A website informs, a web app gets work done. If every visitor should see the same content, you need a website. If people sign in and work with their own data, you need a web app. Both run in the browser, so the terms are often mixed up.
The difference matters for your budget. A small website with up to 5 pages is CHF 600 – 950, a company website CHF 1'500 – 2'300. A web app starts at CHF 9'000 with a simple tool, and a customer portal is CHF 28'000 – 42'000. Websites are inexpensive because they are built on templates. With web apps, concept, testing, security and operations drive the work. Our overview of website and web app prices shows what each add-on adds.
How to recognise a website
Every visitor sees the same content. Typical examples are a hairdresser's small website, company sites, landing pages and blogs. It makes no difference whether you call it a website, a site or a homepage.
A contact form does not turn a website into a web app. A content management system that lets you change text and images yourself is still part of a website too. The price depends mainly on the number of pages and on add-ons such as languages, custom design or online booking. If you want to look at website development, that page sets out what we deliver and answers the main questions. The article How much does a website cost in Switzerland? shows the packages and three model cases. Whether a website builder would be enough is covered in the comparison website builder or agency.
How to recognise a web app
Users sign in and work with their own data. Examples are customer portals, booking systems and internal tools. A web app usually has a database and logic of its own behind it, such as the rule for who may approve an order. Nobody has to install anything, because it runs in the browser on any device.
If you offer the application to several customers as a service, usually by subscription, it is called SaaS. That adds separating each customer's data and handling billing. There is more on the page web app development.
The difference at a glance
- Content: on a website everyone sees the same thing. In a web app each person sees their own data.
- Login: a website usually manages without one, a web app hardly ever does.
- Data: a website shows maintained content. A web app stores and changes data in a database all the time.
- Purpose: a website explains your offer and brings in enquiries. A web app replaces work steps.
- Guide price: from CHF 300 for a website, from CHF 9'000 for a web app.
- Timeframe: a few weeks for a small website, several months for a customer portal.
- After launch: both need updates. A web app also needs monitoring, backups and usually ongoing development.
Three questions for the decision
- Do people need to sign in to get something done?
- Does the content differ by person or customer?
- Should the application replace a step that is done by hand today?
If the answer to all three is no, a website is nearly always enough. With a clear yes you probably need a web app, or a website with a small web app for that one step.
Three starting points as examples
These model cases show how the three questions work in practice.
- An accounting firm wants to present its services and receive enquiries. All three answers are no, so a website with a contact form is enough.
- A trades business wants to take bookings online. Customers do not need to sign in, but phone bookings should stop. A website with online booking fits here, either through an existing tool for CHF 100 – 170 or as your own booking system with a calendar for CHF 900 – 1'400.
- A wholesaler wants to show its buyers prices, orders and delivery status. All three answers are yes, so it needs a web app with login and a connection to the existing system.
And when a mobile app?
Your own app for iOS and Android pays off when people use it regularly or it needs device features such as the camera, location or push notifications. If neither applies, a web app is often enough. It is usually cheaper and available straight away with no store review. You can read more about mobile app development on our service page. The article App development: how much does an app cost? shows the packages.
And if you want to sell something?
For a few offers, such as vouchers or courses, a website with the online payment add-on at CHF 500 – 800 is enough. If you need a cart, shipping and product management, a shop is the better choice. A small shop is CHF 1'800 – 2'800. There is more on the page online shop development. The article What does an online shop cost in Switzerland? works through three model cases.
A common mistake: planning too big
Many projects start too big. Often a good website plus a form that writes cleanly into your existing systems is enough. Start with the smallest step your customers will notice, and expand once demand shows. The article Scoping your first version explains how to find that step.
Where to go from here
Once the direction is clear, the project assistant for your request gives you a price range and timeframe straight away. The binding quote follows after we talk. For a web app, the article How much does a web app cost in Switzerland? works through three model cases. If you are still unsure, send us a short note on what you have in mind. We build both, and we will tell you plainly when the smaller option is enough.