If you want to taste success in the digital domain, then you need a strong mobile presence. In the year 2022 around 62% of the total traffic on the internet comes from smartphones. A mobile app and a mobile website are the two ways through which your business can connect with users.
A business today must decide between a mobile app and a mobile website. Both options are available on smartphones, but each has pros and cons. If you’re setting up a new business’s mobile presence, you must understand the differences in terms of the user experience delivered. This is because whatever technology you choose, you must ensure a smooth user experience to ensure the success of your business. This blog compares a mobile app vs a mobile website in terms of user experience to help you choose between the two.
How a Mobile App impacts the UX
Here is how a mobile app impacts the user experience.
User engagement
This is an important factor in the mobile app or mobile website UX comparison With a mobile app, you can offer value to your current clients/users through innovative interactions. Websites usually only do a few things, but an app can include features that let users interact with its different parts. For instance, Instagram users can look at pictures on the website, but they can’t post them without the app.
Customization
Users can set up their preferences for mobile apps as soon as they download them; settings can be changed to fit their needs. Apps can also keep track of how users interact with them and use that information to give users personalized recommendations and updates. This helps the user get more out of the app.
Apps also let businesses send customized messages to users based on their interests, location, how they use the app, and more. The user can get the most out of the app because it can be changed in so many ways.
Work Offline
Mobile apps can run even when they aren’t connected to the internet. Even though many apps need to be connected to the internet to do most of their work, most still have content and functions that can be used without the internet. Users can get information at any time and in any place.
Leverage Hardware Capabilities
Mobile applications have the ability to access and make use of the built-in functions of a device, such as a camera or GPS. Utilizing the capabilities of the device can result in an improved and more convenient experience for the user. Retail apps, for instance, are able to send users flyers with deals that are specific to their area because of the ability to automatically use GPS and location data.
Push Notifications
By providing push notifications or a notifications bar, apps provide organizations with a convenient channel of communication that can be used to send and receive messages. Because websites still rely on traditional settings like email to facilitate communication, the flow of information is noticeably slower on websites than it is on mobile apps. Because the user can adjust their notification settings in accordance with their preferences, notifications also serve the purpose of providing a means of personalization.
Personalization
Users can set their preferences as soon as they install a mobile app, making it fit their needs better. Apps can also keep track of how users interact with them and use that information to make recommendations and upgrades that are more useful to the users. Apps also let businesses send personalized messages to users based on their location, interests, how they use the app, and other factors. Sending customized notifications to users can lead to improved open rates, conversion rates, and user engagement. Hence personalization happens to be one of the most important UX design strategy tips you need to follow while developing your digital product.
Enhanced Performance
Most mobile apps have an intuitive interface, which makes it easier to get things done. This new way of setting up the interface lets users get more into the mobile experience. People who use certain operating systems have also grown used to certain features and functions. This means that building an app for a certain platform gives users what they want.
The functionality of mobile websites is typically slower than that of apps because the former get their data from servers and the latter uses JavaScript. Apps store their data locally on the device. It enables applications to carry out operations in a quick and consistent manner, which improves the overall user experience.
Better Branding
Mobile apps give businesses the ability to broaden their brand experiences while simultaneously enhancing them with personalization, ease of use, enhanced functionality, and the freedom to be creative. They also contribute to the development of a user base that is dedicated to the organization.
Conversion Rate Improvement
A study that was conducted by Criteo found that the rate of conversion for mobile apps was significantly higher than that of websites. This was one of the findings of the study. This factor alone has the potential to bring about a significant shift in perspective within an organization when it comes to expanding its digital footprint.
How a Mobile website impacts the UX
Here is how a mobile website impacts the user experience.
Available For All Users
Wide reach is a factor where a mobile website wins in the mobile application vs. mobile website comparison.
A responsive website can be accessed from any mobile device with an internet connection, unlike mobile apps, which only work on certain platforms (like iOS or Android). Also, unlike many apps you can find in app stores, responsive websites don’t need to be downloaded and are completely free.
No Need To Update
Again, unlike with mobile apps, users won’t need to install new versions or updates of your product on their computers in order to use the new features. Websites are easy to change. That means users won’t notice the update process and will be able to jump right into a better experience.
Time and Cost-saving
Even though this feature isn’t directly related to the user experience, extra costs can make it hard for organizations to provide their services, which makes them think about alternatives that do affect the user experience. Creating a website takes much less time and money than building an app, especially a multi-platform app, which needs to be built in different ways for different platforms. You would require to hire an expert web development company to get built a website that takes your business on the path of greater ROI.
Data Storage
The manner in which data is stored is yet another important distinction that can be drawn between a mobile app and a mobile website. When storing files, an app makes use of the memory available on the device, whereas a website stores everything on its cloud servers and uses up no memory on the device itself. Thus, sometimes when the memory of the device is full, the UX can get negatively impacted in the case of a mobile app.
Which Is The Better Option?
The right choice depends on what are your business goals and o. If you want as many people as possible to be able to access mobile-friendly content, a mobile website may be best. But if you want to engage, interact, and talk to your customers to keep them coming back, a mobile app is a better choice.
You may decide that you need both a mobile website and a mobile app in many situations. Both can be smart and valuable choices if done right. When it comes to your brand’s mobile strategy, it may not be a choice between a mobile app and a mobile website, but rather a two-pronged approach. In most cases, a top company providing mobile app development will help you take this two-pronged approach. If you are in doubt, then the app developers will even help you make the right choice.