Top 7 Benefits of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in 2024

PWAs are web apps on steroids. They work in browsers but act like mobile apps:

• Install on home screen
• Work offline
• Send push notifications

Why use PWAs in 2024? Here are 7 key benefits:

1. Speed: Load fast, even on slow connections
2. Offline use: Work without internet
3. Cross-device: One app for all platforms
4. User retention: Keep users coming back
5. Cost-effective: Cheaper than native apps
6. SEO friendly: Boost search rankings
7. No app store: Update instantly

Quick Comparison:

Feature	PWAs	Native Apps	Regular Websites
Speed	Fast	Fastest	Slower
Offline Use	Yes	Yes	No
Cross-Device	All browsers	Platform-specific	All browsers
Cost	Lower	Higher	Lowest
SEO	Indexed	Not indexed	Indexed
Updates	Instant	App store approval	Instant

PWAs blend the best of apps and websites. They're fast, work offline, and don't need app stores. For businesses wanting more engagement and lower costs, PWAs are the smart choice for 2024 and beyond.

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Better Speed and Performance

PWAs are fast. Really fast. They load quickly and run smoothly, even when your internet isn't great.

Why are PWAs so quick?

1. They store important stuff on your device
2. They're built to be lightweight
3. They can work offline

Let's look at some real results:

Pinterest's old site took 23 seconds to load. Their PWA? Just 6 seconds. That's 4x faster!

Flipkart saw users spend 3x more time on their site after launching a PWA.

BMW's PWA loads 3-4 times faster than their old website. This led to a 50% jump in mobile users.

Speed matters for your wallet too. Deloitte found that a tiny 0.1-second speed boost can increase conversions by 10%.

Here's a quick comparison:

Type	Average Load Time
PWA	< 2 seconds
Traditional Website	3.5 seconds

PWAs use smart tricks like:

• Loading important stuff first
• Storing what's needed, dumping what's not

This can shrink data use from over 200KB to just 13KB. That's huge for users with limited data plans.

In 2024, speed equals success. And PWAs are built for speed.

2. Works Offline

PWAs don't need constant internet. They work even when you're offline or have a bad connection.

How? It's all about service workers.

Service workers are like tiny helpers in your browser. They grab and store important stuff when you're online. When you're offline, they serve up that stored content.

Here's what happens:

1. First visit: PWA downloads key files
2. These include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images
3. Next time: PWA loads these files from your device, not the internet

This means you can browse products, read articles, view images, and use basic features - all offline.

Let's see a real example:

if ("serviceWorker" in navigator) {  
    navigator.serviceWorker.register("./pwa-examples/js13kpwa/sw.js");
}

This tiny code starts the whole offline magic show.

PWAs can do even more offline:

Offline Capability	How It Works
Shopping Cart	Stores cart data locally, syncs later
Form Submissions	Saves input, sends later
Content Updates	Downloads new content for offline use

Users often can't tell if they're online or offline. It's that smooth.

For developers, making a PWA work offline isn't too hard:

1. Register a service worker
2. Use Cache API to store key resources
3. Handle fetch events to serve cached content when offline

3. Works on Many Devices

PWAs are digital chameleons. They adapt to different devices without a hitch.

Here's the scoop:

PWAs work on desktops, tablets, and smartphones. One PWA, many devices. No separate versions needed.

Device	PWA Behavior
Desktops	Run in browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
Tablets	Adapt to screen sizes
Smartphones	Act like native apps

PWAs use responsive design. They fit any screen size or orientation. Rotate your phone? The PWA adjusts instantly.

But it's not just looks. PWAs tap into device features too. Camera, GPS, push notifications - they use them all.

Take Starbucks. Their 2017 PWA launch doubled daily active users compared to their native app. Desktop and mobile orders jumped.

"Our PWA has made the Starbucks experience faster and easier for customers, no matter what device they're using", said a Starbucks spokesperson.

For developers, this multi-device magic comes from:

• HTML5 for structure
• CSS3 for responsive design
• JavaScript for functionality

Write once, work everywhere. No separate iOS and Android teams needed.

But don't forget: test thoroughly across devices and browsers before launch.

