Progressive Web App Development Company: Our Experience

Tatia Tatoshvili

Last updated on March 13, 2026 | 17 min read

BusinessConsultingSoftware development

• Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) provide fast, reliable web experiences with offline capabilities, push notifications, and app-like functionality across devices.
• This guide shares valuable insights into PWAs, compares them to other market alternatives, and provides a guide on how to choose the right development partner.

Introduction

Early websites were largely static, limited to basic text and images. Over time, users began to expect dynamic and interactive experiences that feel natural across devices. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) emerged as a response to this shift. They combine the reach of traditional websites with the advanced features of mobile applications, delivering fast, reliable, and engaging interactions directly in the browser.

The global PWA market, valued at $1.13 billion in 2019, is projected to reach $10.44 billion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.9%. Businesses adopting PWAs have reported faster load times, stronger user engagement, and lower maintenance costs. PWAs are also lightweight, addressing common concerns such as limited device storage and slow installation processes.

Companies report a 33% reduction in maintenance costs compared to native apps, as PWAs eliminate the need to maintain multiple versions for different platforms.

As the demand for fast, responsive, and offline-capable web applications grows, PWAs have become an integral component of modern web development strategies. Businesses are actively striving to satisfy consumers’ evolving needs for faster, more dependable, and more attractive digital interactions.

If you’re exploring PWAs and wondering how they differ from traditional websites and mobile applications, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about PWAs, their benefits, and how to choose the right development company to build a future-proof, engaging web solution.

What is a progressive web app (PWA)?

A PWA is an advanced type of web application that combines the best features of websites and mobile apps to provide a fast, reliable, and engaging user experience.

PWAs are designed to function like native mobile apps, offering features such as offline access, push notifications, and smooth interactions, all while being accessible through a standard web browser.

Unlike traditional mobile apps, which require users to download and install them from an app store, PWAs can be installed directly from the browser with a simple prompt, typically appearing as a simple “Add to Home Screen” notification. This prompt is intuitive and accessible to most web users, making the installation process straightforward. Once installed, PWAs function much like native apps, appearing on the home screen and launching in full-screen mode without occupying significant storage space. On iOS devices, however, there are certain limitations, such as restricted push notification support and background updates.

Key features of PWAs

Offline access

One of the biggest advantages of PWAs is their ability to work even without an internet connection. This is made possible by service workers, which are scripts that run in the background and cache essential content. As a result, once a user has visited a PWA, they can still access key parts of it, such as previously loaded pages or basic interactions, even if they lose connectivity. At the same time, features that depend on live data, like messaging or social feeds, will still require an active connection.

Fast loading speeds

Speed is critical for keeping users engaged, and PWAs excel in this area by using intelligent caching strategies. Unlike traditional websites, PWAs store frequently used resources locally on the user’s device, reducing the need to fetch data from the server every time. This is achieved through techniques like service worker caching, which allows data to be served from the cache when available, and cache-first strategies, which prioritize loading from the cache for faster performance. Additionally, techniques such as lazy loading, code splitting, and preloading help optimize performance. Only essential content is delivered at first, while secondary resources are either fetched when needed or prepared in advance to reduce waiting times.

Push notifications

PWAs can send push notifications like native apps, helping businesses keep users engaged and encourage return visits. These notifications can alert users about new content, promotions, updates, or personalized recommendations, increasing interaction and retention rates. For example, Pinterest’s PWA saw a 60% increase in user engagement after implementing push notifications, as users were regularly reminded of new pins and trending topics.

Responsive design

Unlike traditional websites that may not always display well on different screen sizes, PWAs are fully responsive, meaning they automatically adjust to desktops, tablets, and smartphones. This means that users get a consistent and optimized experience, no matter what device they are using.

App-like experience

PWAs feel and behave like native apps, providing smooth animations, intuitive interactions, and seamless navigation. Users get a full-screen experience without needing to use a browser bar, making it look and feel just like a mobile app. They can also support push notifications, which inform users about updates, new content, or reminders directly on their devices.

