Entering the modern marketplace is an exciting yet challenging venture. With new technologies and increasingly impatient consumers, the only way to stay in the game is to continuously improve your business. And we can’t talk about improvements without mentioning websites and web apps.
Keeping up with present-day demands and expectations requires nothing less than the best online solutions. Websites and web apps take your business to the next level by optimizing many tasks.
They’re used to collect information, facilitate online transactions, run business analytics, and more. They’re also major components of digital marketing strategies, allowing you to expand your reach and connect with your target audience.
You may be wondering what’s the difference between websites and web apps. Well, there are a lot of them. In this blog, we tackle the key differences between the two and help you decide which one you need to grow your business.
Main Purpose
Websites and web apps are similar in that they’re both made to make our lives easier. All industries benefit from utilizing both technologies to streamline various processes and gain a large following.
Websites are a collection of web pages that require little to no user interaction. They function primarily to inform users and establish your brand’s online presence.
We like to describe a website as a digital home for your business. It’s where you can flex your expertise and tell your story through imagery and written content.
Web apps are more for manipulating data, managing workflows, and generating reports. Of course, this is only the beginning. Web applications can be integrated into business in countless ways by creating an analytics dashboard, scheduling system, eCommerce platform, and more.
User Interaction
Again, websites don’t usually require much input from users. Apart from filling out web forms and navigating through pages, the route within a website is pretty straightforward.
When you’re reading a blog post, you aren’t asked for much but to consume the content as-is. Using social share buttons and leaving comments also don’t take any more than a few seconds. Without doing much of anything, a website will provide you with content.
In contrast, web apps only make sense when there is user interaction. Google Docs, for instance, is useless if you don’t type anything into the app. Likewise, job listing platforms and booking apps need your input to fulfill their main purpose.
Functionality and Processing
Some websites are designed to perform more complicated functions like processing orders, but the majority have simpler tasks. The important thing about websites is that they provide users with relevant information and extract data that will help you make sense of consumer behavior.
Web apps have more extensive functions and higher processing power. With the right developer, the sky’s the limit for what web apps can do.
In business, web apps are designed to automate repetitive tasks and organize information. For example, a web analytics dashboard keeps track of performance metrics and sends you an overview of its findings.
For clients, web apps offer an efficient platform to do business with you or go about specific tasks.
Accessibility
Websites and web apps are both accessible as they serve user requests through web browsers. So long as you’re connected to the internet, there are hardly any compatibility issues that would pop up.
What’s important to note here is that websites need an uninterrupted connection to the internet to load their content. On the other hand, some web apps permit offline access and can perform some functions without internet connection.
Time and Cost for Development
Because web apps are complex, they are more expensive and take longer to develop. On average, development teams need 4.5 months to finish the front- and back-end infrastructure of basic web apps, including wireframing and the design process.
If the specs of your web app are similar to existing projects, you can get the finished product at an earlier date. But if you require many custom-built features, it’ll take more months to accomplish.
Websites are typically built within 3.5 months. Free online website builders are available for business owners who wish to cut costs. You can build a simple website in just a few hours, but the trade-offs include having limited features and a plain layout.
It’s not recommended that you take shortcuts when building either a website or web app. The last thing you want is for consumers to lose trust in your brand or lose valuable information because of a mishap.
Support and Maintenance
Websites and web apps need regular maintenance to ensure security and remain competitive in the market. Websites require relatively less support than web apps because it’s unlikely that they’ll run into major compatibility issues.
Meanwhile, web apps need frequent upgrades and testing to ensure they’re available for public use. When a new smartphone or laptop is released, developers need to act quickly to make sure that the app is running smoothly on new devices.
Takeaways
At the end of the day, choosing between a website or a web app boils down to your needs. A website is enough if your goal is to simply provide information and promote your business to a larger audience.
A web app is better if you want to solve a complicated business problem or create a platform where you can offer efficient customer service.
But remember, it’s not necessarily a choice of having just one or the other. These technologies can be used at the same time and yield better results.
If you know what you’re doing, you’ll end up with streamlined business operations and delighted consumers, all thanks to a smart investment.
Work With a Professional Team of Web Developers and Designers
Get started on your website or web app by hiring a talented team of web developers and designers. We specialize in custom-built websites and web apps that delight users and bring maximum ROI. Contact DevWerkz today.