I usually just use the website in a mobile browser as I generally avoid websites that require an app. It's an unnecessary waste of space when the website could just work in a mobile browser but some developers, whether it's because of incompetence or it's actually intentional, either limit what features are available in mobile browsers or just make the website not work at all.
this post was submitted on 26 Dec 2024
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I have too many fucking apps on my phone already. I'd much rather use websites.
If its open source and privacy respecting then I'll use the app. If its not and I have to use the service then website
I try to use mobile web versions saved as an app shortcut. When you install a real app it usually comes with a bunch of permissions needed and trackers collecting your info in the background. Bad for privacy and battery life. Classyshark helps scan the trackers and a firewall can disable wifi access on app by app basis but thats a lot more trouble than just not installing a bunch if junk apps.The exception is that I trust open source software from fdroid with a public github repo.
Mostly mobile web for everything, apps for a couple of restaurants/groceries and for tickets to concerts because that is unavoidable at this time.
For Lemmy, website.
I've recently cleaned up my Android phone and switched from apps to websites where possible and it's a surprisingly good experience!
Most apps these days seem to be web browser wrappers ether way. Firefox on Android allows to turn any page into a self contained instance (like an app) which is very convenient. I can also install Ublock Origin to block ads and other firefox addons which is amazing. In particular I use addon called Stylus to adjust styling of some pages.
It definitely feels like we're going full circle now: early desktop apps -> web browser -> smartphones launch native apps -> back to web browser The only thing holding back web browsers is Apple purposefully breaking the web to protect their 30% appstore cut.
Just note that Firefox for android tabs are not isolated from each other, but they're sharing the same process, thus technically can access all of the other objects in Firefox′s memory. You should consider using mulch for these web-native apps style usage.
Can't wait for fission to come to mobile to solve all this mess...
Using the Internet without an adblocker sucks. This is many times worse than a theoretical attack on the browser.
I use the mobile versions instead of apps, largely because it's easier to block ads and better for one's privacy.
Websites wherever possible.
I will fight the dark patterns trying to manipulate me into using the app also.
If I cannot do anything without the app I will not use said service.
Uhaul wanted me to download their app to return a truck after hours. I will at most use uhaul once a year, but I'm not moving more frequently than that. In cases like that I'll use websites. Same goes for restaurants and other stores
I hate using apps for things that could be websites, to the point that I don't use certain kinds of services that are app-only (e.g. e-scooter rentals).
Something I use infrequently: website 10/10 times
It’s only if I use something almost daily that I’ll install an app for it.
Apps 💯
Apps I can't handle websites on my phone
Mix of both. Messengers, Mastodon and YouTube, mostly apps (except when I want to listen to YT in the background). Maps and games, also apps. But for Lemmy I use the web frontend because I haven't yet found a convincing app and the web frontend is good enough.
Desktop websites. Mobile sites are just garbage.
Hmm, a smartphone screen is quite small to use a desktop site comfortably.
Sometimes you just have to, though. A lot of mobile sites are incredibly watered down and try to tell you that you need to use the app to do any basic function, but then the desktop site lets you do it without issue.
Yep, so much "Download our app to use this feature" I don't even bother anymore. Then their "app" just loads a web app.
But the phone version of the site is so stripped down and babby friendly to the point of unusability. My favorite are the sites that don't give you the function you need on the mobile site, but don't let you switch to the desktop view.
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I did that... In 2011 or something, when not every website had a mobile UI... I personally don't recommend it, in fact I'd dare to say this played a big role in the web forums to die... To not adapt properly for the tiny screens at the required time.
Sup, but compare a 2011 smartphone to 2024 one. The average smartphone nowdays would have been a tablet. I had a 7" tablet too.
I might use an app, but when the app is just a browser with no additional effort, that enrages me
I use a lot of web apps on my iPhone. Like for memos the moememos app adds nothing…
I hate apps with a passion, desktop version is almost always better unless it's a shit website like tiktok or "x".
