Single-page application vs multi-page application: which should you choose?

Web apps are rapidly replacing traditional desktop applications, offering easy-to-use, seamless updates and accessibility across devices. However, building a web app from scratch comes with tough choices. You may find yourself grappling with questions like:

• Should your web app prioritise delivering native app like interactions or should it load new pages for each section?
• Will your app have more features and workflows or will it be content-heavy?
• How important are factors like SEO and ease of future updates?

Only after answering these questions can you decide what structure is right for your app – single-page app (SPA) or multi-page app (MPA).

In this article, we’ll explain the difference between SPAs and MPAs, highlight their pros and cons and help you choose the best platform for your requirements.

Let’s dive in 👇

What are single-page applications?

A single-page application is an app that doesn’t require reloading of the page during use. SPAs aim to deliver a smooth and fast user experience by mimicking the feel of a native app. Instead of loading a new page every time you click something, they dynamically update just the part of the page you’re interacting with.

Popular examples of SPAs are Gmail, Google Maps, Facebook‌ or GitHub.

This is made possible by technologies like JavaScript and AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML), which allow the app to communicate with the server in the background without disrupting the user experience (UX).

For users, this means:

• No page reloads or waiting times - the app feels faster and more interactive
• High performance - only the needed components are updated, saving time and resources
• Seamless experience - the transitions are smooth, which creates a "natural" flow

SPAs are ideal for apps that prioritise user interactions and real-time updates, like dashboards, social media platforms or email services.

What are multi-page applications?

A multi-page application is a web app built in the "traditional" style, where every interaction, be it viewing data or submitting a form, triggers a new page to load in your browser. MPAs are made up of multiple HTML pages, each designed to display different content or handle specific tasks.

Unlike SPAs, MPAs refresh the entire page each time a user interacts with the app. While this might seem less seamless, it’s ideal for apps that are large and content-rich. On web apps like Amazon, The New York Times or eBay, each page serves a unique purpose, from product listings to articles and checkout processes.

For users, MPAs offer:

• Clear organisation - different pages handle different types of content, making it easier to navigate complex apps
• Scalability - MPAs can accommodate extensive content by adding new pages
• SEO benefits - each page has its own unique URL, making it easier for search engines to index and rank content

MPAs are perfect for platforms that manage a lot of information, such as ecommerce sites or news portals. Their structure ensures users can easily find and interact with specific content, even on apps with extensive workflows.

What are the pros and cons of SPAs?

Pros

SPAs offer a modern approach to app development and have many unique benefits:

1 - Faster loading times and performance

One of the standout features of SPAs is their ability to offer faster loading times. Unlike traditional applications that reload the entire page with every click, SPAs only load the necessary components once.

Afterward, they dynamically update parts of the page as needed, ensuring smooth and quick transitions. This approach not only saves time but also creates a more enjoyable user experience, particularly for apps requiring frequent interaction.

2 - Great user experience

Another major advantage of SPAs is the seamless user experience they provide. By eliminating full-page reloads, they mimic the fluidity of native mobile apps.

This is why platforms like Gmail and Twitter are SPAs, as users can interact with these apps without any noticeable lag.

From scrolling through social media feeds to managing email inboxes, SPAs make the process feel natural and effortless.

3 - Easier to maintain and scale

SPAs score high on maintainability and scalability. Their modular architecture allows developers to design each part of the app as an independent component. This means a change to one feature won’t impact the rest of the app, making updates and troubleshooting simpler.

Additionally, scaling an SPA is straightforward. By adding more servers to handle increased demand, the app can grow without a complete redesign. This efficiency makes SPAs a preferred choice for businesses anticipating high traffic.

4 - Offline functionality

Offline functionality is another area where SPAs shine. They can operate without an active internet connection. For example, a user can continue working on a task or view cached data even if their connection drops. Once the user is back online, the app syncs the changes seamlessly.

5 - Reduced server load

SPAs are highly efficient as they rely on APIs to fetch data from the back-end instead of requesting the server to render entire pages. This reduces server load significantly and speeds up data exchange, allowing the app to perform better under high demand.

Cons

Despite the pros, SPAs aren't without their challenges.

1 - Initial load time

One common issue with SPAs is slow initial load times. Since SPAs load most of their content upfront, users on slower internet connections or older devices may experience delays before the app becomes functional. Once loaded, the app runs smoothly, but the initial delay can be a deterrent for some users.

2 - Poor SEO support

SPAs struggle with SEO because they typically have a single URL and rely on JavaScript to render content dynamically. This makes it difficult for search engines to index them properly.

While advancements in technology like server-side rendering are somewhat helping alleviate some of these issues, SPAs are still generally less SEO-friendly.

