Mobile app or mobile-friendly website? Which suits you?

What is a mobile-friendly website?

It is a site opened on a phone through the browser that adapts to the screen size. Customers don't need to download anything; they tap a link and go straight in.

For most businesses this is the first step: it presents your product or service, gets you found on Google and works on every phone.

When is a mobile app needed?

An app is a separate program the user installs on their phone. It makes sense in these cases:

• ✓If your customers will use you often (order tracking, bookings, membership)
• ✓If sending notifications matters (campaigns, appointment reminders)
• ✓If you will use phone features such as the camera, location or Bluetooth
• ✓If part of it needs to work without internet
• ✓If you need an in-the-field app for your employees

The difference in cost and time

An app is a much bigger job than a website because of design, the iOS and Android versions, the server side and the store launch. Apple and Google developer account fees and store approval processes must also be factored in.

That is why it is wise to first set up a website for promotion or sales and move to an app once you see customer demand.

Three questions to decide

Ask yourself:

• ✓Will my customer use this several times a week, or look once and leave?
• ✓Do I need a special feature of the phone?
• ✓Will I have to persuade customers to install an app, and can I do that?

Our approach

At Webora we build both websites and iOS and Android mobile apps, including design, software, admin panel and store launch. In a free discovery call we look at your need and tell you the best route without steering you to an app unnecessarily.

If you have an app that was started earlier or left unfinished, we review it too and tell you plainly whether continuing or rebuilding is the right call.