--- title: Mobile Site or Responsive Site? Understand the Differences description: Mobile site or responsive site? Learn what each approach is, how they differ, and when to use each one. source: https://vitaminaweb.digital/en/blog/mobile-site-or-responsive-site-understand-the-differences lang: en --- ![Mobile Site or Responsive Site? Understand the Differences](https://vitaminaweb.digital/storage/blog/YsxovUbk2gCdVe9Upn0yQdAFeIIqs7TfPhVG8U8G.webp) Mobile site or responsive site? Which option should you choose, and why is it important to have a *mobile-friendly* site, in other words, one that works well on mobile devices? I’ll answer all these questions in this article. ## Why should I have a mobile or responsive site? According to IBGE, in 2016, for the first time in Brazil, more people used their mobile phones to access the internet than their computers. This information is hardly surprising, since we know that the number of mobile phones surpassed the number of inhabitants long ago. [You can read the full story here.](http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/economia/noticia/2016-04/celular-e-principal-meio-de-acesso-internet-na-maioria-dos-lares) Mobile broadband is becoming increasingly accessible, and the smartphone has become an extension of the human body. Mobile browsing is growing exponentially, and in some industries, mobile devices already account for the highest percentage of visits measured by *analytics*. Given this scenario, there’s no doubt that you need a *mobile-friendly* site. ## What is a *mobile-friendly* site? Mobile-friendly sites are designed to provide end users with a better experience on the device they’re using, in this case, a mobile phone or tablet. Elements are organized to make navigation smoother, whether through their layout or by adjusting their size to ensure they’re easy to tap. Since April 21, 2015, Google has been working to show search results where the site is properly adapted to the device being used. [Learn more in this article](https://vitamina.digital/torne-seu-site-mobile-e-apareca-no-google/). ## What is the difference between a mobile site and a responsive site? When developing your site, there are two ways to make it *mobile-friendly*. You can create what’s known as a mobile site, or create a site known as a responsive site. Here’s what sets them apart. ### Mobile site or mobile version When you choose to develop a mobile version of your site, you need to understand that two separate designs will be created for the same project. As a result, the programming work also doubles, since all the features available in the desktop version must also be implemented in the mobile version. In many cases, the mobile site is hosted on a subdomain, for example, "http://mobile.seusite.com.br". In this case, when you access the site, the code detects that you’re using a mobile phone or tablet and redirects you to the mobile site’s domain. There’s also an option where the code detects that you’re visiting from a mobile device and loads the mobile site instead of showing the desktop site, without redirecting any URLs. This type of solution increases development costs, but is often necessary for certain projects. Here are some of the advantages of a mobile site: - **Usability:** Provides a better user experience; - **Conversion:** Since the design is created specifically for mobile devices, conversion rates are higher; - **Performance:** Mobile sites tend to load faster than responsive sites because they have less code and content to adapt; ### Responsive site or responsive design A responsive site uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to adapt the same layout to different screen sizes. This technique not only gives users a great browsing experience regardless of the device they use, but also reduces the investment, since it costs less than creating a mobile site. Here are some of the advantages of developing a responsive site: - **Maintenance:** You don’t need to maintain two versions, each with its own code and elements; - **Cost:** Since there’s no need to create two versions, the investment is lower. Of course, this assumes the site is being built from scratch. Depending on the type of site, adapting it to be responsive can cost more than creating a mobile version. ## **So, which solution is best?** There is no single best solution between a mobile site and a responsive site. One technique does not compete with the other. Each meets the needs of a different type of project. That’s why it’s important to work with a technology partner who can help you choose the best solution. 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