

Web development professionals might be wondering why they should bother publishing their web application to the Google Play Store when Android users can easily download it from their browser. However, you still need to submit your PWA for publishing on the Google Play Store.

The Google Play Store was the first major app store to truly welcome PWAs.

If reaching the iOS crowd is crucial to your success, strongly consider developing a native app. Apple clearly priorities native apps in order to foster a rich User Experience on their phones and other devices. While PWAs have limited access to the native features of the iPhone and other Apple devices, they still can access the following features:Īpple limits the abilities of PWAs even on iOS Safari. No integration with social apps like Facebook.Can’t access private information such as contacts.Here are some of the main limitations PWAs face on Apple devices: Your PWA will be accessible from the home screen like all other apps, but there are limitations to what it can and can’t do. However, if you have a PWA, you still have an option to reach iOS users.Īpple still allows iOS Safari to open and save PWAs to the home screen. Native apps provide the best User Experience possible on iOS devices. If you rely on reaching an iOS audience, you should consider weighing the pros and cons of PWA vs. If your app is not particularly useful, unique, or “app-like,” it does not belong on the App Store.”įor now, you won’t be able to submit your PWA to the App Store. “Your app should include features, content, and UI that elevate it beyond a repackaged website. In Apple’s own words per their app store policies: Apple explains this restriction by citing User Experience. Apple does not allow PWAs to be on the App Store. This does not bode well for Progressive Web Apps. The App StoreĪs we’ve already said, Apple has the strictest policies regarding which apps are allowed to be on the App Store. We’ll take a closer look at the three main app stores, the App Store, Google Play Store, and Microsoft Store, to see how friendly they are to PWAs. If you’re working on PWA development, you will want to understand which app stores will accept or reject your web application. Apple is by far the most stringent company when it comes to what type of apps are allowed to be on the App Store. Each one has its own requirements and policies regarding which apps will be allowed on their store. Google has the Google Play Store, and Microsoft has Microsoft Store.Īll of these app stores are different. Technically, the App Store is Apple’s brand. Now the answer depends on which app store you are referring to. If you’ve recently built a Progressive Web App, you may be asking can you put a PWA on the app store? In years past, the answer to that question would have been no.
