Progressive Web
Apps: The Best of Both Worlds
Have you ever wished websites could work more like the apps on your phone? Or that you didn’t need to download yet another app that takes up precious space on your device? That’s exactly the problem
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are designed to solve.
What Is a Progressive Web
App?
A
Progressive Web App is a special type of website that behaves like an app on your phone or tablet. Imagine having the best of both worlds: the convenience of browsing a website without downloading anything, combined with the smooth experience and features of a mobile app.
PWAs look and function like regular websites—you can search for them using any internet browser—but they offer extra features that make them feel like the apps you download from the
App Store or
Google Play. According to
Google’s own definition,
PWAs are reliable, fast, and engaging—three qualities that make for excellent user experiences.
How Do PWAs Work?
Think of a PWA as a website with superpowers. When you visit a PWA for the first time, it’s just like visiting any other website. But as
you use it, something magical happens: the website can ask if you’d like to
“add it to your home screen”. If you say yes, an icon appears on your device that looks just like a regular app.
When you tap this icon, the PWA opens up in full-screen mode without the browser address bar, making it look and feel just like a traditional app. The really clever part? Much of the PWA’s content is saved on your device through what developers call
“service workers”, which means:
- It loads incredibly fast (often in less than a second)
- It works even when your internet connection is poor or
non-existent
- It can send you notifications
just like regular apps
- It takes up much less space than a downloaded app
Why Should You Care About PWAs?
They’re Fast—Really Fast
Have you ever abandoned a website because it took too long to load? You’re not alone.
Studies
by Google show that more than half of mobile users leave a site if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load. PWAs solve this problem by
loading almost instantly, even on slow connections.
They Work Offline
Imagine you’re shopping online while commuting, and your train goes through a tunnel, cutting off your internet connection. With a regular website, you’d lose everything you were doing. With a PWA, you can continue browsing and even add items to your cart. When your connection returns, the PWA
syncs everything automatically.
No App Store Required
Getting a PWA is as simple as visiting a website—no need to:
- Search in an app store
- Wait for a large download
- Go through a complicated installation process
- Constantly download updates
They Save Space on Your Device
The average mobile app takes up about 50-100 MB of space. PWAs typically require less than 1 MB. That’s like comparing the size of a novel to a short note!
Real-World Examples
You might already be using PWAs without realizing it. Here are some popular websites that offer PWA experiences:
- Twitter:
Their PWA (Twitter Lite) uses 97% less space than their mobile app
- Pinterest: After switching to a PWA, they saw a 60% increase in user engagement
- Starbucks: Their PWA is 99.84% smaller than their iOS app, yet offers nearly identical
functionality
- Forbes: Their PWA resulted in a 100% increase in engagement rates
- Best Western Hotels: Saw a 300% increase in revenue after implementing a PWA
How PWAs Benefit Your Shopping Experience
Online shopping has changed dramatically in recent years, with more people shopping on mobile devices than ever before. However, there’s often a gap between browsing on mobile and actually completing purchases. PWAs help bridge this gap by:
- Loading instantly: No more waiting for pages to appear
- Providing smooth scrolling: No jerky or uneven page movement
- Offering app-like navigation: Making it easier to find what you’re looking for
- Working offline: Allowing you to browse products even without an internet connection
- Sending notifications: Alerting you to sales, restocked items, or order updates
- Remembering your information: Saving your preferences and cart items
How to Tell If You’re Using a PWA
Not sure if your favorite website is a PWA? Look for these signs:
- The website asks if you want to “Add to Home Screen”
- It loads extremely quickly, even on return visits
- You can use at least some features when offline
- It sends you notifications (if you’ve allowed them)
- It opens in full-screen mode without browser controls when launched
from your home screen
The Future of Web Browsing
As mobile internet usage continues to grow, PWAs represent the future of how we’ll interact with websites. Major companies like
Google
and
Microsoft are heavily invested in PWA technology, and more businesses are adopting it every day.
The statistics tell the story:
- Mobile internet usage surpassed desktop usage back in 2014
- By 2025, mobile shopping is expected to account for nearly half of all online retail sales
- 80% of shoppers use their phones while in physical stores to research products
PWAs help businesses meet customers where they are—on their mobile devices—while providing a faster, more reliable experience than
traditional websites.
Are PWAs Replacing Traditional Apps?
While PWAs offer many advantages, they won’t completely replace traditional mobile apps. Some complex applications still benefit from
being built specifically for iOS or Android. However, for most everyday uses—shopping, reading news, checking social media, and browsing content—PWAs offer a compelling alternative that’s easier to access and lighter on your device.
How to Get Started with PWAs
Using a PWA is simple:
- Visit a website that offers a PWA experience (like Twitter, Pinterest, or many online stores)
- Look for a prompt asking if you’d like to “Add to Home Screen” or “Install”
- Tap “Yes” or “Accept”
- Find the new icon on your home screen
- Tap it to launch the PWA experience
Want to try some PWAs right now? Check out this
collection of PWA examples to see what’s possible. No app store visit required, no large download, and no
complicated installation process—just a better browsing experience with app-like features.
PWAs: The Best of Both Worlds
Progressive Web Apps represent a significant step forward in how we interact with websites. They combine the best aspects of web browsing (accessibility, shareable links, no installation required) with the best features of mobile apps (speed, offline functionality, smooth interface).
As internet users increasingly demand faster, more reliable experiences across all their devices, PWAs provide a solution that works
for everyone—from businesses looking to engage customers to everyday users who just want websites that work well, regardless of their connection or device.
Want to learn more? Check out these resources:
The next time you visit a website and it asks if you’d like to “Add to Home Screen,” consider saying yes—you might be surprised by how much better your experience becomes with a Progressive Web App.
