How to Convert a Base44 Project to a Mobile App
Short answer: you can't convert it directly. Base44 builds web apps, not native mobile apps. Here's what to do instead.
Founder, Natively
You've built something with Base44 and now you want it on the App Store or Google Play. I completely understand — Base44 makes it easy to go from an idea to a working application with just a text prompt. But that application is a web app, and getting it onto someone's phone as a real native mobile app is a different challenge entirely. Let me explain what's actually going on and what your options are.
Key Takeaways
- Base44 builds web apps — it generates HTML, CSS, and JavaScript applications with PWA features, not native mobile code
- There is no "export to mobile" button — web apps and native mobile apps are fundamentally different technologies
- Wrapping it in a WebView gives you a poor experience that Apple frequently rejects and users immediately notice
- The real path is to rebuild your app idea as a native mobile app using a framework like React Native
What Base44 Actually Builds
Base44 is an AI-powered no-code platform that lets you describe an app idea in plain English and generates a working application. You type what you want, and it creates the UI, database, authentication, and logic — all without writing code. It's genuinely impressive for getting a functional prototype up fast.
But the output is a web application. Base44 generates HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It runs in the browser. It includes PWA (Progressive Web App) features so users can add it to their home screen, but it's still fundamentally a website — not a native mobile app.
Web Apps vs. Native Mobile Apps
This is where the confusion usually starts. A web app runs inside a browser — Safari, Chrome, or an in-app WebView. A native mobile app is compiled code that runs directly on the device's operating system using platform-specific frameworks. They look similar on the surface, but under the hood they're completely different things.
What a PWA Can and Can't Do
Base44's PWA features let users add your app to their home screen, which gives it an app icon and removes the browser chrome. That's nice for a quick solution, but a PWA still can't do what native apps can. There are no native push notifications (Base44's own docs confirm this), no access to Face ID, NFC, Bluetooth, HealthKit, or background processing. The experience is noticeably different from what users expect when they download something from the App Store.
Why This Matters for Your Users
People expect mobile apps to feel like mobile apps. That means native gestures (swipe back, pull to refresh), native transitions between screens, haptic feedback, and instant responsiveness. A web app in a home screen shortcut can't deliver that. If your goal is to build something users actually want to keep on their phone, you need native code.
Why You Can't Just Convert It
I see this question asked a lot, and I want to be straightforward. There is no tool, plugin, or export option that can take a Base44 web app and turn it into a native iOS or Android app. Here's why:
Different Technologies Entirely
A Base44 app renders through a browser engine. A native iOS app renders through UIKit or SwiftUI. A native Android app renders through Jetpack Compose or the Android View system. These are completely different rendering pipelines. Your HTML elements are not native views. Your CSS layouts are not native layout systems. Your JavaScript event handlers are not native gesture recognizers.
Different Navigation and Interaction Models
Web apps navigate between URLs. Mobile apps navigate between screens using a navigation stack with gestures — swipe back on iOS, the system back button on Android, modal presentations, tab bars, bottom sheets. These patterns are deeply baked into how native apps work, and users expect them. Web navigation inside a mobile shell feels immediately wrong.
No Access to Device APIs
Even if your Base44 app looked perfect in a native container, it still wouldn't have proper access to native device APIs. Push notifications through APNs or FCM, background app refresh, Siri shortcuts, Android widgets, NFC, Bluetooth, camera with custom UI — all of these require native code that a web app simply cannot provide.
What About Base44's App Store Submission Feature?
Base44 does offer a feature on its Builder plan that can generate IPA and AAB files for app store submission. However, this wraps your web app in a native shell — it doesn't convert it to native code. The output is still a web app running in a WebView, which brings us to the next problem.
Why Wrapping Your Base44 App Won't Work Either
Whether you use Base44's built-in app store submission, Capacitor, PWABuilder, or any other wrapping tool, the result is the same: your web app gets placed inside a native WebView container. You get an app icon, you can technically submit to the stores, but here's what actually happens:
Two paths to the app stores
Wrapped Web App vs. Native App
HTML / CSS / JavaScript PWA
WebView Wrapper
Capacitor / PWABuilder
App Stores
NativelyDescribe your app idea with AI
Real Native Code
React Native + Expo → .ipa / .apk
App StoresUser Experience Problems
- ✗Scrolling feels off — no native momentum, rubber banding, or inertia
- ✗Transitions between screens look janky compared to native apps
- ✗No push notifications — Base44 doesn't support them even as a PWA
- ✗No native gestures — swipe-to-go-back, long press menus, haptics all missing
App Store Problems
- ✗Apple's guideline 4.2 rejects apps that are repackaged websites
- ✗Apple reviewers specifically test for WebView-only apps
- ✗Google Play increasingly flags low-quality wrapped web apps
- ✗Even if it slips through once, future updates may get rejected
Apple's Guideline 4.2 — Minimum Functionality
Apple explicitly states: "Your app should include features, content, and UI that elevate it beyond a repackaged website." Apps that are essentially a web view wrapping a website are routinely rejected. This applies directly to any wrapped Base44 project, whether you wrap it yourself or use Base44's built-in app store feature.
