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What’s your take on mobile apps vs. mobile browsers for forums?

Purely my opinion here, but I'm tired of having apps for everything. I use my mobile web browser (I like Brave) as much as I can. For example, I find Amazon's mobile site so good that I've been using it for years without ever installing their app.

I find mobile sites these days provide a pretty consistent and easy experience, while I've run into lots of buggy, half-finished apps that don't.

That said, if you do create an app, focus on a quality user experience over everything.
 
Based on my own preferences..
I install the less apps as possible on my phone. I can do pretty much everything from a mobile web app.
So, I have no need for another app installed on my phone tracking every single movement.

On top of that, most users (for what I can see) uses multiple forums, so, mobile web app is the way to go. Even though I mostly use my pc to go on forums, mobile web apps are good to check something quickly.
 
I think mobile apps for forums would be more beneficial.

Responsive themes aren't really that great. Sure, you can use them to post from your forum but they're very basic. It was like developers just wanted to get something made so basic mobile functionality would be possible.

This is why social media does so well, they've realized the need for apps and have tapped into that spectrum.

I have a theory if more forums went for apps, good apps, they'd get more activity.
 
When you look at what social media platforms are doing with apps, it's very obvious the results are impressive. This is why I believe that if forums can copy the same blueprint, it's going to be more beneficial to users and the forum owners.
 
I was just thinking, part of the reason social media is so popular is that it naturally blends with
many aspects of a person’s everyday life, while forums tend to be more niche-focused.

Social platforms attract a wide variety of interests and personalities, which makes the "network effect" happen more organically.
People join because their friends are there, or because it covers everything from
hobbies, news to personal updates and messages(<< important one, that's why they have paid billions for those messaging apps).

Forums, often need to center around a specific niche.
To thrive, they usually have to become the best or most active community in that space.
It’s not just about having certain features or apps vs mobile apps, there’s a deeper difference in how social sites vs. niche forums grow and sustain themselves.
One is broad by design, the other focused by nature.
 
Last edited:
Mike30 said:
I was just thinking, part of the reason social media is so popular is that it naturally blends with
many aspects of a person’s everyday life, while forums tend to be more niche-focused.

Social platforms attract a wide variety of interests and personalities, which makes the "network effect" happen more organically.
People join because their friends are there, or because it covers everything from
hobbies, news to personal updates and messages(<< important one, that's why they have paid billions for those messaging apps).

Forums, often need to center around a specific niche.
To thrive, they usually have to become the best or most active community in that space.
It’s not just about having certain features or apps vs mobile apps, there’s a deeper difference in how social sites vs. niche forums grow and sustain themselves.
One is broad by design, the other focused by nature.
Click to expand...
This is actually why we are seeing more of general discussion forums today because that's in line to cover for everything that's happening on social media platforms so that users will find a way to key into a discussions which they are interested in. Unfortunately, even some forum owners frown at general discussion community because they think it's too common these days.
 
Heatman said:
This is actually why we are seeing more of general discussion forums today because that's in line to cover for everything that's happening on social media platforms so that users will find a way to key into a discussions which they are interested in. Unfortunately, even some forum owners frown at general discussion community because they think it's too common these days.
Click to expand...
And I really don't think general forums are as common today as they were in the early 2000s during the forum boom. Back then, it was gaming and general forums - that were the two biggest forum niches.
 
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