How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Progressive Web App (PWA) in 2023?

Difference Between a Progressive Web App (PWA) and a Web App

Before diving into cost estimation, it is essential to know how progressive web apps differ from traditional web apps. Well PWA is a regular web app but with more potential. It is a blend of the web as well as an app that offers enhanced user experience on both the desktop and mobile.

Users can easily install and launch PWAs on their devices like any other native app. These apps demand connectivity & browser to work seamlessly regardless of the nature of the operating system and device. PWAs give a faster, more attractive, and easier user experience as compared to a web app.

8 Reasons Why Should You Develop a Progressive Web App?

According to Statista, the number of forecast smartphone users across the world is estimated to reach 6,162.26 million in 2028 from 5,252.01 million in 2023.

So it is essential to build a PWA in order to offer a rich mobile experience to users. Apart from this, there are various other reasons to develop a PWA for your business. Let’s go through them

• Works Offline: One of the prime downsides of standard web apps is, the user must be online to use them. But PWAs can work in offline mode too. It means the user experience will not be impacted by a sudden drop in internet connection.
• Behaves as a Native App: Most users prefer native mobile apps over web apps. It is due to the personal preferences and convenience it offers. PWA looks and behaves exactly like a mobile app, ranging from the home screen to deeper functions.
• Direct Downloading: The good thing about PWAs is they can be downloaded directly from your website. It means the users need not search for your app on various 3rd party app stores. This will not only enhance user experience but will also prevent you from losing deals and potential clients to your competitors.
• Enhanced Performance: PWAs provide improved performance as compared to traditional apps. This enhances user experience and thus decreases the possibility of user abandonment.
• Blazing Fast Loading: PWA is at least 2x faster as compared to responsive or M-Dot web stores. This not only reduces server load but also prevents crashing or slowing down of your store during intense traffic.
• Light Weight: PWA apps are much lighter (80 – 90%) as compared to traditional apps. Take the example of Twitter lite (PWA), which is only 1.5MB as compared to the Twitter native app which is more than 100MB in size.
• Automatic Updates: PWAs are sufficient enough to undertake automatic updates without interrupting your users in between sessions. Moreover, you can also inform users about updates by simply sending them a push notification.
• Cheaper to Build: Stores built with PWA cost less due to low development & maintenance charges. Moreover, you do not need to develop a separate native app.

Also Read: Why and When Should Businesses Consider Building Progressive Web Apps?

5 Live Examples of Progressive Web Apps

After going through the benefits you must be clear about why PWAs can prove to be a boon for startups and medium-scale enterprises. Well, these apps have already proven their worth by helping some of the giants achieve their desired targets.

• Starbucks has increased its daily active users 2X with PWA.
• Tinder has successfully cut down load time from 11.91 seconds to 4.69 seconds using PWA. Moreover, Tinder’s PWA is almost 90% smaller than its native Android app.
• Pinterest has experienced a 60% increase in its core engagements by rebuilding its mobile site as a PWA.
• BookMyShow has increased its conversion rates by 80% using PWA. Moreover, the PWA takes less than 3 seconds to load.
• Forbes has decreased its loading time on mobile from 6.5 seconds to 2.5 seconds using PWA. Moreover, impressions per visit were raised by 10%.

5 Factors That Determine the Cost of a PWA

When it comes to the overall cost to build a progressive web app, it varies depending upon a number of factors. It all depends on your specific requirements, the time limit, the development company, and so on. Some of the major factors responsible for the total PWA development cost are

• Specific Requirements: The price to develop a PWA depends primarily upon the type of store and the expected outcome of store owners. It means the cost to build a PWA for a retail or food store will be different from the cost of building a PWA for an online booking system as both demand different resources.
• UX & UI Requirements: UX & UI plays a major role in total development cost as these are crucial in making your app stand apart from your competitors. High-quality graphics will raise the overall cost. It’s up to you how much you are willing to spend on the same.
• Tech Stack: The prototype, custom coding, CMS, SEO, elements on each page, navigation, number of page cache, etc will affect the overall PWA development cost. In simple words, the more advanced the tech stack, the more will be the cost.

Also Read: Revealed: Why Ionic is a Great Framework for Progressive Web Apps Development?

• Location and Developer’s Expertise: The hourly rate varies from region to region. On the other hand, the rate of the expert will be more as compared to a less or moderately experienced developer. So if you are hiring an experienced developer from regions like the US, it can cost you double or triple (average rate/hour between $70 – $150) as compared to an expert from India (average rate/hour between $20 – $50).
• Type of Solution: Ready-to-use or custom-built solutions will impact the overall cost to make a PWA. If you are going with a ready-to-use solution it will cost less as compared to the custom solution where the requirement of resources and hours will be more and so does the cost.

How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Progressive Web App (PWA)?

Considering the factors that determine the cost of PWA development, a simple Progressive Web App can cost you anywhere from $5,000 – $10,000. For an app with average or medium complexity, you may have to spend around $10,000 – $25,000. But if you want to beat the market competition you may have to go with the complex and advanced PWA app that can cost you around $25,000 – $60,000 or even more.

4 Tips to Reduce Progressive Web App (PWA) Development Cost

Although the cost to build PWAs is lesser as compared to native apps, still, it can be more for small or medium-scale businesses. So, if you are one among them it is essential to reduce the cost as much as you can and utilize that money in promoting your brand or doing some other valuable stuff. Here are some of the tips that will help you reduce the total PWA development cost.

• Be Specific With Requirements: It is good to do your research before hiring a PWA development company. Be specific with what you want as per your business requirement.
• Discuss Additional Services in Advance: Launching an app is not the end of the development process, It is essential to maintain and update your PWA on a timely basis in order to stay in the competition. So it is good to discuss this part with your PWA development agency in advance itself. 
• Avoid Hidden Costs: Many development companies come up with surprise costs at later development stages. So get this thing clear with your PWA development company. It is good to go with an organization that offers complete transparency along with estimated fees in advance.

Bonus Read: 8 Hidden Costs of Developing an Application

• Choose Developer and Region Wisely: Don’t become a part of the stereotypical belief that developers from advanced countries can offer the best possible solutions. It will cost you more. Experts from any region of the world can offer you the solution you are looking for at a lesser price. 

How Can Apptunix Help You Beat the Market Competition?

Apptunix is a seasoned PWA development company that has successfully served clients across the globe. It offers complete transparency at each development stage. But the thing that makes it unique is customization. Apptunix has a variety of experts that carry enough practical experience to provide you with innovative solutions as per your business requirement. This is also one of the reasons why it has earned a lot of free advocacy from its local as well as global clients.