Native Apps vs. Web Apps

Should you make a web app that works on all phones or design a device-specific native app?

As stated in Upside Learning, both types of solutions have their advantages and disadvantages:

Web Apps

1. Platform independent development, so you can reach a wider audience.
2. Fast development and low maintenance.
3. High-end applications can be developed with HTML5/CSS3, which also enable use of audio, video and animation.
4. Lower performance and dependent on web access.
5. The app can be delivered instantaneously as there are no intermediate delivery platforms like an app store.

Native Apps

1. Works on targeted smartphones only.
2. Increased development time and maintenance overheads.
3. Lets you access the device’s features like camera, accelerometer and data, like an address book.
4. Superior performance and user experience.
5. The app has to be deployed through an app store, which can be a time-consuming process.

The choice really depends on the richness of your mobile learning solution (user experience, performance and features) and the audience (or smartphones) you are targeting.