Designing for mobile: native apps vs. web apps

Published in

Bootcamp

7 min readMay 2, 2023

With the rise of mobile devices, designing for mobile has become increasingly important. However, when it comes to designing for mobile, there are two main options: a native app or a web app.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the considerations in designing for mobile and compare a native app (Apple and Android standards) vs. a web app.

Native App vs. Web App

Benefits of Native Apps

A native app is an app that is built specifically for a mobile platform, such as iOS for iPhones or Android for several other devices. Native apps have several advantages, including:

Better performance: Native apps are optimized for the specific platform, which means they are faster and more responsive than web apps.
Access to device features: Native apps can access device features such as the camera, contacts, and microphone, which allows for more specialized functionality.
Better user experience: Native apps are designed specifically for the platform, which means they have a ‘more natural’ user experience than web apps when used on a mobile device.

Disadvantages of Native Apps

However, native apps also have some disadvantages, including:

Cost: building a native app can be expensive, as it requires separate development for each platform.
Approval process: native apps need to go through an approval process before they can be published on the app store, which can be time-consuming.

Benefits of Web Apps

A web app, on the other hand, is an app that is accessed through a web browser. Most non-native apps, applications with the source code saved inside the application itself, are web apps. Web apps have several advantages, including:

Cross-platform compatibility: web apps can be accessed on any device with a web browser, which means they are more accessible than native apps.
Lower cost: building a web app is generally less expensive than building a native app, as it doesn’t require separate development for each platform.
No approval process: web apps don’t need to go through an approval process before they can be published, which means they can be published more quickly.

Disadvantages of Web Apps

However, web apps also have some disadvantages, including:

Limited functionality: web apps are limited in terms of the functionality they can provide, as they can’t access device features like native apps can.
Performance: web apps are generally slower and less responsive than native apps, which can result in a poor user experience.

There are also “hybrid apps” which are when native applications have web experiences embedded inside them combining the two different approaches. We are going to focus solely on native and web apps in this article.

Design Considerations for Mobile

Designing Native Apps

Native apps provide designers with more control over the user experience as they are built specifically for the platform. This means that designers can take advantage of the specific design guidelines and patterns of the platform to create an interface that is intuitive and easy to use.

For example, iOS has specific design guidelines that encourage the use of large titles, cards, and bold typography. Android, on the other hand, uses a Material Design language that emphasizes color, depth, and grid-based layouts.

When designing native apps, it’s important to consider the following:

Platform-specific design guidelines: Each platform has its unique design guidelines that dictate how an app should look and feel. Designers need to take these guidelines into account to ensure that the app feels native to the platform.
Gestures: Native apps often use specific gestures to navigate and interact with the app. Designers need to ensure that these gestures are intuitive and easy to use.
Screen size and resolution: Native apps need to be optimized for the screen size and resolution of the device. This involves designing layouts that adapt to different screen sizes and resolutions.
Navigation: Navigation in native apps should be simple and easy to use. This involves placing navigation elements in intuitive locations and designing them in a way that makes them easy to interact with.

Designing Web Apps

When designing web apps, designers need to take into account the limitations of the platform. Web apps are accessed through a web browser and don’t have access to the same device features as native apps. This means that designers need to focus on creating a design that is intuitive and easy to use without relying on device-specific features.

When designing web apps, it’s important to consider the following:

Responsive design: Web apps need to be optimized for different screen sizes and resolutions. This involves using responsive design techniques that allow the layout to adapt to different screen sizes.
Navigation: Navigation in web apps needs to be simple and intuitive. This involves placing navigation elements in a consistent location and designing them in a way that makes them easy to interact with.
Performance: Web apps are limited in terms of performance on mobile devices, which means that designers need to optimize the design for speed and performance. This involves using lightweight design elements and optimizing images and other media.
Browser compatibility: Web apps need to be compatible with different browsers and devices. This involves testing the design in different browsers and devices to ensure that it works correctly.

When designing for mobile, designers need to take into account the specific considerations of the platform they are designing for. Native apps provide more control over the user experience, while web apps need to be optimized for different screen sizes and resolutions and are limited in terms of performance. Ultimately, the choice between a native app and a web app will depend on the specific needs and goals of the project.

Technologies for Mobile Development

In addition to design, it’s worth touching upon technology considerations when designing either a native app or a web app. This may also be a factor in your decision process, depending on the skillsets available on your team.

Web Apps

When building a web application, it is important to keep in mind the various technologies that can be used to create it. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the three main building blocks of any web application. HTML provides the basic structure of the application, CSS provides the style and design, while JavaScript provides the interactivity and enables the application to respond to user input.

In addition to the three main building blocks, there are several frameworks and libraries that can be used to build web applications. For instance, Angular, React, and Vue.js are some of the most popular frameworks that provide additional functionality and can make development faster and easier. With these frameworks, developers can easily add features such as routing, data binding, and form validation to their applications. In addition to the tools listed above, learn about more of the technology options and steps involved in creating web apps.

Native Apps

When building a native app, it’s important to consider the technologies that are available for each platform. For example, for iOS, developers can use Swift or Objective-C, while for Android, developers can use Java or Kotlin. In addition to these platform-specific languages, some frameworks can be used to build cross-platform native apps. Two popular frameworks for building native apps are React Native and Flutter.

React Native is a JavaScript framework that allows developers to build native apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase. It’s built on top of React, which is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. React Native allows developers to create native apps using JavaScript, which can make development faster and easier.

Flutter, on the other hand, is a mobile app SDK (Software Development Kit) for building high-performance, high-fidelity, apps for iOS, Android, web, and desktop from a single codebase. Flutter is built on top of the Dart programming language, which is a fast, object-oriented language that is easy to learn.

Both React Native and Flutter have their own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between the two will depend on the specific needs and goals of the project. However, both frameworks can be used to build high-quality native apps that provide a great user experience.

What is Best for Your Project: Native Mobile or Web App?

Before deciding between native and web design for a project, it’s important for a designer to fully understand the project, the client’s needs, and the product they are designing. This understanding will help the designer make an informed decision that aligns with the goals and requirements of the project.

For example, if the project involves creating an app that needs to utilize hardware features such as a camera or location-tracking, native design may be the better option as it allows for more seamless integration with the device’s hardware. On the other hand, if the project involves creating a website or an app that only requires basic functionality and is intended to be accessible across multiple devices, web design may be a better choice. If security issues are something worrisome, this article on best security practices for mobile app development may help.

Ultimately, the decision between native and web app design should be based on the specific needs of the project and the intended audience. The designer should consider factors such as the project requirements, budget, timeline, and user experience before making a decision.

Takeaways

Designing for mobile requires careful consideration of the unique challenges and opportunities presented by mobile devices. When it comes to choosing between a native app and a web app, there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to both options. Native apps provide better performance and functionality but can be more expensive and time-consuming to develop. Web apps, on the other hand, are more accessible and cost-effective, but have limited functionality and performance.

The decision to use a native or web app depends on the specific needs and resources of each project. By carefully considering the trade-offs and utilizing the right tools, designers and developers can create successful mobile applications that meet their goals and satisfy their users.