Website or web app: what do you need?

The terms website and web app are often used interchangeably, but the difference matters for your budget and your result. In short: a website informs, a web app does something. Which one you need depends on what your visitors have to be able to do.

What is a website?

A website presents information: who you are, what you do and how people get in touch. Think of a business site, portfolio or landing page. The goal is to build trust and guide visitors toward an action, like a request or purchase.

What is a web app?

A web app is interactive. Users log in, enter data and get functionality back. Think of a dashboard, customer portal, booking system or internal tool. Here it's about logic, data and security, and that requires more development work than a website.

How do you choose?

Ask yourself these questions to quickly find direction:

• Do users need to log in or see personal data? Then a web app.
• Do you mainly want to inform and convert? Then a website.
• Are you processing data or automating a process? Then a web app.
• In doubt? Often you start with a strong website and build out functionality later.

I build both, so you're not locked into one direction. We look together at what you need now and what can grow along later.