Mobile web apps are really websites that are written in HTML5 and are made for mobile browsers. They can also be packaged into an app with web-runtime environment. Users access them as they would access any web page. The user has the option of adding the web app to their home screen by creating a bookmark to that page. Many device hardware features (e.g. device camera, calendar, push notifications, accelerometer etc) are not available for mobile web app. If targetting multiple devices, mobile web app is easier to develop.

A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a web app that uses modern web capabilities to deliver an app-like experience to users. These apps meet certain requirements (responsive, connectivity independent, app-like, uses SSL, installable), are deployed to servers, accessible through URLs, and indexed by search engines. Progressive Web Apps are installable and live on the user's home screen, without the need for an app store. You can specify home screen icons, the page to load when the app is launched, screen orientation.