What Is a Progressive Web App?
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a website that behaves like a native mobile app. It loads instantly, works offline, sends push notifications, and can be installed on a phone's home screen — all without going through an app store.
For businesses, that means reaching users on every device with a single codebase instead of maintaining separate iOS, Android, and web versions.
Why PWAs Matter in 2026
Mobile traffic accounts for over 60% of all web visits. But most mobile websites are slow, clunky, and frustrating to use. Native apps solve those problems — but building and maintaining apps for multiple platforms is expensive.
PWAs sit in the sweet spot between the two:
- Speed: Service workers cache assets locally, so pages load in under a second even on slow connections
- Offline access: Users can browse content and complete tasks without an internet connection
- Engagement: Push notifications keep users coming back without the friction of app store downloads
- SEO-friendly: Unlike native apps, PWA content is fully indexable by search engines
Real-World Results
A retail client switched from a traditional mobile site to a PWA and saw:
- 52% increase in page views
- 38% improvement in conversion rate
- 3x faster average load time
- 70% reduction in bounce rate
These numbers aren't unusual. Starbucks, Pinterest, and Twitter have all reported similar improvements after launching PWAs.
When a PWA Makes Sense
PWAs work best for:
- E-commerce stores where speed directly impacts revenue
- Content platforms that need strong SEO and fast navigation
- Service businesses that want app-like functionality without app store overhead
- Internal tools where employees need reliable access across devices
The Technical Stack
Modern PWAs are built with frameworks like Next.js, React, or Angular combined with service workers, web app manifests, and caching strategies. The infrastructure is mature, well-documented, and supported by every major browser.
Getting Started
If your website generates significant mobile traffic, a PWA upgrade is one of the highest-impact changes you can make. Start by auditing your current site speed with Google PageSpeed Insights. If your mobile score is below 80, a PWA architecture will likely deliver measurable improvements within weeks of launch.