The PWA Moment: 2025 is Different
Progressive Web Apps have been "almost ready" since 2018. In 2025, they're genuinely ready for many SaaS use cases. iOS Safari finally supports push notifications, background sync, and install prompts. Android support has been excellent for years. For many B2B SaaS products, a PWA eliminates the need for native apps entirely.
What PWAs Can Do in 2025
- Install on home screen (iOS and Android)
- Push notifications (iOS 16.4+, all Android)
- Offline functionality (Service Worker + Cache API)
- Background sync (syncing data when connection returns)
- Access to camera, microphone, GPS, accelerometer
- Full-screen experience without browser UI
When PWA is Better Than Native
- Your app is primarily data-display and forms (dashboards, CRMs, project management)
- You want one codebase for web + mobile + desktop
- App Store approval delays are unacceptable for your release cycle
- Your budget doesn't support separate iOS and Android teams
- Your users are enterprise (they won't use personal App Store accounts)
When Native Wins
- Deep hardware integration (ARKit, NFC, advanced Bluetooth)
- High-performance graphics (games, video editing)
- Platform-specific features (Apple Watch, widgets, Siri shortcuts)
- Consumer apps where App Store discoverability matters
Implementing PWA in Next.js
Use next-pwa package to add service worker support to your Next.js app. Create a manifest.json with your app name, icons, and theme colors. Add offline fallback pages. The implementation takes 1–2 days and immediately improves mobile experience.