Web Development vs App Development: Which one is best for your career?
Hi everyone and welcome back, and today we are going to discuss in detail whether we should learn web development or app development in the 2024–25 session. In this session, we will consider many different factors like how the job market is, what the demand for developers is like, along with what entry barriers we might face, or what kind of packages we can expect, or in which types of companies we can get jobs.
Web Development vs App Development
Now, before starting, let’s understand what exactly web development and app development are.
Web Development
When we talk about web development, in very simple language, here we are learning to build websites, like amazon.com, which in itself is a very big and popular website. Or, if we talk about startups like Razorpay, that too is a website-based platform in itself. So, we are building such platforms and websites.
App Development
On the other hand, in app development, we are building apps, like on our phones, we have WhatsApp. Now, one major difference between web and app is system dependence. Apps depend a lot on which operating system you are building your app for. Generally, there are two operating systems that are the most popular. One is Android, and the other is iOS, i.e., Apple’s.
So here we have the choice of whether we want to become an Android developer or an iOS developer. If we talk about numbers worldwide, 70–75% of users use Android phones, and around 25–30% users in 2024 use iPhones.
Technologies in Web and App Development
Web Development Technologies
Now, if we talk about technologies, for starting web development, we generally first learn HTML-CSS. Even in web development, there are many different tech stacks that we have to decide on. Generally, the most popular tech stacks in web development are MERN and MEAN stacks, which have the maximum number of jobs available. Now, if you want to learn more about the technologies and the entire process of learning web development, we have detailed that as well.
Mobile App Technologies
If we talk about technologies for Android development, there are two most popular options. One is that we can learn Java, or we can learn Kotlin. And for iOS development, the most popular option is learning Swift. If you want to learn cross-platform technologies, I personally advise you to learn React Native or you can learn Flutter as well, as they have maximum opportunities and resources available.
The Market Demand
First, let’s talk about market demand. The most important thing in market demand is locality. Now, if we talk about global markets, because there are more Android users worldwide, the number of Android development jobs is also more compared to iOS development. On the other hand, if we go to countries like the US, where there are many iOS users, the demand for iOS developers is much higher compared to Android developers. So, the country where we are looking for a job also matters a lot when we talk about Android developers. But generally, the demand for web developers is similar in every country.
Hiring platform/Job Market
The second point in terms of demand is that if we go to any hiring platform, the number of postings for web developer-related roles is slightly higher compared to app developer-related roles. From this, we can conclude a little that, generally, the number of jobs for web developers in the market is slightly higher compared to app developers.
So, app development becomes a somewhat niche field within development. But this doesn’t mean that a good career cannot be made in app development. Every coin has two sides. If the number of openings in web development is higher, then the number of web developers in the market is also higher. On the other hand, if app development roles are not as numerous, then the number of developers is also less. This is why, sometimes, if your skills in app development are above average, the chances of getting higher packages are more because the supply of good developers is not as high.
Google’s new policy
The third thing in terms of demand that I would like to address here is related to Google’s new policy. Earlier, it wasn’t there, but after Google’s new services. You have to pay 30% of your revenue to google. That is only if your revenue hit one million dollar. If you don’t use Google’s services and use your own payment processing system, then in that case, instead of paying 30%, you will only have to pay 26%. In the 15% category, you will only have to pay 11%.
Now, as a user, hearing this might seem quite normal to us, that it’s okay, but platforms like spotify.com have started shifting their payments to web versions. So, if a company has an app and wants to shift their payments to a website but doesn’t have one, they will need to hire web developers as well.
Entry barriers
Web Development
Now, let’s talk about the entry barrier. If we talk about web development, the entry barrier here is a bit lower because, we don’t need a high-configuration laptop, and there are fewer prerequisites. For example, if you start learning web development, the first thing you’ll learn is HTML, and then CSS. HTML is used to create the structure of a website, and CSS is used for designing and styling the website.
If you know these two things, you can make your first website. After that, you can start learning JavaScript, and slowly, you can transition to backend technologies. So, in web development, you can start small and grow gradually.
App Development
On the other hand, if we talk about app development, here the entry barrier is a bit higher. First, you need a good laptop. Second, to start app development, you must decide whether you want to learn Android or iOS development. And once you choose, you’ll need to learn specific technologies like Java, Kotlin, or Swift, depending on the platform.
But there is one more thing I would like to add here. Many people who want to go into app development start with web development because it gives them a basic understanding of programming and development. Later, they transition into app development.
Packages in Web and App Development
Now, let’s discuss packages. If we compare the average packages for web developers and app developers, generally, they are similar. However, if you specialize in app development, especially in cross-platform development using technologies like React Native or Flutter, your package can go higher because the demand for cross-platform developers is increasing rapidly.
On the other hand, if you are a web developer and specialize in backend technologies or full-stack development, you can also earn a very high package. So, packages depend more on your skills and the technologies you know rather than the field you choose.
Opportunities in Companies
Lastly, let’s talk about companies. If we look at startups, most startups start with web development because it is more cost-effective. Building a website is cheaper and easier than building an app. For example, many startups start with a website to test their idea. If the idea works, and they start generating revenue, then they invest in building an app.
On the other hand, if we look at established companies, they generally have both a website and an app. For example, companies like Amazon, and Flipkart have websites as well as apps. So, as a developer, you can get opportunities in both fields, depending on the company you are targeting.
Career Choice
So, this was a detailed comparison between web development and app development. I hope this comparison helped you understand which field is better for you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below. And don’t forget to clap this guide, follow me and subscribe for more such content.
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