Progressive Web App Development
for Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane businesses.
Offline-capable, installable web apps with push notifications and native-like performance. Field tools, customer portals, e-commerce frontends, and internal business apps. Service workers, Web APIs, PWA.
We also add PWA capabilities to existing websites and web applications. Perth-based, Australia-wide.
Web apps that install, work offline, and feel native
A Progressive Web App looks and feels like a native mobile app, but it is built with web technologies and delivered through a browser. Users can install it to their home screen, use it offline, and receive push notifications — without visiting an app store.
PWAs suit internal business tools (distribute via URL, no MDM), field data collection apps (offline support is critical), customer-facing portals (installable for quick access), and e-commerce storefronts (performance-focused, installable). The web platform now supports most features people associate with native apps.
PWAs are not the right choice when you need advanced native-only features (Bluetooth, NFC, complex background processing), when App Store discoverability is a core acquisition channel, or when you need the absolute highest graphics performance. For those cases, consider React Native or Flutter.
PWA development — by project type
Internal tools, customer portals, offline-first apps, native app replacements, and e-commerce storefronts. These are the project types where PWAs deliver the most value.
Internal Business PWAs
Web applications that install on phones and tablets like native apps — field data collection, inventory checking, task management, inspections, and digital forms. No app store submission, no installation friction, just a URL.
Progressive Web Apps use service workers for offline caching, push notifications for real-time alerts, and device APIs for camera, GPS, and barcode scanning. They load fast, work offline, and update automatically — no waiting for users to accept an update.
For internal business tools, PWAs eliminate the biggest friction point: distribution. Share a link. The employee opens it, adds to home screen, and it works. No MDM enrolment, no app store, no Apple developer account. For field teams and frontline staff, this simplicity matters.
Customer-Facing PWAs
Fast, installable web experiences for customers — booking portals, self-service dashboards, loyalty programs, and content platforms. Users can install the PWA to their home screen for quick access, or just use it in the browser.
PWAs load in under two seconds on 3G connections because of aggressive caching strategies. The initial load pulls assets from the CDN, then the service worker caches them locally. Subsequent visits are nearly instant. This performance advantage directly impacts engagement and conversion.
Push notifications bring users back without the overhead of native app development. Web push works on Android, Windows, and macOS. iOS support for web push landed in 2023 — coverage is now broad enough for most business cases.
Offline-First Web Applications
Web applications that work without internet connectivity. Service workers intercept network requests and serve cached content when offline. Data entered offline is stored locally and syncs when connectivity returns.
This pattern is critical for Australian businesses operating in regional areas. Field inspections in remote locations, delivery drivers in coverage gaps, construction site reporting, and agricultural data collection. The app works regardless of connectivity.
We build offline-first PWAs with IndexedDB for local storage, background sync for queued operations, and conflict resolution for data entered by multiple users while offline. The complexity is in the sync logic — we handle that.
Native App Replacement with PWA
Some native apps do not need to be native. If your app is primarily content, forms, data display, and simple interactions — a PWA delivers 90% of the native experience at a fraction of the cost. One codebase, one team, all platforms.
We audit whether a PWA can replace the native app. Camera, GPS, push notifications, offline, biometric authentication — PWAs support these. Complex hardware access, background audio, Bluetooth, NFC — these still need native. We are honest about the boundaries.
The cost difference is significant. A PWA costs 40-60% less than a native mobile app, and there is no ongoing app store fee, no review process, and updates deploy instantly. For the right use cases, it is the pragmatic choice.
PWA E-Commerce & Storefronts
E-commerce experiences built as Progressive Web Apps. Add-to-home-screen for repeat shoppers, push notifications for order updates and promotions, and offline browsing of the product catalogue.
PWA storefronts load dramatically faster than traditional e-commerce sites, especially on mobile. Google research shows every second of load time improvement increases conversion by 7-8%. For high-traffic stores, the performance advantage compounds.
This approach works particularly well as a headless frontend for Shopify (Storefront API), WooCommerce (REST API), or custom backends. The PWA consumes the product and checkout API, with service workers handling caching and offline product browsing.
Direct ordering platform saving $0 commission across 6 cafés
We built a commission-free ordering platform replacing third-party delivery apps. Customers order direct through the brand — 40% higher margin per order.
