Everything you need to turn a website or web app into an installable/native mobile app — the approaches, the trade-offs, and the exact checklist for shipping to the Play Store and App Store.
| Approach | What it is | Store listing | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| PWA | Installable web app via the browser | No (mostly) | You want zero store friction, instant updates |
| TWA (Android) | A Chrome tab in fullscreen, verified to your domain | Yes (Play) | You want a Play Store listing around an existing site |
| Native wrapper / WebView | App shell hosting your web content + native APIs | Yes (both) | You need push, device APIs, or an App Store listing |
- PWA: installable from the browser, instant updates, no review process. But iOS support is limited (no true push historically, install flow is hidden), and there's no store presence — you lose store search and social proof.
- Native wrapper (TWA/WebView): a real store listing, push notifications, deep links and device APIs (camera, geolocation, biometrics). The cost is you must produce a build, sign it, and keep up with store policy.
If discoverability in the Play/App Store matters, you want a wrapper.
- Site served over HTTPS
- A valid web app manifest —
name,short_name,icons(192 & 512),theme_color,background_color,display: standalone - Digital Asset Links: host
assetlinks.jsonat/.well-known/assetlinks.jsonwith your app's SHA-256 signing fingerprint (this verifies the domain and removes the browser URL bar) - A service worker with an offline fallback (so it feels native offline)
- Adaptive icon + splash screen
- Signed AAB built (Bubblewrap or Android Studio) for Play upload
- iOS has no TWA equivalent; you use a WKWebView wrapper.
- You still need a proper manifest + icons, and you must satisfy Apple's guideline that the app provides app-like value (a thin website wrapper can be rejected under 4.2).
- Play: complete Data Safety, target the current API level, and match the Asset Links fingerprint to the upload key (Play App Signing changes it — use the Play-managed key's SHA-256).
- App Store: privacy nutrition labels, an app that isn't "just a website," and working deep links.
If you'd rather not maintain manifests, signing keys, Bubblewrap and two build pipelines, WebsiteToApp turns any website or URL into a native Android and iOS app with automated, managed builds — no code, and it handles the manifest, asset links and signing for you.
PRs welcome with more platform-specific tips.