What’s the difference between a mobile app and a mobile website?

A mobile app (application) can be downloaded by users on their Smartphone’s. They are specifically designed for a mobile operating system (OS) such as Apple’s iOS, Google Android or Windows Phone. Typically a separate application is built for each OS which means each application requires maintenance and updating for each platform.

Mobile apps are typically a product that companies sell or offer for free such as the popular game Angry Birds. They are also used by larger companies to provide services to customers such as the Australia Post mobile app.

A mobile website is a Smartphone friendly version of your website. It is specifically design for the smaller screen and the touch input and is much easier to use with navigation, content and easy to tap buttons designed for the smaller screen. Mobile websites work on all mobile operating systems which means you don’t need to design a different mobile website for each of the popular platforms.

Your mobile website will display automatically when someone access your website form their Smartphone and there is no downloads required.