Home screen installation

Users can install a PWA directly from their web browser without needing to visit an app store. This means they can add the app to their home screen with just a tap, allowing for easy and instant access. Unlike native apps, PWAs don’t take up much storage space, which makes them a convenient option.

Automatic updates

Most native apps already support automatic updates. PWAs, however, provide a lighter and more efficient alternative. Unlike native apps, which often require full-package downloads via app stores, PWAs update silently in the background, fetching only the necessary components instead of reinstalling the entire application. This results in faster updates, reduced data usage, and a more efficient user experience, ensuring users always have the latest version without manual intervention.

Popular companies using PWAs

In recent years, many top global brands have turned to PWAs to enhance user experience, boost performance, and increase engagement. Below are some of the most notable examples of how PWAs are transforming the way brands interact with users and drive growth:

1. Pinterest

Pinterest, a leading image-sharing and social media platform, experienced dramatic improvements in user engagement and conversion rates after launching its PWA:

• After transitioning to a PWA, engagement increased by 60%. Enhanced performance, smooth scrolling, and app-like features encouraged users to spend more time on the platform, leading to better retention and growth.
• The time spent on the app rose by 40% due to the improved speed and consistent user experience. The ability to browse and interact with the platform even in low-connectivity conditions resulted in more users signing up, saving images, and making purchases.
• Offline browsing allows users to explore content without an active Internet connection. This feature enhances accessibility, particularly in regions with unstable networks, ensuring continued engagement and repeat visits.

2. Starbucks

Starbucks successfully leveraged a PWA to enhance the customer experience, particularly for users with limited mobile storage, offering benefits such as:

• Starbucks’ native app was significantly large, which made it difficult for users with limited storage to install. The PWA, on the other hand, is 99.84% smaller, making it far more accessible for customers who may have older devices or limited space on their phones. As a result, it improved order diversity by 23%.
• Starbucks used a PWA to address storage limitations in developing countries, allowing more users to access the app. This enabled easy browsing, ordering, and access to loyalty rewards, boosting orders and enhancing customer loyalty, particularly among those deterred by the bulky app.

3. Alibaba

Alibaba, one of the world’s largest eCommerce marketplaces, adopted a PWA to strengthen its mobile web experience and drive more activity across platforms. The upgrade delivered measurable improvements in both engagement and conversions:

• Total conversions across browsers rose by 76% after the launch of the PWA.
• Monthly active users increased by 14% on iOS and 30% on Android, reflecting broader adoption across devices.
• Users who added the PWA to their home screen re-engaged four times more often than those who did not.

By optimizing performance and encouraging app-like usage through “Add to Home Screen” prompts, Alibaba created a faster, more accessible experience that continues to attract and retain users worldwide.

Why your business should invest in a PWA

PWAs reduce development costs by eliminating the need for separate apps across platforms while providing a faster, more reliable experience for users. Features like offline access and push notifications boost engagement, retention, and conversions, ultimately driving growth and improving your bottom line. Here’s why PWAs are becoming the go-to choice for businesses aiming for growth in the digital era.

1. Increased user engagement

A PWA comes with features that help boost user engagement over time. Push notifications keep your audience informed and engaged with relevant updates or promotions, even when they aren’t actively using the app. Additionally, home screen installation makes the app easily accessible, increasing the likelihood of repeat use. Having the app icon visible on the home screen also reinforces brand recognition, keeping your logo at the top of your mind and subtly encouraging users to open the app more frequently. This persistent, effortless connection helps build brand loyalty and drives ongoing interaction.

2. Higher conversion rates

Businesses have seen a noticeable improvement in conversion rates after implementing a PWA. For example, Goibibo, an Indian online travel booking portal, reported a 60% increase in conversions. PWAs offer an app-like experience that’s lightweight and fast, making navigation and transactions easier. With offline functionality, users can still interact without an internet connection, boosting retention and reducing cart abandonment, leading to higher conversions, improved retention, and better return on investment (ROI).

