Progressive web app in short PWA is a type of application software that is delivered through the web. It is usually built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

PWA is responsive. So it can fit in all forms such as mobile devices, tablets, and desktops. Their work connectivity is independent, so you can operate it offline or even when the connection is of poor quality. An example of PWA is Twitter.

How is PWA different from Native App?

A native app is a self-contained program that is under a smartphone. It works like a program only so you can run it on a laptop like Microsoft PowerPoint. A PWA is essentially a website that displays like a mobile app. It is more like Google docs or Google slides because they can perform the same function as that the native app does but with the help of an internet browser.

Native apps have some restrictions; they work with only one platform. But PWA is progressive so able to work with any browser that is owned by a user.

Users can access the internet from mobiles, tablets, desktops, and laptops so the native app cannot adjust according to the device. But PWA is responsive so it adjusts to meet the requirement of any device.

You cannot visit a website if connectivity is done in native apps. Most native apps allow you to use a website even if your internet connection is slow. But as PWA is connectivity independent it allows a user to use an internet browser without the connection also. This is done by caching the app data ahead of time.

PWA has to maintain an app-like structure. This is one of the most important differences between a PWA and a website. Many websites have few simple pages that contain a home page, contact info, and blog page. To be considered as a PWA, a website needs to include features that will engage the user like a page that can be added to the home screen of the device. Users can interact with the app as though it were a native app.

Benefits of PWA App

PWAs are easy and fast for the user to install. They don’t take up a lot of space on your device. They still work, look and feel the same way as a native app for a user.

The network connection is not a concern here; they can work suitably with poor connectivity. They won’t have to worry about going through an app approval process.

PWA offers instant response to commands so there isn’t a lagging problem. They are lagging problems in a traditional app website.

PWAs work on all devices so it does not matter which operating system the user is using. They work on both Android devices and Apple devices.

Users don’t have to visit Apple Store or Google Store accounts to use PWA. They do not need to provide credit cards or anything else.

Results of PWA App

The concept of PWA is relatively new to most people. PWA is supported by Google, it is front-end technology that aims at delivering a high level of performance of devices with or without network availability.

Alibaba

It is the world’s largest marketplace for suppliers, buyers, and manufacturers. It is the biggest e-commerce platform. It recently adopted PWA and observed an increase in interaction rate up to 4X. 76% rise in conversion rate.

Twitter Lite

In April 2017, Twitter launched a PWA called Twitter Lite.

User experience was the same as a native app without even having access to the app store. The result of this launch was astonishing. There was a 75% increase in a tweet, sent from PWA.

Housing.com

It is India’s leading online real estate platform. Most of their target users used the internet network of 2G or 3G. To better serve their target audience the company created fast, efficient, and reliable PWA. After the new PWA, a user quickly finds what we are looking for even while offline. The housing.com PWA resulted in a 38% lift in conversion rate and a 40% reduction in bounce rate.

MakeMyTrip

It is India’s leading travel company. It has about 8 million visitors every month. Its mobile traffic is about two-thirds. Mobile devices were the most preferred channel by MakeMyTrip customers. So they developed a PWA that led to a fast, reliable mobile web experience.

The new PWA experience triples its conversion rate by reducing payload times by 38%. 160% increase in their user sessions and 20% reduction in bounce rate after launching PWA.