The difference between a native app and a web app comes down to where the software lives and how it's built. A native app is installed on a device and built for a specific platform (iOS or Android). A web app runs in a browser and works across all platforms without installation.

For most businesses, there's also a third option worth knowing: cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter that deliver native-quality apps on both iOS and Android from a single codebase.

Here's how to decide which path is right for your project.

Quick comparison

What is a native app?

A native app is built specifically for one platform: iOS or Android. It uses the platform's preferred programming language (Swift or Objective-C for iOS; Kotlin or Java for Android), lives on the device after download, and has full access to hardware features like camera, GPS, biometrics, and push notifications.

When most people say "mobile app," they mean a native app.

When native is the right choice

• Your product requires deep device integration: camera, GPS, biometrics, Bluetooth, or reliable offline use

• Performance is critical, for example real-time data, complex interactions, or high-frequency use

• You need a presence in the App Store or Google Play

• You're building for a regulated industry like banking or healthcare where security and compliance requirements are strict

Trade-offs

• iOS and Android are separate builds, meaning two codebases to develop and maintain unless you use a cross-platform framework

• Higher upfront investment when you need both platforms

• App store approval adds a step to every release

Detroit Labs native mobile work

DTE Energy needed one of the first fully native utility apps in the country, on iOS and Android simultaneously. VW Car-Net required deep hardware access: remote start, lock, vehicle diagnostics, and location tracking. Jimmy John's native apps have since surpassed 5 million downloads.

See the work: DTE Energy, VW Car-Net, Jimmy John's.

What is a web app?

A web app runs in a browser using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It works on any device without installation. Think of Expedia's booking flow, a bank's loan application portal, or an internal operations dashboard. All accessed through a URL, not downloaded from an app store.

A progressive web app (PWA) extends this: it can be added to a home screen and supports limited offline functionality, bringing it closer to a native experience without an app store install.

When a web app is the right choice

• Your users are primarily on desktop or already working inside a browser

• Your product is data-driven or dashboard-based rather than device-dependent

• You need to reach users across many devices and platforms without separate builds

• Speed to market is the priority

Trade-offs

• Limited access to device hardware: camera, GPS, and notifications are restricted in browsers

• Performance lags behind native for animation-heavy or high-frequency interfaces

• Users navigate to a URL rather than tapping an app icon, which reduces re-engagement

Detroit Labs web app work

Lineage Logistics needed a single platform to consolidate operational, financial, labor, and safety data across their cold storage network. We built metricsOne, a responsive web app that gives their team access to the numbers that run the business, from any device.

See the work: Lineage Logistics.

What about cross-platform apps?

The most common cross-platform frameworks, React Native and Flutter, let developers write one codebase that compiles into native apps for both iOS and Android. The result is near-native performance at roughly 60 to 70 percent of the cost of building two separate native apps.

For most new business applications that need both iOS and Android, cross-platform is the default starting point. It's not a shortcut. It's how teams build serious mobile products today.

How to decide

What does your product actually need to do?

If your app requires camera access, GPS, biometrics, Bluetooth, or reliable offline use, you need native or cross-platform. Web apps can't reliably deliver these. If your product is primarily informational, transactional, or dashboard-based, a web app may be sufficient.

Who are your users and where are they?

Users who are mobile-first, in the field, or working in low-connectivity environments need native. Users who are primarily at a desk and already inside a browser workflow may not need an installed app at all.

What's your budget and timeline?

Two native apps (iOS and Android) are two separate projects. If your budget doesn't support both, cross-platform closes that gap without a meaningful trade-off in quality. If your users are concentrated on one platform, you can start there and expand later.

In short

Native: Choose this when performance and device integration are non-negotiable, or when your product needs to stand alongside the top apps in its category.

Cross-platform (React Native or Flutter): Choose this when you need iOS and Android coverage with a constrained budget. This is the most common starting point for new business applications.

Web app: Choose this when your users are primarily on desktop, your product lives naturally in the browser, or you need to reach market quickly with a single codebase.

Frequently asked questions

Is React Native a native app?

React Native produces apps that run natively on iOS and Android. They're downloaded from app stores and have access to device hardware. The term "native" in React Native refers to the output, not the development language. The code is written in JavaScript, but the rendered app behaves like a native app on each platform.

What is a progressive web app (PWA)?

A progressive web app is a web app built to behave more like a native app. PWAs can be added to a home screen, send push notifications, and work partially offline. They're a practical middle ground when you want broad reach without building separate native apps, but they can't fully replicate native device access or performance.

How much more does a native app cost than a web app?

Building separate native apps for iOS and Android typically costs 40 to 60 percent more than a comparable web app or cross-platform build, because you're maintaining two distinct codebases. Budget alone is rarely the right reason to choose a web app over native. The better question is what your product actually needs to do.

Can I start with a web app and add a native app later?

Yes. Many products start as web apps and add native builds as they grow. The risk is designing your web app in ways that don't translate to native, or building a user base around a web experience that becomes harder to migrate. Working with a development partner early helps you plan for this if native is on your roadmap.

Not sure which is right for your project?

Native vs. web vs. cross-platform is one of the first decisions Detroit Labs works through with every new client. If you have a product idea and aren't sure where to start, talk to our team. We'll help you make the right call before you commit to a path.

Also worth reading: App or website: which should you build first? and How much does it cost to build a mobile app?