10 Best Frameworks and Tools for PWA Development

Bridging the gap between mobile and web functionalities has consistently been a challenge for developers. Numerous frameworks and tools have aimed to strike the perfect balance between performance and accessibility, yet results were often underwhelming. However, in 2024, the landscape has evolved.

The idea of a Progressive Web App, first coined by designer Frances Berriman and Google Chrome engineer Alex Russell, has grown with time and in fact reached mainstream momentum after Google's push for PWAs. Nowadays, their frameworks are being explored with eagerness by both developers and business owners alike and applications of those are also being used by big companies such as Facebook and Twitter due to their efficiency and accessibility. This surge in adoption demonstrates the framework’s success in combining convenience with broad reach.

A report by Grand View Research projects the global PWA market to reach approximately $9.43 billion by 2030, with an expected annual growth rate of 30.5% from 2024 to 2030. The primary driver? A growing demand for seamless, efficient user experiences across diverse devices—an area where PWAs excel.

The increasing popularity of mobile apps has spurred the development of numerous progressive web app frameworks and tools, bolstering the case for PWAs over native apps. With so many options available, selecting the ideal PWA framework for your needs can be challenging. To help with this choice, our PWA development team has curated a list of the top tools and frameworks based on development ease and mass adoption potential. 

Top PWA Tools and Frameworks

1. Ionic

Launched in 2013 as an open-source SDK, Ionic builds on Apache Cordova and the Angular framework. It has since gained popularity, powering over 5 million hybrid PWA projects. Ionic’s appeal lies in its extensive component library for both Android and iOS, enabling developers to create web pages that run within the device browser through WebView.

Benefits of Ionic:

·         Open-source and free, reducing app development costs

·         Quick learning curve for PWA developers

·         Easy maintenance via a built-in browser tool

·         Extensive plugin library for API access

2. Polymer

Developed by Google, Polymer is an open-source PWA framework featuring a broad range of templates, tools, and web components to simplify PWA development. Utilizing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, Polymer stands as one of the most comprehensive PWA frameworks available.

Benefits of Polymer:

·         Full web app stack support, including routing, data management, and responsive layouts

·         Detailed documentation for developers

·         User-friendly APIs

·         Broad base component compatibility across browsers

3. AngularJS

First introduced by Google in 2009, AngularJS remains a preferred PWA development framework. It leverages JavaScript to create responsive, reliable applications.

Benefits of AngularJS:

·         Strong community support

·         Clear implementation methods

·         MVC architecture

·         IntelliSense and Typescript support

·         Frequent updates with a low learning curve

4. Vue.js

Known for its coding simplicity and fast rendering, Vue.js is one of the most popular libraries for building PWAs. It enables project scaling with additional packages and offers easy setup.

Benefits of Vue.js:

·         Supported by companies like Laravel and Alibaba

·         User-friendly code and low learning curve

·         Inspired by Angular and React’s features

·         Quick rendering with Virtual DOM

·         Compatible with TypeScript and JSX

5. React

Developed by Facebook, React has a robust presence in PWA development. Used by brands like Instagram, Airbnb, and Tesla, React employs JSX for rendering HTML structures and JavaScript for flexibility.

Benefits of React:

·         Extensive community support

·         Diverse ecosystem for developers

·         High scalability and flexibility

·         Rapid rendering with Virtual DOM

6. Magento PWA Studio

Magento PWA Studio offers a suite of tools tailored for building PWAs on the Magento platform, encompassing UI creation, data management, and application testing.

Benefits of Magento PWA Studio:

·         Saves development time by leveraging Magento’s existing infrastructure

·         Comprehensive management tools for PWAs

·         Easy maintenance and updates

7. ScandiPWA

ScandiPWA, an open-source framework based on Magento PWA Studio, facilitates the creation and management of PWAs on the Magento platform, offering numerous features to enhance performance.

Benefits of ScandiPWA:

·         Open-source with extensive documentation

·         Utilizes Varnish, GraphQL, and Redis for improved performance

·         Features such as product discovery, multi-store setup, and multilingual options

8. Svelte

Svelte is a lightweight JavaScript framework, known for its quick-loading code bundles and simplicity, making it an excellent choice for new PWA developers.

Benefits of Svelte:

·         Lightweight applications with fast load times

·         Compact code bundles for easy download and installation

·         User-friendly syntax

9. Preact

Similar to React but faster and more compact, Preact is a JavaScript-based framework ideal for developers aiming for high interactivity and performance in their PWAs.

Benefits of Preact:

·         Faster app performance with minimized scripts

·         Achieves similar UI with less code than React

·         Easy learning curve

·         Uses the same ES6 API as React for seamless compatibility

10. Lighthouse

Created by Google, Lighthouse evaluates web apps across several performance and optimization criteria, providing developers with insights to enhance their PWA’s functionality.

Benefits of Lighthouse:

·         Offers in-depth analysis of web app quality

·         Identifies improvement areas for PWA optimization

·         Guides developers toward progressive web app excellence

With numerous PWA frameworks and tools available, choosing the right one for your project is crucial. Additionally, partnering with a PWA development company experienced in your selected framework ensures a successful, timely delivery.

At Appinventors, our expert developers are skilled in using these top frameworks and tools, ensuring the highest quality for your PWA project.