A website to app converter wraps your existing site in a native shell, so it installs like a real app instead of opening in a browser. A free plan can get you a working preview in minutes, but what separates a converter that gets you all the way into the App Store and Google Play from one that leaves you stuck in a rejection and review cycle is native functionality, security, and publishing support. Median's App Studio covers all three, plus a guaranteed app store approval option if you'd rather hand off publishing entirely.
How to convert a website into an app
This guide explains how website-to-app conversion works with a hybrid app and what it costs.
If you’re comparing this approach to native development, start with Median’s separate comparison guide: Converting your website to an app? Here are 6 reasons to use Median. It compares webview apps, explains PWAs, and walks through the entire build, testing, and publishing process.
What is a website to app converter
A website to app converter takes your existing site, whether it was hand-coded or vibe-coded with Lovable, Claude Code, or another AI builder, and wraps it in a native shell.
It installs and runs like any other mobile app on Google Play and the App Store, rather than opening in a browser. That part, the conversion, is pretty simple. Many tools in this space can get you a working preview in a few minutes for free, but what gets complicated is everything after that first preview.
What separates the best website-to-app converters?
For most people building an app, the challenge is getting an app approved by Apple and Google. This is because published mobile apps require more than just a web wrapper.
The best website-to-app converters include native capabilities such as push notifications, biometric authentication, in-app purchases, deep linking, and camera access, along with the security, testing tools, and publishing support needed to get through the app store review and approval process.
That's where platforms like Median differ from simple wrappers.
Beyond generating a native app, Median helps you configure native functionality and meet the requirements of the App Store and Google Play. If you choose, Median can also handle the publishing process with a guaranteed app store approval option.
How does a free website to app converter work?
This is the real Median App Studio flow:
Enter your website URL, app name, and contact email, then start the build. Median pulls initial details like your logo automatically from the site, and everything here stays editable before you publish.
Customize the branding. The app icon defaults to your site's logo but can be replaced with another version. The splash screen can stay default, use a custom image, or run a short animation, and you can also set the app to light mode or dark mode. Theme colors extend to the status bar and navigation bar to match your brand.
Set link handling and permissions. Decide how in-app links behave, and control what device features (e.g., camera, location, and similar) the app can access.
Turn on push notifications. Enable these if you want them, then save your changes to lock in the customization.
Build and download. Median generates four separate outputs: an Android APK ready to install directly, an Android AAB for Google Play submission, Android source code if you want to modify the app manually, and iOS source code, which needs an Apple Developer account to run on an actual device.
You don't have to be a developer to use Median. This Median.co for Beginners video covers just how straightforward and easy it is to use the App Studio.
What does it cost to convert a website into an app?
Apple Developer Program and Google Play Console fees
Apple and Google's fees apply no matter which converter you pick. They're not Median's or anyone else's to waive.
Apple's Developer Program runs $99 a year. Google Play Console is a one-time $25. Neither store lets you submit anything without these.
Web to app converter costs
Median lets you build and preview your app for free. Paid plans start at $179/year for a white-label app with additional App Studio features and native capabilities, with higher tiers adding more plugins, collaboration, and enterprise features.
Teams at SkinCure Oncology and Aon used Median’s managed publishing service instead of commissioning a native build from scratch.
So realistically, budget $124 in mandatory store fees no matter what, plus a plan that covers whatever native features and publishing help you want or need.
You can find more details on the Median Pricing web page: Find the plan that works for you.
If you're building a business case and comparing the costs of a native app, in-house development, a hybrid app, or other approaches, this guide to app development costs breaks down the numbers you need to evaluate each option.
Website to app converter limitations: Where free tools fall short
A website wrapped in a browser view with no native functionality added is exactly the kind of app that draws scrutiny during App Store review. Apple's App Store Review Guideline 4.2 (Minimum Functionality) requires apps to provide meaningful value beyond a repackaged website. Apple rejects close to 1 in 4 app submissions overall, and a plain wrapper with nothing native added is one of the more common reasons why.
Google Play enforces a similar standard through its Spam and Minimum Functionality policy, which discourages apps that offer little more than a web wrapper or duplicate existing content.
In addition to a lack of native functionality, gaps often appear in app store review readiness, user experience, privacy compliance, and ongoing maintenance.
While it might seem intimidating, most rejections are a fix-and-resubmit situation, not a dead end, but only if you know which specific guideline you tripped over and how to address it. Median's own guide to App Store rejection reasons and appeals walks through the most common categories and what to do about each one if you need help.
How to choose the right website-to-app converter
If you're evaluating web to app converters, look into what happens on app store rejection, not just how quickly the app is built.
A free build with no rejection support, or a tool that lacks built-in guardrails for app store best practices, can leave you stuck.
