Why Your Business Doesn't Need an App — Just a Great Website
The App Reflex
Someone in the meeting says: "We need an app." And suddenly everyone nods. Your own app — it sounds like innovation, progress, digital transformation.
But here's the uncomfortable truth: most businesses don't need an app. What they need is a website that actually works.
The Numbers Speak Clearly
- The average smartphone user installs 0 new apps per month
- 77% of installed apps are never opened again after 3 days
- 25% of apps are deleted immediately after first opening
- The average user spends 90% of their app time in just 5 apps (WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, banking)
Your app isn't competing with your competitors — it's competing with Instagram and WhatsApp for space on the home screen. And you'll lose that battle.
What an App Really Costs
The true costs of a native app surprise most business owners:
Development
iOS + Android
App Store Fees
Maintenance & Updates
App Store Review
Cost over 3 years
And that's just development. Add: marketing to generate downloads, onboarding so users understand the app, and continuous feature development so it doesn't get uninstalled.
When an App Makes Sense
Apps aren't inherently bad. They make sense when:
- Daily use: Your product is opened multiple times a day (banking, fitness, communication)
- Hardware access: You need camera, GPS, Bluetooth, or sensors intensively
- Offline-critical: Your service must work without internet
- Gaming or media: Interactive content that requires native performance
If none of these apply to you, an app is an expensive solution to a problem you don't have.
What Your Clients Actually Want
Your clients don't want to install an app. They want to:
- Quickly find what they're looking for — within seconds
- Have a great experience on any device — without downloading anything
- Easily get in touch — without registration
- Build trust — through a professional appearance
A good website does all of this. Instantly. No download. No app store. No 30% commission to Apple.
The Modern Alternative: Progressive Web Apps
If you want more than a classic website but less than a native app, there's a middle ground: Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
What a PWA Can Do
- Installable on the home screen — with its own icon, no app store needed
- Works offline — cached content available without internet
- Push notifications — just like a native app
- Lightning fast — thanks to service workers and smart caching
- No update hassle — updates go live immediately, no app store review
Who Uses PWAs
Starbucks, Twitter, Pinterest, Uber — companies that recognised a PWA delivers a better experience than a native app for most users. Starbucks doubled daily orders with its PWA — at an app size of 233 KB instead of 150 MB.
The Better Question
Instead of "Do we need an app?", you should ask:
"Does our website work as well as it could?"
A professional, fast, mobile-optimised website with clear structure and strong SEO reaches more people than any app. It needs no download, no updates, no marketing budget for installations.
And with our WaaS model, you get exactly that — without a large upfront investment, with ongoing support and optimisation.
Conclusion: Invest Where Your Clients Are
Your clients are in the browser, not the app store. They google your business, land on your website, and decide in 3 seconds whether to stay or leave.
Make those 3 seconds perfect. That's worth more than any app.
Ready for a website that performs like an app — without the cost of one? Let's talk.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Web Design
The most important answers about Web Design and what you should know.
A native app makes sense when your business requires daily use (e.g., fitness trackers, banking), when you heavily use hardware features like camera or GPS, or when you need offline functionality. For most service providers, SMEs, and shops, a Progressive Web App or optimised website is the better choice.
A PWA is a website that behaves like an app. It can be installed on the home screen, works offline, sends push notifications, and loads instantly. The advantage: a PWA is developed once and works on all devices — no app store required.
A native app costs CHF 30,000–100,000+ for development in Switzerland, plus CHF 500–2,000 per month for maintenance. A professional website is CHF 5,000–15,000, a PWA CHF 8,000–20,000. Over 3 years, the app is 5–10x more expensive.
Yes, with a PWA, users can save your website directly to their smartphone home screen — with its own icon, without the browser bar, just like an app. The difference from a native app is barely noticeable for users.
Ready for the next step?
In a no-obligation conversation, we'll find out how we can move your project forward.