Introduction
Progressive Web Apps have been a hot topic in web development for quite some time. Some experts saw them as an alternative to native apps, the future of the web. Others were more skeptical and pointed out their limitations. Opinions were quite divided at the time. But what exactly is the situation with PWAs nowadays? Let’s figure it out.
What are Progressive Web Applications?
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are web applications that behave like native mobile apps. They run in a browser but can be installed on a device, work offline, send push notifications, and load quickly using caching.
In short, it is a website that feels and works like an app without needing to be downloaded from an app store.
Developers may use PWAs to bring smartphone experiences to the web. They offer faster loading times, can be used offline, and can be pinned to the home screen to be used like mobile apps. They are not bound by frameworks and can be built with any of them or none at all.
How Progressive Web Apps can help your business
There are some potential ways in which PWAs can support business success.
- You have an easy way of reaching out to potential customers. Progressive Web Apps function as websites on the internet. It means you can use a variety of marketing and advertising strategies (including SEO) to expand your reach and brand at a lesser cost.
- They enable you to circumvent the barriers that restrict users from downloading your app. These apps don’t take up much storage space, which is one of the main reasons users don’t want to download or remove apps. PWAs don’t need to be downloaded from the app store. They are downloaded directly from the mobile website. Plus, the users are encouraged to do so.
- You receive a valuable tool for fostering relationships and increasing conversions. Progressive Web Apps help you engage your users. For example, they can deliver push alerts after being installed. This is a strong tool for increasing engagement and conversions, building relationships with your audience, reminding them of your brand, and assisting with customer retention.
- You can expand into new markets. Because PWAs work offline, you can reach out to more markets where internet connection is unstable. Working everywhere, even with a weak internet connection, also builds your brand’s dependability.
All in all, you gain more consumers and your conversion rates rise as a result of your dependability, accessibility, and experience.
How does PWA compare to other technologies?
PWAs are best likened to either native apps or web apps, existing somewhere in the middle.
Progressive Web Apps vs native apps
When comparing PWA to the general notion of native apps, a few discrepancies emerge. Most notably, PWAs are created using lighter and simpler codebases. Those require only web languages rather than platform-specific SDK frameworks. And contrary to native apps, they are compatible with more than one platform. It’s also worth noting that, unlike native mobile applications, PWAs are indexed by Google.
PWA and web apps
Progressive Web Apps have various advantages over traditional web applications. This is because the capabilities of the browser strongly constrain online programmes. This also implies that web apps lack the installability that makes PWAs so appealing to users. While they can provide similar benefits, such as responsive and lightweight design found in many single-page applications (SPAs), the key difference is a PWA’s standardized approach to emulating the native experience.
PWA is similarly comparable to application frameworks such as Electron and Flutter. Electron is primarily a web app framework, with limitations in application size and security that make it unsuitable for the development of PWA in general. However, PWA and Flutter both emphasize development in a single codebase with native cross-platform features. Flutter, on the other hand, is limited to the new Dart web language, but a PWA can be built in any language, with many older languages providing additional support.
PWA and cross-platform apps
Certain details stand out for cross-platform apps when contrasted to hybrid technologies such as React Native, PhoneGap, or Flutter. For example, React Native is designed for building cross-platform native apps with a single codebase; however, it usually necessitates a broader skill set from your development team because it must deal with various native controls and plugins written in different languages such as Java or Objective-C (depends on the platform).
PWAs are substantially simpler in this regard and are typically written entirely in JavaScript, utilizing current frameworks such as React, Angular, and Vue.
Let’s compare mentioned application types in the form of a table below.
