1y ago

Banking, entertainment services, e-commerce used to be easily accessible from a browser but now are gradually phased out in favor of a native apps, why?

Does the end user really prefer apps over a web interfaces? Do native apps bring some security benefits? Isn't maintaining apps for every single operating system and phone model out there more costly and time consuming than offering universally accessible web interface that works on any device? Isn't creating apps for every single product out there essentially about data collection?

18 comments

Every app captures its own user data that they sell. By forcing you to use their official app they are turning your data into revenue for themselves.
- This. All other opinions about "app is easier to maintain" or "expected experience" may be valid, but in reality the vast majority of mobile apps for services are just bloated with tracking.
  Mobile apps have access to more personal information than websites and you are forced to use them. Unfortunately, there is no ublock origin for mobile OSes, thus you either enthusiastic enough to live with guards like TrackerControl or just accept "standard terms". And let's face it - 99% of mobile phone owners don't even know you can block (or, at least, limit) apps access to sensitive info.
  
  In many / most cases this is correct, but there are exceptions. My banking app isn't selling my data. I imagine the main thing is support. It's much easier to explain the process to grandma if there's a native app.
  
  It's only available for android, however, duckduckgo has an app tracker protection thing.
  Only downside is that it runs aa a vpn, so if you use a vpn out of home, you've gotta pick. I suggest you try it and look though. You'll be horrified
  Oh, also, as a fun experiment. Enable the protection, then go use Chrome for a bit.
- My banking apps use hundreds of megabytes for very little functionality and one bank actually uses Facebook trackers so there could be some truth to this. The only problem is that it would be illegal.
- And all these banking apps are full of ads to try to draw you into their other moneymaking services. They're terrible.
- This may be true for the Reddit app, but it’s definitely not true for most other apps. Tracking and selling data does not get easier with apps.
  The main reason is to be on the users Home Screen, just one tap away from being on the app. Also, push notifications, pulling people back into the app.
  Also there is a security benefit. Phones are protected quite well, so it is safer to keep a user signed on the device and maybe only a PIN or biometrics in front of the app to open it. The apps run in an isolated space, making it even safer.
  Lastly there can be a performance benefit. Websites are written in HTML, CSS and JavaScript which is compiled on demand, while apps can be written in languages which are pre-compiled.

Webclients are trickier to maintain, because people use craploads of browsers and it might interfere/block/hack their online banking session.
Also, it's harder to steal your private data via browser, because it might prevent the attempt via ad/script blocker.
Take it as you want.

The main reason is to be on the users Home Screen, just one tap away from being on the app. Also, push notifications, pulling people back into the app.
Also there is a security benefit. Phones are protected quite well, so it is safer to keep a user signed on the device and maybe only a PIN or biometrics in front of the app to open it. The apps run in an isolated space, making it even safer.
Lastly there can be a performance benefit. Websites are written in HTML, CSS and JavaScript which is compiled on demand, while apps can be written in languages which are pre-compiled.

What banking or e-commerce sites don't work through a web browser? I've never heard of such a thing.
- The requests to use their apps are becoming more obnoxious and harder to block. Mine isn't forcing me yet but they're repeatedly requesting.
  Also I feel their more frequent ATM outages/fewer branches are an attempt to move everything into my pocket, where I really don't feel comfortable doing my banking.

My bank literally forces me to use their godforsaken shitty app but wherever possible I use web over app especially for corporations (eBay, Amazon, YouTube, catch up TV etc). Like you & others said, reduces exposure to data harvesting

The banking app I use takes advantage of on device biometrics and in terms of payments, the secure element in my phone. I trust it more than I trust a browser.
- We need a web biometrics API, fuck web integrity

My main worry is that if I lose my phone or it's stolen, especially if I'm overseas,I won't be able to access a lot of sites due to the 2 factor authentication. A lot of sites don't have alternative 2fa methods, only SMS or through the app. I've been trying to think of a way to access these sites if overseas and my phone gets lost or stolen, the only thing I can think of is to take my sim out and hide it, and buy a local sim when in a new country. If I need 2FA I put in my old sim, but for day to day stuff use the local sim. If the phone gets stolen / lost, I've not lost the 2FA capability.

A web page is more secure than an app, on theory. That’s because you can’t see the source code, tokens or whatever they use to build it. It’s called a ‘backend’. However, an app is insecure by default so there is a lot of tricks that must be done to secure it (for example Oauth 2.0 flow with pkce). And the software they use to gather the data to show (APIs) must be built better.
So… why then? It’s all about having the means to deliver the experience that the bank wants. Look at voyager app for Lemmy, for example. Why people want a iOS version when the PWA exists? Because it simply works better as a native app.
- Your whole first paragraph is pure nonsense
  
  A web page is not easier to secure than a native app? Ok for you, that’s my experience.

18 comments