The Platform Decision
"Should we build a mobile app or web app first?" We hear this from almost every startup. Here's how to decide.
Start With Web (Usually)
For most B2B products and many B2C products, web should come first:
Faster Development
Web apps typically take 30-50% less time to build than native mobile apps. One codebase works everywhere.
Easier Updates
Push changes instantly. No app store approval process. Fix bugs in minutes, not days.
Better for Validation
Test your idea faster. Pivot without rebuilding everything. Users can try without downloading anything.
SEO Benefits
Web apps get indexed by search engines. Free organic traffic. Mobile apps don't.
Start With Mobile When...
Mobile-first makes sense in specific cases:
The Progressive Web App Middle Ground
PWAs give you mobile app features (offline, push notifications, home screen icon) with web app benefits. For many products, this is the right first step.
Our Recommendation
1. Build a responsive web app first
2. Validate your core product
3. Add PWA features
4. Build native mobile only when you have proven demand
This approach minimizes risk and maximizes learning speed. You can always build mobile later—but you can't get back the money spent on a mobile app nobody uses.
Cost Comparison
Building web first lets you validate before tripling your investment.