Progressive Web Apps and WebView-based applications are often grouped together. In practice, their technical differences are significant.
Both approaches rely on web technologies, but their system integration and constraints are not the same.
The PWA remains an enhanced website
A PWA runs inside a browser, even when installed on the home screen.
It therefore depends heavily on browser and operating system capabilities.
On some platforms, especially iOS, these capabilities remain limited and evolve slowly.
The WebView app is a native application
A WebView app is distributed through the App Store or Google Play and installed like any other application.
It embeds a browser component that displays the website without an address bar or visible browser interface.
As discussed in the previous article about WebView app limitations:
what a WebView app can do.
Different constraints and deployment models
A PWA can be deployed immediately, without external validation.
A WebView app must comply with store rules, which implies reviews, delays and possible rejections.
In return, the user experience is often more consistent and closer to a traditional app.
A pragmatic choice
The choice between a PWA and a WebView app depends on the project, the audience and acceptable constraints.
There is no universal solution. Each approach serves different needs 🙂