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Web Apps · 6 min read

Website vs web app: which does your business need?

The matmad team·

A website tells people about your business. A web app lets people do something — log in, manage data, complete tasks. Knowing which you need keeps you from over-building or under-delivering.

You probably need a website if…

  • You want to explain your services and build trust
  • Your main goal is enquiries, bookings or brand presence
  • Content is mostly the same for every visitor
  • You want to rank in search and capture leads

You probably need a web app if…

  • Users log in to see their own data or dashboards
  • You are replacing spreadsheets or manual processes
  • You are building a SaaS product or customer portal
  • Different users need different permissions and views

The cost difference

Websites are more contained — ours start from £1,950. Web apps involve accounts, databases and logic, so they start from around £4,950 and scale with features. The gap reflects genuinely different amounts of engineering.

Often you need both

A common setup is a marketing website to attract and convert visitors, plus a web app behind a login for customers or staff. We build both, so we can advise on where the line should sit for your business.

Related services & useful links

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