How to Convert a Lovable Web App Into a Mobile App
Spoiler: you can't just wrap it. Here's what actually works.
Founder, Natively
If you've built something cool with Lovable and you're now thinking "I want this as a mobile app on the App Store," you're not alone. It's one of the most common questions we hear. The short answer: you can't just take a Lovable project and turn it into a native mobile app. But there is a clear path forward, and it's not as complicated as you might think.
Key Takeaways
- Lovable builds web apps — built with React + Vite, they run in the browser, not on your phone natively
- Wrapping a web app in a container doesn't make it a real app — it's still just a website in disguise
- Apple regularly rejects wrapped web apps from the App Store for not meeting native quality standards
- To build a real mobile app, you need to rebuild using a native framework like React Native
What Lovable Actually Builds
Let me be straight with you. Lovable is a fantastic tool for building web applications quickly. You describe what you want, and it generates a working web app using React, Vite, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS. It's genuinely impressive for what it does.
But here's the thing — it builds web apps, not mobile apps. There's a fundamental difference. A Lovable project runs in a web browser. It uses web technologies, web layouts, and web navigation patterns. It's not compiled to native iOS or Android code. It doesn't have access to device APIs like push notifications, the camera, biometrics, or offline storage in any meaningful native way.
So when you ask "how do I turn my Lovable app into a mobile app," what you're really asking is: can I take a web application built with one framework and magically convert it into a completely different type of application? The honest answer is no.
Why Wrapping Your Web App Doesn't Work
The first thing most people try is wrapping their web app in a native container — tools like Capacitor, Cordova, or a custom WebView. The idea is simple: take your website, put it inside a native shell, and ship it to the app stores.
In theory it sounds reasonable. In practice, the result is almost always disappointing. Here's why:
It Feels Wrong to Users
- ✗Scrolling feels sluggish and non-native
- ✗Animations are janky compared to real apps
- ✗Navigation doesn't match iOS or Android patterns
- ✗Users immediately sense something is off
It Gets Rejected by App Stores
- ✗Apple's guideline 4.2 rejects "web clippings"
- ✗No access to native push notifications
- ✗Can't use native gestures or device features
- ✗Poor offline experience
I've seen this play out dozens of times. Someone builds a great web app, wraps it with Capacitor, submits to the App Store, and gets rejected. Or worse — it gets approved, users download it, leave 2-star reviews saying "this is just a website," and the app tanks. A wrapped web app is not a mobile app. It's a website with an app icon.
We go deeper on this in our native code vs WebView comparison.
Native Apps vs Wrapped Web Apps
To understand why native matters, let's look at what you actually get with each approach:
| Feature | Wrapped Web App | Native App |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Slow, browser-limited | Fast, compiled code |
| Push Notifications | Limited or none | Full native support |
| Camera & Sensors | Basic browser APIs | Full device access |
| Offline Support | Very limited | Full offline capability |
| App Store Approval | Frequently rejected | Standard approval |
| UX Feel | Feels like a website | Feels like a real app |
| User Ratings | Typically poor | Competitive |
Why Users Notice Immediately
The difference isn't subtle. Users can tell within seconds whether they're using a native app or a wrapped website. The scrolling, the transitions, the way buttons respond to touch — it all matters. And in a world where users have thousands of polished native apps on their phone, a wrapped web app sticks out like a sore thumb.
The Performance Gap
Native apps render UI directly through platform APIs. Wrapped web apps have to go through a browser engine first, adding latency to every interaction. On older devices especially, this gap becomes painfully obvious.
What About PWAs?
Progressive Web Apps are better than a raw WebView wrapper, but they still run in the browser. On iOS, PWAs can't send real push notifications via APNs, can't access Bluetooth or NFC, and Safari aggressively limits their storage. For anything beyond a basic utility, PWAs hit a wall fast.
Want a Real Native Mobile App?
Instead of wrapping 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 used by Meta, Shopify, and Discord.
The Right Approach: Build Native From the Start
If you have a Lovable web app and you want a mobile version, the right move is to build the mobile app separately using a native framework. This doesn't mean you wasted your time with Lovable — your web app can still serve as your web presence, your desktop experience, or even your prototype to validate the idea before building mobile.
But for the mobile app itself, you need something that compiles to native code. That's where tools like Natively come in.
How Natively Works
Natively takes a similar approach to Lovable — you describe what you want in plain English. But instead of generating a web app, it generates a real React Native + Expo app that compiles to actual native iOS and Android code. The output is genuine native code, not a web wrapper.
Steps to Go From Lovable to Native Mobile
- 1Keep your Lovable web app as-is
It's great for web. Don't try to force it into mobile.
- 2Describe your app idea in Natively
Use the same concept, features, and flows from your web app as a reference.
- 3AI generates your native app
Natively creates a real React Native + Expo project with native UI components, proper navigation, and device API access.
- 4Connect your backend
If your Lovable app uses Supabase, you can connect the same backend to your native app — same database, same auth, no migration needed.
- 5Deploy to the App Store and Google Play
Ship a real native app that users love, with full source code ownership and zero vendor lock-in.
Reusing What You Already Have
Building native doesn't mean throwing everything away. Your product thinking, user flows, and most importantly your backend can all carry over.
Sharing a Supabase Backend
Can I Share a Backend Between Lovable and Natively?
Yes. If your Lovable web app uses Supabase, you can connect your Natively mobile app to the exact same Supabase project. Your web and mobile apps will share the same database, authentication, and storage. No data migration, no duplication — just one backend powering both platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I directly convert my Lovable project to a mobile app?
No. Lovable generates React web applications (React + Vite). Mobile apps require a different framework entirely — like React Native for iOS and Android. The codebase is not compatible for a direct conversion.
What about using Capacitor or Cordova to wrap it?
You can technically do this, but the result will be a web app inside a native shell. Performance will be poor, it won't feel native, and Apple frequently rejects these kinds of apps under guideline 4.2 (minimum functionality). It's not worth the effort for anything you plan to ship to real users.
Do I have to start completely from scratch?
Not entirely. Your app idea, user flows, feature set, and backend can all carry over. You're rebuilding the frontend in a native framework, not re-inventing your product. With AI tools like Natively, you describe what you want and the native app gets generated for you — so the process is fast.
Is React Native really "native"?
Yes. React Native compiles to actual native iOS and Android components. It's used in production by Meta (Instagram, Facebook), Shopify, Discord, and thousands of other apps. It's not a web view — it renders real native UI elements.
Can I keep my web app and have a mobile app too?
Absolutely. Many products have both a web app and a native mobile app sharing the same backend. Your Lovable web app stays as your web experience, and your Natively app serves as your mobile experience. Same product, best experience on each platform.