Apps Are Replacing Websites As The Number of Mobile Users Increases, But Is It Always a Good Thing?
Friday, August 18, 2017
We’ve all heard someone jokingly say, “There’s an app for that”, and
truthfully, there really is an app for pretty much everything. Whether you’re
sending an email, doing some online banking, or even making a payment on a
student loan, you are probably doing it from an app, right?
Think of the amount of time you spend on your
smartphone. Are you actually going to websites or using an app? Depending on
what you’re doing, it’s probably a little bit of both. While apps are slowly
taking over apps with the increase of mobile users, browsing a website may
still be just as good if not better.
How Many Apps Are You Using a Day?
Research findings vary, but it’s estimated
that the average U.S. mobile spends about five hours a day on his or her
smartphone. During this time, it’s not uncommon to use around 30 apps on your phone a day. While this stat
may seem high, keep in mind that many mobile users will upload an app only to
delete after trying it out once or twice.
Think about your own app usage. You probably
use less than ten, right? There’s no right or wrong answer to how many apps you
should or should not use on a daily basis, but most mobile users never use all
of the apps that they have on their phone.
Is The App Better Than The Website?
You may not even think about it much but are
apps really better than the website version? It all depends on the app and the
website. For instance, some companies actually encourage their customers to use
the app over the website for convenience and some easy-to-use features that
aren’t on the website.
Some mobile users are forced to use the app
because the website is all but defunct and is not mobile-friendly. Whether you
use the app or the website usually comes down to user preference. Hate the idea
of doing your banking while on the go? Using your home computer is probably
better.
Other times, apps aren’t available for your
favorite websites. Take https://www.onlinecasinobluebook.com/, for
example. This popular online casino gaming review website functions much better
as a website than an app because you can select where you live, the type of
games you want to play and casinos to visit. It’s secure and is also
mobile-friendly; therefore, no app is needed.
Will Apps Completely Replace Websites?
Eventually, it’s highly likely, particularly
if the number of mobile users continues to
outnumber desktop users. Again, it all comes down to user preferences and what
makes them comfortable and trusting. As the demographics change, it’s likely to
become an “app happy” society, but we may also run into a problem with too many
apps and too many unresolved problems.
Just because apps are convenient, it doesn’t
always mean it’s an ideal platform to work on projects or even get a good view
of the “big picture.” Use whatever makes you happy but don’t get ready to phase
out websites yet.