Nearly everyone uses apps daily, but 87% of business owners can't explain the difference between a web app and a native app. That knowledge gap is costing them thousands in development costs.
Choosing the wrong app type isn't just a technical mistake - it's a business decision that affects your budget, timeline, and user experience. The right app choice can save you $50,000+ in development costs and months of delays.
This guide demystifies app types so you can make informed decisions that actually serve your business goals.
What Is an App?
An app, or application, is a software program that runs on a smartphone, tablet, desktop computer or laptop, and allows users to perform specific tasks. Before smartphones, we referred to a piece of software as an "application" or a "program" if it ran on computers.
But after Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, he began referring to all the programs it ran—email, the Safari web browser, and games—as "apps." Apple doubled down on the term "app" with the "There's an App for That" ad campaign in 2009, and the word entered into the common lexicon.
Braincuber Insider Take
Is an app any different from an application? No—both are software programs. The term "app" is just a shorter, catchier term to refer to applications on mobile devices. But really, they're all the same thing. You can run many so-called "iPhone apps" on Mac desktops and laptops.
How Are Apps Built?
Programmers build apps by writing software (i.e., code in a programming language) to tell the hardware (i.e., smartphones, tablets, or laptops) what to do. The instructions specify the layout of the app, where to display images and buttons, and what to do when a user clicks or taps those buttons.
In practice, most app developers use an integrated development environment (IDE) as their workspace, a specialized word-processor for writing software—like Visual Studio or Xcode, for example. These tools organize and structure your app's code, offer autocomplete, and generally make the job easier. They often utilize an AI assistant to help write the code.
Once developers compile the app, they run it, test the user interface, check specific functionalities, test compatibility with different devices, and submit it to an app store. And then they start working on the next version.
7 Types of Apps You Need to Know
While there are apps for all sorts of different purposes—gaming, communicating, posting social media content—there are also different types of apps for distinct browsers or computer hardware. Here are the most common types of apps:
Desktop Apps
Run on desktop or laptop computers, often more complex and capable than mobile counterparts. Can spread out over multiple windows and interact more easily with other apps.
Mobile Apps
Work specifically on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Prioritize smooth user experience and touch interaction over excessive complexity.
Native Apps
Written specifically for a particular platform using platform-specific languages and APIs. Follow design principles and conventions of the target platform.
Cross-Platform Apps
Work across different platforms like Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web browsers. Use one codebase but may not feel perfectly designed for any specific platform.
Web-Based Apps
Run in the browser and can work on multiple platforms. Always up-to-date since they exist on servers, but don't offer offline access unless they're progressive web apps.
Hybrid Apps
Feel like regular apps but much of their functionality runs inside a custom web browser window. Require persistent internet connection but are easier to update across platforms.
Legacy Apps
Outdated apps that run on older architectures or are no longer supported. May require translation software to work on modern systems.
Deep Dive: Desktop Apps
In the context of apps, "desktop" has come to refer to desktop or laptop computers. Desktop apps run on computers rather than tablets and smartphones, and are often more complex and capable than their mobile counterparts.
Initially, this was because phones and tablets were less powerful than computers, but now it's more about the user interface differences (e.g., touch versus mouse/trackpad or screen size).
Desktop App Characteristics
- ✓ Can spread out over multiple windows
- ✓ Organize extensive features into menu items
- ✓ Interact more easily with other apps
- ✓ Better suited for complex tasks like photo editing
Adobe Photoshop, for example, is an app that would be difficult to use on a small touchscreen, versus Lensa, an AI-powered free photo editing tool built for mobile.
Deep Dive: Mobile Apps
Mobile applications work specifically on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. The best mobile apps prioritize a smooth user experience, forgo excessive complexity, and revolve around touch interaction.
If you're building a mobile shopping app, then you might prioritize fast search, easy browsing, and platform-integrated payments.
Real Example: Shop App
The Shop app is designed for easy mobile shopping in Shopify-powered stores, and also provides order tracking and shipping status updates via mobile notifications. It exemplifies mobile-first design with touch-optimized interface and push notifications.
Deep Dive: Native Apps
A native app is written specifically for a particular platform. A native iOS (iPhone's operating system) app, for example, will use Apple's programming languages (Swift or Objective-C) and Apple's application programming interfaces (APIs).
Native apps typically follow the design principles of the platform they're written for, such as how menu items align or dialogue boxes look. They will also adopt operating system conventions, like ⌘+comma to bring up app settings on the Mac, or Ctrl+P to print on Windows.
Business Owner Example: "I'm a spreadsheet girly," says Raven Gibson of Legendary Rootz. "I use Numbers. I love to be able to export and import CSVs. That really helps me with bulk importing products." Raven uses bulk import on her Numbers spreadsheet to visualize all of her orders and customer profiles at once.
Deep Dive: Cross-Platform Apps
In contrast to a native app, a cross-platform app works across different platforms, like Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and a variety of web browsers. You don't need a specialized developer for each platform, and you only have to maintain one app and one code base.
Modern cross-platform apps usually use Electron, a framework that's essentially a custom Chrome web browser in which the app runs. Electron apps are often huge compared to other native apps, because each one includes a Chrome browser along with the app's code.
