The verdict in three sentences
For an app aimed at business customers, a PWA (progressive web app) covers most needs in 2026: ordering, catalogue, delivery tracking and push notifications, including on iPhone since iOS 16.4. Built by a nearshore team in Tunis, it costs TND 25,000 to 60,000 excl. tax (about EUR 7,400 to 17,600), versus TND 70,000 to 180,000 (about EUR 20,600 to 53,000) for native iOS and Android apps, roughly 2.5 to 3 times less; London agency rates run 2 to 3 times higher, but the ratio holds. Native remains justified when the app depends on hardware (Bluetooth, heavy scanning, extensive offline mode) or on visibility in consumer app stores.
What each option costs over 3 years
Upfront cost tells only part of the story: a native app means two codebases or a cross-platform framework, developer accounts, review on every update and heavier maintenance with each new iOS and Android release.
| Item | PWA | Cross-platform native (Flutter, React Native) | Separate native iOS + Android |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial build (TND excl. tax) | 25,000 to 60,000 | 70,000 to 120,000 | 110,000 to 180,000 |
| Time to launch | 6 to 10 weeks | 12 to 18 weeks | 16 to 24 weeks |
| Store fees | 0 | USD 99 a year Apple, USD 25 once Google | USD 99 a year Apple, USD 25 once Google |
| Update review | None, instant deployment | 1 to 3 days per release | 1 to 3 days per release |
| Annual maintenance | 15 to 20 % of initial cost | 20 to 25 % | 20 to 30 % |
| 3-year total cost (mid-range) | 57,000 to 64,000 | 147,000 to 165,000 | 232,000 to 270,000 |
2026 estimate, order of magnitude for a 15 to 25 screen B2B app with back office (1 EUR is about 3.4 TND).
Decision grid by use case
The right choice depends on what users actually do with the app, not on technology preference.
| Use case | PWA | Native | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| B2B ordering and catalogue with customer prices | Excellent fit | Good fit | PWA |
| Delivery tracking and push notifications | Good fit, iOS push since 16.4 if installed | Excellent fit | PWA, unless push volume is critical |
| Occasional barcode scanning | Good fit via camera | Excellent fit | PWA |
| Intensive warehouse scanning, Bluetooth printer | Limited | Excellent fit | Native |
| Full offline mode over several days | Partial | Excellent fit | Native |
| Consumer visibility in the App Store | None | Native | Native |
| Internal app for 20 to 200 sales reps | Excellent fit | Good fit | PWA |
A middle path exists: launch as a PWA, measure usage for 6 months, then wrap the same codebase for the stores if demand justifies it, for TND 8,000 to 20,000 more.
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Mini case study
Sami, managing director of a hygiene products distributor in Tunis, serves 450 business customers (grocers, pharmacies, hotels) with 12 sales reps. Today 60 % of orders come in by phone or WhatsApp and are re-keyed by 2 assistants. A TND 42,000 excl. tax ordering PWA with catalogue, per-customer pricing and push notifications would move half of those orders to self-service. Re-keying time saved is estimated at 1 full-time role, about TND 24,000 a year loaded, and order errors, valued at 1.2 % of TND 3 M revenue (TND 36,000), drop by half. Annual gain: 24,000 + 18,000 = TND 42,000, a payback of about 12 months. An equivalent TND 120,000 native app would have taken nearly 3 years. A London wholesaler with the same profile would see identical ratios at higher absolute figures.
FAQ
Does a PWA work well on iPhone? Yes since iOS 16.4: home-screen install, push notifications and full screen. Customers must add it to the home screen from Safari, a 10-second step with a short guide.
Can a PWA be published on the Play Store? Yes, via a TWA (Trusted Web Activity) wrapper for about TND 3,000 to 6,000. Apple's App Store is stricter and often requires additional native features.
Is a PWA lighter for customers? Usually yes: under 2 to 5 MB versus 30 to 80 MB for a native app, a real advantage on limited mobile data plans.
Is online payment possible? Yes, local gateways such as ClicToPay or Konnect, or Stripe in the UK, integrate into a PWA just like a website, without the 15 to 30 % store commission on physical B2B purchases.
How long for a first version? Allow 6 to 10 weeks for a B2B ordering PWA with back office, versus 12 to 24 weeks for native.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your customers, field use and ERP: we will recommend PWA or native and price a first version between TND 25,000 and 60,000 excl. tax (about EUR 7,400 to 17,600), deliverable in 6 to 10 weeks. 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.