Your event App, native or web?

Any event organizer understands the advantages of mobile applications for their events. But, is it better a mobile application or a web application?

You can obtain almost the same features in a native mobile application as in a mobile Web, but which from a browser in case of mobile Webs. When we talk about event’s mobile Web application we mean an app that runs in the browser but is fully adapted to the event, not the event that the Website is accessible from mobile.

Next we will list the main advantages and disadvantages of each of them and our experience with evenTwo:

Mobile Web App for events

Advantages

1. A Mobile Web App for events could be accessible from Android, iOS operating systems, but also Blackberry, Windows Mobile and others. This would be the main advantage.

2. You can store the event data when you first walk using HTML5 features. Work offline, but is too small storage such speakers would not fit images or maps.

Disadvantages

1. The application runs in a browser, which does not have the same response as a native application.

2. You can not receive push notifications (instant messaging).

3. Not in the Markets, it has to be accessed from a URL to access the application.

Native App for events

Advantages

1. It can be found in the Markets, which helps in the promotion and visibility of the event, it’s easier to find and gives a better image of organizer.

2. If the App is well designed and following design patterns of each operating system, is easy to use for the attendee as it works similarly to any application on his device.

3. The response speed is much better than a mobile web app running on the operating system itself and not through a browser.

4. You can receive push notifications, something very interesting to the organizers before, during and after the event, as we mentioned in a previous article.

Disadvantages

The main problem is you have to develop an app per platform, so the attendees should have the same operating system on their devices that you have developed.

1. When installed on the device takes up space, which is difficult for users who have little storage space. It is important to develop not heavy apps.

Conclusions Native App vs. Web App

We have been for more than a year creating Apps for events. On each project we create native Apps for iOS and Android and a mobile Web with storage for other devices.

To take one recent example, in november 2013 we created “EBE 2013” apps. There were more than 1.000 downloads between different apps but only 4% used mobile Web. With this information we know that users really prefer native apps but it’s important to give access to any attendee to your event’s App regardless of their devices.