Web app vs native app: a B2B decision guide for Toronto

The verdict in three sentences

For a B2B company in Toronto equipping a field sales or service team, a progressive web app (PWA) covers most needs for 3,810 to 6,100 EUR (about 4,100 to 6,600 USD) at Kolonell, while two native apps typically cost 1.5 to 2 times more. Native only pays off when you need deep hardware access (Bluetooth printers, high-volume scanning, continuous background GPS) or when your clients expect to find you in the App Store. Everywhere else, a single codebase, instant updates and a solid offline mode save both budget and calendar time.

What each option costs in 2026

The figures below are 2026 orders of magnitude for a field order-taking app: catalog, accounts, orders, payments and a manager dashboard. Kolonell prices follow our custom application grid; the other lines are market estimates.

The gap goes beyond the initial quote. Every change (a new field on the account record, a new discount rule) is built once on the web and twice in pure native. Over three years, the total cost difference often exceeds 4,500 EUR.

The criteria that actually decide

The choice comes down to four concrete uses, not a technical preference. In Canada, iPhones account for roughly 55 to 60 % of smartphones, so unlike West Africa you cannot ignore iOS. That makes the PWA versus native trade-off sharper, because iOS still restricts some web capabilities.

Our default recommendation for a mixed iOS and Android fleet: a PWA with offline sync, plus a targeted native module only if a hardware need is proven after three months of use. Our custom application services page details the three complexity levels.

Mini case study

Michael, operations director of an industrial supplies distributor in Toronto, runs 18 sales reps who take orders on paper and re-enter them every evening. Each rep loses about 25 minutes a day on re-entry: 18 × 25 min × 22 days = 165 hours a month.

• PWA option: 4,880 EUR, delivered in 10 weeks, Standard maintenance at 110 EUR a month.
• Native option: 8,540 EUR, delivered in 15 weeks, Premium maintenance at 180 EUR a month, plus 99 USD a year for Apple.

Over the first year, the PWA costs 4,880 + 1,320 = 6,200 EUR, versus 8,540 + 2,160 + about 90 = 10,790 EUR for native. The 4,590 EUR difference funds a route-planning module. The 165 hours recovered each month are identical in both scenarios: native brings no measurable gain here unless the reps print receipts on Bluetooth printers from iPhones.

FAQ

Does a PWA really work offline?

Yes, if it is designed for it: catalog and accounts are stored on the device, orders are queued and sent as soon as the connection returns. We test this with 200 queued orders on mid-range phones.

Can a PWA be published on Google Play?

Yes, through a Trusted Web Activity wrapper, for a one-off 25 USD account fee. On the App Store, Apple accepts web-based apps only with meaningful native features, so plan around 2,000 to 3,000 EUR extra if store presence on iOS is mandatory.

How long does delivery take?

Allow 8 to 12 weeks for an order-taking PWA and 12 to 16 weeks for two native apps. A 2 to 3 day scoping workshop locks the scope and prevents drift.

What if we need native later?

Business logic and the server API remain 70 to 80 % reusable. Only the mobile interface is rebuilt, limiting the extra cost to roughly 40 to 60 % of the initial budget.

What maintenance budget should we plan?

Kolonell maintenance ranges from about 50 EUR (Basic) to 180 EUR (Premium) a month. For a PWA used by 10 to 30 reps, the Standard level at about 110 EUR is usually enough.

Let's scope your project. Tell us about your field team and order flows: we price a PWA at 3,810 to 6,100 EUR with an 8 to 12 week schedule through our free quote request. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.