
Poor application performance has been detrimental to business. So much so that the apps have been redone from the ground up! This shows why hiring the right custom software development company is important in the first place.
Having to redevelop your application can be very expensive. Not to mention, to have a different app for Android and iOS devices requires two codebases. This equates to higher costs and longer development times. PWA helps bridge these gaps.
Google Drive
Google Drive is perhaps one of the best PWA examples. We all know that a Google Drive app is used to store and share documents and other files. This app is hugely successful and is a prime example of a PWA that many people are accessing around the world.
Collaboration tools are in high demand as people try to connect from different parts of the world today. This app has been made platform-independent with endless device compatibility, which is a huge plus.
Spotify
Love listening to music? We’re sure this one will always be on your mind. This application is not only famous as a native application but also known as one of the perfect progressive web application examples. This makes it popular on both desktop and mobile devices.
Spotify tried to create a great PWA, but that’s not all they achieved in the process. The company also witnessed an increase in premium subscribers. But that won’t be possible if the number of free registrations is not significant. The PWA’s efficiency to encapsulate all user requests shows its worth in this case.
Uber
Transport apps are a must if you commute to work every day and don’t have a personal vehicle. This at least means you’re less likely to get stuck somewhere off the net. The Uber app has become instrumental in getting people from A to B, on time!
Trivago
Some of the most convenient web apps are progressive apps. Therefore, they are easy to access and work quickly. Hotel and flight booking sites are a type of web application that requires both of these characteristics.
Trivago has done a great job in getting it right in its progressive application with the help of web application development services.
Starbucks
Looking for some famous food or beverage PWA examples? Next, take note of how Starbucks, one of the best PWA examples, has thrived with its online ordering system.
No internet required means users can easily search the menu, select items, customize and add to the cart. All this without the Internet! It is really great for users. It saves them time and gives them your entire menu.
Why Progressive Web Apps Are Better For Businesses?
For companies, persuading users to install an application locally is invaluable. PWAs can be used as a communication hub with customers and, by avoiding third parties, reduces both the financial effort of cooperation (for example, with an SMS operator) and the risk of consumer data leakage or cyber fraud. Progressive web apps are easy to update, while the process can take more time and effort than in the traditional app market.
From greeting and announcement features, having a PWA means that communication between a business and its customers will be smooth and efficient. Furthermore, PWAs, by providing great UX, increase visitor engagement and conversion rates. Additionally, with faster load times, PWAs help reduces server load and reduce the risk of crashes or slowdowns during peak traffic times, such as Black Friday.
The problem is, as we mentioned earlier, customers, even if they like the user experience of an app, are no longer willing to download them in bulk. Nowadays, every smartphone user has probably already set up their favorite set of apps, and when it comes to new apps, they can be very picky. But this does not mean that the number of downloaded applications is decreasing.
Convincing customers to install a PWA directly from the browser seems a lot easier than forcing them to visit the App Store. Not to mention that avoiding reliance on Apple and Google is a blessing for marketers who don’t know when, or even, if their apps will be released or updated on the app stores. Plus, they don’t have to pay a middleman for distribution, which dramatically reduces user acquisition costs (CACs).
Read Also: Average Mobile App Development Cost
On the other hand, a progressive web application creates an opportunity to use motivation like shopping. When users see exciting content in their digital journey, they may be ready to make faster decisions and pin apps to their home screen. It works like different chocolates and snacks at the supermarket checkout.
Additionally, PWAs, with their smaller size and faster setup process, give marketers a higher chance of successfully referring users (from website to app) and, ultimately, increase return on marketing investment while reducing development costs at the same time. Time. This cost reduction can be achieved by using a PWA, which means only one site is used as the standard desktop site, mobile site on smartphones and computers board and is a cross-platform app, so there’s no need to create, test, and deploy a desktop site with RWD, Android app, and iOS app at the same time.
Why Progressive Web Apps Are Better For Users?
Digital users hate having to overcome obstacles in their way and would rather give up than waiting for more than 60 minutes for the page to load. Mobile users, as they often use their smartphones while running, with poor network connections or expensive data plans, are the most impatient. But as their numbers continue to grow, especially in emerging (and promising) markets like Asia and Africa, companies must meet their expectations.
Progressive Web Apps – a combination of website and mobile app functionality – are one of the best ways to do this. The most important advantages they offer are speed, the ability to work offline, and the ability to access them directly. Users can also add them to their home screen and use them just like those Native apps. Users are now more likely to give PWAs a chance because, lately, users mostly prefer not to download an app on their devices.
Progressive Web Apps don’t force users to make such tough choices because they’re much lighter than native apps. In addition, users do not see the typical installation process. They click a dedicated button, and a shortcut is created on the home screen. Of course, with downloadable content, PWA also “steals” space but still much less than a native application.
Read Also: Why Good UI UX Matter When Developing a Web App?
Why Progressive Web Apps Are Better For Developers?
Progressive web application based on popular web standards like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. Therefore, compared to native apps, they seem easy to build. In some projects that are not so complicated, that is true; a PWA can be built from scratch by a team of in-house front-end developers with relative ease.
However, in the case of more complex places, shops or markets, this can be complicated. When a company has many disparate systems that are tightly intertwined, any change – including the PWA – should be done with extreme caution. It is the “dirty work” that falls on the shoulders of technicians. They need to find a way to implement marketers’ idea of a seamless user experience and make sure everything works. This is a problem on most e-commerce platforms, usually due to old, outdated technologies.
However, with microservices and headless architecture, it’s child’s play. New PWA frameworks and front-end solutions allow developers to transform a website into a progressive web application without any interference with the e-commerce engine. They can separate the front end from the back end of the platform. Thank you for working with, e.g., Vue Storefront, developers, gaining strong JavaScript and UI skills, and gaining valuable experience in more than just e-commerce projects. Plus, they don’t have to wait forever to see the results of their efforts. The time to market for products based on the PWA framework is about a few months, but it took only 160 person-hours to test a complete Vue Storefront proof of concept for an e-commerce PWA.
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