The verdict in three sentences
A PWA (Progressive Web App) turns your online store into an app installable on the home screen, able to work offline and send push notifications, without going through the App Store or Play Store. In Ghana in 2026, this transformation costs 6,000 to 18,000 GHS depending on features, versus 5 to 15 times more for an equivalent native app. The main gain: mobile retention up 20 to 30 % thanks to notifications, crucial in a market with volatile audiences.
Price by feature
A PWA is built in layers. Each function adds cost but also measurable usage value. Here are the 2026 tiers.
| Feature | What it brings | Indicative price 2026 | Delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home-screen install | App-like icon | 1,800 - 3,600 GHS | 3 - 5 days |
| Offline mode (cache) | Browse without network | 2,400 - 5,400 GHS | 5 - 8 days |
| Push notifications | Reminders, promos, cart | 3,000 - 6,000 GHS | 5 - 10 days |
| Cart sync | Resume across devices | 1,800 - 4,200 GHS | 3 - 6 days |
| Full PWA pack | All four above + optimization | 6,000 - 18,000 GHS | 2 - 4 weeks |
PWA versus native app
The real argument is economic: the PWA reaches 80 % of a native app's value for a fraction of the cost and with no store commissions.
| Criterion | PWA | Native app (iOS+Android) |
|---|---|---|
| Development cost | 6,000 - 18,000 GHS | 60,000 - 180,000 GHS |
| Store fees | 0 GHS | ~700 GHS/year + 15-30 % of sales |
| Time to launch | 2 - 4 weeks | 2 - 4 months + store review |
| Push notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Works offline | Yes | Yes |
| Updates | Instant | Subject to store review |
In Senegal, an equivalent PWA runs from 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA, with the same advantages over the cost of a native app.
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Mini case study
Awa, owner of a cosmetics store in Accra, had a classic e-commerce site with weak mobile retention: 15 % of visitors returned. She invests 10,000 GHS in a full PWA pack (install, offline, push, cart sync). Three months later, 28 % of customers installed the PWA and retention rose to 41 %. Push notifications on abandoned carts recover 18 % of lost sales, about 4,000 GHS/month in extra revenue. The PWA pays for itself in under three months.
FAQ
Does a PWA work on iPhone? Yes, installation and offline work on iOS. Push notifications are supported on iOS 16.4 and later, covering the vast majority of iPhones in use in 2026.
Do I have to rebuild my whole store? No. If your site is already modern, we add the PWA layer on top for 6,000 to 10,000 GHS. On a very old site, a preliminary upgrade may be needed.
Are push notifications really worth it? Yes. They recover on average 15 to 20 % of abandoned carts and raise retention by 20 to 30 %, often the highest-return item of a PWA.
How much is PWA maintenance? Expect 600 to 1,800 GHS/month for hosting, notification monitoring and evolutions, far less than a native app maintained on two stores.
Let's talk about your project. We assess whether your store is PWA-ready and price the right pack. 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.
