The PWA Revolution: Are Traditional App Stores Becoming Obsolete?

Is the End Coming for App Stores?

Progressive Web Apps (PWA) are rapidly maturing as an approach that uses web technologies to deliver native app-like experiences. Running through browsers, these applications can increasingly offer features once exclusive to native apps — offline support, push notifications, and device hardware access. These developments raise important questions about the future of the traditional app store model that has dominated mobile distribution for over a decade.

Advantages of PWAs

PWAs offer significant advantages for developers. The ability to run on all platforms with a single codebase, update independently of app store approval processes, and reduce distribution costs make them particularly attractive for small and medium development teams. For users, benefits include access without installation, less storage usage, and always being up to date. These advantages are particularly compelling in emerging markets where storage space and bandwidth are premium resources.

Current Limitations

However, PWAs still face significant limitations. Issues with full access to certain device features, performance gaps compared to native code, and restrictions particularly within the Apple ecosystem continue. Moreover, the ecosystem advantages provided by app stores — discoverability, security auditing, and payment infrastructure — cannot be ignored. Games and resource-intensive applications remain firmly in the native camp for now.

A Hybrid Future

A realistic future scenario envisions a hybrid model where PWAs and native apps coexist. Simple tools and information apps will be delivered as PWAs, while graphics-intensive games and apps requiring deep hardware access will remain native. App stores themselves may evolve into platform intermediaries that also list and distribute PWAs alongside traditional native applications, blurring the line between web and native experiences.

Impact of Legal Regulations

The European Union Digital Markets Act and similar regulations are opening doors for alternative app distribution methods worldwide. These legal changes could accelerate PWA adoption and help break app store monopolies. While a more competitive ecosystem emerges for developers, users will also gain more choice and flexibility in how they discover and install applications on their devices.