PWA vs Native App Cost

How To Make 30% Savings

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Publication date: 16.05.2025

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are shaking up the fintech world, offering a compelling alternative to traditional native apps. For banks and financial institutions, choosing between PWAs and native apps often boils down to cost, security, and speed of deployment. With PWAs, businesses can slash development expenses while delivering app-like experiences directly through browsers. This article dives into the nitty-gritty of PWA vs native app cost, unpacking why PWAs are a game-changer for fintech, from cost of building a PWA to PWA security and PWA implementation time.

PWA vs Native App Cost: Why PWAs Save You Money

Let’s cut to the chase: developing a native app for iOS and Android can burn a hole in your budget. Separate codebases for each platform, app store fees, and ongoing maintenance drive up costs. In contrast, PWAs run on a single, web-based codebase, streamlining development and updates. Studies show that the cost of building a PWA can be 30% lower than native apps, with some industries reporting savings of up to 3-5 times. Why? A unified codebase means your developers aren’t duplicating efforts. Plus, PWAs bypass app store approvals, saving time and fees.

Take a look at some real-world wins:

Twitter Lite: Reduced data usage by 70% and boosted user engagement with a PWA.
Starbucks: Their PWA doubled user sessions and streamlined ordering for customers.
Pinterest: Saw a 40% increase in time spent on their platform after switching to a PWA.

These examples highlight why PWAs are a no-brainer for fintech firms looking to optimise budgets without skimping on quality. The PWA vs native app cost advantage lies in faster development cycles and lower maintenance overheads, often reducing support costs by up to 33%. For banks, where every penny counts, this is a lifeline.

Cost of Building a PWA: Achieving 30% Savings

Diving deeper into the cost of building a PWA, the savings come from practical efficiencies. Native apps require specialised developers fluent in Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android, which racks up hiring costs. PWAs, built with standard web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, leverage existing web teams. This cuts the need for niche expertise. Updates are another win: PWAs are hosted on web servers, so changes go live instantly, no app store gatekeepers required.

Here’s a quick cost breakdown:

Aspect	PWA	Native App
Development	Single codebase (web technologies)	Separate iOS and Android codebases
Updates	Instant via web server	App store approval (days to weeks)
Maintenance	33% lower support costs	Higher due to dual platforms

Based on our experience with fintech projects, a typical PWA can save 30% compared to native apps, especially for banking apps needing cross-platform consistency. For complex features like secure transactions, PWAs deliver without breaking the bank. Curious about PWA implementation time? A skilled team can roll out a PWA in 2-3 weeks if you’ve got a solid web foundation already.

PWA Security and Safety: A Trusted App Experience

Security is non-negotiable in fintech, and PWA safety holds up impressively. PWAs operate in a secure HTTPS environment, ensuring data encryption and protection against tampering. Service workers, the backbone of PWAs’ offline capabilities, run in a sandboxed context, minimising risks from malicious code. Compared to traditional web apps, PWA security is a step ahead, and it rivals native apps in most cases.

Consider these security perks:

HTTPS enforcement: Keeps data safe from prying eyes.
Service workers: Enable offline functionality without compromising security.
Browser sandboxing: Isolates code to prevent unauthorised access.

But what about trust? Since PWAs don’t rely on app stores, some users might raise an eyebrow. The fix? Clear branding and user education. Highlight that your PWA uses HTTPS and trusted certificates. For fintech, where PWA security is critical, this builds confidence. Unlike native apps, which lean on app store vetting, PWAs prove their PWA safety through transparent security practices.

“PWAs give fintech firms the best of both worlds: app-like features with web-grade security, all at a fraction of the cost,” notes a lead developer with years in banking solutions. This balance makes PWAs ideal for delivering secure, user-friendly experiences.

When it comes to PWA implementation time, speed is another feather in their cap. A seasoned web team can spin up a PWA in 2-3 weeks, especially for banks with existing web portals. This is a far cry from the months often needed for native apps, which juggle dual-platform development and app store hurdles. For fintech, where time-to-market is critical, PWAs are a swift, secure solution.

Still, PWAs aren’t without quirks. Discoverability can be tricky without app stores, but a strong web presence and clear user guidance bridge that gap. The PWA vs native app cost savings, paired with robust PWA security, make them a compelling choice for banks aiming to stay agile and secure.

At WislaCode Solutions, we specialise in crafting PWAs and native apps tailored to fintech needs. Ready to explore how PWAs can transform your digital strategy? Let’s chat and build a solution that fits your business like a glove.

Few successful projects of WislaCode

FAQ: PWA vs Native App Cost & Savings

What are the main differences between web apps and native apps for financial institutions?

Web apps versus native apps differ primarily in how they are built and accessed. Native apps are developed for specific platforms and downloaded from app stores, while web apps including PWAs run directly in browsers and can be accessed on any device. This distinction impacts development costs, user reach, and update processes.

How does progressive web app development help reduce costs compared to native app projects?

Progressive web app development typically requires only a single codebase for all platforms, unlike native apps that need separate builds for iOS and Android. This unified approach streamlines both initial development and ongoing updates, often resulting in savings of up to 30% or more for banks and fintech companies.

When are hybrid app solutions a good fit for fintech businesses?

Hybrid app solutions combine elements of both native and web apps, offering a balance between performance and flexibility. They are ideal for organisations seeking to deliver a consistent user experience across devices while managing costs and development resources efficiently.

Why is cross-platform compatibility important in the context of PWA and native app choices?

Cross-platform compatibility ensures that users can access the same features and services regardless of their device or operating system. PWAs excel in this area, making them especially attractive for financial institutions aiming to reach a broad audience without duplicating development efforts.

What are the benefits of app store independence and instant updates for PWAs?

App store independence allows PWAs to bypass lengthy approval processes and associated fees, enabling instant updates and deployment. This agility means that new features, security patches, or compliance changes can be rolled out to all users simultaneously, which is crucial in the fast-moving fintech sector.

How does a secure HTTPS environment contribute to the safety of PWAs in banking and finance?

A secure HTTPS environment is fundamental for protecting sensitive financial data in PWAs. By enforcing encrypted connections and leveraging browser-based security features, PWAs can offer robust protection against tampering and unauthorised access, meeting the high standards required in banking and fintech.