Build · Quoted per project
Mobile applications, and when you do not need one
- Published
- Published
- Last reviewed
- Reviewed
The short answer
Redenn builds mobile applications for businesses whose customers or staff need an app on their phone: installable web apps built from the same Next.js codebase as your site, or native apps where device features demand it. Projects are quoted after scoping, and the first question we ask is whether a responsive website or a progressive web app already does the job.
What changes
- Staff or customers get an icon on their home screen and a tool that works on site
- One codebase serves the website and the installable app, so features are not built twice
- Offline-tolerant screens for field work where signal is poor
- Push notifications, camera and location used only where they earn their place
What is included
- Fit assessment: responsive site, PWA or native, with reasons
- Written scope, fixed price and ship date
- Progressive web app build on Next.js where that fits
- Native or cross-platform build where device features require it
- Backend, authentication and data on Supabase
- App store submission support where a store listing is in scope
How it works
- 01
Fit check
We list the features you need on a phone and match them to the cheapest option that delivers them.
- 02
Scope and quote
A fixed price and ship date for the option you choose, with the backend included.
- 03
Build and test
Releases go to a test link or a test flight so your team can use them before launch.
- 04
Launch
Installable from your site, or published to the stores, with monitoring in place.
Who this is for
Businesses with a real mobile use case: a driving school where instructors log lessons from the car, a contractor whose crews photograph completed work, a clinic that wants patients to check in from a phone. In each case the app exists because a task happens away from a desk.
It is not for a business that wants an app because competitors have one. An app nobody installs is expensive shelf space; most local businesses are better served by a fast mobile website and a Google Business Profile.
Responsive site, PWA or native app
The table is how we decide. Most small-business needs stop at the second column.
| Need | Responsive website | Progressive web app | Native app |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works on every phone | Yes | Yes | Yes, per platform |
| Home-screen icon | No | Yes | Yes |
| Works with poor signal | Limited | Yes, for cached screens | Yes |
| Push notifications | No | Yes on most devices | Yes |
| Camera, GPS, contacts | Basic | Most features | Full access |
| App store listing | No | Optional | Yes, with store review |
| Cost basis | Website package | Web app quote | Highest; per platform |
What it costs
Mobile projects are quoted per project because scope varies more than for websites. A progressive web app is usually the least expensive route because it reuses your website's code and hosting on the Dynamic tier at CA$49 per month. Native apps carry the extra cost of store accounts, per-platform builds and store review cycles.
Limitations and honest notes
Apple and Google store policies, developer account fees and review timelines are outside Redenn's control and are billed by those companies to you.
A progressive web app cannot use every device feature, and its push notification support differs by phone and browser. If a feature is essential, we will tell you when native is the only honest answer.
Apps that collect personal information must respect PIPEDA or the provincial equivalent, and app stores require a published privacy policy.
Questions
Do I need a mobile app for my business?
Usually not. If customers only need to find you, read about services and call or book, a responsive website does that. An app pays off when a task happens on a phone repeatedly, such as field reporting or member check-in.
What is a progressive web app?
A website built so it can be installed on a phone with an icon, cache its screens for poor signal and, on most devices, send notifications. It shares code with your website, which keeps cost down.
Can you publish to the App Store and Google Play?
Yes, when a native or cross-platform build is in scope. The developer accounts are created in your name, and store fees are paid by you to Apple and Google.
Related
Services
- Web ApplicationsAccounts, data and workflows on Next.js and Supabase, scoped to a fixed price with a ship date in writing.
- Customer PortalsA secure login area where clients see status, documents and invoices instead of emailing to ask.
- Website DevelopmentNext.js, React and TypeScript builds deployed to Vercel, with the search foundation included from CA$499.
- Website HostingGlobal CDN, automatic SSL and monitoring from CA$99/year for static sites to CA$99/month for managed applications.
Guides
Build it. With mobile applications.
Configure a website in minutes, or ask for a written quote. Quotes arrive within two business days.