3. Better SEO and discoverability

Unlike native apps, which are hidden from search engines, PWAs are fully indexable by Google and other search engines. This means that your PWA is more likely to appear in search results, driving higher organic traffic to your site. With a strong SEO strategy, a PWA helps increase your online visibility and makes it easier for new customers to find your business.

4. Faster performance and improved user experience

One of the standout features of PWAs is their ability to load quickly and perform efficiently, even when the network connection is poor. Thanks to intelligent caching, key resources are stored locally and can be accessed instantly. This not only improves the technical performance but also reduces user frustration, helping create a more positive emotional experience. When users aren’t kept waiting or interrupted by slow load times, they’re more likely to stay engaged, interact with your product, and return in the future.

5. Cost-effective development

Developing separate native apps for both iOS and Android can be costly and time-consuming. PWAs offer a single-codebase solution, meaning you only need to develop one app that works across all devices. This drastically reduces the time and cost required for development and maintenance. Instead of hiring separate teams to handle multiple app versions, you can save money and streamline the entire process.

6. No app store hassles

Publishing apps on platforms like the App Store or Google Play requires going through strict approval processes, complying with their guidelines, and sometimes paying hefty fees. PWAs bypass the need for app store approval entirely. Users can install the app directly from the browser without any middleman.

Here’s a comparison table highlighting the key differences between PWAs and native mobile apps, showcasing how PWAs excel in accessibility, user convenience, and discoverability.

Cons of PWAs

We’ve already explored the numerous benefits of PWAs — from fast load times and cross-platform compatibility to cost savings and offline functionality. However, like any technology, PWAs come with their own set of limitations. Let’s take a look at some of these cons and discuss situations where other solutions may be more suitable for your business.

Limited device and OS integration

While PWAs can replicate many app-like experiences, they cannot fully integrate with a device’s operating system in the same way that native apps can. Features such as advanced background tasks, Bluetooth integration, or deep hardware access are often limited or unavailable. For example, although modern browsers are expanding their support for PWAs, platforms like iOS still impose significant limitations, especially with features like background sync and push notifications. On Android, PWAs can access key device features such as the camera, GPS, and Bluetooth, offering a nearly native experience. However, these features are still somewhat restricted on iOS, making PWAs less ideal for apps that require extensive device interaction, such as fitness trackers or apps relying heavily on sensors.

App store visibility

PWAs aren’t natively available in app stores. While they can be installed directly from the browser, this lack of visibility on popular app platforms like the Google Play Store or Apple App Store means businesses miss out on an important channel for app discovery. If app store distribution is central to your marketing or customer acquisition strategy, a native app may be a better fit. PWAs can be submitted to the Microsoft Store and, in some cases, through Google’s Trusted Web Activities (TWAs), although this still does not offer the same visibility as traditional app stores.

Inconsistent browser support

Most modern browsers support PWAs, but not all browsers offer the same level of feature support. iOS Safari, in particular, has limitations with features like push notifications, installability, and background sync, which can impact the PWA experience. If your target audience relies heavily on older or unsupported browsers, a PWA may not deliver the consistent performance and functionality you’re aiming for. For optimal performance, it’s essential to ensure your audience is using compatible browsers.

When to consider alternative solutions

While PWAs offer many benefits, they are not the right fit for every use case. In certain situations, a native app may be a better choice, particularly when advanced functionality, exceptional performance, or strict security requirements are involved. This section outlines key scenarios where choosing a native app or another solution might be more appropriate than developing a PWA.

Complex native features

If your app requires complex functionalities such as augmented reality (AR), intensive graphics rendering, or deep integration with the device’s hardware (e.g., advanced camera usage, Bluetooth, or location tracking), a native app might be a better option. While PWAs can handle basic camera and location access, they are less suited for advanced use cases that require real-time processing or heavy device interaction. Native apps are optimized for performance and can access all the features of the device, making them more suitable for such specialized use cases.

