In the modern world, where technology is always changing, it’s hard to know which solution will work best for this or that business. Today, there are a lot of debates about web-based applications, their benefits, how to use them for business, and how to make them.
So, what is a web-based app? For both users and business owners, what are the benefits of this tool? How much does it cost to make this app? The answers are in our article, so keep reading to find them.
What is a web app and how does it differ from other app types?
In this article, we’ll talk about how to use a lot of different types of applications. First, let’s look at the definitions of three main types of applications.
A native mobile application is developed to work with a specific operating system. To make apps for Android and iOS, developers need to use specific technologies and make two different apps. The same thing is true for desktop apps, too. In order for them to work with a certain type of operating system, they will be built in different ways. As a result, each new version must be made for each OS individually.
A hybrid application is a single application that can run on different operating systems at the same time. Wrappers are used by developers to make this possible. Wrappers help them set up an app so it works properly on a certain platform. As an example, it takes less time and money to make hybrid apps than to make native ones.
A web-based application is a website or a part of a website that uses web technology to help people. It helps people get things done. Such apps run on browsers, and the only thing users need to use web apps is a connection to the web.
Web applications are so common now that you can use them every day and not even know it.
Some of the most popular apps are all Google apps, like Calendar, Docs, and Meet. There are also web apps for note-taking software like Evernote and task trackers like ClickUp.
It’s also common for apps that were first made for mobile phones to move to the web. As Telegram did at the time, businesses can get more people to use their apps by making a web version as well as a native one.
To get a better idea of how web apps work, let’s look at how they’re different from mobile and desktop apps.
Peculiarities of web apps and their benefits for users
There are a lot of reasons why people might choose web apps instead of mobile or desktop apps, such as: Not every time there’s a choice, people should choose web apps. Some web apps, on the other hand, are very good at what they do. To see how web, mobile, and desktop apps are different, look at the table below.
| Web | Mobile | Desktop | |
| Need to install/ update | No | Yes | Yes |
| Compatibility | Any device, major browsers | Apps must be compatible with certain OS and its versions | Apps must be compatible with certain OS and its versions |
| Performance | Depends on the browser and Internet connection | Depends on app’s compatibility with OS | Depends on app’s compatibility with OS |
There are a lot of reasons why people might choose web-based apps, so this is why. Web apps can be used on any device and at any time if users have a good Internet connection. From a PC in the office to a phone on the go, it’s easy to access web apps from anywhere. So even smart TVs, cars, and watches can be used to access web apps. These devices all have browsers that can show the app’s interface properly.
Second, because users don’t need to install and update web apps, their devices don’t take up a lot of space. There is also less time spent on installation, registration, setting up things like this because of this.
Another reason people can choose web apps is because their interface doesn’t depend on the OS of a device and looks the same on any device. This makes the user experience even better. This is the last reason why users should use a web app instead of a desktop or mobile app because sometimes they don’t work with their current OS.
Advantages of web-based applications for businesses
As we said in the previous section, web-based applications can be the best choice for people in certain situations. However, web applications help more than just the people who use them. Below, we talk about the benefits that businesses get when they make a web app.
One of the best things about having a web app for your business is that it doesn’t cost a lot to make. In compared to the cost of native or hybrid apps, web app development can be twice as cheap if compared to many other apps. Even the cost of making a web app is cheaper than making a mobile app. Web apps also don’t need as much maintenance and updates as mobile apps. Web apps, on the other hand, can run well on any device. They don’t need to be compatible with every new version of the operating system they run on. Thus, by going with a web-based app, business owners can cut costs and use their money wisely.
Another benefit for business owners when they build a web app is that they have another way to get people to use it. Instagram is a good place to start. This social media site was only available to people who used their phones at first. The app’s creators decided to make this idea come to life.
Web-based applications are now a lot more simple. You might be interested in learning how to build them and what the process will cost you. We’re going to talk about these things in the next sections. There are two sides to web app development: the front-end and back-end sides.
In order to build a web app, you need to know what to expect. People have to work on both the back end and the front end. Let’s go over each of these processes in more detail.
Front-end development
It’s what people see when they use your web app. Front-end is about how the app looks and how it works.
People who make apps use JavaScript because browsers can only read this type of code. There are many frameworks that make it easier and faster to build websites. JavaScript is used with these frameworks to streamline the process and faster. In this step, you’ll use HTML and CSS to make the content in the app look good.
Back-end development
The back-end is in charge of how your application will work, including how it will run and how it will store data. A development team can help you choose the right technology stack for your app based on what kind of app it is and what features you want to add. There are a lot of popular computer languages out there, like Python, PHP, Ruby, Java, and more. Most frequently used, your development team will offer you to use Node.js because it’s the most popular for back-end development. If you choose to build a web app with Node.js, you can be sure that your app will be written in only one programming language, JavaScript. So, you’ll save money on development and it will be easier to keep your app up to date later on.
Back-end and front-end development are the two things that make your app work well. However, don’t forget about important steps like product ideation, design, and quality assurance testing. These are all important parts of making a high-quality product.
How much does it cost to build a web application?
There are a lot of things that affect how much it ends up costing to make a web app.
There are a lot of things that you order. The process of making an application goes through a lot of different steps, like product ideation, design, front-end development, back-end development, testing, product maintenance and support, marketing, and so on. If you need a great deal of help with your project, the price will depend on what you need and how many people work on it.
Features that you want to put in your app. As a general rule, you’ll start building your app with a minimum viable product (MVP). An MVP means that you include the most important features in your product that will meet the needs of your customers at the very beginning of the process. If your app has a lot of basic features or you want to add more, the development cost will go up.
The country where your development team comes from. It can cost more or less to hire a development team based on where they are in the world. People in Africa and India, for example, charge the least, but the quality isn’t always good enough for people. Web developers in Eastern Europe are thought to be the best value for money. They charge from $40 to $80 an hour for their help. Developers from Western Europe charge the most money for their services. They can charge up to $300 for one hour of work.
To find out the exact cost of software development for your web application, you need to get in touch with a development team of your choice and ask them for specifics.
Summary
A web-based app is one of the most common types of apps today. Because it has a lot of good things about it, it is a popular choice for people. It’s not just businesses that use web apps. If they need to save money on development but still want to get many users, they often make a website. Entrepreneurs also think of web apps as another way to grow their businesses, so they often launch web apps even if they already have mobile or desktop apps.
If you run a business and want to find new ways to get your name out there and give your customers more value, you might think about making a web app.