| Criteria | PWA (Progressive Web Apps) | Native apps | Traditional web apps | Cross-platform (React Native / Flutter / Electron) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codebase | Single codebase (web tech: HTML, CSS, JS) | Separate codebase per platform (iOS, Android, etc.) | Single codebase (web) | Single codebase, but framework-specific |
| Platform support | Multi-platform via browser + installable | Platform-specific (iOS / Android / desktop) | Any device with a browser | Mobile / desktop depending on framework |
| Installation | Installable via browser (no app store required) | Installed via app stores | Not installable (runs in browser) | Installed via app stores or desktop installers |
| Performance | Good, but limited by browser | Highest performance (native APIs) | Moderate | Near-native (varies by framework) |
| Offline support | Yes (service workers, caching) | Full offline capabilities | Limited or none | Yes (depends on implementation) |
| Device access | Limited (browser APIs only) | Full access to device features | Very limited | Partial to high (depends on framework) |
| Development complexity | Low to medium | High (platform-specific skills needed) | Low | Medium to high (framework learning curve) |
| Development cost | Low | High | Low | Medium |
| Maintenance | Easy (single codebase) | Expensive (multiple versions) | Easy | Medium |
| App distribution | Direct (URL + install prompt) | App Store / Google Play | URL only | App stores / desktop distribution |
| Discoverability | High (indexed by Google) | Medium (store-dependent) | High (SEO) | Medium |
| User experience | Close to native feel | Fully native UX | Web-based UX | Near-native UX |
| Security model | Browser sandbox | OS-level security | Browser sandbox | Mixed (depends on framework) |
| Best suited for | Lightweight apps, startups, content-driven apps | High-performance apps, games, system-heavy apps | Simple websites, dashboards | Apps needing cross-platform native-like UI |
To summarize, PWAs are most similar to hybrid apps built with existing cross-platform technologies. They are likely to be less expensive in terms of web application development and future support because they require a smaller team with no specialized or unique skills. At the same time, the disadvantage is that they are limited by browser capabilities and may lack support for some critical app functionality.
What makes a good Progressive Web App?
A good PWA is the sum of its core and optimal features.
Core features are:
- Swift start and swift finish. Because high-performing sites engage and retain visitors better than low-performing sites, performance is critical to the success of any online experience. Sites should prioritize user-centric performance indicators.
- It works in all browsers. Users can use any browser to visit the web app before it is installed.
- Adaptable to any screen size. The PWA may be used on any screen size, and all content is available at any viewport size.
- Provides a personalized offline page. When users are offline, staying in a PWA gives a more seamless experience than returning to the default browser’s offline page.
- It is installable. Users who install or add apps to their devices are more likely to use those apps.
Optimal features include:
- Offline experience is provided. Where internet connection isn’t necessary, your program will function the same offline as it does online.
- Is completely accessible. All user interactions meet WCAG 2.0 accessibility standards.
- Can be found via a search engine.
- It works with any sort of input. Your PWA can be used with a mouse, keyboard, stylus, or touch controls.
- Contextualizes permission requests. When requesting permission to utilize powerful APIs, provide context and only request permission when the API is required.
- Best practices for healthy coding are followed. Maintaining the health of your codebase makes it easier to fulfil your objectives and provide new features.
Benefits and drawbacks of progressive web apps
Like any technology, Progressive Web Apps have their benefits and drawbacks. Let’s look at them.
Advantages
- They are dependable and fast, displaying the user interface instantly regardless of network circumstances.
- They work in the background. Customers can browse products even if they are not connected to the internet.
- PWAs give an experience comparable to native apps. Users can install them on their devices, and they can display personalized icons and leverage device features (e.g. push notifications, camera, Bluetooth).
- They outperform traditional web apps because they make use of service workers.
- There is no need for installation or manual upgrades. PWAs are not dependent on app stores.
- PWAs can take advantage of platform-specific capabilities such as push notifications.
- Data consumption is minimal. PWAs are smaller than mobile apps and consume significantly less bandwidth than standard web apps since they can take advantage of caching much better.
Disadvantages
- There are specific concerns with iOS compatibility. PWAs have been supported on Apple devices since version 11.3. But some features are still unavailable (like Touch ID, Face ID, Bluetooth).
- Legacy gadgets are problematic. These apps are not properly supported by older mobile devices with obsolete web browsers.
- They cannot perform all of the functions that mobile apps can. Some device functionalities may be unavailable, and they are not as power efficient as natively designed apps.
State of PWA development
By definition, progressive web apps are a continuously evolving trend. As a result, new technologies and increased support from major platforms are constantly contributing to the expansion of PWAs. While an exact market share is difficult to quantify due to the vague definition of PWA, estimates based on Chrome web data place the current amount of PWA-like page loads at around 17%.
A recent Research Nester report estimates the global progressive web apps market at USD 3.14 billion in 2026, up from USD 2.47 billion in 2025, and projects USD 34.58 billion by 2035.
