Web App Development
Progressive Web App Development
Skip the App Store. Reach users instantly with a PWA that installs from the browser, works offline, and delivers push notifications — at a fraction of native app cost.
Why Progressive Web Apps Win on Distribution
Native apps cost $50,000+ and take 4-6 months to build, then another 1-4 weeks to clear App Store review — for every single update. A Progressive Web App gives your users installability, offline support, push notifications, and home-screen presence without touching the App Store or Google Play. Your update ships the moment you deploy.
PWA performance used to be the objection. That argument is dead. With Next.js 15 server components, React 19's concurrent rendering, and a well-configured service worker caching strategy, a PWA running in Chrome or Safari is functionally indistinguishable from a native app for the vast majority of use cases. We've measured 60fps scroll, sub-200ms navigation, and Lighthouse scores above 95 on real devices.
Our vibe coding workflow generates the repetitive service worker boilerplate — cache-first strategies, background sync queues, Web Push subscription management — in minutes rather than days. Senior engineers spend their time on the architecture decisions that actually matter: what gets cached, how conflicts resolve when users come back online, and how to keep the offline UX honest about what isn't available.
Our Approach to Progressive web app development
Every project follows our 4-step vibe-coding process — AI handles the boilerplate, senior engineers handle the craft. From idea to live product in 3–7 days for MVPs.
Manifest & Installability
We configure the Web App Manifest with correct icons, display modes, and theme colors so Android and iOS prompt users to install. Scope and start_url are tested across all major browsers before launch.
Service Worker & Caching Strategy
We write a service worker caching plan tailored to your content: stale-while-revalidate for dynamic data, cache-first for static assets, network-only for mutations. Workbox handles the low-level plumbing.
Offline UX & Background Sync
Users should never hit a blank screen when offline. We implement IndexedDB queuing for writes that need to sync when connectivity returns, and clear offline indicators so users know exactly what they can and can't do.
Push Notifications & Engagement
Web Push via the Notifications API with opt-in flows that respect user preferences. We integrate with your notification backend and ensure messages are actionable, not spammy — because permission revocation is permanent.
What You Get
Every progressive web app development engagement includes these deliverables — scoped before we start, delivered before we invoice.
- Web App Manifest with multi-resolution icon set
- Service worker with tailored caching strategies per route
- Offline fallback pages and asset pre-caching
- Background sync queue for offline mutations
- Web Push subscription management and notification dispatch
- IndexedDB layer for local-first data persistence
- Lighthouse PWA audit score 90+ across all categories
- Cross-browser testing (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox)
- Install prompt UX with deferred prompt logic
- Performance budget enforced via CI Lighthouse checks
Tech Stack We Use
Our PWA stack is built on Next.js 15 with the app router (server components for fast initial load), React 19 for interactive surfaces, TypeScript throughout, Workbox for service worker management, Supabase for real-time data sync, and Vercel for edge-cached deployment. We use next-pwa or a custom Workbox config depending on caching complexity. All offline storage is typed via idb-keyval wrappers.
Case Study
SEO Pilot — PWA-Ready Content Tool with Offline Support
SEO Pilot is a content research and publishing tool used by writers who frequently work in low-connectivity environments — on planes, at conferences, in hotel lobbies. We built the app as a PWA from day one: service workers cache the content editor and recent research data, background sync queues draft saves when offline, and Web Push notifies writers when their scheduled posts publish. The install rate on mobile exceeded expectations because users discovered they could work offline without ever visiting an app store.
Read full case studyPricing Transparency
Progressive web app development starts at $5,000 for an MVP with installability, offline fallback, and service worker caching. Full builds with push notifications, background sync, and a custom offline UX run $15,000. All projects are fixed-price — scope is locked before we start, so there are no hourly billing surprises.
MVP
From $5,000
3–7 business days
Full Build
From $15,000
2–4 weeks
All projects include full code ownership, two revision rounds, Vercel deployment, and one week of post-launch support. No hidden fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a PWA work on iPhone as well as Android?
Yes, with caveats. Safari on iOS supports service workers, Web App Manifest, and add-to-home-screen. Push notifications on iOS require iOS 16.4+ and Safari. Background sync has limited support on iOS. We scope the feature set to what each platform actually supports.
How is a PWA different from a regular responsive website?
A PWA adds three capabilities a website doesn't have: installability (home screen icon, standalone display mode), offline support (service worker caching), and push notifications. A responsive site just adjusts layout for screen size — a PWA behaves like an app.
Can an existing Next.js app be upgraded to a PWA?
Usually yes. We audit your current caching headers, add a Web App Manifest, integrate a service worker via Workbox, and implement the offline strategy that fits your content. Most upgrades take 3-5 days.
What's the difference between a PWA and a React Native app?
React Native compiles to native code and has access to all device APIs. A PWA runs in the browser and has access to Web APIs only. PWAs are cheaper, faster to ship, and update instantly. React Native makes sense when you need camera access, Bluetooth, or deep system integration.
How do push notifications work in a PWA?
The user grants permission in the browser, which generates a push subscription. That subscription is stored on your server. When you trigger a notification, your server sends it to the browser's push service, which delivers it — even when the browser is closed on Android.
Will Google index my PWA content for SEO?
Yes. Because we build on Next.js with server-side rendering, all content is in the HTML before JavaScript runs. Googlebot crawls it the same as any server-rendered site. The service worker intercepts requests after the initial load — it doesn't affect crawlability.
How do I get started?
Email us at hello@greta.agency or visit /contact with a brief description of your app idea. We'll reply within one business day with questions to scope the project.
Ready to ship?
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Written by the Greta Agency team · Last updated April 2025