What is a PWA?
What is a PWA?
A PWA (Progressive Web App) is a web app you reach at a normal address, but once added to your home screen it runs like an app.
It's distributed and updated straight through the browser, with no app store review.
How is it different from App Store / Google Play?
Regular apps and PWAs differ in how they're installed and updated.
- App Store / Google Play apps: go through store review and registration, and users search the store to install them.
- PWAs: you can go straight to the web address, and adding it to your home screen makes it run like an app.
- PWAs update quickly and install with a much lighter process.
Install method
Distribution
Updates
Review required
Home screen install
Accessibility
| App Store | Google Play | PWA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install method | Search and install from the store | Search and install from the store | Go straight to the address, add to home screen |
| Distribution | Distributed through the store | Distributed through the store | Distributed directly through the web |
| Updates | Update through the store | Update through the store | Automatically up to date on every visit |
| Review required | Yes | Yes | No |
| Home screen install | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accessibility | Needs a store account | Needs a store account | Anyone with the link |
OpenPWA is an open app platform that gathers these PWAs and web apps so you can find, compare, and use them right away.
The easiest way to use OpenPWA
Add OpenPWA to your home screen too, and you can open it like an app without going through the browser. Follow the steps below to install it.
Installing on iPhone (iOS)
- Open OpenPWA in Safari.
- Tap the Share button at the bottom.
- Select "Add to Home Screen."
- Once added, it runs like an app from your home screen.
Installing on Android
- Open OpenPWA in Chrome.
- Tap the menu (⋮).
- Select "Add to Home screen" or "Install app."
- Once added, it runs like an app from your home screen.
OpenPWA
Version 1.0.1
© OpenPWA
Vibe Coding App Platform