Torrent Gear

Why PWA apps are replacing mobile clients

1) What is PWA and how does it look like a "real" application

PWA (Progressive Web App) is a site that behaves like an application:

Installed on the main screen (icon, separate window without address bar).
Works offline/in a bad network thanks to Service Worker and cache.
Supports push notifications and background synchronization (platform specific).
It has a manifest (name, icons, colors, orientation), which makes UX "native."

The main thing: PWA is one codebase (web), it is updated instantly, bypassing the review in the sectors.

2) Why businesses are switching to PWA

Release speed: roll out features to the web without waiting for store moderation.

Cost of ownership: one team, a single stack, less QA-matrix of devices.

Coverage: works out of the box in the browser, does not require installation; "Add to Home Screen" - in one tap.

Conversion: no "store friction" (search → download → login). The user in the "product" in seconds.

Performance: The modern front (HTTP/2 +, lazy-loading, prefetch, WebAssembly) makes PWA fast.

ASO/SEO effect: web pages are indexed, landing pages bring traffic into the application faster.

Flexible monetization: payments on the web, integration of local providers, fewer ecosystem commissions.

3) How PWA provides "application" UX

Service Worker: Cache First/Network First/Stale-While-Revalidate, background sync/periodic sync.

App Shell: instant first render, then data loading.

Web Push: transactional/promo notifications (on Android - fully; on iOS Safari - supported, but there are nuances of permissions).

Install Prompt: native banner "Install" (Chrome/Edge/Android), in iOS - "Add to Home Screen" via Share Sheet.

WebAuthn/Passkeys: login without a password, device biometrics - as in native.

Fullscreen mode and deeplink links open the desired screen without browser chrome.

4) Where PWA wins native customers

Onboarding: "from link to feature" in one go; above CR in funnels.

AB tests and analytics: instant experiments, no releases and long rollout.

Multiplatform: a single UI for iOS/Android/desktop-web.

Support for "long tail" devices: old smartphones and weak networks are not a reason to lose users.

Reducing time-to-market: the idea of → feature is days, not weeks.

5) Limitations and nuances (honestly about complex)

iOS:

Web Push works, but permissions and background are strict; no periodic sync as on Android.
Storage Quota, Service Worker hot timeouts.
"Installation" via Share Sheet (not system prompt).
Access to hardware: not all APIs are equal to native (NFC, Bluetooth, background services are limited).
3D/game performance: complex 3D scenes and heavy ML tasks are better native/Unity.
Store features: store promotion, subscriptions via IAP - a separate strategy (although there are hybrid approaches).

💡 Conclusion: for content, trade, fintech, services, marketplaces, media, lifestyle - PWA often "closes" 90% of scenarios. For camera-intensive, sensory, heavy real-time games - native/hybrid.

6) Product matrix: when PWA "must-have," when - "nice-to-have"

Must-have (take PWA as a basis):

Content/news, e-commerce, reservations, financial offices, support, directories, CRM/internal portals, mini-games/quizzes, Telegram-WebApp extensions.

Hybrid (PWA + thin native):

We need system fluffs/widgets/sharing and store promotion, while the main logic is the web.

Native (priority):

AR/VR, high-end 3D games, constant background tasks, deep integration with system services.

7) Architectural skeleton of fast PWA

Core: TypeScript + modern framework (React/Vue/Solid/Svelte) + Router.

State/Data: RTK Query/TanStack Query/GraphQL (cache-first).

Service Worker: Workbox, cache versions, kill switch for force updates.

App Shell: critical CSS/inline, code splitting, prefetch by intent.

Auth: OIDC/OAuth2 + WebAuthn/passkeys; refresh-rotation, device binding.

Perf: lazy-hydration, resource prioritization, HTTP/2 push/HTTP/3, Lighthouse ≥ 90.

Observability: web analytics, RUM (web-vitals), feature flags, A/B.

Security: CSP, SRI, TLS strict, HTTPS only, SW registration with signatures.

8) Monetization and payments in PWA

Web providers: maps, local methods, Apple Pay/Google Pay on the web (where allowed).

Crypto payments/wallets: through Web3 wallets/WalletConnect and Telegram Wallet (on WebApp).

Subscriptions: own billing/partner providers; for stor exposure - a light native wrapper.

Zero commission stora: price flexibility and promo.

9) Application-level PWA security

Service Worker hardening: limited scope, versions and revocation, hijack protection.

Authentication: passkeys/2FA (TOTP), anti-CSRF, session cookies with HttpOnly/SameSite flags.

Storage: IndexedDB/Cache Storage encrypt at the data level (if necessary), minimize PII.

CSP: domain whitelists, inline script barring, nonce for dynamics.

Supply chain: lock files, checking dependencies, SRI for CDN resources.

10) Growth: How to make PWA "fly" metrics

Smart install prompt: show "Install" after the first useful action.

Precache + runtime cache - instant discovery and stability on a weak network.

Skeleton UI: content visibility <1s.

Deeplinks: from ads/mail/Telegram - immediately to the desired screen.

Push funnels: transactional and re-engagement notifications (with user consent).

Micro-onboarding: "Add to the screen" with illustration for iOS.

11) PWA Launch Checklist (one page)

1. Manifest. json: name, icons (dark/light), themes, display = standalone.

2. Service Worker: Workbox, cache versions, resource type strategy, offline page.

3. Perf: LCP < 2. 5 s, CLS <0. 1, TBT <200 ms; Lighthouse PWA/Best Practices/Security ≥ 90.

4. Installability: correct icons 512 × 512 +, HTTPS, valid SW.

5. Push: on-site permissions, quiet hours, segmentation.

6. Auth: WebAuthn/passkeys + 2FA; "get out from everywhere," device list.

7. CSP/TLS: strict policies, HSTS, no mixed-content.

8. Analytics/AB: events, ficheflags, remout-config.

9. iOS guide: "Add to Home Screen" instructions, Apple meta tags, icon masks, handling safe-area.

10. Releases: Canaries, SW force update, pullback.

12) Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

No offline mode: blank screen without network → configure App Shell and fallback pages.

Aggressive cache: users get stuck on the old version → version SW and activate the update.

Intrusive install-banner: ask for installation too early → show after value-moment.

Heavy bundle:> 300-500 KB JS to start → code splitting, defer/async, delete unused.

Push-spam: no segmentation/quiet hours → high opt-out.

Residual safety: without CSP/HTTPS-strict → risk XSS/MITM.

13) FAQ

PWA can be published in pages?

Yes, via TWA (Android) and wrappers; but the basic plus of PWA is updates without store.

PWA on iOS supports push notifications?

There is support, but with nuances of permissions and background restrictions. Plan for a fallback.

Can I make offline payments?

No, the payment requires a network, but offline-UX (shopping cart, drafts) is possible.

Will SEO suffer because of App Shell?

If there is a server render/prerender of critical pages, no.

When is native still better?

AR/VR, complex 3D graphics, deep system integrations, constant background.

PWAs replace mobile clients where release speed, low cost, instant installation, offline resilience, and broad coverage are important. With a competent architecture (Service Worker, App Shell, passkeys, secure stack) and an honest consideration of the limitations of iOS/Android, PWAs provide user experience at the level of native applications - with a bonus in the form of web indexing and fast product iteration. If your product is not tied to "heavy" iron integration, PWA is a fast path to growth and savings.