Progressive Web App

An app for a fraction of the cost of native development

A PWA is an installable app that launches from the phone's home screen with its own icon and a full-screen, app-like experience, yet runs from a single codebase on iOS, Android and desktop. That's why it typically costs about a fifth of a native app.

~1/5of the cost of a native app
1codebase for every platform
0days waiting for App Store approval

What is a PWA?

A PWA (progressive web app) is an installable web app. The user opens a link in their browser, then adds the app to their phone's home screen with a few taps. From then on, it behaves like any other app: it has its own icon, launches in full screen and doesn't show the browser's address bar.

The key difference is behind the scenes. With a native app, the iOS and Android versions have to be built and maintained separately, while a PWA runs from a single codebase on both systems and on desktop, too. There's no waiting for app store approval and no double development and maintenance cost.

For the user, all of this is invisible — they simply get a fast, easy-to-use app.

In short: the convenience of a website and the experience of a native app, in one.

A PWA on a phone's home screen
A PWA in use
PWA development
  • Installable from the browser, no download needed
  • Its own icon on the home screen
  • A full-screen, app-like experience

The cost — a fraction of a native app

Native development is expensive because you essentially build the same thing twice: once for iOS and once for Android. With a PWA, a single codebase serves both platforms and the web — and that difference shows up directly in your quote.

Native app
Millions of forints

Separate iOS and Android development

  • Two codebases, twice the team effort
  • App store approval for every release
  • Double maintenance costs in the long run
PWA
As little as a fifth of the cost

One codebase for iOS, Android and the web

  • One build for every platform
  • Instant go-live, no approval wait
  • A fraction of the maintenance cost

The actual price depends on the features; the ratio is a guideline. We always quote a specific amount based on the project specification.

The benefits of a PWA

A fraction of the cost

Typically about a fifth of the price of a native app, because you don't need to build two separate apps.

One codebase

iOS, Android and the web at once, from the same source — development and maintenance happen in one place.

Installable, with its own icon

It goes on the home screen with its own icon and splash screen, in full-screen mode.

No App Store hurdles

It can go live instantly with no approval wait, and fixes can ship in minutes.

Fast loading, offline mode

Cached content opens lightning fast, and core features keep working on a weak connection.

Push notifications

Reach users directly on their phones — on supported platforms and OS versions.

Automatic updates

Everyone always uses the latest version, with no downloads or manual updates.

Easy to find

Because it's also a website, search engines index it, and its content brings in visitors through SEO.

Just one link

Share it by email, QR code or ad — users are in with a single tap.

How does it work?

The process is transparent and short. The same team works on your project from the first meeting to go-live.

1

Consultation and planning

We discuss what the app is for, who will use it and which features will deliver the most value. This becomes the feature list and schedule — with a functional specification, if needed.

2

Development with your own branding

The app is built with your colors, logo and app icon. A live version is available throughout development, so you can see how the work is progressing along the way.

3

Go-live on your own domain

The app goes live on your own domain. From then on, anyone can add it to their home screen with a single link or QR code — no waiting for app store approval.

4

Optional: a Google Play listing

If an app store presence matters to you, the PWA can also be published on Google Play as a TWA. If you'd like, we'll manage the entire publishing process, from the developer account to approval.

PWA vs. native app

A PWA isn't the answer for every project — if you need deep hardware integration or advanced 3D graphics, native development is the stronger choice. But for most businesses, it delivers exactly what they need, on far better terms.

CriteriaPWANative app
CostTypically about a fifth of the price of a native appMillions of forints, separately for each platform
Development timeShorter — one codebase to buildLonger — iOS and Android run separately
App Store required?Optional.Yes, approval from both stores is required
How updates workAutomatic — users always get the latest versionA store release, then a download by the user
InstallationOn the home screen, with its own icon, in a few tapsDownload and install from the app store
Offline useCore features work offlineFull offline functionality
Push notificationsAvailable on supported platformsAvailable on every platform

Who is it for?

A PWA isn't a niche solution. It works well anywhere a business is in regular contact with its customers or its own staff and wants to make that contact simpler and faster. The convenience of a website and the experience of a native app, in one — for a fraction of the cost of native development.

A few examples, just to show the variety:

Using a PWA in everyday life
Service businesses
Medical offices and practices
Restaurants and cafés
Salons and appointment booking
Designers and contractors
Retail and wholesale

This list isn't exhaustive: a PWA can be tailored to almost any business. In our consultation, we look at which features would deliver real value for you — and build the solution around them.

Frequently asked questions about PWAs

The exact price always depends on the features, integrations and amount of content, so we quote every project individually. In our experience, though, a PWA typically costs about a fifth of a comparable native app, because you only build and maintain a single codebase for iOS, Android and the web. This ratio is a guideline; we give you a specific figure based on the specification.

A PWA can be published on Google Play: wrapped as a TWA (Trusted Web Activity), the web app gets a regular Play Store listing that users can install from. The Apple App Store is more restrictive, because Apple doesn't accept a wrapped website on its own. On iPhone, users add the PWA to their home screen from Safari's Share menu with “Add to Home Screen”, and it still gets its own icon and launches in full screen.

No, there's no download in the traditional sense. Users open a link in their browser and add the app to their home screen with a few taps. From then on, it launches from its own icon, in full screen, without the browser bar. The process is faster and leads to far less drop-off than an app store install.

Yes, it works on both platforms from the same codebase, and it can also be used in a desktop browser. The installation method and some extra features can differ by platform; push notifications, for example, are available on supported platforms and OS versions. During planning, we always check that the features your project needs are available on your target platforms.

The timeline depends on how complex the functionality is. A focused, well-defined first version can typically go live within a few weeks, while a more complex system with multiple integrations naturally takes longer. If you already have a specification, we'll send a detailed quote and schedule within 2–3 business days; if you don't have one yet, we can help with that too.

Yes. The app is built with your branding (your own colors, logo, app icon and splash screen) and runs on your own domain. You don't get a subpage of some shared template system: the development you order is yours, and so is the decision about where to take it next.

Have a question? Let's talk!

Request a free consultation – we'll assess your needs at no cost and recommend a tailored solution.

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