How to Turn Your Website into a Mobile App (2026 Guide)

Mobile traffic probably accounts for the majority of your visitors now. But, a fully-optimized, fast, responsive mobile website isn’t enough. Not on its own.

Mobile apps convert better, retain better, and give you access to push notifications. That's true. Apps convert at roughly 3x the rate of mobile websites in ecommerce. App users shop more frequently, spend more per order, and stick around longer.

Most online businesses today should have their own app. Especially because, for brands with a successful, mobile-friendly website, it’s not a whole new project. You have a great base to start with.

If you want to turn your website into a mobile app, this guide is for you. It covers every option for turning your website into a mobile app: what each approach costs, how long it takes, and who it's right for. 

Can You Actually Turn a Website into an App?

Yes. And it's more common than most people realize.

Turning a website into an app means taking your existing web content and delivering it through a native app framework, with native capabilities layered on top: push notifications, app store presence, native navigation, and deep linking.

The result is a real app that users download from the App Store and Google Play. A native app that uses your website as its content engine - which happens to be the same way many of the biggest apps in the world already work.

Multiple studies have found that 83-90% of Android apps contain hybrid web components in their code. Even among apps with 100,000+ users, more than half use web content as part of their architecture. 

Amazon, Shopify, Instagram, and Gmail all blend native and web elements in their mobile apps. Shopify published a detailed engineering post describing web-based views as "a critical part of Shopify's mobile strategy."

These companies could build everything natively. They choose not to, because using web content lets them ship faster and maintain less code. The same principle applies to your business, just at a different scale.

For a deeper technical breakdown, see our guide to native apps vs hybrid apps.

Why Turn Your Website into an App?

If you're still weighing whether an app is worth it, here are the numbers that matter.

Mobile users spend their time in apps, not browsers

Over 90% of smartphone time is spent in apps. The latest data from Sensor Tower's State of Mobile 2026 report found that users spend less than 6% of their phone time in browsers. When your customers pick up their phones, they're opening apps, not typing URLs.

Apps convert and retain better

Mobile apps convert at roughly 3x the rate of mobile websites in ecommerce. App users also view significantly more products per session and return more frequently.

The retention gap is even bigger. App users typically deliver 3-7x higher lifetime value than mobile web visitors, driven by higher order frequency, larger average orders, and stronger brand loyalty.

Push notifications give you a new, high-visibility, high-ROI marketing channel

Push notifications reach your customers on their lock screen, instantly, at zero cost per send.

They’re virtually guaranteed to be seen; unlike emails, which are getting seen and opened less and less.

For ecommerce brands, push notifications are the reason to build an app.

Automated push notifications for cart abandonment, back-in-stock alerts, and flash sales can drive hundreds of thousands in new revenue each month, with very little in the way of variable costs.

Your competitors are launching apps

According to MobiLoud's 2025 Benchmark Report, 21.5% of US brands doing $5M+ per month in revenue already have a mobile app. That number is growing. For brands with strong repeat-purchase models, an app is quickly becoming table stakes rather than a competitive advantage.

Dive deeper: Get our latest Ecommerce Mobile App Benchmark Report to see the real numbers apps are generating for DTC ecommerce brands. 

Three Ways to Turn Your Website into a Mobile App

There are three main approaches, each with different cost, effort, and control trade-offs.

Now, let’s take a deeper look at the three ways to turn a website into an app.

Option 1: Custom Native App Development

This means hiring developers (or an agency) to build an app from scratch using platform-specific code. Swift or Objective-C for iOS, Java or Kotlin for Android. Two separate codebases, two development cycles, two maintenance burdens.

When it makes sense:

• The app IS your product (think Uber, Duolingo, or a banking app)
• You need device-specific features that don't exist on the web (AR, NFC, complex offline workflows)
• You have the budget ($100K-$500K+) and are comfortable with a 6-12 month timeline
• You have an in-house engineering team to maintain it after launch

When it doesn't:

• You already have a working website and want the app to mirror that experience
• You don't have dedicated mobile developers on staff
• You need to launch in weeks, not months

Custom development delivers maximum control, but it's the most expensive option by a wide margin. You're essentially building a second product. Factor in $50K-$150K per platform for the initial build, plus 10-20% of the build cost annually for maintenance and updates.

"There is no real business case for building an app from scratch for $1M+ when our mobile website is already good enough!"
-- Thomas Moberg, Product Owner, Bestseller (Jack & Jones, Only, Vero Moda)

Option 2: DIY App Builders

No-code app builder platforms let you create a mobile app yourself, without hiring developers. 

While there are many general-purpose no-code app builders, the only ones that are really relevant for this conversation are those built for ecommerce.

These tools connect with your store via platform APIs (typically working with Shopify - though there are some that also work with Magento and WooCommerce), and let you pull product data into pre-built app templates.