Median's experts ranked the top no-code app-building platforms and included everything you need to get started, plus how Median can help you build, ship, and scale your app.
What you get free vs. what you pay for with Median
A website-to-app converter should help you answer the first question: "Can my web experience work as a mobile app?" With Median, you can build your app, preview it, and see how your site translates into a native app experience before making any commitment.
When you're ready to move from testing to launching, Median gives you the tools and support needed to create an app that meets app store expectations, delivers a better mobile experience, and is built for long-term success.
Free: The build, the preview, and the ability to see your website as an app before committing.
Paid: Everything you need to take that app from preview to production, whether that means adding native capabilities, meeting security requirements, publishing to the Apple App Store and Google Play, or getting expert support along the way.
Median features:
Native plugins: Push and messaging through OneSignal, Adjust, Braze, Customer.io, Intercom, IBM Cloud, Klaviyo, and more. Authentication through Social Login, Auth0, Clerk, Passkey WebAuthn, or native biometric login. Analytics and monetization through Adjust, AppsFlyer, Google Analytics, RevenueCat, Meta App Events, and more. See all Native Plugins.
Median JavaScript Bridge library: Add features such as native sharing, screen brightness control, embedded PDF viewing, and dynamic navigation menus that adapt to logged-in versus logged-out state, all without writing native code.
Security: SOC 2 Type II certification.
Publishing: Self-serve, or fully managed through Median's team with a guaranteed app store approval option.
Platforms confirmed to work with Median: Lovable, Base44, Replit, Google AI Studio, Framer, SharePoint, Shopify, Claude Code, plus many more.
Frequently asked questions about how to convert a website to an app
Can I convert any website into an app?
Yes, you can convert any responsive website into a native Android and iOS app. Median wraps your site in a native shell and layers on functionality such as navigation, notifications, and device features that a plain website can't offer on its own.
Can I convert an app I built with Lovable, Base44, or another AI tool?
Yes. Median works the same way no matter how your site was built, whether it was hand-coded, built on a platform like Lovable, Base44, or Replit, or generated with a tool like Google AI Studio or Claude Code. Paste your URL into App Studio, and Median wraps it the same way it would wrap any other site.
Is a website to app converter just a wrapper?
At the most basic level, a website-to-app converter displays your web experience inside a native mobile app shell. But a production-ready app requires much more than simply loading a website in a mobile browser view. The difference is the native capabilities, security features, publishing support, and app store readiness built around that web experience.
A basic wrapper stops at displaying your site. Median goes further by adding the native functionality and infrastructure needed to launch and maintain a real mobile app, including push notifications, biometric authentication, native plugins, analytics integrations, monetization tools, and security capabilities. Median also automates App Store Connect uploads, reducing the manual steps required to submit and update apps for review.
Will my app stay up to date with my site?
Yes. Median keeps one codebase in sync. When you update your website, the changes automatically flow through to the app, without requiring a new build or an app store submission for content changes.
Is converting a website to an app really free?
The initial build and preview in Median’s App Studio are free. There's no credit card required to see what your site looks like as an app. What's not included at that stage is native plugin integrations (push notifications, biometrics, haptics, and similar), managed app store publishing, and the guaranteed approval option, all of which are part of Median's paid plans. Most teams end up on a paid plan once they want the native features that get an app past app store review.
How much does it cost to convert a website into an app?
Apple and Google's fees apply regardless of which tool you use, $99 a year for Apple, a one-time $25 for Google Play. On top of that, Median's build and preview are free, and self-serve plans with native features and publishing support start at $179 a year.
Do I need a developer account to publish my app on Google Play or the App Store?
Yes, for both. Apple's Developer Program costs $99 per year, and Google Play's developer registration is a one-time $25 fee. Both are the platform's own fees, not the converter's, so they apply no matter which tool you use.
Turn your website into an iOS and Android app with Median
A mobile app is more than a website inside a browser window. Median transforms your existing site into a native iOS and Android app, then adds the capabilities that make it production-ready, such as push notifications, biometric login, analytics integrations, SOC 2 Type II security, and automated uploads and submission.
Start with a free build and preview, then upgrade when you’re ready to add the native features and publishing support your app requires.
*DISCLAIMER: This content is provided solely for informational purposes. It is not exhaustive and may not be relevant for your requirements. While we have obtained and compiled this information from sources we believe to be reliable, we cannot and do not guarantee its accuracy. This content is not to be considered professional advice and does not form a professional relationship of any kind between you and GoNative.io LLC or its affiliates. Median.co is the industry-leading end-to-end solution for developing, publishing, and maintaining native mobile apps for iOS and Android powered by web content. When considering any technology vendor we recommend that you conduct detailed research and "read the fine print" before using their services.*
