A few years ago, Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) were hailed as the “future of mobile.” The premise was irresistible: a website that could be installed on a phone’s home screen, work offline, and send push notifications, all without the friction of an App Store download. They promised the reach of the web combined with the engagement of a native app.
But the mobile landscape moves fast. Today, with app stores still dominant, it’s fair to ask: Are PWAs still relevant?
The short answer is yes, perhaps more than ever—but their role has matured.
The Reality Check
PWAs didn’t “kill” native apps as some predicted. The primary roadblock has been inconsistencies across platforms. While Android fully embraced PWA capabilities, Apple’s iOS ecosystem has been slower to adopt key features, sometimes making the experience feel “second-class” on iPhones. Furthermore, for applications requiring intensive device hardware access (like complex AR games), native is still king.
Why PWAs Remain Vital
However, dismissing PWAs based on these limitations misses the bigger picture of user behavior today.
1. Combating “App Fatigue” Users are tired of downloading 200MB apps for businesses they only interact with occasionally. A PWA offers an immediate, lightweight, app-like experience via a URL link, bypassing the download barrier entirely.
2. The Ultimate Cross-Platform Solution For businesses, maintaining separate codebases for iOS, Android, and the Web is expensive. A PWA allows a company to build and maintain one high-quality codebase that serves every device. Giants like Starbucks, Uber, and Twitter (X) have long leveraged PWAs to ensure fast, reliable access for users regardless of their network conditions or device storage.
3. The SEO Advantage Unlike native apps hidden in store walled gardens, PWAs are discoverable by search engines. Every piece of content within the app is linkable and shareable, driving organic traffic directly into the experience.
The Verdict
PWAs are no longer the shiny new object; they are a proven, pragmatic infrastructure tool. They aren’t necessarily a replacement for native apps, but they are often the smartest first step for businesses needing a mobile presence. In a world demanding speed and accessibility, the ability to deliver a powerful app experience through a simple browser tab is incredibly relevant.
