Though, PWA or Progressive Web App is relatively new in the tech world. But there are many big giants, so-called ‘Unicorns’ like Flipkart, Uber, Starbucks, BMW, Pinterest, and so on have already adopted it. 

This technology is helping them in various aspects, whether, it is improving conversion rate, engagement,  or to enhance the user experience. 

According to an independent survey, Pinterest’s new native-like PWA experience doubles active mobile users and nearly quadruples session duration.

Compared to the previous mobile web, users are spending, generating 44% more revenue, and engaging 60% more.

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But how much did it cost to develop a Progressive Web app?

Well, we can’t give, the exact cost of a PWA development, as it highly depends on the requirement & functionality of the web app. 

But as per experts, the cost of PWA development typically ranges between $5,000 to $150,000, depending on the complexity of the app.

Project Type	Price Range (Approx)
Small to Medium-Sized	$5000–$15000
Medium to Large-Sized	$15000–$150,000

Note: This is just an estimated price range. The cost of progressive Web App Development depends on various factors, Let’s explore them in detail through this blog. 

But before we examine the cost of progressive web app development, let’s examine first what progressive web apps are and why they exist.

What is a Progressive Web App?

A progressive web app is a web application that takes advantage of modern web technologies, including service workers, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other APIs. Best of all, it provides a user experience similar to a native mobile application.

 In today’s digital world, progressive web apps are becoming increasingly popular. Some of the statistics show users who opt for this solution experience increased engagement, conversion rates, page loading speeds, and more.

Furthermore, compared to a native mobile one, PWAs cost an average of 3-4 times less for development – and in some cases, this figure can reach up to 10 or even 15 times!

Isn’t it incredible?

Nevertheless, the reason for getting this much popularity lies in its impressive benefits such as:

• Offline access to resources
• Push notifications;
• Geolocation functionality;
• Responsive design for any device;
• Easily indexable content; and
• Accessible on all platforms without additional downloads.

You can find out more about Progressive Web Apps here..

These features make progressive web apps highly attractive for businesses looking to create an effective digital presence. However, this convenience comes at a cost, and this brings us to our next point: how much does progressive web app development actually cost?

How Much Does it Cost to Develop a Progressive Web App?

By developing a Progressive Web App (PWA), businesses can reduce their development costs and deliver their message to prospective customers rapidly, as mentioned in the preceding paragraphs. 

With a PWA, the cost of maintenance is significantly lower compared to a typical app, usually about 20–25% of the total development cost. Additionally, businesses can ensure that their investments will result in a cost-effective and versatile solution that delivers the desired outcomes.

Moreover, for small businesses and enterprises alike, reaching out to a Progressive Web App Development Company for such solutions can be a great way to reach customers at an affordable price. But the development cost of a PWA varies from project to project, depending on various factors.

What factors can impact its cost?

Factors Impacting The Progressive Web App Development Cost

Like any other web app development project, PWA development costs fluctuate based on a variety of factors, some of which include:

Complexity of the Project

The cost of creating a progressive web app is highly dependent on the complexity of the app. “The more features and pages it includes, the higher the price will be

A comprehensive PWA with numerous features is going to cost more than a simple one-page progressive web application with limited functionalities. Additionally, the type of platform you choose (iOS or Android) can have an impact on the cost as well.

Suppose you decide to develop your PWA using React Native. In this case, you need to account for the additional time and resources that will be spent developing a separate version for each platform while simultaneously ensuring they are compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

Other technologies that could add complexity to your project and thus increase the cost include working with databases and implementing security measures such as user authentication and encryption. 

Ultimately, the more complex your app is and the more advanced features you want to integrate into it, the higher the final price tag will be.

User Interface/User Requirements

PWAs are a newer type of web application that offers a more user-friendly and engaging experience than traditional web applications. It needs to be built with different considerations in mind.

For instance, when designing the interface, developers must think about how users will interact with the page, how long it takes for the page to load, and what kind of visuals work best in order to create a seamless navigation experience.

As a consequence of putting more effort and thought into quality, interface development can take a long time which also leads to an increase in cost. User requirements also play a part in the high cost of PWA development. 

Therefore, given users’ expectations from a progressive web application, developers might need to adjust existing features or develop new ones, with the expectation of incurring greater development costs.

Location of the Development Team & Expertise Level of Developers

A development team with a greater understanding of progressive web apps can more easily create one for a given application. But can increase the development cost. 

The cost of a senior web app developer with 8+ years of experience getting & familiar with progressive web apps could definitely be higher than that of a junior web developer. Do your research when looking to hire PWA developers you want to work with.

Moreover, developers in specific areas will have a different salary rate than those in other areas due to the cost of living and other factors. These factors will all eventually contribute to the total cost of progressive web app development. 

 

Cost of hiring web developers in different regions.	Average Rate
Asia	$15 and $50
US and Canada	$70 to $150
South America	$30 to $60
Europe	$50 to $120

Type of Development Solution You Are Choosing

Do you want to build a PWA with pre-existing templates or are you looking for a custom solution?

The development response you choose may have a large impact on your PWA development cost. The cost of a custom PWA design solution will always be higher than that of one that is more generalized and based on existing solutions; after all, more work and skill will be involved.

There are a few templates available, like Rubix PWA HTML Mobile, Material Mobile, Joomla PWA Maker, Magento 2 PWA, etc., that you can purchase for a more reasonable cost.

A hybrid approach is also possible, where you use ready-made PWA templates as a starting point and then customize them according to your needs. This approach allows you to leverage the strengths of both approaches while minimizing the associated costs and risks.