For a deeper look at which no-code tools produce real native apps, see our guide to the best no-code mobile app builders.
Want Your Base44 Idea as a Real Mobile App?
Instead of trying to wrap a web app, build a real native iOS and Android app with Natively. Describe your idea, and our AI generates production-ready React Native code — the same technology powering Instagram, Shopify, and Discord.
The Right Way: Build a Native App From Your Idea
If you have a Base44 project and you want a real mobile app, the path forward is to build a native app separately. This doesn't mean your Base44 work was wasted — you've already validated your idea, figured out the user flows, and built out the logic. That's genuinely valuable.
What you need now is a tool that builds native mobile apps, not web apps. That's what Natively does.
How Natively Works
Natively works similarly to Base44 in that you describe what you want and AI builds it. The critical difference is the output: Natively generates React Native + Expo apps that compile to actual native iOS and Android code. It's not a web app in disguise — it's real native code that uses native UI components, native navigation, and has full access to device APIs.
From Base44 Idea to the App Stores
- 1Use your Base44 project as a reference
You've already figured out the features, screens, and user flows. Use that as your blueprint for your native app.
- 2Describe your app in Natively
Tell the AI what your app does. Be as detailed as you want — reference your Base44 project's features, screens, and behavior.
- 3Get a real native app generated
Natively creates a React Native + Expo project with native UI components, proper mobile navigation, and full device API access.
- 4Preview on your phone
Test the app instantly on your actual device using Expo Go — scan a QR code and see it running natively on your iPhone or Android phone.
- 5Deploy to the App Store and Google Play
Build your app and submit it to both stores. You own 100% of the source code with no vendor lock-in.
What You Can Carry Over From Base44
Building native doesn't mean starting from zero. Here's what transfers from your Base44 project:
Your Idea and Product Thinking
The most valuable thing you built in Base44 isn't the code — it's the understanding of what your app should do, how users navigate it, and what features matter. All of that translates directly into your prompt in Natively.
Your Backend and Data
If your Base44 project connects to an external backend or API, your native app can connect to the same one. Natively supports Supabase integration out of the box and can connect to any REST or GraphQL API. If you're using Base44's built-in database, you'd need to migrate that data to an external service — but the structure and logic you've designed carries over.
Keeping Both Your Web App and Mobile App
You don't have to choose one or the other. Many products have both a web app and a native mobile app. Your Base44 project can stay live as your web version while your Natively app serves mobile users. Same product, optimized for each platform.
Evaluating other no-code platforms? See how Bubble and Softr compare for building real native mobile apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I directly convert my Base44 project to a mobile app?
No. Base44 generates web applications using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with PWA features. These are fundamentally different from native mobile apps. There is no converter or export tool that transforms web code into native mobile code.
Does Base44 support building native mobile apps?
No. Base44 is designed for web applications. It generates web code and offers PWA features for mobile-like access in the browser. It does not support React Native, Swift, Kotlin, or any native mobile framework.
What about Base44's built-in app store submission feature?
Base44's Builder plan can generate IPA and AAB files, but these wrap your web app in a native shell. The result is still a web app running in a WebView — not a native app. Apple commonly rejects these under App Store guideline 4.2, and users will notice the non-native experience.
What's the difference between a PWA and a native app?
A PWA is a website that can be added to your home screen. It runs in the browser and lacks native push notifications, native gestures, full offline support, and access to device APIs like Face ID or NFC. A native app compiles to real device code, renders native UI components, and has full access to everything the device offers.
Do I have to rebuild everything from scratch?
Not entirely. Your product concept, feature set, user flows, and any external backend all carry over. You're rebuilding the frontend in a native framework, not reinventing your product. With AI tools like Natively, you describe what you want and the app gets generated — so the process is fast.
What is React Native, and is it really native?
React Native is a framework created by Meta that compiles to actual native iOS and Android components. It's not a web view — it renders real native UI elements. It powers production apps at Instagram, Shopify, Discord, Coinbase, and thousands of others. Natively uses React Native + Expo to generate your apps.
How much does it cost to build a native app with Natively?
Natively starts at $5/month. Compare that to hiring a mobile developer or agency, which typically costs $50,000–$300,000+. You get full source code ownership and can export to GitHub at any time.
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