Coherent Market Insights gives a similar but slightly higher 2026 estimate of USD 3.32 billion, with growth to USD 22.48 billion by 2033 at a 31.4% CAGR.
A third market estimate from M2Square Consultancy places the 2026 market at USD 3.7 billion, rising to USD 18.9 billion by 2034.
These differences reflect that PWA is still a loosely defined market category, so analyst forecasts can differ materially depending on whether they include platforms, development tools, or only PWA application spend.
However, there is evidence that market leaders keep improving their Progressive Web Apps adoption as well:
- Google’s web.dev notes that PWAs are built with modern APIs to deliver enhanced capabilities and reliability while reaching users on any device through a single codebase.
- Microsoft continues to support PWAs on Windows, including app-style distribution and new capabilities such as App Actions on Windows in 2025, which shows the platform remains active rather than fading.
- Apple also supports installable, offline-capable PWAs on Safari and iOS/iPadOS, which matters because mobile platform support is a major adoption gate.
2026 PWA market structure
Coherent Market Insights 2026 forecast says the e-commerce and retail segment leads the market with a 32.4% share.
In terms of regional distribution, the same source estimates North America at a 33.1% share in 2026 and Europe at a 24.4% share, with Europe described as the fastest-growing region.
Research Nester likewise expects North America to hold a major revenue share by 2035 and Asia-Pacific to grow steadily due to stronger device and internet penetration.
That suggests the market is still strongest where mobile commerce, digital product teams, and platform support are most mature.
Should you use PWA in 2026 and beyond?
If your product strategy necessitates rapid market entry and coverage of many platforms with a single codebase, the answer is positive.
With limited resources, progressive web apps enable startups to rapidly and simply construct and deliver a product to the target market with minimal rollout costs. PWAs are also a great tool for marketing plan implementation since they encourage first-time users to revisit the application and engage them with push notifications and in-app ads.
Larger organisations can gain from delivering value to users who do not have access to high-performance platforms or prefer a simpler, more lightweight experience. PWA can be used to design enterprise software that is tied to one specific platform in order to benefit from its significant native capabilities.
Other common use cases for such apps include when your application requires offline mode support or when you need your legacy web application that’s built using React, for example, to be transformed into a PWA, since the latter takes less time than designing a new app from scratch in Flutter for Web.
What to expect of PWAs?
On the positive side, there have been some important advancements in the PWA sector. A collaboration between Microsoft and Google is one recent encouraging development for PWAs. PWABuilder will use Google’s Bubblewrap technology, according to Microsoft. This is a Microsoft development tool that makes it easier to create PWAs, while Bubblewrap assists developers in packaging their apps for distribution on the Google Play app store.
This announcement coincided with the addition of support for extra capabilities, such as native app shortcuts and sophisticated Android features, to PWABuilder. All in all, Google and Microsoft’s combined efforts are incredibly encouraging for the future of PWA adoption.
Nikita Gresskiy, a frontend engineer at Bamboo Agile, shared his thoughts on this topic:
“n the future, I see PWA as a great competitor to native applications. The peak of it will probably be when you will be able to deploy applications to any app store, not just Google Play. Of course, they won’t replace native ones completely, but in terms of bespoke software development speed, they’re almost a miracle: you can make a good cross-platform solution much faster than if you’d decided to allocate multiple teams for each mobile platform. Even though it’s been a while since PWA entered the arena, there is still some work to be done in terms of browser compatibility. Ideally, all PWA functionality should be supported by every major browser, and I really hope it will become a reality.”
Tech stack
Creating the components of a PWA requires the use of many technologies. While HTML, JavaScript, and CSS can be used, the use of front-end frameworks and libraries is becoming more popular. Among the technologies required to develop a PWA are HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and JSON. Development frameworks and libraries are usually chosen by the developers themselves. Those can be Angular, Vue.js, React, and any other technology familiar to them. Database libraries can also be chosen from a list that includes IndexedDB, CouchDB, and others.
Key components of PWAs
There are numerous technological components that distinguish PWAs from other types of apps. The following are the major components that provide the necessary functionality for a progressive web app.
