Web / PWA Runway
14.0 mo
$2,500/mo ongoing base burn
Native Mobile Runway
4.5 mo
$7,778/mo (Dev + Multi-OS Tax)
Runway Difference
+9.5 mo
Preserved by validating via Web first
App Store Margin Hit
15%
Apple/Google Small Business Tier
Capital & Burn Inputs
Available Cash / Capital
$35,000
Base Monthly Burn (Server/Living)
$2,500
Product & Channel Diagnostic
Required Device Hardware Capabilities
18-Month Cash Depletion Trajectory
Comparing Web MVP vs Dual Native Build
Acquisition Bottleneck: High CAC barrier on native without existing brand affinity
Architecture Decision Matrix
| Dimension | Responsive Web (PWA) | Cross-Platform Hybrid | Dual Native (iOS + Android) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to Market | 1 - 3 Weeks | 4 - 8 Weeks | 3 - 6 Months |
| Initial Build Outlay | $1,000 - $3,500 | $4,000 - $8,500 | $18,000 - $35,000 |
| Maintenance Drag | Single Codebase | Moderate Native Bridging | 2 Separate Codebases |
| Store Approval Risk | 0% (Instant Deploys) | Low-Medium Risk | High (1-4 Day Review Gates) |
| Payment Revenue Cut | 2.9% + 30¢ (Stripe) | 15% - 30% or Stripe | 15% - 30% In-App Purchase |
| Acquisition Conversion | High (Zero Install Step) | Medium (Web or Store) | Low (50-70% Install Drop) |
Stage-Gate Rules: When Is Native Actually Justified?
- Stage 1 (Validation): Always start on Web if your primary acquisition is organic SEO, social posts, or outbound emails. Nobody downloads an unknown app just to test it.
- Stage 2 (Retention Trigger): Migrate to a hybrid wrapper (Capacitor/React Native) only when paying retention exceeds 30%+ 30-day cohorts and users explicitly demand native push alerts.
- Stage 3 (Native Separation): Invest in separate Swift/Kotlin codebases only after crossing $15k/mo ARR or when fundamental features require background Bluetooth, high-rate sensor polling, or metal shaders.
"Versatile application or web application? Startups with limited budgets can begin with an MVP, validate demand, and then invest in advanced features as they grow... Nobody will use the app except you if you build native before PMF." — Quora Founder Consensus