Most Internet users access the network from mobile devices. Therefore, online stores and other commercial sites need to adapt their websites to visitors’ needs. If this is not done, most potential buyers will be lost because they cannot use the interface on a small screen.

Many businessmen are faced with the choice between a smartphone app and a mobile version of the site when solving this problem. Based on the findings of developers from https://dinarys.com, let’s consider the advantages and disadvantages of these options.

Mobile Site

First, it should be clarified that a mobile site means two web products: a site with an adaptive layout and a mobile version. Each of these products has its pros and cons.

Advantages and disadvantages of adaptive layout

With adaptive design, the site is correctly displayed on any screen and under any operating system. All modern CMS supports such templates and allows you to immediately create universal sites that work fine on PCs, tablets, and smartphones. They save time and money when developing a particular mobile version or application.

But this layout also has its drawbacks, for example:

• Slow page loading compared to other options;
• The need for high-quality development – with an adaptive layout, blocks are automatically distributed across the page, which does not always look correct on different screens;
• The impossibility of adaptation with a complex interface.

If the site has many blocks and tools, it will not be possible to stretch the template across the screen. In such cases, writing an application or developing a mobile version of the site is more accessible.

Pros and Cons of the Mobile Version

A mobile version means a separately created site hosted on a subdomain of the base domain. If a user logs in from a tablet or phone, he is automatically redirected to the mobile site.

This option has more advantages than disadvantages. For example, significant advantages include:

• high speed of work, compared to adaptive templates;
• better development and many settings;
• traffic savings (this is a considerable advantage when using the mobile Internet);
• the ability to switch to the desktop version, if necessary.

Sites with a complex interface may display only some of the blocks in the desktop version. To use the necessary tools, they switch to a PC layout.

There are only two disadvantages of a mobile site: high development costs and SEO complexities. Creating a mobile version takes a lot of time, as reflected in the estimate. The problem with SEO is the presence of two different sites (mobile and desktop), which search engines need to perceive as a single project.

Smartphone Application

A mobile application is considered the best option for commerce since it:

1. Supports the implementation of any functionality. The main thing is that users’ devices are powerful enough to run the implemented functions.

2. Works quickly due to the storage of data on the phone.

3. Retains users better than any site.

4. Can send push notifications.

Among the disadvantages of mobile applications, it is worth highlighting the uselessness of computers, the need for installation, high development prices, and difficulties in promotion. However, these disadvantages are justified by the application’s benefits in solving business problems.

Published by: Holy Minoza