The verdict in three sentences
For mobile commerce or service in West Africa, the PWA (Progressive Web App) wins on budget and on 3G data. In 2026 it costs 1.5-3M FCFA versus 5-12M for native iOS+Android, weighs under 1 MB on load, and avoids store commissions. Native is only justified if you need advanced hardware features or a mandatory App Store presence.
Cost, timeline and weight: head to head
A PWA is built once for all devices. Native requires two codebases (iOS + Android) and store review.
| Criterion | PWA | Native app |
|---|---|---|
| Build cost | 1,500,000 - 3,000,000 | 5,000,000 - 12,000,000 |
| Timeline | 4 - 8 weeks | 10 - 20 weeks |
| Initial weight | < 1 MB | 20 - 60 MB |
| Store fees | 0 | 15-30% + $99/yr Apple |
| Updates | instant (web) | store review |
| Offline | yes (service worker) | yes |
Reach and fit for the African market
On a market where data is expensive and devices have little storage, weight and install friction matter as much as features.
| Concern | PWA | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Install | add to home screen, 0 friction | store download 20-60 MB |
| Data usage | low | high at install |
| Push notifications | web push (full on Android) | full iOS+Android |
| Camera/GPS access | yes | yes, finer |
| SEO | Google-indexable | invisible outside store |
| User updates | automatic | depends on user |
For 80% of e-commerce and service projects, the PWA covers the need at a third of the cost.
Mini case study
Grace, who runs a meal-delivery service in Kumasi, hesitated between native and PWA. Native was quoted at 7,000,000 FCFA over 16 weeks. The PWA, delivered in 6 weeks for 2,500,000 FCFA, installs in one tap without a store and weighs 0.8 MB. Immediate saving: 4,500,000 FCFA, plus a 15% Apple commission avoided on each in-app order. She reinvests the gap in customer acquisition.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Does a PWA work offline?
Yes, thanks to the service worker that caches the interface and key data. Users can browse and prepare an order even without network.
Do push notifications work on iPhone?
Yes, from recent iOS versions for installed PWAs, with a few limits versus native. On Android support is full.
When should you truly choose native?
If you need advanced hardware features (fine Bluetooth, heavy 3D games) or a mandatory App Store presence for your brand.
Is a PWA indexed by Google?
Yes, a major advantage: every page is indexable, unlike a native app invisible outside stores.
Can you migrate from PWA to native later?
Yes. Many start with a PWA to validate the market, then invest in native if volume justifies it.
Let's talk about your project. We advise PWA or native based on your budget and market, without overselling. 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.
