Founders often assume they need an iOS app, an Android app and a website from day one. Usually they don't. The right first version depends on how people will find the product and how often they'll use it.
Start with a web app when…
- People find you through search, ads or links
- Use is occasional, or happens at a desk
- You need to change things quickly while you learn
- Businesses will use it as a dashboard or admin tool
A web app ships fastest, updates instantly and works on every device. Modern web apps can also be installed on a phone's home screen.
Go mobile-first when…
- People will use it daily, on the go
- It relies on the camera, location, offline use or push notifications
- Your audience mostly lives on their phones
Our own exam-prep app, Uttirno, is a good example: students practise every day on their phones, so a mobile app was the right first step.
One codebase, two stores
Cross-platform frameworks such as React Native and Flutter let one team ship iOS and Android from a single codebase, at close to native quality for most products. That usually removes the "we can only afford one platform" problem.
React Native also shares a language and patterns with React on the web, which makes a web dashboard plus mobile app combination efficient for a small team.
Plan for both, build one first
Whatever you launch first, design the backend and API so a second client can be added later without a rewrite. Then let real usage tell you when it's time.
If you're weighing up your first version, book a discovery call and we'll help you scope it.