Short answer
Chrome's “Add to Home screen” creates a shortcut (opens a normal browser tab with an address bar) or, for a PWA, installs a web app. Each user has to do it themselves. A URL to App build is a real APK you distribute: a Play Store listing, a link or QR code anyone can install from, your own splash screen, no browser UI, and app features like native push and controlled link handling.
What the user gets
| Home-screen shortcut | Installed PWA | URL app | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who creates it | The user | The user (prompted) | You |
| Browser UI visible | Yes | No | No |
| In app drawer & app switcher as its own app | No | Yes | Yes |
| Play Store listing & reviews | No | No | Yes |
| Shareable install link / QR | No | Partly | Yes |
| Site changes required | None | Manifest + SW | None |
The adoption problem
Most people have never used “Add to Home screen”. A Play listing and a “Get the app” QR code are things everyone already understands — that's the main reason businesses convert their URL to an app.
FAQ
Is a home-screen shortcut an app?
No. It's a bookmark with an icon; it opens Chrome.