4. Keeps Users Coming Back

PWAs are user magnets. Here's why:

Push Notifications: Direct updates to devices boost engagement.

Offline Access: Works without internet. Users stay connected.

Fast Loading: Quick, even on slow networks. Keeps users around.

Real-world wins:

Company	PWA Impact
Pinterest	2x mobile users, 4x longer sessions
Spotify	Free-to-paid conversion: 26.6% (2015) to 58.4% (2021)
Flipkart	70% more conversions, 40% higher re-engagement
Forbes	43% more sessions per user, 100% more engagement

These numbers PROVE PWAs work.

Pinterest's PWA cut JavaScript from 490KB to 190KB. Result? Near-instant loads, even on bad connections.

"Our PWA has made Pinterest faster and easier for customers, no matter what device they're using", said a Pinterest spokesperson.

Spotify? Their PWA strategy MORE THAN DOUBLED free-to-paid conversions in six years.

Bottom line: PWAs don't just attract users. They make them stick around.

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5. Saves Money

PWAs are a money-saving machine. Here's the deal:

One code, many devices: PWAs use a single codebase for all platforms. This slashes development costs.

No app store fees: PWAs bypass app stores. No revenue sharing or review charges.

Easy updates: Updating a PWA? Simple. No app store approval needed. Just push updates directly.

Check out these savings:

Cost Factor	Native Apps	PWAs
Development	$50,000 - $150,000+ (per platform)	$5,000 - $50,000 (total)
Maintenance	20-25% of dev cost annually	Lower due to single codebase
App Store Fees	Up to 30% of revenue	$0

Real talk: TheTechBain Ai, a UK SaaS company, launched their PWA in just one week with VisionVix. That's FAST compared to native apps.

PWAs save users money too. They can cut data usage by up to 80%. Happy users = happy business.

For startups, PWAs are a no-brainer. App-like features without the big price tag. No wonder the PWA market is heading to $10.44 billion by 2027.

Money-saving tip: Think about outsourcing PWA development. In Vietnam, you might pay $30/hour instead of $70-$150 in North America. A simple e-commerce PWA could cost $3,900 - $4,500 in Vietnam, vs $9,100 - $10,500 in the US.

Bottom line: PWAs give you big features without the big costs. If you're watching your tech budget, PWAs are the way to go.

6. Helps with Search Rankings

PWAs can boost your SEO game. Here's how:

They're FAST. Google loves speed, and PWAs deliver. They load quickly, giving you an edge in search results.

They're mobile-friendly. With most web traffic coming from mobile devices, this is huge. PWAs are built for mobile, scoring points with Google.

They improve user experience. PWAs offer smooth, app-like experiences. This keeps users on your site longer and reduces bounce rates. Google notices.

Here's a quick comparison:

Factor	Traditional Website	PWA
Load Speed	Variable	Fast
Mobile Optimization	Often needs separate version	Built-in
Offline Functionality	None	Works offline
User Engagement	Lower on average	Higher

Real results: Twitter Lite saw a 65% increase in pages per session after switching to a PWA. Forbes reported a 100% boost in user engagement.

But PWAs aren't magic. You still need to:

1. Use server-side rendering for key content
2. Create a solid sitemap and structure
3. Optimize metadata and use schema markup
4. Focus on high-quality content

"PWAs currently don't have any advantage in Google Search." - John Mueller, Google

But the user experience improvements can indirectly boost your rankings.

Bottom line: PWAs give you tools for fast, engaging sites. Pair that with good SEO practices, and you're set for success.

7. No App Store Needed

PWAs skip the app store. This gives developers more control. Here's why it matters:

• Users install PWAs right from websites
• Developers update PWAs instantly, no approval wait
• No app store fees
• PWAs work on multiple platforms

Here's how PWAs compare to traditional apps:

Step	Traditional App	PWA
1. Development	Build for iOS/Android	Create one web version
2. Distribution	Submit to app stores	Upload to web server
3. Installation	App store download	Add to home screen
4. Updates	Submit new version	Update web server files

When Twitter launched its PWA in 2017, they saw big gains:

• 65% more pages per session
• 75% more Tweets sent

Quick updates helped drive this success.

