PWA (Progressive Web App).
A PWA is a web application that behaves like a native app: installable, offline-capable, and with push notifications. It combines the reach of the web with the user experience of an app — without App Store publishing.
PWA (Progressive Web App) — Explained in Detail
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a web application that uses modern browser APIs to deliver an app-like experience: It can be installed on the home screen, works offline or with poor connectivity, can send push notifications, and accesses hardware (camera, GPS). Technically, a PWA is based on a Service Worker (background script for caching and offline), a Web App Manifest (configuration for installation), and HTTPS.
Advantages over native apps: A PWA doesn't need to be published through the App Store (no review processes, no 30% store fees), is immediately accessible via a URL, shares one codebase for all platforms (iOS, Android, Desktop), and updates are rolled out instantly — without users having to install an update. Well-known PWAs: Twitter Lite, Starbucks, Pinterest, and Uber.
For Swiss SMEs, PWAs are particularly interesting: They offer the user experience of an app at a fraction of the cost of native app development (typically 50–70% cheaper). Use cases: Restaurants with menus and ordering functionality, tradespeople with job tracking, retail with product catalogs and store locators. DLM Digital develops PWAs based on React — for maximum performance and functionality.
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Complex Web SolutionsFrequently Asked Questions About PWA (Progressive Web App)
Native apps are developed specifically for iOS (Swift) or Android (Kotlin) and distributed through App Stores. PWAs are web applications accessible via the browser that behave like apps. PWA advantages: cheaper (one codebase), no App Store needed, instant updates. Native app advantages: better hardware integration, higher performance for graphics-intensive applications, App Store visibility.
Yes, since iOS 16.4, Safari supports most PWA features including push notifications. However, there are limitations: In the EU, Apple temporarily restricted PWA support in 2024 under the DMA, then reactivated it. PWAs on iOS work well for most use cases — for computation-intensive games or AR applications, a native app is better.
A professional PWA for Swiss SMEs typically costs CHF 10,000–30,000 — depending on feature scope. That's 50–70% cheaper than parallel development of iOS and Android apps. Ongoing costs are minimal: hosting (CHF 100–500/year), SSL certificate (usually free via Let's Encrypt), and possible API costs. No App Store Developer Account needed.
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