Read the full case study →Why Progressive Web Apps are the pragmatic mobile choice
No app store submission, review, or fees
PWAs are distributed via URL. No Apple Developer Program ($149/year), no Google Play Console ($25), no review process, no waiting for approval, no app store compliance rules. Deploy a new version and every user gets it immediately.
For business apps, this is the biggest advantage. Roll out to 500 employees by sending a link in Slack. Update the app and everyone gets the new version on their next visit. No corporate MDM required, no IT support tickets about app updates.
For consumer apps, the trade-off is discoverability. Users search app stores for native apps — they do not search for PWAs. If app store discoverability is critical to your acquisition strategy, you may need native. If users come via your website, social media, or direct links, a PWA works.
Instant loading with aggressive caching
Service workers cache HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, and API responses locally. After the first visit, subsequent loads pull from the local cache — near-instant, even on slow connections. The experience feels like a native app.
Pre-caching strategies load key pages before the user navigates to them. Network-first strategies for dynamic data, cache-first for static assets. The caching strategy is tailored to your content type and update frequency.
Lighthouse performance scores of 90+ are the standard we build to. Lazy loading, code splitting, image optimisation, and efficient service worker strategies all contribute. Fast PWAs retain users better than slow native apps.
One codebase for every device and platform
A single web application that works on iPhone, Android, iPad, Windows, Mac, and Linux. The same URL, the same code, the same features. No platform-specific builds, no separate iOS and Android teams.
Responsive design adapts the layout for phone, tablet, and desktop. PWA install prompts allow users to add the app to their home screen on mobile, or install it as a desktop app on Chrome and Edge.
The maintenance savings are real. One bug fix deploys to all platforms instantly. One feature request is implemented once. One test suite covers all platforms. For businesses watching costs, this efficiency is compelling.
Works without internet connectivity
Service workers intercept network requests and serve cached responses when the device is offline. Users can browse content, fill in forms, and interact with the app without connectivity. Data syncs when the connection returns.
For Australian businesses, this is practical because large parts of the country have patchy mobile coverage. Field workers, delivery drivers, event staff, and remote site inspectors all benefit from offline-capable web apps.
Offline support ranges from simple (cached pages viewable offline) to complex (full CRUD operations with conflict resolution). We scope the offline requirements properly and build the appropriate level of offline capability.
Already have a web app that needs PWA capabilities?
We add PWA features to existing sites, fix broken service workers, and take over PWA projects. Offline support, push notifications, and install prompts.
Service Worker Updates
Service worker caching issues, broken offline mode, or stale content. We debug and fix service worker lifecycle problems and caching strategies.
PWA Performance Tuning
Lighthouse audit, Core Web Vitals improvement, caching strategy optimisation, and load time reduction. We get your PWA scoring 90+ on performance.
PWA Takeover
Previous developer gone? We audit the codebase, fix service worker issues, and take over ongoing PWA development and maintenance.
Add PWA to Existing Site
Convert your existing website or web app into a PWA. Add service worker, manifest, install prompts, and offline support to your current codebase.
Push Notification Setup
Web push notifications for re-engagement. Firebase Cloud Messaging integration, subscription management, and notification strategy.
Ongoing PWA Support
Monthly support for feature development, service worker maintenance, browser compatibility, and performance monitoring. Keep your PWA fast and reliable.
Web App with Superpowers
Need an app without the app store?
PWAs install from a URL, work offline, and send push notifications. Tell us what you need and we will assess whether a PWA is the right approach.
Common PWA development scenarios
If one of these sounds like your situation, a PWA is worth exploring.
Field Data Collection
Inspections, audits, site reports, and digital forms that work offline. Sync when connectivity returns. Perfect for Australian regional and remote work.
Internal Company App
Portal, dashboard, or tool for employees. Deployed via URL, no app store. Works across phones, tablets, and desktops with a single codebase.
Booking or Self-Service Portal
Customer-facing booking, ordering, or self-service portal. Install to home screen, push notifications for confirmations, fast repeat access.
E-Commerce Storefront
Fast, installable storefront as a headless frontend for Shopify, WooCommerce, or a custom API. Dramatically better performance than traditional e-commerce.
Replace a Simple Native App
Low-complexity native app rebuilt as a PWA. Lower cost, instant updates, no app store. Suits apps that are primarily content, forms, and simple interactions.
Event or Conference App
Schedule, maps, speaker info, and notifications for events. PWA installs from a QR code. No download required. Works offline during the event.
