Progressive Web Apps Explained: Apps Without the App Store

A progressive web app, or PWA, is a website built with modern web technology so it can be installed on your phone or computer and behave much like a regular app. It runs in a browser engine but gets its own icon and window.

What makes a PWA different

• Installable: you can add it to your home screen from the browser menu.
• Works offline or on poor connections, thanks to a background component called a service worker that caches content.
• Can send notifications on supported platforms.
• Updates automatically, with no download from an app store.

Benefits for users

PWAs usually take up much less storage than native apps and you can try them instantly just by visiting a link. For services you use occasionally, such as a ticketing site or a news reader, that can be more convenient than another download.

Benefits for businesses

A single codebase works across phones, tablets and desktops. There are no store review delays, and updates reach everyone at once. For small teams this lowers the cost of building and maintaining a product.

The limits

Native apps can still access more device features and may perform better for games, heavy video editing or advanced hardware access. Support for some PWA features also varies between browsers and operating systems.

How to try one

Open a site that supports installation in Chrome, Edge or Safari and look for an Install or Add to Home Screen option in the browser menu.