Difference between a progressive web app and a hybrid mobile app

Question

Can someone tell me the differences between a Hybrid Mobile App and a Progressive Web App and their advantages?

Answer 1

A hybrid mobile app usually refers to an application built using a combination of web and native technology that is distributed via a native app store. These apps go through Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc's app store review process.

A Progressive Web App is an application built using web technology that runs in the browser and may be added to the home screen. They do not need to be distributed via native app stores, but can be included in them. Microsoft includes PWAs in its Microsoft Store as of 2018 and Trusted Web Activities make it easier to submit PWAs to the Google Play Store.

Some hybrid mobile app platforms include PhoneGap (aka Cordova), Appcelerator Titanium, and Ionic. You don't need a platform to create a hybrid app, but they are helpful because they've already taken care of creating a bridge between native APIs and JavaScript APIs.

Progressive Web Apps simply run in the browser so they can be built with basic HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Answer 2

Progressive Web Apps

This relatively new technology developed by Google enables mobile devices to add a website or web application to a smartphone's home screen and be able to interact with it offline.

Pros

• Allows for push notifications
• Apps can work in an offline mode
• The underlying sites usually get better ranking on search engines

Cons

• This technology is just a browser wrapper—not a fully-functional app, so technically it's still a website
• Users won't get a native app experience (i.e. interactions, animations, performance) as the UI is just a fullscreen browser window without a URL bar that can work offline.
• Poor compatibility (still not available for iPhones and iPads)

Hybrid Mobile Apps

Here can be two options:

Frameworks as Apache Cordova, Ionic and PhoneGap

Pros

• High development speed
• Coded in web development technologies (HTML, CSS, Javascript) that yield cross-compatible iOS, Android, and web software (just one web developer needed)
• Frameworks are availalbe that emulate native app UI elements (i.e. buttons, menus, etc.)
• UX is very close to a native experience using UI elements that mimic native app behavior
• Access to the smartphone’s hardware API, facilitating device functionality (e.g. camera, push notifications, geolocation, and others)

Cons

• UX is not as good as it is on native apps (300ms click delays, phantom clicks while scrolling, etc.)
• The more complex the application, the slower it works due to the various wrappers and libraries employed
• Doesn't work offline
• Animations are difficult to implement in the UI

or React Native.

Pros

• High development speed for the React-based apps
• Web application built with React.js can be easily converted to a React Native mobile app, and some source code can be reused
• Native user experience
• Application looks and feels exactly like a native mobile app for a specific platform
• Reduces development costs
• Experts in React Native can usually build both Android and iOS apps

Cons

• Relatively new technology (limited open-source solutions)
• Limited with regard to visual design
• Not ideal for complex projects like mobile games or apps that require a high load (significant computations)

Recently we've wrote an article on this topic: From Website to Mobile App – Your Four Best Options

I'm sure you'll be interested.