Web App vs Website: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?

"I need a website" and "I need a web app" are very different requests, but many business owners use them interchangeably. Understanding the difference can save you thousands of rands and months of development time.

Website: Information delivery

A website presents information to visitors. Think of it as a digital brochure or storefront window. Examples: - Business website with services and contact info - Portfolio showcasing your work - Blog publishing content - Landing page for a specific campaign

Characteristics: - Mostly static content - Read-only (visitors consume, don't create) - Simpler to build and maintain - Lower cost

Web App: Interactive functionality

A web application lets users DO things — create accounts, manage data, process transactions, interact with other users. Examples: - Invoice management system (like our Illumi project) - Booking and scheduling platform - Customer portal with dashboards - Ecommerce with cart and checkout - Content management system (CMS)

Characteristics: - Dynamic, data-driven content - User authentication and accounts - CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) - More complex, higher investment

How to decide:

Ask yourself: "Do my users need to log in and do something, or just find information?"

If they just need information → Website If they need to interact, submit, or manage → Web App If it's somewhere in between → Start with a website, add app features later

Hybrid approach:

Many projects are hybrids. A business website with a blog (website) that also has a client portal for viewing invoices (web app). Start simple, add complexity as your needs grow.

At Pixaloom, we build both. Whether you need a clean business site or a full-featured web application, we'll recommend the right approach for your budget and goals.

Not sure what you need? Describe your project and we'll give you an honest recommendation.