| | Double-clickable JAR | Mac OS X bundled application | Applet | Web Start |
| Packaging requirements | Entry in JAR manifest | Specific directory and packaging requirements | HTML file | HTML file and JNLP file |
| Development complexity | Minimal (standard Java development) | Additional Mac OS X configuration | Use Applet Runner | Significant relaunching within Web Start |
| Portability | Closest to "pure" Java | Doesn't force incompatibility ; unfamiliar to non-Mac OS X users | Extensive browser testing required | Closest to "pure" Java with network connectivity |
| Functionality | Full | Full | Limited by Sandbox, browser JVM | Limited by digital signature |
| Sandbox | None | None | Browser | Web Start |
| Mac OS X user experience | Varies per testing on Mac OS X | Preferred | Varies per testing on Mac OS X | Generally preferred over applets for network-delivered applications |