What are the differences between a web application and a website?

Many internet users only think in terms of websites. When browsing the internet and connecting to a domain, we often assume we're landing on a website. However, in recent years—especially with the rise of Web 2.0—websites are increasingly giving way to web applications, which are more dynamic and enable genuine user interaction. So, what is a web app? What are the differences between a web application and a website? Scroll breaks it down!

Read first: new to web applications? Our complete guide Creating a web application covers the basics. This article focuses on the difference between a web application and a website.

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What is a web application?

A web application is an application hosted on a server, accessed via a browser and an internet connection. The key difference between a web app and a mobile app is that a web app doesn’t need to be installed: you use it directly online.

A web application can thus be defined by its underlying technology—the way it’s built.

Another approach is its practical aspect: a web app is designed to be used and interacted with by users. You don’t just browse through its pages; you engage with it to perform specific actions. Think of your mobile apps: web apps are their equivalents, but without requiring any software installation. You can access them directly online via your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.).

Generally, web applications rely on data sources. Through their interface, they allow users to assemble and format these data sources to achieve a specific result. To help you build your apps, there are App Builders no-code : powerful tools that let you build your own applications, like SaaS.

You likely know dozens of web applications—sometimes without realizing it—and probably use them daily.

The most well-known example is probably Google. Google is a web application: you connect to the site to perform a search. Dynamically, the search engine provides results it deems relevant to your query. You can then browse these results and discover the websites and web apps that meet your needs.

Another example of a web application: Airbnb. The tourism giant lets you input search details (location, dates, number of people, budget, etc.) and suggests accommodations based on your criteria. The app goes further: it allows you to contact property owners to rent their listings. If you’re a host yourself, it also lets you add your property to its listings so it appears when users search for matching characteristics.

What is a website?

Unlike a web application, a website typically offers little to no interaction.

Websites are content hosted on a server, accessible online by connecting to a specific address. For example, the article you’re currently reading is hosted on Scroll’s server, and you access it by connecting to its URL. You can’t modify it.

A website is therefore a collection of content that you can browse, view, and read. It doesn’t inherently offer user interactions: you can only navigate between different pieces of content.

However, a website can contain one or more web applications. Let’s take a concrete example to illustrate this: a classic e-commerce site. On an e-commerce site, you’ll find content you can’t alter as a user—product pages, the homepage, etc. But most e-commerce platforms offer filtering systems so you can select products that interest you—size or color for clothing, price ranges, brands, etc. These filters often rely on web applications embedded within the site.

The difference between a web app and a website

There are several differences between web apps and websites.

The first difference lies in their construction. Web apps, as we mentioned, rely on databases and a program that retrieves data from these databases to display information to users. Websites, on the other hand, are built using static content.

The second difference between apps and websites concerns the rendering. A website has a uniform appearance for all its visitors. All users see the same content. In contrast, with a web app, the rendering depends on how the visitor uses it. On Google, for example, your search results depend on your query, but also on your geographic location, your previous searches, and many other factors.

There are many other differences between websites and web apps, but they are of lesser importance. For instance, web apps tend to be loaded on a single URL, whereas websites serve their content across multiple pages. This can therefore impact your SEO.

Additionally, web apps are often an integral part of a website. They serve to make a part of the site dynamic. The app is thus "contained" within a website. This isn’t always the case, but it is the most common scenario.

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs): between websites and applications

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In recent years, PWAs (Progressive Web Apps) have occupied a space between websites and applications. A PWA installs on the smartphone’s home screen, works partially offline, and can send push notifications. It behaves like a native app without going through app stores. Google Maps, Twitter, and Pinterest use this format. For a mobile experience without the cost of a native app, PWAs offer a third option to consider.

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In 2026, AI tools like Lovable or Bolt also allow generating a web app from a prompt. These prototypes help validate a concept quickly. When the project moves to production,a structured technical overhaulensures the architecture’s robustness.

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Scroll, your agency for web app and website creation

At Scroll, we create both websites and web apps. To do this, we useno-code technologies and solutions. The goal? To enable us tobuild web appsfaster, at a lower cost, while maintaining a very high level of quality.

For example, we use Webflow,Makeor Airtable to develop these sites and apps.

Do you have a request? A website or app project? Don’t hesitate to share it with us: a consultant will contact you to answer your questions and help bring your project to life.

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