Progressive Web Apps (PWAs): Are They Worth Building in 2025?
PWAs blur the line between websites and native apps. They work offline, send push notifications, and can be installed on any device — without an app store. Here is everything you need to know.
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What Is a Progressive Web App?
A Progressive Web App is a website that uses modern browser APIs to deliver app-like experiences. Key characteristics: it must be served over HTTPS, have a Web App Manifest (a JSON file describing the app's name, icons, and display mode), and use a Service Worker (a JavaScript file that runs in the background, enabling offline access and push notifications). When these three elements are present, mobile browsers offer users an 'Add to Home Screen' prompt. The installed PWA opens in its own window without browser chrome — indistinguishable from a native app to most users.
What PWAs Can and Cannot Do in 2025
PWAs have closed the capability gap with native apps significantly. They now support: offline functionality, push notifications (cross-platform including iOS 16.4+), camera access, microphone access, geolocation, background sync, file system access, Bluetooth and USB (on Chrome), and payment APIs. What they still cannot do (reliably): access iOS contacts, calendar, or health data, use Face ID or fingerprint biometrics (Touch ID works via Web Authentication API), send SMS messages, access the NFC chip on most iOS devices. For 80% of app use cases, a well-built PWA is a complete solution.
The Business Case for PWAs
The most compelling PWA case study is India-specific: Flipkart Lite (an early PWA) increased re-engagement by 40%, reduced data usage by 70%, and saw 3x more time spent on site compared to the mobile website. Twitter Lite (now X Lite) increased sessions per day by 65% and reduced bounce rate by 20%. PWAs load faster than native apps on first visit (no download required), have zero app store approval delays or 15–30% revenue cuts, are discoverable via Google search, and work across all platforms from a single codebase. For businesses targeting cost-conscious Indian mobile users, the lower data consumption and instant access of a PWA are genuine competitive advantages.
Building a PWA with Next.js
Next.js 14+ has excellent PWA support. Add the 'next-pwa' package, configure it in next.config.js to register a service worker, create a manifest.json in the public directory with your app name, icons, and display settings ('standalone' removes the browser UI), and ensure you serve over HTTPS. The service worker handles caching strategy — for a content app, cache-first works well; for real-time data, network-first is safer. Test your PWA with Chrome's Lighthouse audit under the 'PWA' category to verify all criteria are met.
Push Notifications: The Most Underused PWA Feature
Web push notifications work in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari (iOS 16.4+, macOS Ventura+). They appear identically to native app notifications. For e-commerce, web push notifications to opted-in users have a 7–10x higher click rate than email newsletters because they appear on the lock screen in real time. Implementation requires the Push API and a push service (VAPID protocol). Libraries like 'web-push' for Node.js and services like OneSignal (free tier available) handle the infrastructure. Always request notification permission at a meaningful moment — after the user has demonstrated engagement, not immediately on first visit.
Should You Build a PWA, a Native App, or Just a Website?
Build a native app if: your app's core functionality requires deep OS integration (camera filters, AR, Bluetooth peripherals), you are targeting a user base that strongly expects a native app experience, or you need to monetise through in-app purchases. Build a PWA if: you need to serve users across iOS and Android without separate development teams, your app is content or form-based, you want app-like features without the app store overhead, or you are optimising for users in data-constrained markets. Stick with a regular website if: your use case does not benefit from offline access or push notifications, or your development resources are limited — a fast, well-designed website usually outperforms a poorly-built PWA.
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