With data and information spread across different sources, consumers are now presented with various choices to access data. The two major ways to search for data are through mobile apps or traditional browsing through websites. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages that make one preferable in different use cases. Even though customer interests keep on changing, some studies show how mobile apps development take the lead.
In this blog, we will look at different scenarios comparing mobile apps vs traditional browsing and see which serves modern customer interests better.
When Online Activities Are Best Supported By Online Browsing
One area where traditional browsing can be considered much better is during professional online activities since it offers more flexibility when it comes to dealing with complex tasks over the internet such as research, analysis, etc. Some intelligence companies create their mobile apps following the trend, but let’s acknowledge that researchers, scientists, journalists, and other professionals mostly prefer to work on big screens with a fast browser, by the way.
With this being said, browsing may also cause accessibility challenges for users: Some websites restrict access when it comes to a particular region. To bypass these restrictions, a quality web proxy server may provide the much-needed solutions. This means if you are traveling abroad or trying to get access to a specific website that has been otherwise locked for you, a proxy server would become a gateway to acquire online information globally.
The reason why web proxy servers are great in giving a point for online browsing is because they don’t require any installations. In other words, you can simply use a proxy to access the internet for simple or infrequent tasks. For example, if a student is preparing a research paper about taste preferences of different countries and is looking for one-time access to international websites, installing an app and going through all the forms doesn’t seem like a worthwhile task. For this, they can just use a web proxy and access online websites to get the information they need.
Why Mobile Apps Dominate Everyday Activities
Traditional web browsing doesn’t seem to have a much better lead to mobile apps other than flexibility and getting access. Mobile apps are a much better option when it comes to everyday activities since they are particularly good for tasks that require constant interaction, personalization, or even offline access. This is evident in the fact that over 250 billion people have downloaded apps all around the world in the last year alone.
Apps perform much better than web versions because they are more optimized for using resources with dedicated servers and more. The app versions of many popular brands are much more streamlined and efficient when compared to their web versions. For example, banking apps are becoming much more popular since users can access their transactions, have a more personalized approach, and perform all banking activities without any delay or lag. Similarly, fitness apps like Strava or MyFitnessPal are more helpful in tracking workouts and progress even without a connection by integrating with other gadgets and tools.
Gaming Industry
The gaming industry sees the dominance and need for both apps and browsers in a more special way. There are many browser games that provide instant access to some classic arcade games without the need for installation. They are available on platforms like Miniclip and WebGL for players to instantly start playing without waiting to install over the internet.
However, some games, like PUBG and Call of Duty: Mobile, are best when they are installed since they offer much better graphics unlike playing them on websites. Websites consume a lot of data and won’t be able to handle huge requests; that’s why in this case, apps are much more preferred for games.
Bridging The Gap With Hybrid Solutions
Nowadays, hybrid solutions offer both the accessibility and functionality any mobile user might need. Today, many progressive web apps offer accessibility without restrictions and also many features of apps. These platforms work on the browser but still provide some level of features of apps such as offline browsing and push notifications. All these can help gain unrestricted access without huge development costs for businesses.
To sum up, the debate between mobile apps and web browsing isn’t about choosing one over the other. It’s about understanding the context behind different scenarios and choosing one that best serves the purpose.
