Website, web app, or mobile app: which does your business actually need?

"Website", "web app", "mobile app" — the words get thrown around like they mean the same thing. They don't, and picking the wrong one can cost you a lot of time and money. Here's the difference in plain English, and how to know which one your business actually needs.

Website

A website is your shopfront on the internet. People find you, learn what you do, build a bit of trust, and get in touch. Think marketing pages, services, an about page, a contact form.

Choose a website if you mainly need to be found, look professional, and turn visitors into enquiries. For most small businesses, this is the right starting point — and often all they need.

Web app

A web app is a website that does something. Logins, dashboards, bookings, payments, customer portals — software that runs in the browser with no install required, on any device.

Choose a web app if your customers or team need to interact with something: book a slot, manage an account, see live data, place an order. If you find yourself saying "I wish there was a tool that…", you're probably describing a web app.

Mobile app

A mobile app lives on the phone's home screen and can tap into device features — camera, notifications, offline use. It's powerful, but it's also the biggest investment, and it means app-store approval and ongoing updates.

Choose a mobile app if people will use it often, on the go, and you genuinely need that native, on-the-phone experience. If a web app would do the job, start there — it's faster and cheaper to get live.

The honest shortcut

• Just need to be found and look the part? Website.
• Need customers or staff to do something online? Web app.
• Need a frequently-used, on-the-phone experience? Mobile app.

And you don't have to pick forever. Plenty of businesses start with a great website, add a web app as they grow, and only build a mobile app once there's real demand for it.

Still not sure which side of the line you're on? That's exactly what a discovery call is for. Tell me what you're trying to do and I'll point you at the simplest thing that'll actually work.

Book a free discovery call →