3 - Browser compatibility issues

SPAs face potential security vulnerabilities due to their reliance on JavaScript. Since most of the app logic runs on the client side, they're more exposed to attacks like Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).

4 - Memory leaks

SPAs can encounter memory leak issues if the JavaScript code isn’t optimised, leading to slowdowns or crashes, particularly on devices with limited resources. This makes performance optimisation and careful resource management essential during development.

What are the pros and cons of MPAs?

Pros

While MPAs don’t have the ease of use as SPAs, they certainly have their own pros:

1 - Faster initial loading times

MPAs have the advantage of faster initial load times. Unlike SPAs, which load most of their content upfront, MPAs load only the content required for the specific page the user is visiting. This approach reduces the strain on the browser during the initial load, providing a quicker experience for users accessing the app for the first time.

2 - Better SEO

This is one of the main advantages of choosing MPAs over SPAs. Each page in an MPA has a unique URL and can be indexed independently, allowing different sections of the site to rank separately in search results.

This structure makes MPAs an excellent choice for businesses focused on driving organic traffic through SEO, such as ecommerce websites or blogs.

3 - Compatible with old browsers

MPAs are highly compatible with older browsers and legacy systems, making them ideal for audiences using a wide range of devices and platforms. In environments where users might not have access to the latest technology, such as corporate intranets or public sector systems, this compatibility is invaluable.

4 - Secure

Since MPAs use a traditional architecture where each request is processed and rendered server-side, it’s easier to implement secure authentication and authorisation protocols. Each page request undergoes its own security checks, making the app less vulnerable to attacks, which are more prevalent in SPAs due to their dynamic content rendering.

Cons

Compared with SPAs, MPAs have performance issues as they have multiple pages.

1 - Slower performance than SPAs

One of the biggest drawbacks is their performance during user interactions. Since every click or action requires a full page reload, the user experience can feel clunky and outdated compared to the smooth, app-like functionality of SPAs.

This constant reloading not only slows down navigation but also interrupts the user’s flow, making MPAs less suitable for highly interactive applications like social networks or real-time dashboards.

2 - Complex to develop and scale

Development and maintenance are also more complex with MPAs. Each page must be designed, developed and managed separately, leading to a larger codebase and longer development timelines.

This complexity also extends to the back-end, where more intricate server-side logic is required to handle the individual requests for every page.

3 - Higher server load

Since each user interaction generates a separate request to the server, the back-end must handle a constant influx of demands, especially on high-traffic sites. This can result in slower response times and the need for a more robust server infrastructure to maintain performance under heavy loads.

SPA vs MPA: which one should you choose?

Choosing between an SPA and MPA depends on your app’s goals and functionality. Both have their own pros and cons. Here's how to make the right decision:

Choose SPA architecture if:

• Search visibility isn’t a top concern - SPAs require extra effort to optimise for SEO, so they’re better suited for apps where search rankings are less critical, such as dashboards or internal tools.
• Your app is feature-heavy and highly interactive - SPAs excel in delivering smooth, dynamic user experiences, making them ideal for apps with real-time updates or frequent user input, like social media platforms.
• You have an experienced JavaScript team - SPAs rely heavily on JavaScript frameworks, and having a skilled team ensures better implementation and security.
• You’re working with limited time and budget - SPAs are faster to develop due to their single-page structure, making them a cost-effective solution for startups or businesses on tight schedules.

Choose MPA architecture if:

• SEO is crucial for your app - MPAs are inherently search-friendly, with unique URLs and metadata for each page, making them a great choice for ecommerce platforms or content-heavy sites.
• Your app is mostly static or content-driven - for apps focused on delivering readable content with minimal interactivity, MPAs provide simplicity and clarity.
• Your app needs multiple distinct sections - if your app offers a wide range of services, products or information requiring separate pages, MPAs are a natural fit.
• JavaScript dependency is a concern - MPAs don’t rely on JavaScript to function, ensuring compatibility across various devices and browsers, especially older ones.

Conclusion

By now, you know what SPAs and MPAs and may already be leaning towards one over the other. However, creating an app from scratch can be overwhelming and you need a trusted partner to help you build it.

This is where Builder.ai comes in.

Builder.ai’s composable platform helps you build your web app efficiently. We:

✅ - Assign you a dedicated project manager, who keeps all stakeholders on your web app project aligned and on track; you never need to speak to a developer or write a single line of code

✅ - Speed up development time by giving you access to a comprehensive library of reusable features, fitted together by AI

✅ - Give you upfront costs and competitive timelines so your project stays under control

If that’s something you’d like to explore, please get in touch 👇

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