I want an app. I don't want people to have to download one.
A PWA is an app built from the web: one tap adds it to the home screen, no store, no download.
This might be you
- You want the app experience but know customers won't install anything
- A two-platform native app is out of budget
- The core needs are viewing, booking and ordering, not deep device features
- You want to ship in weeks, not quarters
What you get
- Installs to the home screen with its own icon, opens full screen
- Basic content still works offline
- One codebase running on iOS and Android
- Updates instantly — no store review, no waiting
A real situation
A bakery wanted an ordering app. Their customers were never going to install one for weekly bread. A PWA on the home screen got used from week one.
Common questions
- Is a PWA worse than a real app?
- For most SME uses, no — and it's better on the metric that matters, which is whether anyone actually starts using it.
- Does it work on iPhone?
- Yes. Home screen install, full screen, offline caching. Push notifications are the one area where iOS still lags.
- Can it become a real app later?
- Yes, and a lot of what's built carries over.
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