There was a time when organizations were operating with the help of paper files and later on, software such as spreadsheets came into existence to aid business operations. Correspondingly, today’s era is an era of applications. Applications have become a beneficial tool to all be it a businessman, or a multinational organization. From increased sales to enhanced user engagement, apps are serving businesses in several ways.

There are two general terms– web apps and cloud-based apps. The evolution of these apps has drastically changed the way business operations are made. There are a lot of similarities between the two but variations do exist that make them different when we talk about user experience and rich cloud-based services. In this blog, we have demonstrated the exact differences between web apps and cloud apps, their benefits, and which one to choose between the two.

What are web apps?

A web application requires a web browser and web technology to execute online activities. A web-based program is meant for usage in a web browser; hence it requires an ongoing Internet connection. Some of the most popular examples of web apps include online banking, online shopping applications, e-ticketing, and even social media applications.

The Benefits of Web Apps

Web apps can be used on every web browser and various platforms, irrespective of the operating system or device. Users can easily access web apps if their browser is compatible, which reduces the possibility of compatibility problems.

Here are some of the benefits of Web applications have many benefits.

• Web apps require less maintenance and development support. They have lower end-user computer requirements. The use of web apps reduces developer costs and facilitates customer usability.
• Users may access web apps without installing the file, hence reducing space constraints on hard drives.
• In the case of web applications, there are no personal details processed. The data servers of the organization collect and validate the records. Hence, the spam of online applications dependent on subscriptions is reduced.

What are cloud apps?

A cloud application is regarded as an advanced web app by some developers. Cloud applications can be accessed with a web browser or installed on devices that can be used with an internet connection on phones, computers, laptops, etc. Some of the most popular cloud applications are Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo. Additionally, many common cloud apps have these standard instances: Dropbox, Salesforce, Evernote, NetSuite, Zoho, and more.

The Benefits of Cloud Apps

Cloud apps are designed to give users the chance to work easily through access to pooled shared resources, on-demand services, or network availability. Here are a few of the benefits of cloud applications.

• Cloud applications offer broad capabilities for computing, both offline and online.
• Consumers pay for the services offered by cloud apps instead of buying the software. Therefore users get fast access through a cloud server to required applications.
• The features of the cloud apps can be used even if a consumer does not install apps on a device.
• Resources are pooled in cloud services hence cloud apps can support multiple users with different physical and virtual needs.

Cloud App VS Web App

Technology

Web applications use PHP, Python, Ruby, and . NET, and remote databases such as SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and so on. Whereas, cloud-based applications use powerful JavaScript frameworks optimized for performance like React.js, Angular, and nodes.

Use cases

Cloud applications are great for the solutions that require high computations, or need to operate reliably in places where internet connectivity is poor. Cloud applications are preferred for collaboration-heavy processes. Whereas, web apps only work in browsers when there is an internet connection. Hence they are good for transactional apps like e-commerce sites, bulletin boards, data sharing portals, and booking services.

Customization

Web applications do not offer the same level of feature or customization features. Cloud applications have customized capabilities to improve accessibility.

Cost

Developing a reliable web application is more costly than developing a traditional browser-only web application. There is less availability of skilled web app developers. Cloud-based applications have a bigger community and are continuously increasing. Therefore, cloud applications can be significantly more expensive than web-based applications.

Safety

Web applications download and validate customer information from the data center of an organization, whereas cloud applications can enhance the protection of sensitive information. In the case of cloud apps, improved protection can be applied to ensure safety.

What to choose between Cloud Apps vs Web Apps?

The choice of apps between cloud apps vs web apps depends upon the types of applications you are investing in along with the idea and purpose. Many companies are switching their app to PWA based applications for better use engagement, active users, enhanced experience, revenue, and much more.

Whereas, many other companies are opting for one step ahead by using the advanced version of web apps called cloud applications. Cloud applications are always seen as safe and store large amounts of data without the dire need for internet connectivity. The choice of app is all about the ideology and the requirement behind it.