PWA (Progressive Web App)explained

A Progressive Web App is a normal website enhanced so it feels native: users can add it to their phone's home screen, it loads instantly and works with a spotty connection, and it can send push notifications. There's no download from the Play Store or App Store — it's just a URL.

For a founder, a PWA can be a shrewd first move. One codebase runs everywhere, you skip app-store review and their cut, and updates go live the moment you deploy. For content, commerce, and tools, users often can't tell the difference from a native app.

The trade-off is access to deep device features. A PWA can't do everything a native app can — some hardware and platform capabilities are limited, and discovery via the app stores is weaker. If your product's magic depends on that, native or hybrid may be worth the extra cost; otherwise a PWA gets you to market faster and cheaper.