To help users find your PWA:

• Use clear "Add to Home Screen" prompts
• Explain PWA benefits
• Optimize for search engines

Keep in mind: iOS has some PWA limitations. For iOS users, consider a hybrid approach:

1. PWA for most platforms
2. Light iOS app wrapping PWA features

This lets you use PWAs while staying in the App Store for iOS users.

PWAs vs Native Apps vs Regular Websites

Let's compare these three options:

Feature	PWAs	Native Apps	Regular Websites
Speed & Performance	Fast	Fastest	Slower
Offline Use	Yes	Yes	No
Cross-Device	All browsers	Platform-specific	All browsers
User Retention	High	Highest	Lower
Cost	Lower	Higher	Lowest
SEO	Indexed	Not indexed	Indexed
Distribution	No app store	App store required	No app store

PWAs blend the best of apps and websites. Here's why:

1. Speed

PWAs are quick. Pinterest's PWA boosted time on site by 40% and ad revenue by 44%.

2. Offline Use

Unlike regular sites, PWAs work offline. Starbucks' PWA lets you browse and add to cart without internet.

3. Cross-Device

PWAs work on any browser. This cuts development time and costs compared to native apps.

4. User Retention

PWAs can send push notifications. Twitter's PWA saw 65% more pages per session and 75% more Tweets.

5. Cost-Effective

PWAs are cheaper to build and maintain. You only need one version, not separate iOS and Android apps.

6. SEO Friendly

Unlike native apps, PWAs can be found by search engines. BMW's PWA got 49% more visits from search.

7. Easy Distribution

No app store approval needed. Updates are instant.

When to Use Each:

• PWAs: For cost-effective, cross-platform apps with good performance and offline use.
• Native Apps: When you need full device integration or complex features.
• Regular Websites: For simple online presence without app features.

Wrap-up

PWAs are reshaping web development in 2024. Here's why they're game-changers:

1. Speed

PWAs load fast. Pinterest's PWA? 40% more time on site.

2. Offline Use

No internet? No problem. Starbucks' PWA lets you browse and add items offline.

3. Cross-Device Compatibility

One PWA works on any browser. Less dev time, lower costs.

4. User Retention

Push notifications bring users back. Twitter's PWA saw 65% more pages per session.

5. Cost-Effective

One version for all platforms. No separate iOS and Android apps needed.

6. SEO Friendly

Unlike native apps, search engines can find PWAs. BMW's PWA got 49% more search visits.

7. Easy Updates

No app store approval wait. Changes go live instantly.

PWAs are taking off. AliExpress saw new user conversions jump 104% with their PWA. Twitter Lite? 70% less data use and 65% more pages per session.

"We estimate that with our new light, super-fast, UX-rich browsing capability, customers' data consumption will fall dramatically." - Shola Adekoya, Konga.com CEO

The future? Bright for PWAs. With Google and Microsoft backing them, they're set to change how we build and use web apps. For businesses wanting more engagement and lower costs, PWAs are the smart choice for 2024 and beyond.

FAQs

What are the advantages of Progressive Web Apps?

PWAs pack a punch. Here's why:

1. Work offline: No internet? No problem. PWAs keep on ticking.

2. Speed demons: They load fast. Really fast. Over half of users bail if a site takes more than 3 seconds to load.

3. No app store hassle: Just open your browser and go.

4. Play nice with everything: One PWA works across devices and operating systems.

5. Self-updating: Always fresh, no effort required.

6. Data-friendly: Smaller than traditional apps, easier on your phone and wallet.

7. Google-friendly: Unlike regular apps, search engines can find PWAs.

PWAs vs Native Apps:

Feature	PWAs	Native Apps
Install	Browser only	App store download
Updates	Auto	Manual or prompted
Offline use	Yes	Yes
Device features	Some limits	Full access
Dev cost	Lower	Higher
Find it	Web search	App store only

Real-world PWA wins:

• Starbucks: PWA is 99% smaller than iOS app
• Flipkart: 3x longer visits, 40% more repeat customers
• Pinterest: Load time cut from 23 to 6 seconds

"We expect customers' data use to drop big time with our new PWA." - Shola Adekoya, Konga.com CEO

In 2024, PWAs are a smart bet for businesses looking to boost engagement without app store headaches.

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