The verdict in three sentences
A native iOS + Android app is worth it when you need reliable push notifications, robust offline mode or hardware access (camera, GPS, biometrics), but it doubles your development and maintenance costs. A web app / PWA with a single codebase covers 80 % of B2B needs for 40 to 50 % less budget and with no store review. The 2026 rule: consumer-facing + daily engagement = native; internal business tool = web app.
Cost, reach and maintenance: the 2026 comparison
The ranges below reflect a mid-complexity app (authentication, back-office, around ten screens).
| Criterion | Native iOS + Android | Web app / PWA |
|---|---|---|
| Initial build cost | 45,000 - 140,000 EUR | 25,000 - 70,000 EUR |
| Codebases | 2 (or 1 with React Native) | 1 |
| Average timeline | 4 - 9 months | 3 - 6 months |
| Store fees | 99 EUR/yr Apple + 25 EUR Google | 0 |
| Store review | 2 - 7 days per update | Instant deploy |
| Annual maintenance | 18 - 25 % of build | 12 - 18 % of build |
| Push notifications | Native, reliable | Web push (limited on iOS) |
| Offline mode | Full | Partial (service worker) |
The most underestimated line item is maintaining two operating systems: every major iOS or Android release can force 3 to 8 days of rework per year, i.e. 5,000 to 12,000 EUR recurring.
React Native: the middle-ground compromise
| Approach | Code reuse | Performance | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure native (Swift/Kotlin) | 0 % | Maximal | 100 % (baseline) |
| React Native / Flutter | 70 - 90 % | Very good | 55 - 70 % |
| PWA / web app | 100 % | Good | 35 - 50 % |
In 2026, React Native or Flutter capture most B2B native projects: one team, one shared codebase, only a 15 to 25 % premium over a web app, while still shipping to the stores.
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Mini case study
Marc, operations director at an industrial maintenance SME in Nantes, was torn between native and web app for his 40 field technicians. The real need: viewing work orders offline and taking photos. A 34,000 EUR PWA covered 90 % of it; the critical offline mode justified moving to React Native at 58,000 EUR. Result: 25 minutes saved per technician per day, roughly 3,800 hours/year valued at over 90,000 EUR. Payback in under 9 months.
FAQ
Can a PWA send push notifications? Yes, web push now works on Android and iOS (16.4+), but with lower reliability than native and fewer engagement options. For critical alerts, native still wins.
What does annual maintenance really cost? Budget 12 to 18 % of the build cost for a web app, 18 to 25 % for dual-OS native. On a 60,000 EUR project, that is 7,000 to 15,000 EUR per year.
Is native mandatory to be on the App Store? No: React Native, Flutter or a wrapped PWA (Capacitor) all reach the stores without a 100 % native build, while sharing code.
What is the timeline for a first version? A web app MVP ships in 3 to 4 months; a dual-platform native app usually needs 5 to 9 months depending on screens and integrations.
Can we start as a web app then migrate to native? Yes, it is a common strategy: validate usage as a PWA, then reuse the back-end API for a React Native app. Plan 40 to 60 % of the initial budget for that second phase.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your field usage, user volume and target budget: we settle native, React Native or PWA in 30 minutes. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
