Website vs Web App: The Difference, With Examples | How-to Guide

Website vs web app in plain English: a website mostly shows information, a web app lets signed-in people do work and save data. One We.Inc website and one web app side by side, a comparison table and a checklist to decide which you need.

A website is mostly for reading: visitors arrive, learn about something and take one action, such as calling or sending a form. A web app is for doing: people sign in, enter information, and the app saves it and shows it back to them. Many products are a bit of both, but the question to ask is simple: do visitors need an account and their own saved data?

The same idea, side by side

Below are two things made on We.Inc. The first is an example website design for a plumbing business. The second is the We.Inc dashboard itself, which is a web app.

An example plumber website design made with We.Inc, with a headline, a Book Now button and service sections
A website (example design): the same page for every visitor. Its job is to explain services and get a booking request.
The We.Inc dashboard, a web app where signed-in users see and manage their own projects
A web app: each person signs in and sees their own projects, and what they change is saved to their account.

Website vs web app at a glance

WebsiteWeb app
Main jobInform and persuadeLet people get a task done
Sign-inUsually noneUsually required
ContentThe same for everyoneDifferent for each user
DataMostly fixed text and pictures, plus form submissionsStored in a database and edited by users
ExamplesBusiness site, portfolio, wedding site, blogBooking system, client portal, dashboard, inventory tracker
Search enginesBuilt to be found in searchPages behind a sign-in are not indexed
Effort to buildLowerHigher: accounts, data and permissions

Where the line blurs

A website with a contact form is still a website: the form sends a message, but visitors do not get an account. An online store sits in the middle: shoppers browse like a website and pay through a checkout. Once people sign in to see their own orders, bookings or records, you are building a web app.

Which do you need? A quick checklist

  • Do visitors only need to learn about you and get in touch? Website.
  • Do you want to be found on Google for your services? Website (an app can have one in front of it).
  • Do people need to sign in and see their own information? Web app.
  • Do several people edit the same data, such as jobs, stock or clients? Web app.
  • Not sure? Start with a website. You can add an app later.

Building either one on We.Inc

The We.Inc builder has separate Website and Web app tabs. Choose Website to build a business site, portfolio or one page site; choose Web app to describe a tool with sign-in and saved data. The free plan publishes up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address, with no AI credits and no custom domain. Building with AI, including web apps, starts on Starter at $20 a month; Pro is $49 and Max is $99 a month. See pricing.

Related: landing page vs website and the parts of a website.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between a website and a web app?

A website shows the same information to every visitor and is mainly for reading. A web app lets people sign in, enter data and see their own saved information, so it is for doing tasks.

Is an online store a website or a web app?

It sits in between. Browsing products works like a website, while carts, checkout and customer accounts behave like an app.

Is a web app harder to build than a website?

Usually yes, because it needs accounts, a database and rules about who can see what. A website only needs pages and perhaps a form.

Can I build a web app with We.Inc?

Yes. The builder has a Web app tab for tools with sign-in and saved data. AI building starts on the Starter plan at $20 a month; the free plan covers template websites only.

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