Yes, Progressive Web Apps are still relevant in 2025.

They’re a cost-effective solution for cross-platform web development when you need to reach users on multiple devices without building separate native apps. PWAs work best for content-driven sites, e-commerce, social platforms, and business tools where budget matters and you want to avoid app store gatekeepers.

However, they’re not universally applicable. iOS support remains weak, hardware-intensive apps struggle, and performance-heavy applications still need native development. PWAs have found their niche as a practical tool rather than the revolutionary replacement for native apps they were once hyped to be.

Before we dive into whether PWAs still matter, let’s get clear on what we’re actually talking about.

What Exactly Is a Progressive Web App?

A Progressive Web App is basically a website that behaves like a native mobile app. It uses modern web technologies to give users an app-like experience right from their browser. You can install them on your device, they work offline, they send push notifications, and they feel fast and responsive.

The key difference from regular websites is that PWAs bridge the gap between web and mobile experiences. When you visit a PWA, your browser can prompt you to “Add to Home Screen,” and once installed, it launches in its own window without browser chrome, making it feel like a real app. This happens without ever touching an app store.

How Do PWAs Actually Work?

PWAs utilizes three core components together:

• HTTPS: Provides the mandatory security layer. PWAs won’t work without it because service workers require secure connections to protect user data and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
• Web App Manifest: A simple JSON file that tells devices everything they need to know—your app’s name, icons, colors, splash screen, and how it should behave when installed on a home screen.
• Service Workers: These act as a proxy between your app and the network, enabling offline functionality, background syncing, and push notifications. They cache assets and data so your app works even without internet.

Service workers are particularly powerful because they operate independently of your web page. When users lose internet connection, the service worker serves cached content automatically. This is the technology that lets Twitter Lite work on spotty connections and allows users to compose tweets that send when connection returns.

Why Did Everyone Get Excited About PWAs in the First Place?

Back when Google coined the term in 2015, web developers were hitting a wall. Responsive web design had become standard practice, but it only solved the visual layout problem. Users on mobile devices wanted more, as you can expect, they wanted speed and functionality of native apps. Meanwhile, businesses were drowning in costs maintaining separate iOS apps, Android apps, and websites.

The mobile-first shift was undeniable. By 2015, mobile traffic had overtaken desktop, yet mobile web experiences were significantly slower than native apps. Users would bounce from slow-loading mobile sites, and businesses had to choose between investing heavily in native app development or accepting inferior mobile web experiences.

What Problems Were PWAs Supposed to Solve?

PWAs promised to solve multiple headaches simultaneously:

• Development costs: One codebase working everywhere instead of maintaining three separate codebases for iOS, Android, and web
• App store gatekeeping: No more waiting days or weeks for Apple or Google to approve updates
• Installation friction: Users could access your app instantly without downloading 50-200MB files
• Update distribution: Push changes to your server and every user gets updates instantly, no manual app updates required
• Storage constraints: PWAs typically use 90% less device storage than native apps

Why Are PWAs Still Useful for Web Development?

Here’s where PWAs still shine in modern web development:

Cost and Resource Efficiency

• Native app development requires building two separate products: one iOS app in Swift and one Android app in Kotlin, effectively doubling your development burden
• Typical native app projects run $100,000-$300,000 when accounting for both platforms, testing infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance cycles
• Comparable PWA implementations cost $30,000-$80,000 because you’re building and deploying a single codebase across all platforms
• For startups and small businesses operating on tight budgets, this 60-70% cost reduction can determine whether a mobile strategy is financially viable

Development Team Simplification

• You don’t need to hire specialized developers for each platform. Your existing web development team can handle the entire project
• Skills transfer seamlessly since PWAs use standard web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) that your team already knows
• No need to coordinate between separate iOS and Android teams, eliminating communication overhead and reducing project management complexity

Maintenance and Updates

• Updates deploy instantly to all users without requiring app store approval processes, which can take days or weeks
• You maintain one codebase instead of two, cutting bug fixes and feature updates time in half
• No version fragmentation issues where different users are stuck on different app versions

Cross-Platform Reach

• PWAs work on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and any device with a modern web browser
• Users can access your application without downloading anything from an app store, reducing friction in the user acquisition funnel

Can Users Actually Find Your PWA?