Common paths to Progressive Web Apps
Whether you are adding PWA features to an existing site or replacing a legacy approach entirely, these are the migration paths we handle most.
Common PWA stack combinations
PWAs are a capability layer on top of your web framework. These are the technologies we commonly pair with PWA development.
PWA + React
React SPA with service worker layer. Create React App had built-in PWA support. Vite and Next.js support PWA plugins. The most common PWA frontend framework.
PWA + Workbox
Google's Workbox library for service worker management. Pre-caching, runtime caching, background sync, and offline fallback. The standard tooling for PWA service workers.
PWA + IndexedDB
Client-side database for offline data storage. Forms, records, and application state stored locally and synced when online. Essential for offline-first PWAs.
PWA + Firebase
Firebase Cloud Messaging for push notifications. Firestore for real-time database with offline persistence. Firebase Hosting with CDN. A popular backend for PWAs.
PWA + Node.js
Node.js API backend for the PWA. REST or GraphQL endpoints, authentication, and real-time websocket connections. Lightweight and efficient.
PWA + AWS
PWA hosted on CloudFront CDN. Lambda API endpoints, S3 for static assets, and SNS for push notifications. Scalable and cost-effective cloud backend.
Our field technicians were using paper forms. HELLO PEOPLE built a PWA that works offline in rural areas, captures photos, gets GPS coordinates, and syncs when they are back in coverage. The techs love it because it installs from a link — no app store, no passwords, no IT tickets.
Common questions about Progressive Web App development
What is a Progressive Web App?
A PWA is a website that uses modern web technologies (service workers, web manifest, HTTPS) to deliver an app-like experience. Users can install it to their home screen, use it offline, and receive push notifications — all without downloading from an app store. It is a website that behaves like a native app.
PWA or native app — which should we build?
PWA if your app is primarily content, forms, and data display. If app store discoverability is not critical. If you need to deploy to employees without MDM. If budget is a concern. Native app (React Native or Flutter) if you need advanced hardware access (Bluetooth, NFC, complex background processes), if app store presence is essential for customer acquisition, or if you need the absolute highest performance for graphics-intensive features.
Do PWAs work on iPhone?
Yes, with caveats. PWAs can be added to the home screen on iOS Safari. Service workers and offline caching work. Push notifications work on iOS since version 16.4 (2023). However, iOS has some limitations compared to Android — no install prompt banner, limited background processing, and storage may be cleared after inactivity. For business apps, these limitations are usually acceptable.
How much does a PWA cost?
Adding PWA features to an existing web app: $3,000 to $10,000. Building a new PWA from scratch: $15,000 to $50,000 depending on complexity. Offline-first PWAs with sync logic are at the higher end. PWAs cost 40-60% less than equivalent native apps because there is one codebase and no app store process.
Can a PWA work completely offline?
Yes. We build offline-first PWAs that work without connectivity. Previously visited pages load from the service worker cache. Forms and data entry store locally in IndexedDB. When connectivity returns, background sync pushes the data to the server. Complex offline scenarios with conflict resolution are possible but require careful design.
Can a PWA send push notifications?
Yes. The Web Push API enables push notifications on Android (Chrome, Edge, Firefox), Windows (Chrome, Edge), macOS (Chrome, Edge, Safari), and iOS (Safari 16.4+). Coverage is now broad enough for most business cases. We use Firebase Cloud Messaging or a custom push service.
Will a PWA appear in the App Store or Play Store?
Not automatically, but you can wrap a PWA in a Trusted Web Activity (TWA) to publish on the Google Play Store, or use PWABuilder to package for Microsoft Store. Apple does not currently allow PWAs to be published on the iOS App Store. If App Store presence on iOS is required, consider React Native or Flutter.
Can you convert our existing website into a PWA?
Yes, in most cases. We add a service worker for caching and offline support, a web manifest for installability, HTTPS (usually already in place), and optionally push notification support. The existing website does not need to be rebuilt — PWA features are added as a progressive enhancement.
Get Started
Need a Progressive Web App?
New PWA, offline enhancement, or native app replacement — tell us what you need and we will come back with a plan, timeline, and fixed-price quote.
Tell Us About Your PWA Project
New build, offline enhancement, or web-to-PWA conversion — describe what you need and we will come back with a practical plan.
Prefer a quick chat? Call 0425 531 127 – we're Perth-based and we answer the phone.