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Why are there so many apps that could be websites?

Seriously. I don't want to install something on my phone when the dev is just using a WebView, if that's what it's called. When the app is basically just a website with the browser hidden.

What's the reason for that? To attach the customer? To sell the app for money? Is there more ad revenue that way? Do you reach more people?

(Are there any good reasons for it, too? Security, maybe?)

95 comments
  • most apps are just websites wrapped inside a container and made an app.

    Why?

    Because they dont want you to use the actual website.

    why?

    Cause your browser gives you a LOT of protection against invasive data mining/profiling/tracking/etc.

    Data mining/profiling/tracking/etc that these companies want to do to you, because you are a product to them, not a customer.

    And how do they do that with an app?

    Permissions.

    Ever wonder why your pizza ordering app has to have access to your contacts, data storage, camera, microphone, etc etc etc? Its not because its needed for you to order pizzas. Hell, you can do that on a website with no permissions, so why is it needed for an app on your phone?

    So they can steal/mine your data for profiling/tracking/marketing/being sold to others/etc.

  • All I see are people talking about consumer apps that could be websites, but it's a problem in the business world, too. My small business makes a service for other small businesses and all our big competitors use apps for their system while we use a web app. Some even restrict to only iOS or Android, too. It blows our potential customers' minds when they see that ours is just a website with at least as much functionality as the competition and the ability to access it from anything.

    I have no idea why anyone would do it differently as it's WAY easier/cheaper to maintain this website than deal with app ecosystems. And there simply aren't enough users in this space to merit data scraping like with consumer apps.

  • They want to wall some of their content off so it's not easily harvestable on the web by competitors. But most of all, they want to have full control of your user "experience" so you can't use browser extensions (like ad blockers). It's all about money and control.

  • To spam you with ads and steal more of your data of course! Look at the insane permissions on these apps: There's no reason for them to have access to your contact list, text messages, app manifest, etc. The vast majority of apps have wildly unnecessary permissions because it gets the companies more of your data.

  • I would say in some cases, people are conditioned now to expect an app, even if it's basically a website. I think in a mobile context, most non-techy people don't normally think to open up a browser and say, browse Amazon or something. Instead they go for the Amazon app on their phone, and browse/shop/whatever there.

    I wouldn't say this is exclusive to phones either. I once worked on a product that was essentially web-native, but they had to ship a desktop app because their market expected it, even though it was only a web-view wrapper to the website. No offline storage, no difference in behaviour, or need for some specific API; nothing. I guess you try explaining to boomers that a web-view desktop app is unnecessary.

    The data vacuuming and additional marketing are just added benefits for the app developer, if they go down that path (they usually do).

  • Besides the other mentioned reasons: exposure through the app store can be a motivator too.

  • The number I've seen floating around a few places is that app users are, on average seven times more profitable than web users. Reasons include:

    • The app being on the device acts as a reminder to the user to interact more
    • It's easier for an app to send notifications to get users to open it and interact more (Android has reduced this by requiring permission; browsers required it long before)
    • There are more limited options for blocking ads in an app
    • There are more opportunities to collect data in an app

    Are there any good reasons for it, too? Security, maybe?

    Security for the user? Probably not. "Security" for the developer in that they can prevent people from using the app in ways that aren't profitable? Likely.

    • Getting the app through an official app store at least gives the company some liability, versus random web pages that don't have signed code.

      However, this also removes user control from the device which isn't good either.

  • This is why I love kbin. No nonsense apps just a PWA that works splendidly. Now I don't need a mastodon or lemmy app! It's all here!

95 comments