High expectations for performance and UX

For apps where performance, responsiveness, and polished user interactions are mission-critical, such as mobile games, multimedia tools, or enterprise-grade platforms, native apps tend to deliver a superior experience. Native apps offer tighter control over animations, transitions, and system resources, which can be crucial for demanding use cases. While PWAs can be fast and responsive, they can still face limitations when it comes to highly interactive or resource-intensive applications.

Security and compliance requirements

Applications that handle sensitive data, such as those in finance, healthcare, or government sectors, may benefit from the enhanced security controls that native apps can provide. Features like biometric authentication, secure data storage, and stricter permission handling are more robust and customizable in native environments. Native apps also have the ability to integrate directly with device-level security features, offering additional layers of protection that are more difficult to achieve with PWAs.

Cost analysis

When deciding whether to invest in a PWA, it’s important to consider the costs involved and how they compare to traditional websites and native app development. PWAs have become a popular solution for businesses due to their cost-effectiveness and flexibility. To better understand the cost-effectiveness of PWAs, let’s look at what goes into their development and ongoing maintenance.

The cost of developing a PWA

Developing a PWA is generally more affordable than creating a native mobile app. This is because PWAs use standard web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, meaning there’s no need to create separate versions for different platforms (iOS, Android, etc.). Additionally, PWAs don’t require submitting to app stores, which can eliminate fees and streamline approval processes. Maintaining a single codebase also means fewer updates and reduced long-term costs.

However, it’s important to note that the cost of developing a PWA can still vary depending on the app’s complexity. Advanced features such as push notifications, offline functionality, or complex service workers might increase the development effort compared to a simple website, but these costs are still generally lower than those of building a full native app. Furthermore, while PWAs don’t require app store submission, businesses may still need to invest in marketing and discoverability strategies to attract users to their PWA, which can add to the overall cost. Even with these considerations, the overall cost is still lower than that of a native app, as PWAs eliminate the need for platform-specific versions and app store fees.

The following table provides a breakdown of typical development and maintenance costs for PWAs compared to native mobile apps across different complexity levels:

Comparing PWAs, websites, and native apps

While cost is a major factor, it’s also important to consider how PWAs perform compared to websites and native apps across key features such as user engagement, offline access, performance, and more. Here is a table that highlights these differences:

As demonstrated by the cost and feature comparisons, PWAs offer an appealing combination of affordability and advanced functionality. While websites are often the most affordable option to build, they come with limitations in user engagement. The choice between PWAs, websites, and native apps ultimately depends on specific business needs, user engagement goals, and performance requirements.

How to choose the right PWA development company

While PWAs offer numerous benefits, finding the right development partner is crucial to reaching a successful outcome. Not all development companies specialize in PWAs, so it’s important to choose one with the right expertise and experience. Here’s what to look for when selecting the best PWA development company for your project:

1. Expertise in PWA technologies

The development team you choose should have strong proficiency in the core technologies required to build a PWA. This includes:

• JavaScript frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js for building interactive user interfaces.
• Service workers for offline functionality and caching resources to improve performance.
• Web App Manifests, which allow the PWA to be installed on a user’s home screen and appear like a native app.
• Performance optimization techniques like lazy loading, image optimization, code splitting, and smart caching to ensure fast loading and smooth performance on all devices.

2. Strong portfolio and industry experience

When evaluating potential partners, ask to see examples of their previous PWA projects and review their case studies to assess performance, user experience, offline functionality, and measurable outcomes like conversion rates. Client testimonials can also provide insight into their work quality and ability to meet project goals.

3. Mobile-first and responsive design approach

PWAs are meant to provide a consistent experience across all screen sizes, from desktops to mobile devices. The development team should prioritize responsive design and confirm that the app adapts smoothly to any screen, providing an optimized user experience regardless of device. A mobile-first approach is especially important, as the majority of users now access the web via smartphones and tablets.

