Progressive web apps are outpacing native apps in popularity. The reason is that it is an adaptive, reliable, and engaging way to gain more customers. Twitter, Uber, Makemytrip, Pinterest, and more have launched their PWAs to deliver the best user experience.
Progressive web apps offer unique cross-browser compatibility that allows users to access them from any web browser, regardless of the device. Thus, it is beneficial for web and mobile users to access their favorite brands and social media directly. No need to download the app and update it regularly to enjoy browsing.
It may seem strange that all browsers support PWA. You are questioning which browser supports progressive web apps. For that, I have prepared a list of web browsers that support PWA.
Table of Contents
Top 11 Web Browsers Support PWA
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Chrome
Chrome is the most used browser by mobile and web users. However, not all the features are available in Chrome, but you can find them in Firefox, Opera, or Safari.
For mobile devices: A button appears in the address bar for sites that support PWAs.
For Desktop Devices: An install app option is available on the main Chrome menu. You can choose to add it to Home Screen after you select the option. You can uninstall the app by pressing the long on the icon.
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Safari
You can install PWAs on MacOS the same as on Windows. Safari doesn’t offer a way to make a site a PWA except by default. Also, a new PWA may not be visible in the applications folder.
iOS only permits Safari to generate progressive web apps. Other browsers are excluded. Users of iPads can add progressive web applications to their home screens. Select Add to Home Screen from the share-up arrow at the bottom corner of a PWA live site. However, users cannot enjoy the PWA capabilities.
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Microsoft Edge
You can install the PWAs on Microsoft Edge. Progressive applications are more accessible via edge. It allows adding PWA to the Start Menu the same way as any other desktop apps you have installed. You can download the app using the program installer.
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Firefox
Firefox is a pioneer web browser with extensive capabilities. It has been a vocal supporter of online privacy. Many extensions are available to support several PWA APIs. The desktop version of Firefox does not support PWA, but the Android version does.
How to Install PWA using Firefox on Android: Users will get a simple installation option. Tap on it, and Add to Screen Dialog Box appears. Firefox-created PWA home screen icons have an orange Firefox emblem in the bottom right corner. Unlike Chrome, you may not get the site setting options with Firefox-created PWA sites.
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UC Browser
UC browser is the popular browser for mobile devices. It has cross-browser capabilities that make it suitable to use. It is known for less storage and data consumption. Several features are available in the UC web browser, such as cloud acceleration, multi-file format downloading, HTML5 web apps, and cloud synchronization. Also, it allows the user to download files in many portions at once.
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Mint Browser
Do you want to enjoy high speed and security? Mint browsers offer all that you want in a single package. Users can have a better user experience and a secure browsing experience. This mini-web browser offers users to switch on/off data collecting mode in an incognito window.
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Opera 32 Browser
Opera 32 for Android supports progressive web apps. It offers users Add to Home Screen and other features. Additionally, this web browser supports all the PWA features to deliver the same app-like experience. Moreover, it will fix the bugs, enhance stability, and update the chromium engine.
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Samsung Internet
Samsung mobile is an alternative to Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Users will get to access a progressive website. The browser will display a badge when you visit a PWA. You can use other web apps with the best app experience.
Which are PWA Unsupported Browsers?
Some browsers support all the features. But, Some do not actively support the custom elements required for PWAs.
- The Microsoft Edge browser supports PWA if available in its app store.
- Safari and Firefox do not support PWA installation on the desktop. Regardless, users can use progressive apps offline and get a smooth user experience. These browsers support full-screen.
End Note
All the widely used web browsers support PWA. They are bridging the gap between native apps and the mobile web. PWA is still not fully supported on iOS. Although, users can access some PWA capabilities on Apple devices.
PWAs are considered a powerful alternative to native apps by almost all browsers worldwide. Building a PWA for your company is a smart decision to lead in the app market. Not sure why to choose a progressive web app for your business. Check out our next article Why is PWA technology the Future of the app market?
