Comparison
Appziot or a PWA?
Written by the Appziot team (Product). Published October 5, 2026. Updated October 5, 2026. Questions: support@appziot.com.
Appziot does not build progressive web apps. It builds a branded iOS and Android shopping app connected to Shopify, which you submit to the App Store and Google Play.
A PWA is the other direction: keep the website, and make it installable from the browser. If that is the project, you do not need Appziot. If you want store distribution and the push behavior of a native app, a PWA will leave a gap. The longer neutral comparison is Shopify mobile app vs PWA.
Side by side
| Appziot | PWA | |
|---|---|---|
| What the customer installs | An iOS or Android app from the stores | The website, from the browser |
| Where it is found | App Store, Play Store, and links you share | Search, ads, and the site you already have |
| Push | Yes, after the customer allows it. Rich push is on Growth. | Only where the browser supports it, often after install |
| Store review | Yes. Appziot does not control approval. | No |
| Catalog and checkout | Shopify | Shopify, because it is the site |
| Your ongoing cost | Appziot plan plus Apple and Google fees | Theme and PWA work. No Appziot plan. |
| When it is enough | You want a dedicated shopping app | An installable site is the whole brief |
Choose a PWA when
You want one experience, the website, and you do not want to maintain a store listing. Your customers will add it to their home screen if you ask, or they will not, and you can live with that. You have checked push on the phones they actually use, if push is part of the plan.
Choose Appziot when
You want a separate iOS and Android app, with themes and layouts edited in a dashboard, and push that can open a product, a collection, or the cart. You are willing to hold Apple and Google developer accounts and wait for review. Push starts on Starter at $99 per month. Growth is $199 per month. Lite, at $29 per month, has no push. All three have a 30-day trial. The product page is the full description.
You can also decide you need neither yet. That page is do Shopify stores need a mobile app?.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PWA cheaper than Appziot?
It can be, because you are not paying an Appziot subscription or going through app store review. You still pay for the work to make the installed website good. Cheaper is not the same as the same result.
Does Appziot replace my Shopify theme?
No. The website stays. The app is an additional way to shop. A PWA and a native app can both exist. Most stores should not try to launch both until the site is in good shape.
Can I send push with both?
With Appziot, yes, to customers who opted in. With a PWA, only where the browser allows it. Test devices before you treat them as equal.
Related guides
- Mobile app vs PWA. Install, push, and maintenance in more detail.
- Appziot product page. What the native app includes.
- Push notifications. The capability people often want the native app for.
- Pricing. If you choose the Appziot side.