Responsive Web Design vs. Mobile App

Responsive web design is a development approach that ensures appropriate visual experience across various devices (desktop computers, laptops, tablets, phones etc.). A simple analogy: responsive web design can be compared to a rubber band — it can stretch or contract to fit any size, but it always preserves its shape and function. In the same way, a responsive website design modifies its layout and content to fit the screen size of the device it's being viewed on, while still keeping its functionality.

Do you know that you experience responsive web design every day? Just for the note, according to Google statistics, 90% of consumers use multiple devices to visit the same website. So when you visit a website on your desktop and later on your mobile phone, you don't have to zoom in and out or scroll horizontally to view the content because the layout and all the elements have been adjusted to fit the screen size of your device. That’s all about responsiveness.

Like any development approach, responsive website design has its own set of advantages and drawbacks. Ultimately, everything depends on the specific goals and priorities of the project, and which characteristics are most important to you.

Responsive design is often confused with adaptive design. While both of these approaches are aimed at smooth user experience across different devices, there is a difference between them which is important to take into account before you start your development process.

Responsive design is about building a website that adjusts to the screen size of the device it is viewed on. All the elements (website layout, content, and images) are adapted dynamically thanks to fluid grids, flexible images, CSS media queries, etc.

An adaptive design pattern implies the creation of several versions of a website, each optimized for specific screen sizes or device types. When a user visits the website, the server detects their device type and provides the needed version of the website.

Both options are good depending on your project goals and available resources. However, keep in mind that responsive web design requires less time and effort to develop and maintain after release.

Another way to establish an online presence for your business is to develop mobile app. Unlike a responsive website, a mobile app is downloaded and installed on the user's device and can run without Internet connection. We recommend choosing development of mobile app if you’re focused on the following benefits:

01. Enhanced customization — mobile apps offer more opportunities for customization, as they are full-fledged software that can provide limitless design and functionality possibilities. With a mobile app, you can create a unique solution that includes all your desired personalization and immersive user experience. Additionally, mobile apps can leverage device-specific features like the camera, GPS, and push notifications to provide unique features and functionality that may not be possible with a website.

02. Smooth performance — designing a mobile app, you automatically adjust it to a certain platform, taking into account the specifics of the operating system and hardware. That’s why overall performance is almost perfect, without loading delays or other errors.

03. Increased brand visibility — mobile apps are displayed on users' home screens, providing a constant reminder of the brand and encouraging frequent usage.

More options to generate income — one of the best benefits of applications for mobile devices is great monetization potential. In-app purchases, subscriptions, or in-app advertising — it’s your chance to earn more! These options look more organic and, in most cases, users are very likely to pay for them as they can gain additional usefulness or perks. In comparison, to monetize a responsive website you should apply advertising or sell products/services directly on the site. So if you’re looking for convenient monetization, the development of mobile app will be a great option for you.

Talking about frequent updates, their implementation is more effortless with a responsive design. It’s simple as that: updates can be made to the website's code or content, and users will see the changes immediately upon reloading the website.

On the other hand, the update of a mobile app requires submitting the renewed version to the app store, and then some time is needed to get review and approval. Moreover, some users may not immediately update their app, which can lead to performance issues if there are significant changes to the app's functionality.

 If your user has an old device or limited storage space, he could experience some problems with access to your app. In contrast, responsive web design ensures access from any device with an internet connection.

Mobile app designing requires more expertise, so the developers’ rates are higher. It also may take you additional cost if you want to create apps for different platforms. In this case, you should hire Android developers, iOS developers, or highly-qualified experts that can deliver cross-platform apps.

Responsive websites can be accessed with one click. To interact with a mobile app, users need to install it first. People are lazy by their nature, so any additional action may discourage users from using your solution.

As we mentioned previously, responsive website design will be more beneficial for your project if you want to implement SEO. Why so? Let’s take a closer look!

01. Better search engine rankings thanks to smooth user experience across all devices.

02. With a responsive website, you can save your time and nerves needed to manage SEO strategy implementation. You need to SEO optimize only one website and all the changes and settings will be applied smoothly regardless of the device.

03. The ability to share content effortlessly always has a positive impact on your SEO promotion and ability to drive traffic. Users are more likely to share links to a responsive website's pages and blog posts, whereas mobile apps typically have less shareable content.

04. Thanks to a smooth user experience across all devices, responsive web design can provide you with higher engagement and longer visit times. This can improve your website's SEO by reducing bounce rates.

And last but not least. What should you choose to increase your brand awareness: to develop mobile applications or apply responsive web designing?

To be frank, both solutions can be effective for building brand awareness. However, there are some factors you should consider:

Here's an important piece of advice: never trust freelancers or companies that give you an exact cost estimate for software development right away! It's nearly impossible to accurately determine the cost of a project without taking into account all the factors that influence the final price. These include your project's goals and specifications, the complexity of its functionality and design, the necessary technologies, the location, rate, and expertise of the developers, your available budget, development urgency, and many others.

Without this context, we can’t provide you with precise numbers in this article. From our experience, cost of responsive design creation starts from $2000 up to $75 000 or more. Mobile apps development, on average, takes from $30,000 to $250,000 and can cost even much more. Everything depends on the specifics of your particular project.

We're excited to discuss this with you and provide accurate estimates for each type of development. Don't hesitate to contact our experts!

Both responsive design and mobile app development have their advantages and disadvantages. At the end of the day, the best choice depends on your specific needs and goals. If you want expert advice or have already made your decision, get in touch with us right now!