I use the mobile versions instead of apps, largely because it's easier to block ads and better for one's privacy.
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).
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.
Good enough for me.
True but mobile websites still tend to be horribly done or missing functionality. I want it to just work, dammit, and too many attempts at being clever just arent
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.
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.
I might use an app, but when the app is just a browser with no additional effort, that enrages me
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.
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.
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 usually use apps but I still block the creepy tracking and stuff with DNS and disable location permissions.
Apps for things I use frequently. Websites are just inefficient in general.
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.
Apps I can't handle websites on my phone
The website, I prefer to switch on the desktop site than using an app. Only exceptions? FOSS apps that are on F-droid
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?
It just seems to run better on app. It’s one of the rare ones that I am willing to run the app for
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.
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 very rarely adopt apps anymore, most of what I do with my phone is in Firefox or the default utilities.
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
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.
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
Most apps invoke my inner Dennis Reynolds.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sync app on mobile, but I prefer using the site on desktop
Mobile version because PieFed's API is still under development.
Lemmy is an app, almost everything else is browser. YouTube is just better in a mobile browser than the app ever has been and likely ever will be.
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 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.
A dedicated service that I use on the daily? App Otherwise website
I'm happy to use mobile apps in the fediverse. Begrudgingly I'll use mobile banking apps as needed.
I go back and forth between the YouTube app and mobile website. Mobile web is nice because SponsorBlock and Dearrow both work on it.
That's why I switched on YouTube on the phone to Tubular, but it's feature that it doesn't connect to your YouTube account for history and so makes it less usable. But it has another good feature playing audio in the background.
Voyager app. Free, no ads
In general, I use apps, mostly because I root every phone (and yes, root ability is a major deciding factor when buying) as soon as I get it so I have tighter control for the tracking BS as well as being able to block ADs, effectively, system-wide. Literally no AD load on my phone (ok leak rate is like <2 % so It does happen, but it's rare lol) be it a webpage or an ad-riddled app
Lemmy I definitely use an app because I find the UI..... distasteful...
I'm fine with apps, as long as I'm not drowning in them for redundant services; i.e. I installed a bunch of Lemmy apps while I was trying it out, but now that I've settled on one, I removed all the others. I try to curate my apps every now and then and keep the clutter at a minimum, or at least remove any that I'm not regularly using.
YouTube is one app I will not use, though. Using Firefox with uBlock Origin, I can prevent it from advertising to me. But I can't stop ads in their app. So I've disabled their app (can't remove it, as I currently have a Google phone) and I forwarded all YouTube links to Firefox.
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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