The four options at a glance
| Method | Time | Cost | Real app file? | On Google Play? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home-screen shortcut | 10 seconds | Free | No | No |
| Progressive Web App (PWA) | Hours (dev work) | Free | No (installed by the browser) | Only via a TWA wrapper |
| Website-to-app converter | 5 minutes | Free APK · $5/mo for AAB | Yes — APK/AAB | Yes |
| Native app (Kotlin / Swift) | Weeks–months | $$$ | Yes | Yes |
Android: add a website to the home screen
- Open the website in Chrome.
- Tap the ⋮ menu in the top-right corner.
- Tap Add to Home screen (or Install app if the site is a PWA).
- Edit the name and tap Add.
Good for you, but you can't send a shortcut to someone else, and it's not a real app — no APK, no Play listing.
iPhone: make a website an app
- Open the website in Safari.
- Tap the Share button (the square with an arrow).
- Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.
- Turn on Open as Web App if shown, then tap Add.
The site gets its own icon and, if it has a web manifest, opens without Safari's toolbars. Shipping a real iPhone app to the App Store needs a Mac, Xcode and a paid Apple Developer account — our tools make Android apps only.
Android: turn the website into a real app (APK)
This is what most people mean when they want "an app for my website": a file other people can install, with your name and icon, that can go on Google Play.
- Install Website to App from Google Play.
- Paste your URL, add the name, icon and colour.
- Tap Build. Download the signed APK a few minutes later.
- Share the APK, or build an AAB with Pro and publish it on Google Play.
Have the site's files rather than a live URL? Use HTML to APK or ZIP to APK — the app then works fully offline.
What about a PWA?
A Progressive Web App is a website with a manifest and a service worker that browsers can "install". It's a great upgrade for your site either way, but it needs developer work and doesn't give you an APK unless you wrap it — see web app & PWA to APK.
Which should you choose?
- Just for yourself: home-screen shortcut.
- For customers, members or students on Android: website-to-app converter — fastest path to a real app and Google Play.
- Your site works offline or has no server: HTML/ZIP to APK.
- You need Bluetooth, background GPS, heavy 3D or complex offline sync: native development.
Not sure what it would cost to go native instead? Try the website to app cost calculator.
Create your app now — free
No watermark, no card, no Android Studio. Pick what you're starting from:
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a website an app?
On your own phone, use Add to Home Screen in Chrome or Safari. To make a real Android app others can install, convert the site to an APK with a website-to-app converter.
How do I make a website an app on iPhone?
Open it in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. A real App Store app needs Xcode on a Mac and an Apple Developer account.
Can I turn my website into an app for free?
Yes. Website to App builds a signed Android APK for free with no watermark. Publishing on Google Play needs an AAB (Pro) and Google's one-time $25 developer fee.
Does converting a website into an app hurt SEO?
No. The website stays exactly as it is and keeps ranking; the app simply displays it.
Is a website app as good as a native app?
For content, shops, bookings and dashboards, users rarely notice a difference. Native wins for heavy graphics, deep hardware access and complex offline work.