When it makes sense:

• You want direct, hands-on control over the app's design and layout
• You have a team member who can own setup and ongoing management
• You're on a platform with strong builder support (most options are Shopify-only)
• Budget is the primary constraint

When it doesn't:

• You don't have someone to manage the app as an ongoing project
• You're on WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, or a custom platform (there are options, albeit more limited)
• Your website is heavily customized and you don't want to rebuild that in the app
• You want app and website to stay in sync automatically

The subscription price for DIY app builders can vary greatly, from as little as $49 per month, to $1,500+ per month. The cost depends on the depth of features you need, and how much customization you need (some allow dev customization, but it’s generally around $1.5K extra just for access to dev tools).

But consider this: that cost doesn’t include the cost of your team's time: designing screens, configuring integrations, updating the app when your site changes, and troubleshooting issues. At typical loaded hourly rates, that's $1,000-2,000/month in labor on top of the subscription. 

The total cost of ownership is closer to custom development than the sticker price suggests.

Option 3: Website-to-App Services

This approach takes your existing website and extends it into native iOS and Android apps. 

Your website remains the single platform you manage. Updates to your site appear in the app automatically. No separate codebase, no rebuilding.

The service provider builds a native app framework (generally using Swift, Java, and Kotlin), then integrates your web content within that framework and adds native capabilities on top: push notifications, native navigation menus, a home screen icon and an app store listing.

The result is a production-ready app that users download from the App Store and Google Play. And it’s the most straightforward example of actually converting your website into a mobile app.

When it makes sense:

• You already have a solid, mobile-responsive website
• You want app store presence and push notifications without rebuilding your tech stack
• You want someone else to handle the build, app store submission, and ongoing maintenance
• You're on a niche website platform (incompatible with no-code tools), you have custom integrations that DIY app builders can’t handle, or you have a completely custom-built website

When it doesn't:

• You want the app to be a fundamentally different experience from your website
• You need native-only device features that don't work on the web (AR, NFC, Bluetooth)
• Your mobile website isn't in good shape yet (fix that first; a website-to-app service can only be as good as the site it's built on)

MobiLoud is the top website to app provider in this category, with 2,000+ apps launched over 10+ years across Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and fully custom platforms. 

Other services exist as well. The key differentiator for website-to-app services as a category is that they're fully managed: you're not building or maintaining the app yourself.

"Our website is already well-optimized so using MobiLoud to transform our site into an app was a no-brainer. No crazy costs, no integration headaches, and we were launched in a month."
‍-- Ahmed Yousef, Director of Ecommerce, Pharmazone

What About AI App Builders and PWAs?

Two other approaches come up often: AI-powered app generators and Progressive Web Apps. Both have a role, but neither is a full replacement for the three methods above.

AI-generated apps

Today, tools like Lovable, Bolt, and Replit let you describe what you want and generate a functional web app with AI. Some of these platforms have started offering mobile app export or conversion features, and there are also tools specifically built for mobile apps.

For prototyping, side projects, and MVPs, these tools are genuinely impressive. I’ve used most of them.

But for an established ecommerce brand that needs a production-grade mobile app, they're not there yet. The generated code often needs significant manual work to be production-ready (especially to handle the complexities of an ecommerce store), and you're on your own for app store submission, compliance, and long-term updates.

If you're evaluating these tools, the question to ask is: would you trust this to handle your customers' checkout experience and payment information? For most serious businesses, the answer is not yet.

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

A PWA is a website built with modern browser APIs that can behave like an app: installable to the home screen, with some offline caching and (on Android) push notifications.

PWAs are a good option for businesses that want app-like behavior without app store distribution. They're cheaper to build, require no app store approval, and share a codebase with your website.

But they’re not a real substitute for an actual mobile app.

One problem is iOS. Apple limits what PWAs can do on iPhone: no App Store presence, restricted push notification delivery, no background sync, and all PWAs are forced through Apple's WebKit engine.

Your most valuable users are likely on iPhones, so this is a major issue.

Yet even if you consider Android, where PWAs are more tolerated, they’re just not as effective as native apps. Users don’t treat them the same way. You’ll end up with a fraction of the downloads and usage as if you build a “real” app.

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How Much Does It Cost to Turn Your Website into an App?

With any project, cost is usually the first question a business is going to ask.

Here are some rough estimates:

Short answer: custom dev costs a lot. DIY app builders and website to app services typically cost more or less the same - both of which could end up being less than 1% of a custom app.

The ROI of Turning Your Website into an App

The most important number isn't cost. It's return on investment (ROI).

For a brand doing $10M per year in online revenue, even a very conservative estimate of 5% of total revenue coming through the app translates to $500,000 per year. Against a website-to-app service cost of roughly $10K-$15K per year, that's a 30-50x return.

The math gets more dramatic as revenue scales.

A $50M brand driving 20% of revenue through the app is looking at $10M in app revenue against the same $10K-$15K annual cost.

At this level, not having an app is an irresponsible business decision.

This doesn't mean every business should rush to launch an app. But for brands with meaningful mobile traffic and a repeat-purchase model, the economics are hard to argue with.

For a full cost breakdown by approach, see our full guide on mobile app development costs.

How Long Does It Take?

