Mobile app vs PWA for Shopify: What makes more sense in 2025?

By Gaurav Parvadiya | Last Updated On November 27th, 2025

When comparing a Shopify PWA vs native app, the winner in 2025 is clear. Native apps outperform PWAs in speed, trust, and engagement — and with Twinr, they’re just as easy to build.

What is a PWA and Why Did They Become Popular?

Quick, Low-Cost, and Convenient

Progressive Web Apps are web-based apps that do a lot of functions that native apps do. Not to mention, PWAs are super users of browsers and quickly become home screen apps. From a launch perspective, PWAs are cost-effective and faster to market. Shopify powered stores are perfect for launching PWAs. They do away with app store fees, and waiting for store approval.

Core Limitations of PWAs

PWAs are not competitive in 2025 due to limited performance and low engagement:

  • Access to device capabilities: Cameras, GPS, and hardware push are not available.
  • Offline Support: Complex media and workflows result in offline support being at best unreliable.

Business competitors that use these methods: Customers tend to trust apps on Play Store and App Store compared to web medals visible on a home screen. \nLack of Credibility \nRestricted Features \nMany Personalized Notifications and Advanced Analytics are either Restricted or required Coping for Workarounds.\ndential\ndential\ndential\ndential\ndential\nAlso Top Well-Known Companies Acknowledged and Acknowledged these Struggles for a Shopify Store to Achieve a Premium Top Tier Level of Growth for Shopify Store PWA are just a Beginning of a Starting Point and Not a Sleeping Point. \nLeading brands recognize these pitfalls; for a Shopify store aiming for high growth, PWAs are often just a starting point, not the destination. \nWhy Native Apps Still Rule for Shopify in 2025 \nPerformance That leaves PWAs in the dust \nNative Apps that are Optimized for Android and IOS are built on apps that are Optimized for Speed. They are able to load faster, and tap are able to richer customer experience, and to navigate smoother. McKinsey highlights the improvements of Native that can increase the performance of conversion rates to 35%. \nEngagement and Loyalty \nGamification, Offline Access, and Loyalty Rewards are Push Notifications that are Native Benefits of Apps. Compared to PWA and Website users of Apps research states users that make 2.5 more purchases return 3x more and Engagement and Loyalty translate these features revenue to Growth for measurable and revenue increase.

Establishing Brand Trust and Authority

Customers tend to see native apps as more trustworthy because they can be found on the App Store and Google Play. Furthermore, reviews and ratings on apps impact conversion rates. The App Store has over 2.2 million apps and consumers tend to look at the app’s star rating before deciding on a purchase.

Deep Data Insights & Personalization

Native apps allow for a wide range of personalization, utilizing purchase history, usage patterns, and geo-location data for marketing and upselling. E-commerce giants use these to tailor offers and promotions.

Long-Term Cost-Effectiveness

The first setup costs for a native app tends to be higher. However, over its lifetime, the ROI for native apps tends to be considerably higher than PWAs because of reduced cart abandonment, increased customer retention, and increased customer lifetime value.

Are PWAs Cheaper in the Long Run?

Unlimited PWAs have been touted as the solution for diminishing app store monopoly fees. However, the data for 2025 shows that PWAs have a higher net cost due to:

  • Long-Term Maintenance Costs: Regular updates are required for PWAs due to web browser inconsistencies, missing features, and other problems that demand workarounds and additional development time.
  • Limited Capabilities: The growth of the app and the business are negatively impacted. The cost of acquiring customers grows while the app engagement decreases.
  • Offline Frustration: The lack of cohesion in offline states, personalization, and data syncs can frustrate users and increase the bounce rate, decreasing the app’s overall value.

Native apps, on the other hand, provide solid features and value, making them worth the initial cost. This is why many leading brands in Shopify are moving to native apps in 2025.

How Twinr Bridges the Gap—Build Native Apps Without Coding

Here is Twinr’s no-code platform that allows Shopify merchants to easily build apps for iOS and Android. Unlike other service providers, Twinr can make native apps in days, not months, and has options like:

  • Real-time syncing—changes made to your website will be reflected in your app right away
  • Boost retention and sales with push notifications
  • Offline access—customers can be served with minimal Internet. and in areas with limited connectivity
  • Improved customer analytics

Twinr excels in customer service and product delivery, which is much better than existing PWA service provider.

Testimonials. Shopify Customers Enjoy Great Success with Twinr Apps

Sarah has a jewelry shop:

“Our repeat sales increased by 100% in three months after we launched with native apps. Customers appreciate the speed and notifications.”

Mike has an electronics shop and says:

“We achieved 250% ROI attributed to the app alone. Trust and engagement are remarkably high.”

These companies are proof that Twinr is a forerunner in the development of native apps in 2025.

Final Verdict: It is 2025 and there is no other choice than Twinr.

While PWAs presented an attractive and less costly option for potential clients, the situation has changed. In the present, the best way to succeed in mobile commerce is to offer native apps, unlike PWAs, for they offer speed, trust, and engagement.

The answer is straightforward. Where to begin? The answer is simple. You need a simplified platform to build native apps. Without coding. Without wait. Without needless complications. That is Twinr.

Get Started Today — Get Ahead of Your Competitors Using Twinr

Your Shopify store can and will perform like a laggard. Using Twinr, develop your native apps in days and enjoy the growing sales, loyalty, and brand.

Get started with no cost for your first trial and no coding to experience the positive impact on your business mobile application will offer in 2025.

FAQs:

Q1: Does investing in a native Shopify app make sense in 2025?

A: Absolutely. The competition is tough, and to not fall behind, companies will need to deliver native apps, as they are the only ones that offer rich features and perform quickly.

Q2: How much does a PWA cost in comparison to a Native App?

A: Native apps have a greater cost in terms of the initial investment. However, due to the decrease in customer loyalty and engagement they are not sustaining. Revenue is lost in the long term with PWAs. When evaluating over time, native apps are more cost-effective.

Q3: Is it possible to create a native Shopify app without any technical experience?

A: Yes, it is possible. With the no-code platform provided by Twinr, you can build, edit, and app provided by Shopify.

Q4: What is the Difference Between MobiLoud, AppMySite, and Twinr?

A: Fully native performance? Yes. Real-time synchronization? Yes. Customization of the app in its entirety? Yes. No code app builder? Yes. Flexibility along with affordability? Yes. We are the best option for Shopify store holders that are looking for better performance.

Q5: What are the characteristics of a native Shopify app?

A: Offline usability, real-time synchronization, push notifications, and seamless transactions are what every app in the shopping domain requires.

Gaurav Parvadiya

Gaurav is the founder and CEO of Twinr, a tech entrepreneur with a decade of experience and a passion for SaaS. With a Master's degree in Computer Science, he specializes in no-code development, driving innovation in the mobile app industry. When he's not busy growing the company, you'll find him writing about tech, growth, software development, e-commerce, and occasionally sneaking in a game of badminton.