4. Focus on performance & speed

The success of a PWA relies heavily on speed and efficiency. The right development company will prioritize:

• Lazy loading, which allows only necessary content to be loaded initially, speeding up page loads.
• Efficient caching strategies that store resources and retrieve them quickly, even without an internet connection.
• Minimized JavaScript and optimized assets to reduce the app’s size and improve loading times.

5. Security and maintenance services

As PWAs are web-based applications, they require robust security measures to protect user data. The development company should implement HTTPS encryption, secure authentication protocols, and other security features to safeguard your users’ information. Furthermore, the company should offer ongoing maintenance to keep your PWA updated with the latest features, security patches, and improvements.

Why choose DevsData LLC for PWA development?

Website: www.devsdata.com
Team size: ~60 employees
Founded: 2016
Headquarters: Brooklyn, NY, and Warsaw, Poland

DevsData LLC is a leading software development agency with extensive expertise in delivering scalable, high-quality PWA solutions. Their focus on responsiveness, cross-platform compatibility, and app-like interactions helps businesses enhance user engagement and retention. Known for providing uncompromising user experiences across all devices, their global team of professionals from the US and Europe collaborates to deliver exceptional performance and scalability.

Beyond PWA development, DevsData LLC offers a comprehensive suite of services, including web development, mobile app development, product development, cloud infrastructure, UI/UX design, Big Data, machine learning, and complex backend systems. The company brings a comprehensive approach to PWA development thanks to its extensive expertise.

The DevsData LLC team consists of highly skilled engineers boasting over 10 years of experience who have completed more than 100 projects for over 80 clients, including notable partners such as Cubus, Skycatch, Varner, and Novartis, as well as startups in the US and Israel. The company maintains a 5/5 rating on platforms like Clutch and GoodFirms, supported by positive public testimonials.

A great demonstration of DevsData LLC’s expertise is developing a hiking app for outdoor enthusiasts in Norway. The app successfully integrated key features such as real-time weather warnings and location-based services, allowing users in Norway to plan and share their outdoor experiences easily. By utilizing PWA technology, the app offers offline capabilities, quick loading times, and an app-like experience directly through the browser, making it easy for users to access crucial information even in remote locations.

This project highlighted DevsData LLC’s ability to address real technical challenges, such as implementing efficient background synchronization for weather data and caching location maps for offline use. These solutions made the app reliable even in remote areas with limited connectivity, demonstrating how PWAs can deliver both accessibility and strong performance.

DevsData LLC also offers comprehensive technology consulting services. Their team of engineers and product managers, many with experience at leading tech firms, hedge funds, and top universities, applies proven tools and practices at every stage of the software development process.

Contact DevsData LLC at general@devsdata.com or visit www.devsdata.com to discover how they can help your business succeed.

Conclusion

PWAs offer businesses a powerful solution to deliver high-performance experiences across devices while reducing development and maintenance costs. Their ability to provide faster load times, offline functionality, and improved user engagement makes them a compelling choice for enhancing digital presence. Partnering with the right PWA development company, like DevsData LLC, enables businesses to gain a significant competitive edge.

DevsData LLC takes a tailored approach to PWA development, optimizing each application for performance, scalability, and user experience, with a focus on aligning every project to the specific needs and goals of the clients. Their experienced engineers ensure that your PWA delivers a fast, responsive, and app-like experience across devices.

In addition to development, DevsData LLC also offers IT recruitment, EoR (Employer of Record), and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services, helping businesses streamline operations and build strong, reliable teams. With access to a network of over 65000 developers, they can provide the right talent and tailored solutions for any PWA development challenge.

With DevsData LLC’s expertise in both PWA development and IT solutions, you can scale efficiently, optimize resources, and simplify operations, letting you focus on building and growing your product.

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Tatia Tatoshvili Copywriter and Marketer

Tatia Tatoshvili is a Marketing and Communications professional with deep expertise in digital strategy and project management. Tatia’s experience includes implementing strategic marketing campaigns, elevating brand visibility, and building partnerships that expand education and job opportunities in the digital sector. She is passionate about fostering innovation and advancing digital literacy to create lasting impact.

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