PWAs are discoverable through search engines, which means users can find your application organically through Google searches, social media links, or QR codes.

Compare this to native apps: someone needs to know your app exists, remember its name, open their app store, search for it, wait for a potentially large download, and then create an account. That’s six friction points where users might abandon the process. With PWAs, someone clicks a link and immediately starts using your application. If they like it, they can install it to their home screen with one tap.

This searchability also means better SEO. Your PWA can rank in search results, attract organic traffic, and convert visitors into users seamlessly. Native apps get none of these benefits. They’re invisible to search engines.

How Do Updates Work with PWAs?

PWAs handle updates elegantly. You push new code to your web server, and the service worker detects changes. Next time users open your PWA, they automatically receive the latest version. No app store approval delays, no users stuck on outdated versions, no forced update prompts that interrupt user experience.

This instant update capability is particularly valuable for:

• Bug fixes: Critical bugs can be fixed and deployed in minutes rather than waiting days for app store approval
• Content updates: News sites, e-commerce platforms, and content-heavy apps can update constantly
• A/B testing: You can test different features with different user segments in real-time
• Regulatory compliance: Industries with strict compliance requirements can ensure all users have the latest version instantly

For businesses operating in fast-moving markets, this agility is invaluable. You can respond to competitor moves, user feedback, or market changes immediately.

What About iOS Support?

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Apple’s PWA support is deliberately limited, and it creates real problems for developers.

iOS PWAs lack several features that work perfectly on Android:

• Push notifications: Only available in very limited circumstances on iOS, while Android PWAs have full notification support
• Background sync: Android PWAs can sync data in the background; iOS PWAs cannot
• Installation prompts: iOS doesn’t show the standard “Add to Home Screen” banner that Android displays
• Storage limitations: iOS gives PWAs significantly less storage space than Android
• Home screen behavior: iOS PWAs don’t integrate as smoothly with the operating system

This creates a difficult situation. If 40% of your target audience uses iPhones, your PWA will deliver an inferior experience to nearly half your users. You’ll need to decide whether that tradeoff is acceptable or if you need to invest in a native iOS app anyway.

Can PWAs Access Device Hardware?

PWAs have improved hardware access over the years, but limitations remain. Modern PWAs can access:

• Camera and microphone: Video calls and photo uploads work fine
• Geolocation: Location-based services function normally
• Device orientation: Gyroscope and accelerometer data are accessible
• Payments: Payment Request API works across platforms

However, PWAs struggle with:

• Bluetooth: Limited and inconsistent support across devices
• NFC: Near-field communication isn’t available in most PWA contexts
• Advanced camera controls: Manual focus, raw photo capture, and professional camera features are out of reach
• File system access: Deep file management remains restricted
• Biometric authentication: Fingerprint and face recognition have limited PWA support

If your app concept depends on any of these restricted features, you’ll likely need a native app or a hybrid solution that wraps your PWA with native code to access these capabilities.

What About Performance-Heavy Applications?

Native apps maintain a clear performance advantage for resource-intensive applications. The difference comes down to optimization—native apps are compiled specifically for their target platform, accessing hardware resources directly.

PWAs run inside browser engines, which adds an abstraction layer. For most applications, this overhead is negligible. Users won’t notice any difference when browsing content, filling forms, or using standard app features. But for demanding applications, the gap becomes apparent:

• Gaming: 3D games with complex graphics struggle in PWAs compared to native equivalents
• Video editing: Processing large video files requires native performance
• Augmented reality: AR experiences need direct hardware access and maximum performance
• Machine learning: On-device AI models run significantly faster in native apps
• Complex animations: Intensive visual effects can cause frame drops in PWAs

If you’re building a productivity tool, social platform, e-commerce site, or content application, PWA performance is excellent. If you’re building the next mobile game or creative software, go native.

Do People Actually Install PWAs?

This is the million-dollar question, and the answer is nuanced. User behavior patterns show that people do install PWAs, but not at the same rates as they download apps from official stores.