Apple's review process typically takes 5-7 business days per submission, and may require revisions. Google Play is generally faster. If you're planning around a specific launch date (a holiday season, a product drop, a rebrand), build in buffer time for the review process.

How to Choose the Right Approach

If you're not sure which path to take, start with three questions.

What do you already have?

If you have a working, mobile-responsive website that you're happy with, the website-to-app approach is the fastest, lowest-risk path. You're converting what already works rather than building something new.

If the app needs to do things your website can't (device hardware integration, complex offline features, a fundamentally different user experience), custom development is the way to go.

If you want hands-on design control and have someone on your team to own the project, a DIY app builder can work.

What's your budget and timeline?

Under $15K for year one and need to launch within a month or two? Go with a website-to-app service or DIY builder.

Six figures and 6+ months available? Custom development becomes a realistic option.

Trying to keep costs as low as possible? A PWA gives you some app-like features, but accept the iOS limitations before committing.

Who's going to manage this after launch?

This is the question most people skip, and it's the one that matters most long-term.

No dedicated person for app management? A website-to-app service handles maintenance for you.

With a DIY builder, you're on your own for updates, troubleshooting, and keeping the app in sync with your site.

Custom development requires ongoing engineering resources - so budget that into the cost, if you don't have these resources in-house.

Our Honest Stance on the Best Way to Convert a Website into an App

We're MobiLoud. We built a website-to-app service. So yes, we're biased.

But here's why we believe this approach is genuinely the best path for most online businesses.

The web today is incredibly capable. You can build almost anything as a web experience: 

• Flash UIs
• Complex checkout flows
• Loyalty programs, subscription flows
• AI-driven, personalized recommendations
• Interactive product configurators
• Bundle builders, up-sells, guided buying assistants

The list goes on. The gap between what's possible on the web and what's possible in a native app has narrowed to a sliver for most business use cases.

And, for the majority of business, the mobile web is where you’ll get most of your traffic.

So rather than rebuilding all of that in an app that lives separately from your website, and requires its own team to run, the smarter move is 

• Invest in your website, make it as good as it can possibly be
• Build any desired features or upgrades for the web
• Extend your web experience into a native app

You’ll get everything you need from a real mobile app, while basically managing one codebase.

Anything you build or improve on your website shows up in the app automatically, and you never have to worry about the two experiences falling out of sync.

That's real flexibility. Anything you can build for the web is possible in your app; and you can do so with your existing web dev team.

There are cases where other approaches make more sense. 

• If you need an app that's fundamentally different from your website, custom development is the right call. 
• If you want more control over every screen in your app (separate from your website) and have the team to manage it, a drag-and-drop builder can work.

These are legitimate options that successful businesses are using.

But the best choice for most ecommerce brands, online marketplaces, and engagement-driven SaaS businesses is building the best possible website and converting it into a native app.

It’s zero-risk, low-overhead, high-ROI. 

That's what we do, and that's why we built MobiLoud.

Ready to explore turning your website into an app? Get a free consultation now. No cost, no obligation.

How MobiLoud Turns Your Website into an App

If the website-to-app approach sounds like the right fit, here's what the process looks like with MobiLoud.

MobiLoud is a fully managed service. You're not building or maintaining the app yourself. The MobiLoud team handles everything, from the initial build through app store submission and ongoing updates.

How it works

You can go from website to app in just three steps, in under a month.

1. Book a strategy call. Fill out the form with your website URL. The team discusses your goals, answers your questions, and assesses whether your site is a good fit.
2. Get your custom app preview. The MobiLoud team builds a personalized preview of your app. You see exactly how your website looks and feels as a native app before committing.
3. Launch in 30 days. MobiLoud handles the full build, QA testing, and app store submission. Your app goes live on the App Store and Google Play while you focus on your business.

What you get

• Native iOS and Android apps listed in both app stores
• Full parity with your website: every feature, every integration, every page
• Unlimited push notifications at no cost per send (integrated with OneSignal and Klaviyo)
• Automatic sync: update your website, and the app updates too
• Ongoing maintenance, updates, and support handled by MobiLoud
• Works with any platform: Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and custom builds

MobiLoud has launched 2,000+ apps over 10+ years for brands including John Varvatos, Jack & Jones, Vero Moda, Tadashi Shoji and Pharmazone.

"We tried six companies and I feel like you guys have the best combination of service, functionality, and price."
-- Kenneth Chan, Founder & CEO, TOBI

"MobiLoud keeps this whole thing simple and streamlined. No more juggling two different platforms, no more wasted time on maintenance."
-- Eric Lowe, Director of Ecommerce, XCVI

Who it's not for

MobiLoud works best for businesses with a strong existing website. If your mobile site needs significant work, fix that first. If you need the app to be a completely different experience from your website, or you need deep native device features (AR, NFC, complex offline workflows), custom development is a better fit.

Get started

Ready to talk through whether an app makes sense for your brand? 

Book a free 30-minute strategy call with one of our app experts. We've built 2,000+ apps for brands like yours, and we'll give you an honest assessment of whether this is the right move, what it takes to launch, and examples of what brands like yours are doing.