The three options in one minute
Progressive web app (PWA)
A website that behaves like an app. Users open a link, tap "Add to Home Screen" and get an icon, full-screen view, and on supported devices, notifications. There is one version for every device and updates are instant because there is nothing to download.
Cross-platform app (React Native)
A real app installed from the App Store and Google Play, written once and released for both iOS and Android. It can use the camera, location, push notifications and payment flows, and it looks and feels like a native app to the user.
Fully native apps
Two separate apps, one written specifically for iOS and one for Android. Maximum control and performance, at roughly the cost and maintenance effort of two projects.
Side by side
| PWA | React Native | Fully native | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relative cost | Lowest | Medium | Highest (two codebases) |
| In App Store / Google Play | No, shared by link | Yes | Yes |
| Push notifications | Yes on Android; on iPhone once added to the home screen | Yes | Yes |
| Camera, location, files | Basic access | Full access | Full access |
| Updates | Instant, no store review | Store review for new versions | Store review, twice |
| Best for | Staff tools, member portals, quick launch | Customer apps with payments and notifications | Heavy device features, demanding performance |
Four questions to narrow it down
Answer these and the helper will suggest a starting point. It is a rule of thumb, not a quotation.
01Who will use it most?
02Must it be in the App Store and Google Play?
03Which phone features does it need?
04What matters most right now?
The bars move as you answer.
Mobile app developmentWhen a PWA is the smart choice
- Your users are your staff. Drivers, technicians, warehouse teams and sales reps do not need an App Store listing. They need a fast screen that works on whatever phone they have.
- You want to test an idea quickly. A PWA lets you launch, learn and adjust without waiting for store reviews.
- It extends a web system you already have. A mobile-friendly view of your ERP or customer portal is often a PWA in all but name.
When React Native is worth it
- Customers should find you in the stores. Being searchable in the App Store and Google Play builds trust for consumer-facing brands.
- Notifications drive the business. Class reminders, order updates and promotions work best as reliable push notifications.
- You take payments in the app. Payment gateways, saved cards and e-wallets feel more natural inside an installed app.
Our work for Fitcom Fitness is a good example of a customer-facing case: members book classes, follow trainer schedules, track performance and move through membership tiers, with a platform behind it for the gym’s team.
When fully native makes sense
Choose two native apps when the app leans heavily on the device itself: complex camera or Bluetooth work, intensive graphics, or performance where every millisecond counts. For most business apps, the extra cost does not buy a difference users will notice.
Do not forget the part users never see
Whichever you choose, the app is only the front door. Bookings, members, payments and reports live in a system behind it, usually with an admin panel your team uses every day. Budget and plan for both halves together.
Frequently asked questions
Can a PWA send push notifications on an iPhone?
Yes. Since iOS 16.4, a web app that the user has added to the home screen can receive push notifications. Users must add it to the home screen first, so for customer apps where notifications are critical, an installed app is still more reliable.
Do I need separate apps for iOS and Android?
Not usually. React Native builds both from one codebase, and a PWA works on both through the browser. Separate native apps are only needed for heavy device features or demanding performance.
Can we start with a PWA and build a store app later?
Yes, and it is a sensible path. The system behind the app (data, admin panel, payments) stays the same, so moving to a React Native app later reuses most of the work.
iOS and Android apps with notifications and payments, built with React Native or as a PWA.
Managing Director and Software Solution Architect at Potadot, a web and system solutions company in Butterworth, Penang that builds custom ERP systems, online platforms, mobile apps and websites for businesses across Malaysia.
About Potadot