The question “should we have a native app or a responsive site” recurs regularly in digital projects. It deserves a precise answer rather than a default preference.
What each approach offers
A responsive website is accessible from any browser, on any device, without installation. It naturally benefits from organic search and can be updated without app store validation. It is the least costly and most open approach.
A native app accesses device features — camera, push notifications, geolocation, offline mode — more directly and reliably. It generally offers a smoother user experience for intensive, repeated usage.
Decision criteria
The relevant distinction is not technical but functional: what usage scenarios must the interface cover, at what frequency, under what connectivity constraints, with what native interactions?
An information or service presentation tool suits a responsive site well. A daily work tool, requiring offline access or personalised notifications, suits a native app better.
Progressive Web Apps
Progressive Web Apps represent a third path: websites that progressively integrate typically native features — home screen installation, offline mode, notifications. For many projects, they offer a relevant compromise between cost, accessibility and functional richness.