Progressive Web App (PWA)
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a website that looks and feels like a native mobile app, offering features like offline access and push notifications.
What exactly is a Progressive Web App?
Think of a Progressive Web App, or PWA, as a hybrid. It’s a website built with standard web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but it behaves like a native application you would download from an app store. This means your users get the best of both worlds. They can access it through a simple URL in their browser, just like any other website, but they also get an app-like experience.
The key differences are in the capabilities. A PWA can work offline, send push notifications to re-engage users, and can be 'installed' directly onto a user's home screen without needing to go through the App Store or Google Play. This removes a significant barrier for users, making your service more accessible and integrated into their daily device usage.
What are the business benefits of a PWA?
For businesses, building a PWA offers some compelling advantages. Firstly, it boosts user engagement. With push notifications, you can bring users back to your site with timely updates or offers, creating a more direct line of communication. Secondly, the performance is typically much better. PWAs load incredibly fast, even on flaky networks, which directly impacts the user experience and can significantly improve conversion rates.
There's also a major cost and reach benefit. Instead of developing and maintaining separate native apps for iOS and Android, you build one application that works across all devices. Because it's accessible via a URL, it's indexable by search engines and easily shareable, giving you a much wider reach than an app hidden away in an app store.
Can you build a Progressive Web App in Webflow?
Yes, you absolutely can. Webflow provides an incredibly powerful foundation for building the front-end of a PWA. Its visual development canvas allows us to create a beautiful, responsive, and high-performance user interface, which is the core of any great application.
To transform a Webflow site into a fully-fledged PWA, we add a couple of key technical components. This includes a 'service worker' file that handles offline capabilities and a 'manifest' file that tells the device how the app should look and behave when installed. While this involves some custom code, it integrates seamlessly with the solid base that Webflow provides. We've even written a guide to creating Webflow PWAs to explore the topic further.
How does a PWA improve the user experience?
A PWA is designed from the ground up to be reliable, fast, and engaging. The improvement to the user experience is noticeable from the very first visit. Thanks to clever caching, subsequent loads are almost instant, which is a huge step up from traditional mobile websites. This level of page speed optimisation keeps users happy and on your site.
The ability to function offline means users can still browse content or access features even without a stable internet connection, which builds trust and reliability. Adding the app to their home screen provides one-tap access, just like their other favourite apps. This combination of speed, reliability, and convenient access creates a smooth, frictionless experience that keeps users coming back.
Is building a PWA with Tahi Studio a good fit for my business?
Deciding to build a PWA is less about the technical difficulty and more about the strategic fit. It’s a powerful tool, but it needs a clear purpose to deliver real value. That's where a true partner comes in. We don't just build things. We guide you to make sure you're building the right thing for your business goals.
As a Webflow Premium Partner, we help businesses navigate this exact question. We'll work with you to understand your audience and objectives to determine if a PWA is the best path forward. If it is, we handle the entire process, from strategy and design to development and launch, ensuring you get a seamless, high-quality application that serves your business for the long term.
If you're curious about how a PWA could transform your digital presence, let's have a chat. Book a quick call and we can explore if it's the right move for you.
