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Article · Types of apps5 October 2024
FROMVeziv IT Services, Bucharest
TOYour company

Apps: what they are, 6 types and what you use them for

You use them all day, on your phone, in the browser and on your computer, but not all apps are the same. Here are the 6 types of apps, what each one is for and what that means when you want one for your company.

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What apps are

An app is a program made for a particular job: sending a message, paying an invoice, checking the stock in the warehouse. Some run on a phone, others in the browser, others on a computer or on a remote server.

For a company, the type of app matters: it decides where you open it from, what it costs to build and maintain, and what it can do.

1. Mobile apps

Mobile apps run on phones and tablets. They come in three kinds:

  • Native. Written specifically for one operating system, iOS or Android, and optimised for it. Example: WhatsApp.
  • Mobile web. Websites adapted for the phone, running in the browser, with no installation. Example: the mobile version of an online store.
  • Hybrid. Built with web technologies, but installed like ordinary apps. Examples: Uber, Instagram.

What we use them for:

  • Communication. Messaging (WhatsApp, Telegram), with notifications and access to contacts, and video calls (Zoom, Microsoft Teams), with screen sharing.
  • Social media. Facebook, Instagram and TikTok use the phone's camera, microphone and gallery so you can post and watch content.
  • Shopping. Store apps (Amazon, eMAG) handle orders, payments and deliveries, with barcode scanning and saved payment details. Some stores have loyalty apps, with points and offers.
  • Games. Native games (Clash of Clans, Candy Crush) use the full power of the phone. Simple games can also run in the browser.

We have built mobile apps for taxi booking, fitness, hair colourists and water delivery. You will find them on the mobile app development page.

2. Web apps

Web apps run in the browser and you open them from any device connected to the internet.

  • Static. They show information, without complicated interaction. Example: a product presentation page.
  • Dynamic. The content changes according to what the user does. Examples: a news site, a social network.
  • Single-page (SPA). They load once and change only part of the screen. Examples: Gmail, Google Maps.
  • Progressive (PWA). They install from the browser and can work without internet. Example: Twitter Lite.

What we use them for:

  • Online banking. Revolut or ING Home Bank show your balance and history and let you make payments and transfers on the spot.
  • Teamwork. Google Docs, Slack and Trello keep documents, messages and tasks in sync in real time.
  • Streaming. Netflix and Spotify deliver video and music anywhere, with offline downloads and personalised recommendations.
  • Education. Coursera and Khan Academy have video courses, interactive tests and instant feedback.

The ERPs and CRMs we build are web apps. More on the web app development page.

3. Desktop apps

Desktop apps are installed on the computer and use its power directly.

  • Office. Microsoft Office, LibreOffice: documents, spreadsheets, presentations.
  • Photo and video editing. Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, for photographers, advertising agencies and video production.
  • Security. Antivirus programs such as Bitdefender or Norton.
  • Games. League of Legends, Dota 2, Fortnite, Cyberpunk 2077, with advanced graphics and online play.
  • Business software. AutoCAD for design, SAP or QuickBooks for accounting and resources. They are often linked to an ERP or a CRM.

4. Cloud apps

Cloud apps run on remote servers and you use them over the internet.

  • Software as a Service (SaaS). You use them on a subscription: Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Slack.
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS). Tools for developers: Google Cloud Platform, Heroku.
  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Rented servers and storage: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure.

Companies no longer buy their own servers: they rent resources and scale them up when needed.

What we use them for:

  • Storage and backup. Google Drive, Dropbox: files kept safe and opened from anywhere.
  • Teamwork. Microsoft 365 for documents written and edited by several people at once, Slack for project discussions.
  • Artificial intelligence. IBM Watson and Google AI analyse data, understand language and recognise images, used in healthcare, finance and retail.

You can read about how we build cloud apps on the cloud applications page.

5. Hybrid apps

Hybrid apps combine the web with mobile and run on several platforms from a single codebase.

  • Built with web frameworks such as React Native, Ionic or Flutter.
  • Shopping. Alibaba and Amazon have the same experience on the web and on the phone.
  • Productivity. Evernote and Trello work in the browser and on the phone.

What we use them for: apps that have to work everywhere (Uber, Instagram), organisation (Trello, Evernote), health and fitness (MyFitnessPal), with the same experience on the phone and on the web.

We build hybrid mobile apps with Ionic and Capacitor: a single codebase, published in the App Store and Google Play.

6. Low-code and no-code apps

Low-code and no-code apps are built from ready-made blocks dragged with the mouse, with very little code or none at all. Anyone can make a prototype quickly, without being a programmer.

They also have drawbacks, which you should know before you choose:

  • Limited customisation. Your company's special requirements run into the platform's standard components.
  • You depend on the platform. If the platform shuts down, changes its prices or cuts features, your app is affected.
  • It scales poorly. It works well for small apps, but can stall with a lot of data or many users.
  • Little control over security. You have few options for data protection and for rules such as GDPR.
  • Connections are hard to make. Linking to old or complex programs often needs hand-written code.
  • Slower in heavy apps. Without access to the code, you cannot optimise where it is needed.

We use app generators to quickly make mock-ups and demos that you see before the project. The app that goes into use we then write in code, on our platform.

What type of app your company needs

  • Do your customers often order from their phones? A mobile app, with an admin panel.
  • Does your team work from the office, the warehouse and the field on the same data? A cloud web app, such as an ERP or a CRM.
  • Do you have people in places with poor internet? A progressive web app, which also works offline.
  • Do you want to sell online? A website with an online store, linked to stock.

If you are not sure, write to us and we will tell you what would fit. You will find examples in our projects.

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Frequently asked questions

What are apps and how do they work?

Apps are programs that do a particular job on a device: a phone, a computer or a server. Some are installed locally, others you open over the internet, in the browser. You use them for communication, organisation, entertainment or for running a company.

What is the difference between native and hybrid apps?

Native apps are written separately for one operating system (iOS or Android) and use everything the phone offers, with maximum performance. Hybrid apps are built with web technologies and run on several platforms from a single codebase. They cost less to build and maintain, with slightly lower performance in very heavy apps, such as games.

How can apps help a business?

They take over repetitive work, keep track of resources and put you in direct contact with customers. Custom-built apps, such as a CRM or an ERP, track sales, customer relationships, production and deliveries.

What is a PWA (Progressive Web App)?

A web app that behaves like a phone app: you install it from the browser, it can send notifications and it can work without internet. It does not have to be downloaded from an app store and it updates itself.

How are apps updated and maintained after launch?

Through regular updates: small fixes for bugs and larger versions with new features. Web apps are updated on the server, for everyone at once. Phone apps get new versions through the App Store and Google Play.

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