The challenge is behavioral. When people want an app, they’ve been trained for over a decade to open the App Store or Google Play. That habit is deeply ingrained. Even when browsers prompt users to install PWAs, many don’t understand what’s being offered or why they should care.

However, installation isn’t always necessary for PWA success. Many users happily use PWAs directly in their browsers without installing them. For these users, the PWA still delivers value—faster loading, offline capability, and a better experience than traditional websites. The installation option exists for power users who want deeper integration.

Successful PWA strategies often combine both approaches: make the browser experience excellent so casual users are satisfied, while offering installation benefits (like offline access or notifications) for engaged users who want more.

How Should You Design PWAs Differently?

Web design for PWAs requires rethinking some fundamental assumptions. You’re designing for an experience that exists in three states: in a browser, as an installed app, and in offline mode.

Your navigation needs to work without browser chrome. When installed, PWAs don’t have a back button or address bar. You need to build navigation directly into your interface—a persistent bottom tab bar, a slide-out menu, or clear back buttons within your app.

Loading states become critical. Users expect instant responses, but network requests take time. You need skeleton screens, optimistic UI updates, and clear loading indicators that make your app feel fast even when data is transferring. Native apps have mastered this; your PWA needs to match that polish.

The offline experience deserves special attention. Don’t just show an error message when users lose connection. Cache enough content that users can continue working. Show which features require internet and which work offline. Let users queue actions (like sending messages) that execute when connection returns.

Should You Build a PWA in 2025?

The decision comes down to matching your needs with PWA strengths. PWAs make excellent sense when:

• Budget is limited: You need cross-platform presence but can’t afford separate native apps
• You need rapid iteration: Your product changes frequently and app store delays would hurt
• Discoverability matters: SEO and link sharing are important to your growth strategy
• Your audience is price-sensitive: Markets where app downloads cost money or consume expensive data
• Android is your primary platform: Your users predominantly use Android devices
• Content is your core value: News, blogs, e-commerce, and information-based services

PWAs don’t make sense when:

• iOS is dominant in your market: If most users have iPhones, PWA limitations will frustrate them
• You need deep hardware access: Bluetooth, NFC, or advanced sensors are essential
• Performance is critical: Gaming, AR/VR, or processor-intensive applications
• You’re targeting enterprise: Many corporate environments restrict PWAs for security reasons

The smartest move is often hybrid: build a PWA first to validate your product and reach users quickly, then invest in native apps for specific platforms if growth justifies the expense.

Conclusion

Progressive Web Apps are absolutely still relevant in 2025, but they’ve evolved from revolutionary game-changer to practical tool with clear use cases. The initial hype promised PWAs would replace native apps entirely. That didn’t happen, and it’s not going to happen.

The technology has matured considerably. Browser support is more robust, developer tools are better, and best practices are well-established. Companies successfully using PWAs understand their strengths and limitations, building experiences that play to those strengths rather than fighting against constraints.

Ready to master PWA development and modern web technologies? Metana’s bootcamp equips you with the practical skills to build cost-effective, cross-platform applications that employers are actively seeking. Learn from industry experts and join a community of developers building the future of web development. Start your journey with Metana today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Progressive Web App (PWA)?

A Progressive Web App is a website that functions like a native mobile app. It uses modern web technologies to provide app-like features such as offline access, push notifications, and home screen installation all without requiring downloads from app stores. PWAs work across all devices and platforms through your web browser.

Are PWAs better than native apps?

PWAs aren’t universally better—they’re different. PWAs excel at cross-platform reach, lower development costs, instant updates, and SEO discoverability. Native apps win for performance-intensive tasks, deep hardware access, and iOS integration. The best choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and target audience.

Do PWAs work on iPhones?

Yes, PWAs work on iPhones, but with significant limitations. iOS PWAs have restricted push notification support, limited background sync capabilities, smaller storage allowances, and less smooth home screen integration compared to Android. If your primary audience uses iOS devices, these limitations may impact user experience.

Can PWAs work offline?

Yes, offline functionality is one of PWA’s core strengths. Service workers cache your app’s content and data, allowing users to access previously loaded information even without internet connection. Users can browse cached content, and actions like sending messages can be queued to execute automatically when connection returns.