Mobile Applications versus Mobile Websites: Choosing Wisely for the Year 2025
In the digital age, mobile apps have become a cornerstone of user engagement and business success. A recent analysis of global mobile usage trends reveals that mobile apps significantly surpass mobile websites in terms of engagement and time spent.
According to key statistics, mobile apps account for approximately 90% of all mobile internet time, with users logging over 100 billion hours annually in apps worldwide. This strong user preference and engagement is reflected in the higher conversion rates observed on apps, which are approximately 157% higher than those on mobile websites.
While mobile websites still drive a substantial portion of traffic, with around 62-64% of global web traffic coming from mobile devices, much of this mobile traffic is funnelled through apps rather than browsers. This trend underscores the importance of mobile apps in the digital landscape.
Mobile users expect fast-loading and highly responsive experiences, with about 53% of mobile website visits abandoned if pages take longer than three seconds to load. This preference for apps with optimized performance is another factor contributing to the dominance of mobile apps.
Industry variance also plays a role, with mobile devices generating around 70.5% of website traffic in sectors like travel and hospitality in 2024. However, desktop users showed higher conversion rates in these industries.
In terms of user convenience, mobile apps offer several advantages. They keep details, usage history, and settings behind one easy-to-access button on the home screen, making them more convenient than mobile websites. Furthermore, a mobile app's builder can ensure that everything a user might require is available within the program's boundaries.
The rise of no-code mobile app technology has made it easier for businesses to manage both websites and apps without substantial investment or workflow disruption. With tools like Twinr's website to app converter, businesses can convert their websites into apps that users can download to their own devices and publish in app stores.
The benefits of mobile apps extend to user experience, with easy-to-use navigation, lucid graphics, and training for novice users. Additionally, mobile apps can centralize multiple functions in one location, something that the mobile web cannot do as effectively.
Push notifications, a common feature in mobile apps, also contribute to their success. With an average open rate of 20% and a click-through rate of 28%, push notifications provide a powerful tool for engaging users and driving conversions.
In conclusion, while mobile websites remain vital for broad accessibility and search-driven traffic, mobile apps dominate user engagement and offer superior conversion and retention in 2024-2025. By leveraging appropriate no-code mobile app technology, businesses can capitalize on this trend and enhance their digital presence.
References: [1] Statista (2025). Share of mobile internet time worldwide in 2024 and 2025 [statistic]. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1172097/share-of-mobile-internet-time-worldwide/ [2] Statcounter GlobalStats (2025). Mobile vs desktop usage statistics. Retrieved from https://gs.statcounter.com/usage-share/mobile-vs-desktop/worldwide [3] Statista (2024). Share of website traffic by device in the travel sector in 2024 [statistic]. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1172097/share-of-mobile-internet-time-worldwide/ [4] Google (2018). The Need for Mobile Speed. Retrieved from https://developers.google.com/speed/docs/insights/desktop [5] Adobe (2019). Mobile Report. Retrieved from https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/marketing/en_us/insights/market-intelligence/reports/2019/adobe-mobile-report.pdf
Gadgets like smartphones are essential for receiving push notifications from mobile apps, as these notifications help increase user engagement and conversions, with average open rates of 20% and click-through rates of 28%. The dominance of mobile apps over mobile websites in terms of user engagement and conversion is further highlighted by the fact that mobile apps account for approximately 90% of all mobile internet time, with users spending over 100 billion hours annually in apps worldwide.
