Browser Extensions vs Progressive Web Apps

Developers should learn browser extensions to build tools that improve productivity, security, or accessibility directly within the browser, such as ad blockers, password managers, or developer utilities meets developers should learn pwas to build fast, reliable, and engaging web applications that work across all devices and platforms, without the need for app store distribution. Here's our take.

Browser Extensions

Nice Pick

Developers should learn browser extensions to build tools that improve productivity, security, or accessibility directly within the browser, such as ad blockers, password managers, or developer utilities

Pros

• It's valuable for creating custom integrations with web services, automating repetitive tasks, or targeting niche markets with browser-specific solutions, often requiring minimal deployment overhead compared to standalone applications
• Related to: javascript, html-css

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Progressive Web Apps

Developers should learn PWAs to build fast, reliable, and engaging web applications that work across all devices and platforms, without the need for app store distribution

Pros

• They are ideal for businesses seeking to reach users with a single codebase, improve performance on slow networks, and enhance user retention through offline functionality and push notifications
• Related to: service-workers, web-app-manifest

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Browser Extensions is a platform while Progressive Web Apps is a concept. We picked Browser Extensions based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Browser Extensions wins

Based on overall popularity. Browser Extensions is more widely used, but Progressive Web Apps excels in its own space.