What is a PWA?
A PWA is a website that behaves like a native mobile app. When members add it to their home screen:- It opens full-screen without a browser address bar
- It loads fast with cached content
- It supports push notifications
- It has your custom icon and splash screen
- It works offline for previously loaded content
Setting up the branded PWA
Open community settings
Navigate to Memberships and Communities > Communities and open your community settings.
Upload branding assets
Configure the app’s appearance:
- App name — the name that appears under the home screen icon
- App icon — a square image (512 x 512 px recommended) used as the home screen icon
- Splash screen — the loading screen shown when the app opens
- Theme color — the color of the status bar and app header
- Background color — the splash screen background color
How members install the PWA
Members add the PWA to their home screen from the community portal:- Open the community URL in their mobile browser (Chrome on Android, Safari on iOS).
- The browser prompts them to Add to Home Screen (or they can do it from the browser’s share menu).
- The app icon appears on their home screen.
- Tapping the icon opens the community in full-screen app mode.
Push notifications
Once the PWA is installed, members can receive push notifications for:- New posts in their joined groups
- Comments and replies on their posts
- New events and event reminders
- Direct messages from other members
- Admin announcements
PWA vs native app
| Feature | PWA | Native app (App Store) |
|---|---|---|
| Distribution | Install from browser — no app store | Requires Apple/Google review and approval |
| Update process | Automatic — always the latest version | Requires app store update submission |
| Push notifications | Supported (limited on iOS) | Full support |
| Offline access | Partial — cached content only | Full offline capabilities |
| Home screen icon | Yes | Yes |
| Development cost | None — built into the platform | Significant custom development |
| App store presence | No listing in app stores | Listed and discoverable |
Limitations
- iOS push notifications — Safari on iOS has limited PWA push notification support compared to Android
- App store discovery — PWAs are not listed in the Apple App Store or Google Play, so members must visit your URL to install
- Hardware access — PWAs have limited access to device features like camera, Bluetooth, or NFC compared to native apps
- Offline functionality — only previously loaded content is available offline; new content requires an internet connection
The PWA is powered by the same community portal URL your members already use. Enabling the PWA does not change the desktop experience — it enhances the mobile experience by adding app-like features.