YouTube desktop has always been better than mobile for instance.
I mostly use websites in order to use ad blockers and many apps use far more storage than necessary. I mostly use apps when they have functionality that I want that the website is missing or when the app just offers a significantly better experience than the website.
The website, I prefer to switch on the desktop site than using an app. Only exceptions? FOSS apps that are on F-droid
I very rarely adopt apps anymore, most of what I do with my phone is in Firefox or the default utilities.
Apps for things I use frequently. Websites are just inefficient in general.
Apps if I use the website enough to justify it. I have apps for all my favorite fast food places so I can order ahead.
I usually use apps but I still block the creepy tracking and stuff with DNS and disable location permissions.
Usually apps.
Right now I'm trying Instagram and Facebook as website shortcuts. I watch reels on Instagram and people send event invites on Facebook (birthdays and whatnot) but I don't like having them installed. The reels scrolling fucks up very often but otherwise it's fine.
In the end I don't know why I'm bothering, since I use messenger with a few people and I can't seem to use that without an app (or going to my PC every time).
since I use messenger with a few people and I can’t seem to use that without an app
If your goal is privacy, you could (if you are using android) create a "work profile" and put those apps there, and they can't access the data on your main profile.
I use an app called Shelter for this.
App if I use it often, website for everything else. The UI is usually better in the app. Many mobile websites are a pain to use. Plus I have a system-wide ad blocker
Website.
The only exceptions are imdb
YouTube when on mobile
Gmail app when on mobile
Other then that use the website. If the company is too stupid to fix their website and make it use standards so it supports normal browsers and not just one specific browser, then I just don’t go there
I'm legitimately interested in why IMBD? Of all websites I think that ones one of the ones I can least imagine needing an app?
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Whatever is more convenient.
Generally speaking I try to look for the app first, because that's the most optimized experience for mobile, while the browser version is often not very smooth. But apps lately are getting so awful that the browser version is better.
E.g. YouTube is in the browser for me, because Firefox + uBlock combo is the only way to avoid ads.
As ads today are to be avoided due to privacy and security reasons, I got rid of all apps that are flagged as "contains ads" in Google Play store.
Just a funny story from a few months ago: one day when I opened LinkedIn, an unusual screen welcomed me, that I couldn't jump over: I had to pick where I wanted ads to appear without the LinkedIn app, with two choices: either above private messages or in-between posts. I deleted the app instead. Then I wanted to use it in the browser, but it didn't work in Firefox, the website just froze after login. So yeah. No more LinkedIn for me. Sometimes I log in on desktop to see if there's anything, but it's getting so rare, basically there's nothing to see there.
So if neither is convenient to use, then I use neither.
I really hate it when they make the website unusable to force you to use their app. So for that reason alone I’ll never download the yelp app.
i use mobile sites whenever possible, but if it's something i use often and the app is more convient i'll relent. looking at my home screen it's all mostly things that don't have a web equivalent. i'll use an app for things that i WANT notifications for, so really only mastodon and email. for mbin specifically i use the PWA because i'm not sure if any kbin/lemmy/whatever apps work with it, and the user CSS themes are pretty neat
If what I want to do is no different on an app than on the website through a browser, I just use the browser.
i tend to only use the mobile version or desktop-in-mobile on firefox, because it works 90% of the time without me having to worry about yet-another-fucking-app
one big exception is banking.. but social media? im not using an app for a generic website.
I use an app (Hermit) that allows me to appify and sandbox websites.
It's not perfect, but better than relying on Chrome or Firefox PWA mecanisms.
A dedicated service that I use on the daily? App Otherwise website
Apps for things where I want local data (say, pictures), notifications (say, messaging), or tie into the hardware (say, navigation/compass). Mobile web for everything else.
If I use it daily, app. Else, website. I dont understand why every website that noone looks at more than twice a year needs an app.
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