Mobile Apps vs. Mobile Websites: What will work best for your business?

Mobile Apps and Mobile Websites have made their rounds in the media as buzzwords in the past few years. From reports of quick riches achieved by selling game apps on iTunes, to companies reaping the benefits of their 15 minutes of fame for a popular app, we've gotten a lot of questions about what apps are, how they are created, and how they differ from a mobile website.

Mobile Apps are applications that are downloaded to your mobile device. They are usually created as a product, and are monetized in several ways. There could be a fee to purchase the app, a subscription to the app's service, or in-app products or services that a user can purchase. The app could also be funded through advertisements. Mobile apps are generally more interactive than mobile websites, be it entertainment in the form of a game or a personalized service that remembers user input. As a result, mobile apps take more time to develop and can be more expensive than mobile websites.

A mobile website is simply a phone and tablet friendly version of your existing website. This can be accomplished either through responsive design, or a dedicated mobile site. Usually a mobile site is pared down to the most important information: phone number, contact info, directions or a map, and some basic information for users to get in contact with you. Since many users are still on slower mobile networks when they're accessing your site from their phone, you'll want to make sure your mobile site is as quick loading as possible.

Both mobile apps and websites should be extensively tested for all mobile platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, etc., as well as on a variety of resolutions, phone types, tablets, and even older phones. You want your efforts to reach as many people as possible. Never agree to the development of a mobile app or website unless your developer can guarantee which platforms and versions it will work in.

Whether you've got a great idea for a mobile app or you're simply looking to cater to the ever-growing mobile demographic, Avallo can help. We provide affordable mobile app development, and can help you build a positive mobile website experience for your users. If you have any questions about your project, feel free to email us. We look forward to hearing from you!