Think about it, your target audience will find it more easier if there is another simple way to access your website
instead of searching it every time on a browser. If you are wondering what is this simple way; it’s PWAs! There are
many ways that you can use to create a PWA for your website, you can either build it manually or use a plugin. In
this blog, we are going to focus on using a Progressive Web App WordPress Plugin to build a PWA.
Continue reading to know:
- What are PWAs
- Why should you build a PWA for your WordPress website
- Best PWA plugins for WordPress
- Step-by-step guide to creating a PWA with WordPress
- Advanced customization for building progressive web app for WordPress
- FAQs related to PWA WordPress
What are Progressive Web Apps?
So what is a PWA that even a luxury brand like BMW has used for their website? Let’s learn:
PWA (Progressive Web App) is just a website application that can be installed on mobile devices as an application.
This website acts just like an app on any device. Unlike a website, a PWA can even send a notification on the device
and works offline when users have a poor connection. Today, it is very important for businesses to focus on web apps
because more number of users are using apps for buying products, streaming music, booking rides, navigating roads,
and even for social media purposes. Now, instead of creating an app for every device like iOS or Android, you can
build PWAs so that your users can easily use them on any device. But what do PWAs have?
Key Features of PWAs
-
Offline capabilities: PWAs do not depend on the network to work, which means even when users are offline or face a
slow network, PWAs can work just fine. This is possible because PWAs use APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)
which can cache page requests and allow users to revisit the website content easily.
-
Fast loading times: When compared to websites, Progressive Web Apps are very lightweight and consume less data,
which means they have fast load times on any device. These web apps even work well on different browsers and can
display animation better than mobile apps.
-
App-like experience: With PWAs, users have an app-like experience which can increase user engagement. These PWAs can
send push notifications to users, it is fast, users can install them on their mobile devices, and they work offline,
which allows them to use websites just like an application.
Why Should You Build a PWA for Your WordPress Website?
-
Increase mobile user experience: Building a progressive web app WordPress site can help increase the user experience
for mobile users. This allows your web apps to have smooth navigation, offline working ability and has a fast load
time. A responsive web app will increase the user experience and keep them engaged for more time.
-
Improved website performance and loading speed: Having a PWA for WordPress websites improves the loading speed and
the performance of your site because of caching methods. The website assets will be stored on the device of the user
and this reduces the server request. This increases the website performance even when there is a slow network.
-
SEO advantages and increased user engagement: PWAs are not only good for increasing website performance but they
also have SEO advantages. Since your websites have a fast loading time and good responsiveness, search engines can
rank your web apps higher on the search results page. PWAs offer mobile optimization benefits by having an app-like
experience, which is also an important factor for user engagement as well as SEO.
Examples Of Successful PWAs:
- Uber: This well-known app for ride-booking/sharing is a PWA that works even in 3G and 2G networks.
- Pinterest: Pinterest, which is a PWA social media app offers a better user experience with visual media.
- Spotify: Spotify is among the best examples for progressive web apps because it can work offline, provide a seamless
user experience, and is a lightweight application.
- BMW: BMW’s PWA has a fast load time, needs less storage, and works offline as well.
- Google Maps: Google Maps can be downloaded on mobile devices and works great on devices that have less network
bandwidth.
Best PWA Plugins for WordPress
There are many progressive web app WordPress plugins that can be used for your website that is built with WordPress,
but which one should you choose? Here is a comparison to help you choose:
| Plug-in Name |
Features
|
Pricing |
| Progressive WordPress (PWA) by Nico Martin |
Push notification, caching for fast-loading, supports offline and AMPs (Accelerated Mobile Pages) |
Free, premium features are optional |
| Super Progressive Web Apps by SuperPWA |
Service workers can be customized, homescreen shortcuts, offline caching |
Free and Premium plan |
| PWA for WP & AMP by Magazine3 |
Mobile-first design, push notifications, AMP-compatible |
Free and Premium plan |
| PWA - Easy to Progressive Web App by Marcin Pietrzak |
Customization, responsive design, offline caching, and easy setup |
This PWA WordPress plugin is open-source which can be installed for free |
| WP - AppKit - Mobile apps and PWA for WordPress - uncatergorized creations |
Build hybrid PWAs and applications, advanced customization is available for app |
Free with premium add-ons |
{If you found this article insightful, we recommend reading wordpress plugins for development }
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a PWA with WordPress
Step 1: Planning Your PWA
First decide for what purpose your business needs a Progressive Web App. Discuss the key functionalities, desired
goals, and target audiences for your PWA WordPress website. This will make sure that your PWAs match the user needs
and also the goals of your business.
Step 2: Choosing the Right Plugin
The next step is to choose a plugin that as per the requirements. Make sure the plugin offers offline functionality,
customization for the app or the Service Worker. Consider the price and see if it support push notifications.
Finally, check if the plug-in is compatible with your WordPress site and goals.
Step 3: Installing Your Chosen Plugin
After you choose the right progressive web app WordPress plugin for your site, search for the plugin and click
“Install now”, then activate it. You will find the plugin on your WordPress dashboard once you install it. From the
dashboard, you can set it up for your WordPress website.
Step 4: Configuring the Plugin Settings
Access the settings of your WordPress plugin from the dashboard and configure the options like manifest settings,
caching, offline support, etc. You can even customize the branding, loading screens, push notifications, as per your
business needs, which will make sure that you offer the same user experience in all devices.
Step 5: Testing Your New PWA
Test the PWA on other browsers and devices for the functionality. Fully test if the Progressive Web App works on
offline mode and all the features are working as expected. Also the check the responsiveness of yourr new PWA so you
can identify and fix the issues to give an app-like experience to your users.
If you found this helpful, explore
'Selecting the Ideal WordPress Theme
Advanced Customization For Building Progressive Web App WordPress
Step 1: Ensuring HTTPS
Progressive Web Apps need HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) to stay secure. To do this, install an SSL
certificate, which will help you safeguard your data and connection. HTTPS not only protects your website but it
also helps with SEO rankings.
Step 2: Creating a Web App Manifest
Your PWAs metadata like name, theme color, icon, etc is defined by your App Manifest. Some PWA plugins will
automatically configure this file for your web app.
Step 3: Implementing a Service Worker
For your PWAs to work offline, a service worker is needed. This can allow caching and intercepting network requests,
which means your web app can work offline. It will make sure that users can access your web app even without an
internet connection.
Conclusion
All in all, the steps to create a PWA for you WordPress website includes planning, choosing, installing,
configuring, and testing your new Progressive Web App. For your PWA to work, have HTTPS, configure the web app
manifest, and implement a service worker.
If you found this blog helpful, you should definitely read
How to Troubleshoot Common WordPress Errors.
FAQs Related to Progressive Web App WordPress
If service worker is configured properly, the changes are automatic. You can also clear old cache and refresh the
service worker to update the PWA.
We recommend to not use multiple PWA plugins for your WP site because the configurations can overlap.
Yes, because HTTPS is needed for your PWA to work and protect your data. This will help you meet the modern website
standards and build trust.
Users can subscribe to receive updates with push notifications. Where notifications are sent with a service worker
even when users are offline.
They are just scripts that run in the PWA’s background to allow offline functionality, caching, and also push
notifications. Service workers are important for smooth functionality of the web apps.
Yes. You can convert your existing WP site into a PWA using the plugins that we mentioned in this blog.
Web Apps are progressive if it works offline and offers a good user experience. It has a responsive design, fast
performance, and offers push notifications
