Website vs. Web App: Which Does Your Business Actually Need?

'Website' and 'web app' get used interchangeably, but choosing the wrong one wastes time and money. The difference comes down to what you need people to do.

A website informs

A website presents information and guides visitors toward an action — learning about you, then getting in touch or buying. Most businesses need a great website first.

A web app does work

A web app is software people log into to get something done: a dashboard, a booking system, a customer portal. It's built around workflows and data, not just pages.

How to decide

If you need to attract and convince customers, start with a website. If you need to run a process or give customers a tool, you need an app. Many growing businesses eventually need both — and they should share one brand and one experience.