What is a Progressive Web App (PWA)?
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a website built with modern browser features that make it behave like a native mobile or desktop app. It can be installed on a home screen, works offline through a Service Worker that caches content, and can send push notifications. Unlike a native app, a PWA does not go through an app store and runs on any device with a modern browser. Development cost is lower because one codebase works across all platforms.
A Progressive Web App is a website that behaves like a native app: you can install it on your home screen, use it offline, and receive push notifications, all without an app store.
The three core characteristics
Installable: users can add a PWA to their home screen or desktop without going through an app store. On mobile, the browser shows an “Add to Home Screen” prompt. On desktop, a small install icon appears in the address bar. Once installed, the PWA opens in its own window without browser navigation chrome. Works offline: PWAs use a technology called a Service Worker, a background script that caches content so the app continues to function when the device has no internet connection. This can mean fully offline capability or simply showing cached data when the connection is poor. Fast: PWAs are built on web technology and served over HTTP, which means they benefit from browser caching, CDN delivery, and the same performance optimizations available to any website. Core Web Vitals scores, which Google uses as a ranking factor, apply to PWAs just as they do to regular websites.
PWA vs native app vs regular website
A native app is built specifically for iOS or Android, published to an app store, and installed on the device. It has full access to device hardware: camera, GPS, Bluetooth, contacts. A regular website requires a browser to open and has no home screen presence or offline capability. A PWA sits in between: it is delivered over the web, so no app store submission is needed, but it can be installed, work offline, and send push notifications. The trade-off is that PWAs have less access to device hardware than native apps. For most business applications, the PWA capabilities are sufficient.
Pros and cons
Pros: one codebase works on all platforms, no app store review process, updates are deployed instantly like any website, and development cost is lower compared to building and maintaining separate iOS and Android apps. Cons: PWA support varies between browsers. On iOS, certain features like background sync and push notifications were only added recently and still have some limitations. Native apps also have an edge for performance-intensive tasks, deep hardware integration, or cases where app store discoverability is strategically important.
When to choose a PWA
A PWA is a strong choice when your users are on mobile but you do not want to maintain separate iOS and Android codebases. It works well for internal tools, customer portals, field service apps, and B2B applications where you can direct users to the URL. If your app needs deep device hardware access, or if app store presence and discoverability are critical for user acquisition, a native app is the better fit.
For more on web technology foundations, see what is an API and what are Core Web Vitals, since both are relevant to how PWAs communicate and perform.
Our tip: Before building a native app, test whether a PWA meets your requirements. Build a basic version as a PWA first. If users on iOS or Android find it too limited, you then have a clear specification for a native app. Skipping directly to native is expensive and often unnecessary for internal or B2B tools.
Frequently asked questions
Does a PWA need to be submitted to the App Store or Google Play?
No. A PWA is delivered over the web as a URL. Users install it directly from the browser without going through an app store. On mobile, the browser displays an 'Add to Home Screen' prompt. On desktop, a small install icon appears in the browser's address bar. This means you can update the app instantly like any website, without waiting for app store review.
How does offline functionality work in a PWA?
PWAs use a browser feature called a Service Worker: a background script that intercepts network requests and serves cached content when there is no internet connection. You define which resources to cache (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, API responses) and how to handle cache misses. The result can range from basic offline functionality (showing a cached version of the last page) to full offline capability for data-driven apps.
What is the difference between a PWA and a native app?
A native app is built specifically for iOS or Android, distributed through the App Store or Google Play, and installed on the device's storage. It has full access to device hardware including camera, GPS, Bluetooth, and contacts. A PWA is delivered over the web and has more limited hardware access, particularly on iOS. However, PWAs are faster to build (one codebase for all platforms), easier to update, and do not require app store distribution. For most business tools, the PWA approach is sufficient.
Which businesses benefit most from a PWA?
PWAs work well for internal business tools, customer portals, field service applications, and B2B web apps where you can direct users to a URL rather than relying on app store discovery. They are also a good fit for organizations that want mobile functionality without the cost and complexity of building and maintaining separate iOS and Android apps. If app store visibility is strategically important, or if the app needs deep hardware access, a native app remains the better choice.