Choosing how to build your digital product can be confusing: a responsive website, a web app, a progressive web app (PWA), a cross-platform mobile app, or a native mobile app. This guide explains in plain English what each one feels like for users, what it means for your budget, timeline, and growth goals, and when each choice makes sense. Think of a spectrum from fastest to launch and easiest to find in search (responsive sites) through increasingly app-like experiences (web apps and PWAs) to fully installed and polished store apps (cross-platform and native). By the end you’ll have a better idea of which option best fits your audience, features, and resources.

1) Responsive website

Also called: mobile-friendly site, adaptive site, marketing site
What it feels like: You visit it in a browser and it reshapes to fit any screen. It looks good on phones and laptops, but it still feels like “a website”. It loads from links, you don’t install it, and it works as long as you have a connection.
Business view: Fastest and cheapest to launch and maintain. Easy to update without app-store approvals. Great for search discovery and campaigns because links just work. Limited access to phone features and no true offline.
Typical use: Content and marketing, blogs, simple lead forms, brochure-style product pages, basic ecommerce where speed to market and SEO matter most.

2) Web app

Also called: browser-based app, SaaS app, online dashboard
What it feels like: Still in the browser, but it behaves like software rather than a brochure. Think sign-in, data, workflows, dashboards. It may be dense on desktop and simplified on mobile. Usually needs a connection.
Business view: One codebase, instant updates for everyone, strong analytics and A/B testing. Lower device integration and weaker mobile ergonomics than an installed app.
Typical use: Productivity tools, CRMs, booking systems, analytics dashboards, portals that people access at work.

3) PWA (Progressive Web App)

Also called: installable web app, add-to-home-screen app
What it feels like: Starts as a website, then offers “Add to Home Screen”. It can open full-screen, cache content, work offline for key tasks, send push notifications on many devices, and feel close to an app.
Business view: App-like UX with web reach and web economics. No app-store listing required, so distribution is open and updates are instant. Some device features and background behaviors are still more limited than true native, and iOS support for a few capabilities can lag.
Typical use: High-repeat websites that benefit from offline and notifications, ecommerce stores wanting better re-engagement, news and content apps, field content where light offline is helpful.

4) Non-native mobile app

Also called: cross-platform app, hybrid app, wrapper app
What it feels like: An app you install from an app store that runs one shared codebase across iOS and Android. UX can be very close to native if done well, though animations and edge cases sometimes feel a bit less “buttery”. Access to many device features is available through plugins.
Business view: One team builds for both platforms, which reduces cost and time to market. You still deal with app-store reviews and updates. Performance is usually good enough for business apps, though the heaviest graphics or very device-specific features may be harder.
Typical use: Startups and internal tools that need an app-store presence on a budget, loyalty and booking apps, forms in the field, most line-of-business apps where perfect native polish is not the top priority.

5) Native mobile app

Also called: iOS or Android native app
What it feels like: The most “at home” experience on a phone. Best performance, smoothest gestures and animations, deepest access to camera, sensors, Bluetooth, background tasks, CarPlay and similar. Works offline by design if you build it that way.
Business view: Highest build and maintenance cost because you usually support two platforms. You get full access to device capabilities and the best chance at top-tier app-store ratings. Great for features that rely on real-time hardware and for experiences where speed and polish drive retention.
Typical use: Consumer apps at scale, premium brand experiences, gaming, complex media, navigation, fitness, health, or anything that leans heavily on sensors and background processing.

Quick guidance for choosing

• If search visibility, speed to launch, and low cost are primary, a responsive website or web app wins.

• If you want app-like engagement without store friction, try a PWA.

• If you need to be in the app stores on both platforms with one codebase, a non-native (cross-platform) app is often the sweet spot.

• If the experience must feel top-tier and deeply integrated with the phone, or performance is mission-critical, go native.