Web App vs Cloud App – What Are the Differences and Benefits?
Are you planning to launch an app-based online business venture? Good for you.
So, which kind of app are you planning to build, web app, or cloud app?
Both approaches are used for different platform goals and business needs, so you need to understand both of them very well and then decide which one to choose for your business venture.
This blog will help you in learning in detail about Web App vs Cloud App – their differences, benefits, and best use cases.
Let’s get straight to the point without wasting any time.
What are Web Apps?
Web apps are developed to work through a web browser. These apps are developed through the integration of server-side scripts (PHP, ASP, and .Net) and user-side scripts (HTML, JavaScript, and Adobe Flash.
When it comes to web-based application working, the browsers rely on the webserver components inserted on the device that is further supported by backend infrastructure systems for heavy lifting and enabling central web-based services.
Thanks to the great computing model of web apps, it provides you with a lot of conveniences as you can access these apps through browsers from anywhere.
What are Cloud-Based Applications?
The “cloud” in cloud apps means a computing architecture with the mechanism of storing and accessing data or software over the internet. A cloud app is an advanced form of the web app that is not totally dependent upon web browsers.
The concept of cloud apps is borrowed from the web app approach with a slight difference. It is what comes when you evolve the current web app services approach. The cloud-based application also allows access to the online service using the internet, but unlike web apps, it doesn’t rely on browsers for it to properly function.
The cloud application development companies approach offers maximum customization options.
Web App Vs. Cloud App: Benefits of Each Approach
Let’s take the comparisons between cloud-based application vs web application a step further by taking a look at the benefits that both of these app types offer.
What Are The Benefits of Web Apps?
There are several benefits of choosing the web app approach to build your business’ application. Here are a few most prominent benefits:
- Web apps are accessible from any location and from any web browser.
- Web apps can run on multiple platforms irrespective of the operating system or device.
- Unlike normal mobile apps, users don’t need to download the web app to use it.
- Web apps are designed in such a way that it fits perfectly across the majority of devices and screen sizes, reducing compatibility issues.
- Such apps require less support and maintenance from the developer’s side, reducing the app development cost.
- The information about the app users is not stored, eliminating data leak and piracy issues.
- Users don’t need to update web apps like the mobile app. Every time someone uses a web app, they’ll get the latest version.
What Are The Benefits of Cloud apps?
Cloud apps serve the purpose to help businesses and organizations work conveniently. The cloud serves a large array of purposes; here are the benefits of cloud apps:
- Cloud apps can serve multiple users at the same time with different physical and virtual needs.
- Due to the elimination of service provider interaction, management efforts are required less.
- Users can use the app’s functionalities without even installing software on the servers.
- Cloud apps offer transparency for both the resource providers and consumers with easy monitoring and reporting capabilities.
- The cloud app architecture offers high performance, premium reliability, and high speed.
- Strong cloud hosts provide secure and reliable hosting achieving horizontal scaling and virtualization.
Differences Between Web Apps Vs. Cloud Apps
Now you know the benefits of choosing a web app or cloud app development approach, but the picture still seems a bit fuzzy. How about a direct comparison of the differences between the two app categories?
Here are the prominent differences between Web Apps and Cloud Apps:
- Web apps can only be connected with decent internet connectivity. On the other hand, with HTML5 offline caching features, one can re-visit cloud apps even without an internet connection.
- Web apps are associated with early web technologies built with back end languages like Ruby vs Python, PHP, .NET along with databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, etc. While cloud applications might require back end frameworks and also use powerful JavaScript-based frameworks for performance.
- Cloud apps are perfect for high computations or areas with low internet connectivity making it the most preferred choice for collaborating heavy processes. On the other hand, web apps are said to be great for apps of transactional nature like eCommerce sites, cab applications, information sharing portals, and others.
- Web apps are in demand as these apps are used for making a continuous connection with the people. On the other hand, when it comes to cloud-based apps, they are made to work offline exclusively and automatically sync with internet restoration.
- Web apps are not usually designed to offer multi-tenancy; meaning that they don’t support varying requirements from different consumers. On the contrary, cloud apps are highly used because of their multi-tenancy
- Cloud apps ensure high customization in features to enhance app Web apps can’t provide the same level of customization options.
- Top examples of Cloud apps are collaborative applications like Evernote, Gmail, Slack, Dropbox, among many others. While the best examples of Web apps are user-focused apps like Airbnb, Amazon, YouTube, etc.
Cloud Apps vs Web Apps: What to Choose?
Well, the choice of the app depends upon the types of applications you wish to build, the cloud app or web app ideas, and the purpose of your app will serve.
Several organizations are switching their existing application to Progressive Web Apps (PWA) to gain more active users, better user engagement, provide an enhanced experience, high revenue, and much more. Some of them are also learning how to convert Excel to a web app to store all of their business data in one place.
The choice of apps between cloud apps vs web apps depends totally on the idea of your business and the type of app you wish to build. Talk to an expert app development company to get precise assistance in choosing the right type of app for your business.
