Mobile Apps Preferred Over Hybrid Marketing Web Apps

Quick, what are some common tasks you do regularly on both a native mobile app and in a standard web browser? Now, do you favor one interface over another? I’ve found myself using the native mobile apps more frequently than the web apps, even when sitting in front of my laptop.

Here are some example services where I prefer the mobile app over the browser interface:

• OpenTable for restaurant reservations
• USAA for bank account information
• WordPress for comment moderation
• Google Maps for driving directions
• Jimmy Johns for food ordering

Looking at the apps, the main reason I prefer the native mobile version is due to the streamlined nature of the user experience. The web apps work fine but they’re a combination of full application and marketing site, making it more cumbersome to complete the most common tasks. With a native mobile app, there are fewer features compared to the corresponding web app and use of context-aware features like the phone’s GPS improve the experience even more. Over time, look for mobile apps to grow even more important as the go to way to get things done.

What else? What are some native mobile apps you prefer over the web version?