What Is a Progressive Web App (PWA) and Should You Be Building One?

If you’ve looked into mobile or web app development recently, you’ve probably seen the term progressive web apps pop up. They’re often marketed as a fast, flexible solution, an app-like experience delivered straight through the web, without needing the App Store.  

Sounds smart. And in some cases, it is. But the full picture is a bit more complex.  

Like most technologies, PWAs have strengths but they also have real limits. Before you decide to build one, it’s worth understanding both.

What is a PWA and how does it work?

In simple terms, a progressive web app is a website that feels more like a mobile app. You can open it in your browser, but also pin it to your home screen. It loads fast, has some offline capabilities, and in some cases, can even send push notifications, just like a native app.  

Unlike traditional mobile app development, a PWA doesn’t require separate builds for iOS and Android. It's developed once, using modern web standards, and works across devices.  

That flexibility is what makes progressive web apps appealing, but it doesn’t always mean they’re the best choice for your product or users.

Where Progressive Web Apps make sense

There are moments when a PWA is absolutely the right call... If you’re launching an MVP and speed is your priority. If your audience is in low-connectivity markets where smaller, lighter experiences matter. Or if you’re building a tool that’s only used internally, where device-level features aren’t critical.  

In these situations, progressive web app development can help you move fast without heavy infrastructure or app store approvals. But this should always be a strategic decision because PWAs aren’t built to support every type of app or every kind of user.

But here’s the catch

Despite the hype, PWAs still can’t do what native apps can. They often struggle with performance on heavier workloads. They can’t access key device features like biometrics or Bluetooth. Features like offline sync, notifications, and background processes behave differently depending on the device, especially on iOS, where support is still patchy.  

There’s also the issue of discoverability. Without a presence in the App Store or Google Play, users need to find your app through your website or other marketing. That can work but you lose the trust and exposure that come with being in an official store.  

And perhaps most importantly, users can tell the difference. They expect certain behaviours from apps. PWAs often feel like a compromise. That affects retention, engagement, and the way your product is perceived.  

A useful tool, but often a short-term one  

There’s nothing wrong with progressive web apps. But too often, they’re treated like a shortcut to building something serious. That usually backfires.  

For small-scale or temporary use cases, PWAs deliver just enough. But if you’re planning to grow, build trust, or compete at scale, the limitations of progressive web app development will start to show. Performance gaps become bottlenecks. Missing features block new ideas. And suddenly, the tech that felt fast at the start is slowing everything down.  

That’s why the question isn’t “Can we build a PWA?”, it’s “Should we?”

So, still thinking about PWA?

Before you commit to any app strategy, start with the bigger questions.  

What kind of experience do your users expect? How important is speed, scale, and system integration? Do you need visibility in app stores? Will you need to grow this product into something more complex later?  

If your answers lean toward simplicity and speed, a progressive web app might give you exactly what you need right now. But if you're building for long-term value, scalability, and user experience, it's worth thinking carefully.  

This is where having the right partner matters. Someone who can weigh up the tech options based on your goals, not just the latest trends. Someone who can help you choose a path that works now and still makes sense a year from now.  

That’s what we do.