Website vs App: Which Does Your Business Need?

Businesses often ask us whether they need a website or an app. For most, the answer is a website first, and an app when there's a clear reason for customers to use it regularly. Here's how to decide.

The difference

• A website is opened in a browser. Anyone can find it through Google or a link, on any device, without installing anything.
• A mobile app is installed from the App Store or Google Play. It lives on the customer's home screen and can use phone features such as notifications, the camera and location.
• A web app is an interactive application that runs in the browser, such as a booking system or customer portal. It sits between the two.

When a website is the right choice

• You need new customers to find you on Google.
• People visit occasionally, for example to read about services, get a quote or buy something once.
• You want the lowest cost to get online and the simplest maintenance.
• You're launching a new business and need to test demand.

Almost every business needs a website, because that's how new customers discover you. See website design.

When an app makes sense

• Customers use your service often: ordering, booking, tracking, loyalty or content they come back to daily.
• You want to send push notifications about orders, offers or new content.
• The experience needs phone features such as the camera, GPS, offline access or payments in the app.
• You want a faster, more personal experience for existing, loyal customers.

Apps are better at keeping customers than at finding new ones, so most businesses build an app alongside a website rather than instead of one.

Compared side by side

• Discovery: websites are found through search; apps through app stores and your own marketing.
• Cost to build: websites are usually less expensive. Apps cost more because of platform-specific work and testing. See app development costs in South Africa.
• Maintenance: both need maintenance, but apps also need updates for new phone operating systems and app store rules.
• Updates: website changes go live immediately; app updates may need store review.
• Engagement: apps can re-engage users with notifications; websites rely on email, social media and search.

Can you have both?

Yes, and they work best together. A typical path is:

1. Launch a fast, well-optimised website to win new customers.
2. Add an online store or customer portal if needed.
3. Build an app for your most engaged customers, connected to the same back end, so products, accounts and orders stay in sync.

Our advice

Start with the goal. If you need new customers, start with a website. If your existing customers would use an app every week, talk to us about mobile app development. We build both and can connect them.