Answer

PWA vs native app: what does each cost?

Short answer

Building a PWA typically costs 30-50% of an equivalent native iOS + Android app because you ship one codebase to three platforms (iOS, Android, desktop). Maintenance is roughly one-fifth: no app-store review, no separate release trains, no platform-version fragmentation.

By InstantPWA growth research·Reviewed July 7, 2026

Where PWAs save money

Single codebase; instant updates without store approval; no $99/year Apple developer fee for distribution outside the store; no Google Play cut on transactions handled off-platform.

Where native still wins

Games, AR/VR, deep background sync, App Store discovery on iOS (still the dominant install surface for many consumer categories).

When to pick each

Utility, content, SaaS, ecommerce → PWA usually wins on cost and time-to-market. Consumer social with heavy platform integrations → native or hybrid still makes sense.

Sources

web.dev — Case studies

What is a PWA?

A PWA (Progressive Web App) is a regular website that meets three technical criteria — HTTPS, a Web App Manifest and a service worker — so browsers let visitors install it on their home screen. Once installed, it launches like a native app, works offline and can send push notifications.

Are PWAs in the App Store?

PWAs are not in the App Store or Play Store by default — they install directly from the browser. If you want store presence, PWABuilder (from Microsoft) packages a PWA into a Trusted Web Activity for Google Play, an MSIX for Microsoft Store, and a WKWebView wrapper you can submit to Apple.