Manifest
A manifest file is one of the basic components of PWAs that contains important app information. It is a JSON file that contains the application’s metadata, such as the programme’s name, icon, launch URL, app configuration data, background colour, and other important information.
Service worker
This is the base for developing progressive web apps. A service worker is the component that gives a PWA the appearance of a native mobile app. When an app loads, it downloads and caches specific material or data on a device locally with the help of service workers. It is essentially a JavaScript file.
A service worker has three stages in its life cycle: registration, installation, and activation. When a user first visits a PWA, the service worker downloads and caches display data as well as the content in the background. As a result, the next time the user views the app, the site appears to load swiftly. Push notifications are also handled by the service worker.
HTTPS
A progressive web app is delivered via a secure HTTPS connection. It’s the only method to get to and utilise the app.
Application shell
The application shell is the basic layout of the app (header, menu, empty content area). It loads first, almost instantly, so users see something right away. Then the actual content (like data from a server) fills in afterward. This makes the app feel fast and responsive.
Transport Layer Security
This is what keeps data safe when it travels between the user’s device and your server. It encrypts the information, so even if someone tries to intercept it, they can’t read it. It makes HTTPS secure and protects things like passwords and personal data.
Icon
A PWA requires a PNG icon that is at least 144*144 pixels large. This is the icon that distinguishes the app on the home screen or in the applications. A user can also tap on it to activate the software.
PWA examples
PWAs aren’t just for tiny businesses and cash-strapped startups. On the contrary, many major organizations are realizing the enormous advantages from implementing such a strategy for the benefit of their users. Here are some examples of successful PWAs.
Lancôme
The Lancôme case is a strong example of how a Progressive Web App can transform mobile performance and engagement. Facing low mobile conversion rates despite growing traffic, the brand chose a PWA instead of a native app to deliver a faster, app-like web experience.
The results were significant: mobile load time dropped by 84%, conversions increased by 17%, and mobile sessions grew by over 50%. Additionally, re-engagement features like push notifications helped attract thousands of subscribers. Overall, the PWA approach allowed Lancôme to boost both user experience and business performance without relying on a native app.
Alibaba
Alibaba.com is a B2B e-commerce platform that has built a Progressive Web App to improve its user experience. The app uses React for its frontend, and service workers provide the PWA experience.
Alibaba’s case is considered successful because it has improved the user experience for its B2B e-commerce platform. Their app provides fast loading times, offline support, and push notifications, which have led to increased engagement and higher conversion rates. The company has reported a 76% increase in total conversions and a 14% increase in monthly active users since launching its PWA.
Flipkart
Flipkart is a leadingIndian e-commerce platform.
Flipkart’s PWA improved the mobile experience for its e-commerce platform, particularly for users with slow or unreliable internet connections. They shared that there was a 70% increase in conversions and a 3x increase in time spent on site since launching its PWA.
Pinterest is a social media platform that has also built its own PWA. The technologies used to build this PWA are React, Redux, and service workers.
Pinterest’s app has made the mobile experience for its users so much better that they managed to achieve a 60% increase in engagement and a 44% increase in user-generated ad revenue.
Starbucks
Starbucks has built a PWA to improve its mobile ordering experience. The app is built using React and Redux, as well as service workers to support offline mode and cache content.
The Starbucks PWA provides fast and easy ordering, offline support, and push notifications, which have led to increased engagement and higher conversion rates. Starbucks has reported a 2x increase in daily active users and a 30% increase in orders.
Conclusion
Any business that wants to be noticed nowadays needs to have a mobile presence, but developing and maintaining both a website and a mobile app for Android and iOS can be difficult. PWAs solve this issue by requiring only one app to be developed.
Users want dependability, accessibility, and an excellent user experience. When you combine it with modest storage requirements, you are meeting all of their basic demands. Because of their offline availability and speedy experience, PWAs are the ideal choice for e-commerce.
However, if a sizable portion of your audience uses iOS, determine which features your app requires and whether a Progressive Web App can provide them. If not, consider developing a hybrid or native app. While you’re at it, think of entrusting this process to an experienced development partner. When it comes to PWA development, Bamboo Agile has proven itself as a reliable partner for businesses of any size and needs. Whether you have just an idea of your project or a clear work plan, simply contact us to book a free consultation with our specialists and ensure outstanding results!
