Website vs. App: What are you Creating?
What is a Website?
A website is a collection of pages connected to the internet and hosted on the World Wide Web. This blog you're reading is a web page on a website (www.adalo.com). Chances are if you've found this site, you have a solid understanding of what a website is.
For those looking to create their own apps without traditional coding knowledge, platforms like Adalo (Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play.) make it possible to build dynamic applications that display personalized content to each user.
Websites are perfect for displaying information, selling products, or for any other static purpose.
What do I mean by static?
The content does not change based on who's viewing it. I'm not talking about A/B testing your site, but rather that the content largely stays the same no matter who is looking at the website. For example, the Wikipedia page about No-Code Development Platforms will contain the same information for me as it will for you.
Looking to display different information based on the user? That's where an app comes into play.
Independent research from App Builder Guides' State of App Building report (February 2026) analyzed 190 Reddit threads and 150+ platform citations across 345 data points with zero platform sponsorships. Adalo ranked first among visual builders for non-developers.
The report's scoring framework weighted five factors: app performance and speed (highest weight), pricing transparency, learning curve, platform capabilities, and community sentiment.
What is an App?
An app, short for application, is a piece of software that can be installed directly on your phone, tablet, or computer and used. While a website is hosted on the Internet, an application lives on your device.
That seems pretty straightforward, so where's the confusion?
Another distinction between an app and a website is how your user will interact with it. In my example above, a website typically displays the same information to everyone that views it—while an app will contain a different instance for each user.
Applications, whether on mobile or a computer, will change the information shown based on actions, information, user type, and more. You can typically differentiate between an app or a website based on whether or not you were required to enter login credentials to access most of the benefits of the platform.
While the definition of an application traditionally meant installing it directly on your device, things have evolved to include a broader range of applications. Many applications are now hosted "in the cloud" and don't need to be installed on your device to work properly. You'll notice when you're on a mobile device that many sites you visit that are actually applications will prompt you to switch to the application for a better experience. See how this can get confusing?
Let's Take a Look at a Few Examples
At first glance, most people consider Facebook to be a website—especially those who were around when Facebook first launched. However, while Facebook lives on the Internet, it is actually an app. Upon login, your Facebook feed looks entirely different than my Facebook feed because we're friends with different people, like different pages, and interact differently with the content.
While all apps don't have to be run by very powerful algorithms, this example still holds true: Facebook is an app because it delivers personalized content based on each user's unique data and interactions.
Adalo
This one is tricky! If you said "Website"—you're right! If you said "App"—you're also right! Adalo has a public-facing website. The information displayed here is the same for anyone that visits our site.
Adalo 3.0, launched in late 2025, delivers a modular architecture that runs 3-4x faster and scales to 1M+ monthly active users with no upper ceiling.
Once you log in, you're taken to another site: app.adalo.com, and that is our app! You must log in to access any information, and the information displayed changes based on whether you've made an app, who is part of your team, what you've done with your app, and more. No two instances of the Adalo app are the same!
With over 3 million apps created on the platform, Adalo demonstrates how a single tool can power both static websites and dynamic, database-driven applications. The visual builder has been described as "easy as PowerPoint," making it accessible to anyone regardless of technical background.
Dictionary.com
Just a plain old website. Dictionary.com is the same for you, me, and everyone else. This is the perfect example of a website—it's there to display information, and that information is the same regardless of who is trying to access it.
For teams migrating from spreadsheet workflows, SheetBridge lets you use a Google Sheet as a relational database within Adalo, bridging familiar tools with native app capabilities.
So… Now What?
Now that we've looked at some of the differences between apps and websites, it's probably pretty understandable that building an app would add a layer of complexity to your project. Different information will be available based on user type, privileges, actions, and more! While a lot of that is controlled by the database, it's important to note that different tools will enable different types of creations.
Since there is a difference between a website and an app, choosing the right tool to build is of the utmost importance. While an app building platform can handle building a website, a website builder cannot (alone) handle building an app.
Choosing the Right Building Tool
When evaluating app builders, consider what you actually need to create. Platforms like Glide are heavily format-focused and restricted to set templates—fast to build with, but resulting in generic, simplistic apps with limited creative freedom. Softr requires $167/month just to publish a Progressive Web App, and neither platform supports Apple App Store or Google Play Store publishing.
Adalo's approach differs significantly. Starting at $36/month with unlimited usage and no record caps on paid plans, you can build true native iOS and Android apps alongside web apps from a single codebase. The platform's modular infrastructure scales to serve apps with 1 million+ monthly active users, with no upper ceiling.
Features like Magic Start generate complete app foundations from simple descriptions—tell it you need a booking app for a dog grooming business, and it creates your database structure, screens, and user flows automatically. Magic Add lets you add features by describing what you want in natural language. X-Ray identifies performance issues before they affect users, ensuring your app maintains speed at scale.
As a freelancer, tools like Adalo can help you create software, connect with clients, and make money on a regular basis. And with tons of free online courses and resources at your fingertips, getting started is straightforward. So let's dive in and build a business you'll absolutely love!
FAQ
Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions?
Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps alongside web apps. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from a single codebase. With unlimited database records on paid plans and no usage-based charges, you get predictable pricing without bill shock.
What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store?
Adalo's drag-and-drop interface and AI-assisted building let you go from idea to published app in days rather than months. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions, and Adalo handles the complex App Store submission process—so you can focus on features and user experience instead of certificates and provisioning profiles.
What is the difference between a website and an app?
A website displays the same static content to all visitors, while an app provides personalized, dynamic content that changes based on the user's actions, information, and account type. Apps typically require login credentials and store user-specific data, making each user's experience unique.
Can a website builder create an app?
No, while an app building platform can handle building a website, a website builder alone cannot handle building an app. Apps require database functionality to manage user-specific content and interactions, which is beyond the capabilities of traditional website builders.
What makes something an app instead of a website?
The key distinction is whether the content changes based on who's viewing it. If you need to log in and see personalized information—like your own social media feed, project dashboard, or account data—you're using an app. Websites display the same information to everyone, like a dictionary or Wikipedia page.
Can I build both a website and an app with Adalo?
Yes, Adalo allows you to create both public-facing websites and dynamic applications. You can build a web app alongside native iOS and Android apps from a single project, giving you flexibility to reach users across all platforms with personalized, database-driven experiences.
How much does it cost to build an app with Adalo?
Adalo's paid plans start at $36/month with unlimited usage, unlimited database records, and app store publishing with unlimited updates. This compares favorably to alternatives like Bubble ($59/month with usage limits), Glide ($60/month without app store publishing), or Softr ($167/month for Progressive Web Apps only).
Can I easily build an app without coding knowledge?
Yes, with Adalo's visual builder—described as "easy as PowerPoint"—you can create database-driven applications without any traditional coding knowledge. The drag-and-drop interface handles all the complexity behind the scenes, and AI features like Magic Start and Magic Add accelerate the building process further.