By Quick answer: What is a PWA (progressive web app)?
- PWA = progressive web app: a website that can be installed and behaves like an app.
- Three ingredients: HTTPS, a web app manifest, and a service worker.
- What it can do: home-screen install, offline pages, push notifications, fast repeat loads.
- Proven in India: Flipkart, BookMyShow and MakeMyTrip all reported big gains from PWAs.
Key takeaways
- A PWA gives you one codebase for web and 'app', updated instantly without store review.
- It can be listed on Google Play as a Trusted Web Activity when you want store presence.
- iPhone support is good but narrower than Android's; web push works for home-screen web apps since iOS 16.4.
- PWAs shine for content, commerce and booking; native apps win for heavy device features and graphics.
- Install prompts and push notifications should be earned, not forced — ask after users see value.
In 2015, Flipkart — India's largest e-commerce company at the time — had shut down its mobile website to push everyone to its app. Then it changed course. It built Flipkart Lite, a website that loaded fast on 2G, worked offline and could sit on the home screen like an app. Users spent 3.5 minutes per visit instead of 70 seconds, and those who added it to their home screen converted 70% more2. That website was a progressive web app.
A PWA in one sentence
The three ingredients
HTTPS
A secure connection is required for the app-like features to work.
A web app manifest
A small JSON file that tells the phone the app's name, icons, colours and start page — what makes "Install app" possible.
A service worker
A script that sits between the app and the network, caching pages and assets so the app opens instantly and works offline, and handling push notifications.
What a PWA can do
| Capability | Android | iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Install to home screen | Yes, with an install prompt | Yes, via Share → Add to Home Screen |
| Work offline | Yes | Yes |
| Push notifications | Yes | Yes for home-screen web apps since iOS 16.45 |
| Listed in an app store | Google Play via Trusted Web Activity7 | Not directly |
| Deep device features (Bluetooth, NFC, etc.) | Partly | More limited |
Proven results in India and beyond
| Company | What changed | Reported result |
|---|---|---|
| Flipkart | Flipkart Lite PWA, built for 2G and offline | 3x time on site; 40% higher re-engagement; 70% more conversions from home-screen users2 |
| BookMyShow | A PWA replacing a heavy mobile site | 80%+ increase in conversions3 |
| Twitter Lite PWA | Around 600 KB over the wire; strong home-screen engagement4 |
The pattern is consistent: when the mobile web becomes fast and installable, people use it more — especially on slow networks and low-storage phones common in India.
PWA vs native app: when to choose which
Choose a PWA when
- Your product is content, commerce, booking or a dashboard
- You need one codebase and instant updates
- Many users have slow networks or low phone storage
- You want to test demand before investing in native apps
Choose a native app when
- You need heavy graphics, AR or advanced camera features
- You rely on background processing or deep device APIs
- Store discovery is central to your growth
- iPhone users are your core audience and need every native feature
Many companies run both: a PWA for reach and quick access, and native apps for their most engaged users.
How to make a PWA
- Make the site fast and mobile-first — PWAs inherit the site's experience.
- Serve everything over HTTPS.
- Add a web app manifest with name, short name, icons, theme colour and start URL.
- Register a service worker that caches your app shell and key pages, with an offline fallback.
- Run Lighthouse in Chrome DevTools to check installability and performance.
- Ask to install, and to notify, only after users see value — a well-timed prompt beats an instant pop-up.
- Optionally publish on Google Play as a Trusted Web Activity. See how to convert a website into an app.
Key terms, defined
Progressive web app (PWA) — a website that installs and behaves like an app. Manifest — the file describing a PWA's name, icons and appearance. Service worker — a script enabling offline use, caching and push. Trusted Web Activity — a way to publish a PWA on Google Play. App shell — the minimal interface cached so an app opens instantly.
Frequently asked questions
What does PWA stand for?
Progressive web app — a website built with modern web technologies so it can be installed, work offline and send notifications like a native app, while still being reachable by a simple link.
What is the difference between a PWA and a native app?
A PWA is built with web technologies, runs in the browser engine, installs from a link and updates instantly. A native app is built for each platform, installs from an app store, and gets deeper access to device features and performance. PWAs are cheaper to build and maintain; native apps can do more.
Do PWAs work on iPhone?
Yes, with some limits. iPhone users can add a PWA to the home screen, use it offline, and — since iOS and iPadOS 16.4 — receive web push notifications from home-screen web apps. Some device features available to Android PWAs and native apps are not available.
Can a PWA be published on the Play Store?
Yes. On Android, a PWA can be packaged as a Trusted Web Activity and published on Google Play, running your website full-screen in Chrome. Tools such as PWABuilder and Bubblewrap automate the packaging.
What are some examples of PWAs?
Flipkart Lite, BookMyShow, MakeMyTrip and Twitter Lite are well-documented examples. Flipkart reported users spending three times longer on site, and BookMyShow reported an 80%+ increase in conversions after launching PWAs.
How do I make my website a PWA?
Serve it over HTTPS, add a web app manifest with name, icons and colours, register a service worker that caches key pages and assets, and make sure the design works well on mobile. Lighthouse in Chrome's developer tools checks each requirement.
Sources
- web.dev — Progressive Web Apps
- web.dev — Flipkart triples time-on-site with Progressive Web App
- web.dev — BookMyShow's new PWA drives an 80% increase in conversions
- web.dev — Twitter Lite PWA increases engagement and reduces data usage
- WebKit — Web Push for web apps on iOS and iPadOS (iOS 16.4)
- MDN Web Docs — Progressive web apps
- Chrome for Developers — Trusted Web Activity
- Checked October 23, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- How to convert a website into an app in a day — PWA to Google Play, step by step
- Native vs hybrid vs cross-platform — where PWAs fit
- Tech stackWhat is an API? A plain-English explanation with a restaurant analogy and real app examplesWhat is an API? A plain-English explanation using a restaurant analogy, with real examples from UPI, maps and login, plus REST, keys, webhooks and security.
- App developmentNative vs hybrid vs cross-platform apps: which one should you build?Native is fastest, cross-platform (Flutter, React Native) saves 25–40%, hybrid is cheapest but weakest. How each works and which to choose.
- App developmentWhat is an MVP? Examples, cost and how to build oneAn MVP is the smallest version of a product that tests whether people want it. Definition, famous examples, types, cost in India and how to build one.
- How to make an appHow to convert a website into an app in a dayTurn your website into an app in a day: make it a PWA, ship it to Google Play as a Trusted Web Activity, or wrap it with Capacitor without an Apple rejection.
- App marketing & ASO50 push notification examples that actually get clicked — and why they work50 push notification examples for onboarding, habits, commerce, money, social, learning and win-back — with the principle behind each one.
- ComparisonsGoDaddy vs Hostinger: which is better for domains and web hosting in India?GoDaddy vs Hostinger for Indian websites: hosting performance, renewal pricing, domains, email, support and ease of use — and when to choose neither.
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