Web or App — which platform is better for MVP?
Indie Hackers, please share your thoughts and experience on which platform is better to start growing your SaaS: web or app?
For example, I prefer building MVPs on the web even though as a user I like using apps more than sites. But as a bootstrapper, do I miss an opportunity here?
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I would suggest looking into PWA (Progressive Web App), you get the best of both worlds. Currently developing my side hustle as a PWA using react so that it is native to all devices.
I was going to say, PWA is missing from the survey :-)
The only caveat is if your idea needs to send push notifications. No can do on iOS Safari.
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I say web 10/10. Why:
Also with Apps you are under Apple/Google polocies and have to pay 30% of every transaction. Web is more freedom and has more possibilities.
Thinking also that you can find webs really old still working, even making more. But with apps you are out as soon as you are not updated with Android/iOS lastest version.
100% agree! Plus, from my perspective dealing with marketplaces is just an overcomplication for early stage projects
I think it really depends on where your user will primarily be using the service and what features you need. Is it location-based? Require activity-data? Entertainment-based? I'd argue mobile app is a better platform. Is it something people use in the course of their workday? Web makes more sense.
Another thing to consider about apps: They have a robust social proof aspect with ratings and reviews. Harder to gather those for a website.
Additionally, I've found that conversion rates and churn rates are much better on mobile. Yes, the 30% sucks, but in my experience the increased conversions and decreased churn make up for it.
That’s actually very interesting about conversion and churn rates. Totally makes sense actually
After launching a multi-platform product for my day job on web and iOS, I would hands-down always start with web first to easily validate the concept. I went through the App Store hoops to get it approved and it was an absolute pain. After all that, the iOS app didn’t even have a penetration with the majority of our users. It’s also overhead to manage app releases with web releases (since you will always be dependent on getting App Store approval anytime there is a code change).
The questions I would ask to understand if there is a need for a mobile app for MVP:
Appreciate the level of details you mentioned. Never thought about it from this angle!
Use ionic and you'll be able to make a good looking website + iOS + Android app by simply using Angular ( it now supports React and a little of Vue too). You need not worry too much about styling the app as ionic already has a pretty good style.🔥
Oh wow, the more we know! Thanks for the tip
I used Ionic for my multi-platform app and agree it's great. You can use it to create a PWA at first, so you don't have to mess with the app stores. Just keep in mind the caveat I mentioned earlier about iOS Safari not supporting push notifications (if they're a core feature of your app).
Ionic has a pretty good community and a Slack channel. The documentation is solid.
Important caveat for real, worth consideration
I'd also look from a distribution channel standpoint. With a web app you can more easily showcase what your product does & make it more accessible to people without requiring them to install the app. Thus, when you pitch journalists, send cold emails, submit to Product Hunt, etc. you can demonstrate what your product does right after they click.
Absolutely, lots of people just hate installing another app
e.g. My hardware MVP needs a BLE antenna. Therefore, a native app! But alllllllright, yes, in general, web is the way to go.
for sure some apps can only work with phones - in this situation the choice doesn't exist
Probably web? I'm a mobile developer, so I always do mobile cause that's what I know. More commenting though to say that a web app in mobile (using ionic or something) will not look the same. A user can absolutely tell the difference, and that difference makes it seem less professional and less user friendly. It's an MVP though so ¯\(ツ)/¯
I really love that majority of mobile developers choose web)) Agree, app that is just a browser of web version feels absolutely different and slow
Web is better. You can choose a technology which can make it easier for you to develop hybrid app like ionic. So, you will have almost both at the same time.
This is 100% my consideration on choosing in favor of web.
Simply, Web works on any device from the start :)
Yup! Killer argument 🙌
I would say Web for a couple of reasons
Just a couple of thoughts from a dude that makes mobile apps and deals with the opposite daily :)
XD good one!
It really depends on what the SaaS offers and where your audience resides.
For a consumer centric service, you're probably best building it as an app to start with, but for a business centric service then on the web might be better.
As pointed out, the issue with app is that it's a lot more work to get something going, though with things like Flutter or ReactNative it is easier. If a server is required for the app then it might be like doubling the amount of work.
The common recommendation around here (and I agree) is to build MVP with the technology stack you are the most familiar and proficient with. No matter the platform, finding customers will be difficult, so you might as well build it as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Personal anecdote: I wrote an envelope budgeting app (https://chokinbako.app) and launched it on the web. Then decided to do a Google Search Ad Campaign and quickly realized everybody was coming with the word "app" in their search queries, so I ended up building the mobile version. It was a bit of a pain to make both work together nicely. I tried to pivot later and started mobile, and from a development perspective it was a lot better.
Very interesting! Good to know so many details
My answer: does not matter:)
If there is a value inside it for your audience you are rich in both cases
It depends, I know most companies like to roll out both web and app at once. Would be really cool to see here thoughts of indie hackers how they like doing
In terms of costs it depends, right. Web is much easier to start with, especially if your idea is not tested against market. What do you mean by growing? I understand that as increase sales and revenue. Am I correct?
Yes, correct. But more like would for what people more willingly pay
I definetely go for Web, but I'd say it depends on your proficiency on each platform.