TL;DR
Websites show information. Web apps do stuff. Think brochure vs. calculator. If users just need to read about your business, you need a website. If they need to log in, submit data, or interact with your business processes, you need a web app.
Not sure which one fits your business? Let’s clarify your requirements in 15 minutes.
The Confusion is Real
Your marketing team wants a “website.” Your IT department talks about “web applications.” Your boss asked for a “web portal.” Meanwhile, you’re sitting there wondering if everyone’s talking about the same thing.
They’re not.
The confusion makes sense. Both websites and web apps live on the internet. Both show up in your browser. Both can look identical from the outside. But the website vs web app choice affects everything from cost to functionality.
Websites: The Digital Brochure
A website is like a really good brochure that never runs out of copies.
You visit a website to get information. You read about products, check business hours, maybe download a PDF. The website doesn’t remember you visited. It doesn’t store your preferences. It just shows the same content to everyone.
Think about your favorite restaurant’s website. You check the menu, read reviews, maybe look at photos of the food. That’s it. You don’t order through the website. You don’t create an account. You just browse and leave.
Classic website examples:
- Company brochures
- Blogs and news sites
- Product catalogs
- Information portals
Fast and affordable websites. Fast to load. Easy to maintain. Perfect when you need to share information with the world.
Web Apps: Where Things Get Interactive
A web app is software that happens to live in your browser.
You don’t just read a web app. You use it. You log in. You submit forms. You upload files. The app remembers who you are and what you’ve done. It processes your data and gives you personalized results.
Think about your online banking. You log in with your credentials. The app shows your specific account balance. You can transfer money, pay bills, download statements. That’s a web app doing real work.
Classic web app examples:
- Online banking
- Email clients (Gmail, Outlook)
- Project management tools
- E-commerce checkout systems
- Customer portals
Web apps take longer to build. They need databases. They require security measures. They cost more. But they can transform how your business operates. At Leverage, we can build them faster thanks to our proven framework that handles the common components every web app needs.
The Gray Area (Where Things Get Confusing)
Some projects live in the middle. A website might have a contact form (slightly app-like). A web app might have informational pages (website-like). The lines blur.
But the core question remains simple: Are users just consuming information, or are they doing something with that information?
When You Need a Website
Choose a website when you want to:
- Share information about your business
- Showcase products or services
- Build brand awareness
- Provide contact information
- Share company news or blog posts
Your local pizza shop in Tulsa probably needs a website. Customers want to see the menu, check hours, and find your phone number. They’ll call to order. Simple as that.
Ready to explore website options for your business? Schedule a consultation.
When You Need a Web App
Choose a web app when you want users to:
- Create accounts and log in
- Submit and process data
- Access personalized information
- Complete transactions
- Collaborate with others
- Manage their own information
That same pizza shop might need a web app if they want customers to order online, track delivery status, or manage their loyalty points. Now we’re talking about user accounts, payment processing, and real-time updates.
The Cost Reality
Websites cost less. Web apps cost more. Sometimes a lot more.
A website from Leverage can start as low as $500 for a simple site. Web apps involve considerably more, but we are still more affordable than the other Oklahoma agencies. Complex web apps typically run $15,000-$50,000 depending on functionality.
Why the difference? Web apps need:
- Database design and management
- User authentication systems
- Security measures
- Integration with other systems
- Ongoing maintenance and updates
Don’t let anyone tell you a web app is “just a website with a few extra features.” That’s like saying a car is just a bicycle with a few extra wheels. Around here in Oklahoma, we know the difference between a horse and a motorcycle - same principle applies.
The Website vs Web App Decision Framework
If this website vs web app decision still feels unclear, ask yourself these questions:
- Do users need to log in? (Web app)
- Will you store user-specific data? (Web app)
- Do users need to complete transactions? (Web app)
- Are you just sharing information? (Website)
- Will the content be the same for everyone? (Website)
Still not sure? Let’s talk through your specific needs and figure out together what you actually need.
Getting Started
Whether you need a website or web app, start with clear goals. What do you want users to accomplish? What business problem are you solving?
Skip the feature wish list. Focus on the core functionality. You can always add bells and whistles later.
And remember: the best approach is the simplest one that solves your actual problem. Sometimes that’s a clean, fast website. Sometimes it’s a powerful web app. The key is knowing which one you actually need.
Ready to Build Something That Actually Works?
Whether you need a straightforward website or a custom web app, we deliver speed, quality, AND value for Oklahoma businesses - you don’t have to pick just one. At Leverage, you get direct access to our founders with decades of combined experience, plus our performance-first approach that keeps your systems running fast and efficient.
We’ll work through your use cases together to help you determine exactly what you need - whether that’s a simple website or a powerful web app.
Let’s talk about what you actually need - not what someone thinks you should want.