One app that installs from the browser

What is a progressive web app?

A progressive web app (PWA) is a website built to behave like an installed app: it can be added to the home screen, open in its own window without browser bars, work offline and send push notifications. It is still one web codebase, served from your own domain and updated the moment you deploy.

The pieces that make a PWA work are:

• A web app manifest, which gives the app its name, icon, colours and app-style display
• A service worker, a small script that caches files and data so the app loads fast and keeps working without a signal
• HTTPS, which browsers require before they allow installation, offline caching or notifications
• A responsive design that feels natural on phones, tablets and desktops

PWAs suit booking tools, customer portals, field staff apps, ordering and loyalty apps, and internal tools where the priority is reaching people quickly on any device.

Should I build a PWA or a native app?

Choose a PWA when reach, speed and a single codebase matter most, and choose a native app when you need deep device features, the smoothest performance or a listing in the App Store. Many businesses start with a PWA and add native apps later if usage justifies it.

Where a PWA wins:

• One codebase for Android, iPhone, tablet and desktop
• No app store review, so updates go live as soon as they are deployed
• Found through search and shared with a simple link
• Usually quicker and less costly to build and maintain

Where a native app wins:

• A listing in the App Store and Google Play, where some customers expect to find you
• Deeper access to hardware such as Bluetooth, NFC, health data and background tasks
• Smoother performance for heavy graphics, games or complex animation
• More dependable push notifications and background behaviour on iPhone

If a native app sounds like the better fit, our mobile app development service covers iPhone and Android. We will tell you honestly which route suits your project when we scope it.

Do progressive web apps work on iPhone?

Yes, but with real limitations on iPhone and iPad that you should understand before choosing a PWA. Safari supports installable web apps, offline caching and (since iOS 16.4) push notifications, but Apple has not matched everything Android and desktop browsers offer.

The main iOS limitations today:

• No automatic install prompt. Users add the app from the Share menu, so we design a short in-app guide that walks them through it.
• Push notifications only after installing. On iPhone a PWA can only send notifications once it has been added to the Home Screen and the user has allowed them.
• Limited background work. Background sync and periodic updates are not available, so the app refreshes when it is opened.
• Missing hardware access. Web Bluetooth, Web NFC and some sensor features are not supported.
• Stored data can be cleared. iOS may remove saved data, for example when the device is short of space, so we treat offline storage as a cache and keep the real data safely on the server.

On Android, and in Chrome and Edge on desktop, PWAs are much closer to native apps, with install prompts and more background features. Apple changes its web support over time, so we check the current position when we scope your project.

How does a PWA work offline?

A PWA works offline by using a service worker to save the app's screens, files and recent data on the device, then serving them from that cache when there is no connection. When the signal returns, the app refreshes its data and sends any queued changes to the server.

We choose a caching approach for each part of the app:

• App shell cached first, so the interface opens instantly even on a poor connection
• Content refreshed in the background, so people see the last known version straight away and the newest version shortly after
• Forms and actions queued, so a job note or order made with no signal is not lost
• Clear offline indicators, so users always know whether they are looking at live or saved data

Offline support is where PWAs earn their keep for field staff, events, and anywhere in rural Lancashire or beyond where mobile coverage is patchy.

Can we try a PWA before we commit?

Yes. We build you a free working demo first, and because it is a PWA you can install it on your own phone from a link and use it like a real app before you commit to anything. Turning that demo into a finished product costs less than most people expect.

The demo covers the core screens and journey, with install and offline behaviour switched on, so you can test it in the places your users will actually be. If it is right for you, we agree a fixed quote before any paid work starts. Our pricing page explains how that works.

How is a PWA built, secured and looked after?

AI agents do the heavy lifting on the build, and a UK human team reviews, perfects and signs off every release. Automated tests run from day one, including checks that the app installs, caches and recovers from going offline as expected.

Every app quote includes a penetration test and a security code review before launch. Because a PWA lives on the web, it also shares the hosting, monitoring and HTTPS setup we use for our websites.

There is no app store review to wait for, so fixes and features reach users as soon as we deploy them. If you later want a Google Play listing, a PWA can often be packaged for it, while an App Store listing usually needs a native or cross-platform build. Ongoing monthly care keeps the app updated as browsers change, and you own what we build.