Cross-Platform Trade-offs
Advantages
- • Single codebase for multiple platforms
- • Faster development timeline
- • Lower development costs
- • Easier maintenance and updates
Disadvantages
- • Larger app size (includes browser)
- • May not feel platform-native
- • Limited access to OS features
- • Potentially slower performance
"Notion is probably my favorite software. I have a database where I keep all of my ideas," says Raven. Notion is a cross-platform workspace app that runs in the browser, as a desktop app, and as a mobile app.
Deep Dive: Web-Based Apps
Web applications run in the browser and can run on multiple platforms. A web app uses modern web technologies like JavaScript to create an app-like experience. Web apps are often optimized for a dominant browser—oftentimes, Google Chrome—but should also run mostly fine in Safari and Firefox.
Web apps offer several significant advantages. You can interact with them on mobile devices without having to access an app store, and since the app exists on servers, instead of on the user's device, it's always up-to-date.
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
Web apps are great, but they don't offer offline access. Progressive web apps solve this by downloading themselves onto your device and storing their data locally. They also add an icon to your home screen, system tray, or dock, and allow push notifications.
Progressive web apps use modern web technologies and are as responsive as local apps. Technically, they are still running in a browser, but unlike a cross-platform Electron-based app, they use the browser engine that's already built into your OS.
Example: Canva
Canva, a free web-based photo editing and graphics app, works entirely on your internet browser. It demonstrates how powerful web apps can be, offering professional-grade design tools without requiring installation.
Deep Dive: Hybrid Apps
Hybrid apps feel like regular apps that run on your device, but much of their functionality runs inside a custom web browser window. Businesses find hybrid apps convenient to develop because you can more easily tailor them to work across different platforms, and you can update the apps' contents without having to update the app itself.
Hybrid apps require a persistent internet connection.
Real Example: Pay-later service Klarna uses hybrid apps, which allow its web technologies and APIs to be seamlessly deployed inside apps, including third-party apps.
Deep Dive: Legacy Apps
In the context of apps, "legacy" means outdated or that the app runs on older architectures. For example, when Apple launched its Apple Silicon Macs, all the apps made for Intel Macs were incompatible and became legacy apps.
Apple created Rosetta 2, a translator that allowed all those old legacy apps to run on the new machines. Legacy apps can also be old apps that are no longer supported, either because they have been replaced, discontinued, or the company that makes them no longer exists.
Practical App Examples for Business
A quick peek at the Shopify App Store shows you that there truly is an app for everything. The suite of apps you choose to help run your business will vary depending on your needs. While a cross-platform app might be best for some purposes (ubiquitous communication via Slack, for example), sometimes a short and sweet web app is a better choice.
Atlas Pickup Points
Integrates directly into your Shopify store and lets buyers choose pickup points for their shipped parcels. Won a 2025 Shopify Build Award for its user experience.
Type: Native App
Zendesk
Customer service app that makes it easy to access customer data centrally and offers an integration for Shopify. Pulls in emails, customer info, orders, and shipping details.
Type: Cross-Platform App
Printful
Lets you set up a print-on-demand store that's integrated with Shopify, and run everything from its mobile app. Connects everything together seamlessly.
Type: Hybrid App
TikTok Shop
TikTok's shopping service lets businesses, merchants, artists, and influencers curate lists of products for sale via the social media platform.
Type: Web-Based App
Business Owner Insight: "I've worked with a couple of dropshipping and print-on-demand companies. I really appreciate Printful's ability to connect everything together," says Raven. This shows how the right app integration can streamline operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an app, and how does it work?
An app is software that runs on a computer to allow the user to perform specific tasks. It consists of a user interface (the part you see, with buttons), the code (instructions written by developers), and the data (what the computer acts upon). It works by calling on the computer's operating system features and presenting them via the screen.
Are free apps really free?
Yes, some apps really are free, though there are other ways to monetize them. Free game apps, news apps, and social media apps often feature ads or in-app purchases. Ecommerce platforms may have free apps because they want customers to use those apps to shop for products or services.
What is the difference between an app and a mobile website?
A mobile website is a website optimized for a small-screen phone web browser, loaded every time you visit and requires internet access. An app is software that lives locally on your phone, offers offline functionality, and can provide a richer experience with more features than a mobile website.
Should I choose native or cross-platform for my business app?
Choose native if you need the best performance, platform-specific features, and optimal user experience. Choose cross-platform if you need faster development, lower costs, and need to support multiple platforms with limited resources. Consider your budget, timeline, and specific feature requirements.
What's the difference between web apps and progressive web apps?
Web apps run in browsers and require internet access. Progressive web apps (PWAs) can work offline, can be installed on your device like native apps, support push notifications, and provide a more app-like experience while still being built with web technologies.
Ready to Choose the Right App for Your Business?
Understanding app types isn't just technical knowledge—it's a business advantage. The right app choice can save you thousands in development costs and deliver better results for your customers.
Build Your App Strategy Today
Join thousands of successful entrepreneurs who've leveraged the right app types to scale their businesses efficiently.