First of all, if you are asking what mobile apps are in 2024, well, you must be living under a rock for decades now. But, just for the sake of it, let’s go over it. You see, mobile apps are small software programs that are downloaded and installed on smartphones, for instance, iPhones or Androids. It is important to note that these apps have a specific function, such as shopping, chatting, playing games, or checking the weather or anything like that. This app is available in the internet shops and stores like Google Play and Apple App Store. After you install a mobile app, it is easy to get the resources and services you need directly from your device often just by clicking on the app icon. Now let’s explore the merits and demerits of mobile apps:
Advantages of Mobile Apps
1. Use Apps Even When You’re Offline
Among all the various benefits that come with mobile applications is the ability for users to access the content and features even when there is no internet connection out there. And there are literally so many apps out there that don’t require you to be online all the time to access their content and services through your phone, and when it comes to mobile games, well, if they are offline, you can avoid annoying ads in that case too.
2. Smooth and Snappy Experience
See, if there is no app of a company or a business, but there is just a website that they have on the internet, you’ll have to visit their website every single time to use their services, right? And that’s not very user-friendly, especially when we talk about mobile phone users. But, it’s a fact that, due to the apps being built to benefit the features of the device like GPS or touchscreens, as a result, it gives a user the perfect experience and is the fastest way to fulfill one’s needs.
3. Apps That Know You
The mobile apps can be customized according to the preferences of individual users, that’s for sure. With the help of these apps, users easily find the items they love, and they themselves are offered personalized content or suggestions based on that.
4. Keep Your Data Safe
Unlike websites, mobile apps can offer various levels of security to users. Furthermore, mobile apps can easily have integrated features such as detecting the phone’s protection code or reading the finger scan. This way it gives a sense of peace of mind to users that they can be able to safely store and share sensitive data.
5. Push Notifications
Apps on mobile phones can send personalized notifications to users, and yes, we are talking about those interesting push notifications that almost every mobile app company utilizes these days. Notifications concerning specific events, new updates, or other matters that are significant can be transmitted without the user opening the app.
6. Improved Brand Visibility
It is literally the best marketing method to advise and encourage people to download and install your mobile application. Why? Well, the symbol of the application is part of the advertising materials, as it is viewed constantly, and thus the brand can never escape the user’s mind. Users will find themselves in constant communication with the brand that way.
7. Convenience at Your Fingertips, Literally!
See, with smartphones or mobile phones, gone are the days when people used to visit some kinda website to get some sort of information or services. Now there are mobile apps, and once they are installed on your phone, you can literally access the content of those apps whenever you want, just a few taps and you’re there. Tell us, isn’t that convenience at your fingertips, like literally?
Disadvantages of Mobile Apps
1. Building an App? It’s Not Cheap!
One of the reasons that mobile apps are not used by many businesses, especially smaller businesses, is that the cost of time, money, and effort to develop them is so high. And it is not like the mobile app is built and now you are done, nah, there are constant ongoing costs regarding keeping things up to date.
2. It’s Complicated Stuff
On the other hand, it is not easy to develop an app for mobile. This is why developers need to possess specific skills and knowledge to make sure their apps will run correctly on various devices as well as different operating systems. The whole process could also be very complicated, taking a lot of time and effort to fine-tune everything, you know? And that’s precisely why it is so costly.
3. Limited SEO Visibility
Compared to websites, mobile applications are also not easily discovered by search engines such as Google. This means people don’t search the web just to download the app, instead, they have to go into an app store. So yes, you’d still have to utilize SEO in other ways to make sure people know about your mobile app.
4. Takes Up Space/Storage and Drains Resources
Mobile applications not only take up space on the user’s device but also can generally be resource-hungry most of the time, especially if the mobile app isn’t optimized correctly to run on specific hardware. Well, that’s how it is, but again, the correct optimization of your app will cost a ton of investment.
5. Security Isn’t Foolproof
Mobile apps do provide the user with a moderate degree of safety, but the protection of user data still poses a problem. Hackers are literally out there looking for loopholes in mobile apps, and yours could very well be the next. So yes, there is always that risk of your mobile app getting hacked, and the users’ data might be compromised.
Quick Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Apps
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Works offline, handy when there’s no signal | App development is pricey |
| Super smooth and fast on your phone | It’s tricky, not a simple DIY project |
| Personalized experience, feels like it “gets” you | No SEO magic here |
| Keeps your data safer than websites | Takes up storage and drains your battery |
| Instant notifications keep you in the loop | Security is a challenge, hackers don’t quit |
| Boosts brand visibility, always on the home screen | |
| Always accessible, right in your pocket |
