Mobile Apps for iOS and Android
Connect with your audience where they are.
Mobile apps are great for keeping your audience connected, as well as leveraging a plethora of data from location services to customer usage. There are cases when web apps or websites make more sense than mobile apps, below are some points worth considering.
Reasons for an App:
- If the app is the primary product/service of your company
- Ongoing, deep connection with users outside of your normal product/service
- Availability on the go, including Push Notifications
- Extensive analytics
- App-only features (3D, direct access to camera, easy to install/access on home screen)
Reasons you might not want an App:
- If Infrequent/occasional use is expected
- Higher barrier to entry vs directing to a webpage
- Generally cheaper to do website
- In-App Purchase (IAP) fees — typically a 30% charge from the App/Android store
- Apps aren’t available on desktop computers
Not sure if an App makes sense for you or your business?
Give us a call and we’ll be happy to advise. We love building apps—when it makes sense to do so. We also love saving people money when there are cost-effective alternatives. Call us at 561-594-7336
Ok, you definitely want an App? Let’s talk nerdy.
There are a few approaches to making apps, each with their own purpose, benefits and drawbacks. The below info details some of the choices so you can have an understanding of how we start mapping out apps. Purposeful design starts with thoughtful, deliberate framework considerations.
Native App vs using a framework (React Native/Flutter) vs PWA
Native (Swift/Java):
Best for large companies with budgets to develop cutting-edge apps or high-performance apps (games, AR/VR, photo/video editing, etc).
- Highest performance
- Latest API features
- Only option for apps leveraging 3D capabilities
- Most authentic look for each device
Framework (React Native / Flutter):
Best for companies of any size building apps that mostly communicate with their primary services/website/servers. (Most apps fall into this category.)
- Faster/cheaper development
- Not much different for users
- Some feature limitations
- One codebase works for iOS and Android
- Newest features/APIs not immediately available
Progressive Web App (PWA):
Best for companies that want their website to double as their app.
- Cheapest
- Leverages web technologies
- Works on desktop too
- Cannot directly access many phone features
- Can be installed like other apps, but the instructions are not as known by typical users
- Apple vs Google App Store
- Google — Easy to deploy. Fast updates. $25 one time developer account setup.
- Apple — Manual review process. Apps/updates can be rejected. $99 / yr developer subscription.
- Both — In-App Purchases (IAPs) must go through store
