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With the rise of mobile technology, apps have become essential tools for businesses and users. But not all apps are the same; each type has specific features and uses that suit different needs. In this article we will explore the main types of apps, their benefits, disadvantages, examples and how to choose the best one for your project.
Before we start classifying mobile applications by type, we must know what a mobile application is and how it differs from a website.
Also called an 'app', for the abbreviation of the English word application, an application is a software program designed to run on cell phones and tablets.
These applications can be focused on multiple purposes and, in turn, can be developed in different ways.
Although some may confuse them, they cannot be compared to web apps, which are just shortcuts to the responsive version of a page and do not even require installation.
Although there was already software specially developed for mobiles (such as the pre-installed apps like the Snake in Nokia or the calculator), apps as we know them today, started to become popular after the publication of the App Store (Apple) and the Android Market (the current Google Play) in 2008.
When it comes to classifying the types of apps, it is essential to analyze the properties that make them stand out in such a competitive market. Among the most important are:
These characteristics not only determine the quality of an app, but also its ability to build user loyalty and position itself as a leader in its category.
Although the technology sector is evolving at a dizzying pace, we can currently distinguish between four main types of mobile applications. Below, we explain what each of them consists of and what their advantages, disadvantages and real examples are.
Native apps are applications developed by specialized technical teams and must be created specifically for an operating system, such as iOS or Android.
These are the type of applications that generate the most cost, since the team of developers must be very specialized and must know how Android Studio and Swift, the Android and iOS development platforms respectively, work.
Native applications, having been developed exclusively, have an unparalleled efficiency. Thanks to the app's specificity, it adapts perfectly to the hardware and software needs of each device.
Also, thanks to this, native apps have a large choice of functionalities such as access to the device's camera, microphone or biometric sensors (fingerprint).
Despite the advantages we have presented, native apps also have disadvantages. The first is, as we have already mentioned, that to develop a native app you need a team specialized in each operating system. This, in turn, translates into another of the disadvantages of this type of app: the high cost of development.
In addition, this type of applications have another handicap: they need updates and maintenance independent for each platform. An app developed for Android cannot be used on an iOS device and vice versa.
Also known as cross-platform applications, hybrid apps have elements of both native apps and web apps (which we will see later). Hybrids are developed using programming languages such as HTML, CSS or JavaScript and stored in a native container.
One of the main benefits of hybrid apps is that, with a single development, you can include your app on different platforms and operating systems. Therefore, development costs are significantly lower and the time to reach app markets is reduced.
Despite having very good results, the performance of a native app will always be higher, because it is so specific. Also, the options to access hardware functionalities, as we mentioned in the previous type of app, are not so high.
Web apps are applications that have been developed explicitly to work via mobile browsers. These cannot be downloaded to the cell phone, but are opened via a web browser. An example is Google Docs.
Although much more limited than the previous ones, this type of application has the advantage that it can be opened on any device that has a web browser installed. It also eliminates the need to download an app as such, which means that it also overcomes the problem of limited space on mobile devices.
Finally, these apps also have the advantage that updates do not depend at any time on the user who enjoys the app.
Being connected to the network is essential to be able to navigate through these applications. In addition, they have very limited performance and functionalities compared to the other two types of apps we have seen.
The last of the types of apps we will look at are PWAs, which stands for Progressive Web App. Progressive Web Apps are an evolution of web applications that emerged in 2016 and, despite being websites designed for mobile, they can be downloaded on mobile devices as apps.
In other words, PWA applications are apps compiled with web technology that, thanks to a code base, can be executed and installed on mobile devices.
Unlike web apps, PWA apps behave similarly to native apps and can be downloaded to mobile devices, run offline or offer good performance and operation in the background.
PWA apps cannot be uploaded to conventional app markets. Although Google has a specialized market for progressive apps, not all app markets support progressive apps. For example, the Apple Store does not support them, which translates into possible lower brand recognition.
In addition to the four main types of applications, apps can also be classified according to their purpose. Thus, this other classification would be:
Knowing the different types of apps and their features will allow you to make an informed decision when developing your next application. At Reskyt, we help you create custom apps, optimizing performance, functionality and user experience. If you don't have yours yet,request your demo and transform your idea into a successful app!
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