Time Duration

Another important factor to consider is the time your developers can spend working on the PWA because it directly affects the price of the project. Your project will require various amounts of time, and if the timeframe exceeds what is necessary, costs will rise.

Likewise, if the project timeline is shortened and you need it urgently, then the cost of progressive web app development increases too since your team has to put in more effort.

The Pricing Model You Choose (Hourly Rate, Fixed-price, Mix)

The pricing model you choose greatly influences the cost of PWA development. There are three main pricing models available: hourly rate, fixed-price, and mix pricing model.

Hourly Rate

With the hourly rate model, clients pay developers based on the hours worked rather than on the overall product. This allows for flexibility but does not ensure a fixed amount of work or guarantee specific results. 

Fixed-Price

The fixed-price model charges a set fee for the entire project, regardless of how much time is spent working on it. This option gives clients peace of mind that their projects will not exceed a certain budget limit.

Mix

Mix pricing combines aspects from both models—the client pays a fixed amount plus the hours worked by developers. This approach allows them to benefit from flexibility while still having control over their budget.

Hidden Costs of Progressive Web App Development

Developing a Progressive Web App (PWA) may seem like a cost-effective way to get your product or service out into the world, but there are hidden costs associated with it that can add up quickly. 

• Before starting PWA development, you need to make sure you have an experienced team that knows what they’re doing. This means hiring experienced developers who understand both web and mobile app development best practices. 
• This is especially important for PWAs since they require both web and mobile knowledge to build correctly. Hiring experienced web developers often comes at a premium cost and may be one of the biggest investments when developing a PWA.
• Additionally, you’ll want to consider potential maintenance and support fees down the line. PWAs require regular maintenance and updates in order to ensure they are running smoothly and providing users with the best possible experience. For this reason, you should factor in long-term maintenance costs when budgeting for PWA development. 
• You should also consider the potential hardware upgrades required when developing PWAs. Depending on how complex and dynamic your PWA is, you may need to invest in additional hardware, such as servers and other infrastructure components, for optimal performance.

Here’s a table that breaks down the costs of developing a PWA:

Cost Factor	Possible Variables	Average Cost
Complexity of the Project	Number of features, integrations, customizations, etc.	$5,000 – $50,000
User Interface/User Requirements	Number of screens, interactivity, animations, personalization, etc.	$5,000 – $30,000
Location of the Development Team	In-house vs. outsourced, onshore vs. offshore, etc.	$25 – $250 per hour
Type of Development Solution You Are Choosing	Frameworks, libraries, APIs, hosting, etc.	$5,000 – $30,000
Time Duration	Number of development hours, project milestones, etc.	$10,000 – $100,000
The Pricing Model You Choose	Hourly rate, fixed-price, mixed, etc.	Varies depending on the model chosen
Hidden Costs of Progressive Web App Development	Revisions, testing, deployment, maintenance, support, etc.	10-30% of the project cost

Note that the average cost range is based on industry standards and can vary depending on the specific requirements of the project and the development team’s experience level.

What To Consider When Developing Progressive Web Applications?

In 2015, when the term “progressive web app” was first coined, it was a bit of a mystery to developers and marketers. While they knew that mobile apps were increasingly taking on more complex and demanding user experiences, progressive web apps were seen as something new and different.

Now, in 2023, progressive web apps are firmly established as a major category in the mobile app market. They’re not just for high-end or luxury applications anymore—PWAs can be developed by any business or organization that wants to create a better user experience and increase engagement.

The media & entertainment industry vertical segment dominated the progressive web application market in terms of revenue in 2019 with a value of USD 282.2 Million, and it is anticipated to grow even more in the years to come.

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But how do you go about creating a successful PWA? There are several factors to consider when designing and building a progressive web app:

NAT Traversal –

Progressive web apps need to be able to handle requests from devices without requiring users to enter their NAT information. This is important since many users don’t want or need to share their home IP address with the rest of the world.

By using modern transport protocols such as TLS (Transport Layer Security) and HTTP/2, your PWA can keep its users anonymous even when connecting through public Wi-Fi networks.

Progressive loading:

Users expect an uninterrupted experience when opening a PWA, so your application should load quickly even on low-powered devices. To achieve this, use efficient CSS and JavaScript coding techniques, as well as caching mechanisms for front-end assets and dynamic content.

Offline support:

Progressive web apps should work offline as much as possible so that users can still access essential functions even if there’s no internet connection available. For example, if a PWA displays content like maps or directions, make sure the data can be cached in the browser’s local storage. 

Also, look into technologies like Service Workers which enable background processing while the device is offline.

Responsive design:

Since progressive web apps can run across multiple platforms, they must adjust to each device’s size and resolution automatically. Responsive design helps ensure that all users get the same quality experience regardless of which device or browser they’re using.

Security measures:

Any type of online service needs strong security measures in place to protect both data and user privacy. You must encrypt all traffic between the server and the client using SSL certificates and encryption algorithms like AES.

How Do I Get Started with Progressive Web App Development?

Beginning with progressive web app creation necessitates understanding your desired app’s purpose & appearance. Define your features & operations clearly, along with a comprehensive design for the UI.

Once that is decided, seek out a superior development team to tackle the lofty undertaking. Choosing a progressive web app development company may seem intimidating, but there are many great options available in this competitive field. Do your research and hire a web application development company that you can trust with your project. Make sure they understand the platform you want to develop on (iOS, Android, or both) as well as how you want to build the app.

At iWebServices, we offer transparent pricing for our PWAs, allowing our customers to customize their packages and budgets depending on the size and complexity of their projects. Our experienced developers will help you achieve the best results from our end without compromising quality.

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