How to Convert a Vitara.ai Project to a Mobile App
Short answer: you can't convert it directly. But you can rebuild the same idea as a real native app.
Founder, Natively
You've been building with Vitara.ai — describing your idea, watching it generate a full-stack web app, maybe even deploying it. Now you want that same thing as a real mobile app on the App Store or Google Play. I see this question a lot, so let me give you a straight answer and walk through your actual options.
Key Takeaways
- Vitara.ai builds web apps — using React for the frontend and Supabase for the backend, designed to run in a browser
- There is no "export to mobile" button — a React web app and a React Native mobile app are different technologies despite the similar names
- Wrapping it in a WebView will get you rejected from the App Store and give users a poor experience
- The real path is to rebuild your idea as a native mobile app using React Native + Expo
What Vitara.ai Actually Builds
Vitara.ai is an AI-powered development platform that generates full-stack web applications from natural language prompts. You describe what you want, and it writes the code — React for the frontend, Supabase for the backend (authentication, database, storage). It's a vibe coding tool built for speed.
The output is a web application. It runs in a browser. You can deploy it to a hosting provider and anyone can access it through a URL. That's a web app, not a mobile app.
Web Apps vs. Native Mobile Apps
This is where the confusion usually happens. A web app and a native mobile app are fundamentally different things, even though they can look similar on a phone screen.
A Web App
Runs inside a browser (Safari, Chrome). Built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Accessed via a URL. Can't be listed on the App Store or Google Play as-is. Limited access to device features like push notifications, camera, Bluetooth, or offline storage.
A Native Mobile App
Compiled code that runs directly on the device. Uses native UI components — real iOS navigation stacks, native Android Material Design, platform-specific gestures and animations. Has full access to device APIs. Listed on the App Store or Google Play. Installed on the home screen.
"React" vs. "React Native" — They Sound Similar But Are Not the Same
Vitara.ai uses React — the web framework. It renders HTML elements in a browser. React Native is a separate framework that renders actual native components on iOS and Android. Same developer experience, completely different output. A React web component cannot run on a phone natively, and a React Native component doesn't run in a browser. They're not interchangeable.
Why You Can't Just Convert It
I want to be upfront about this: there is no tool, plugin, or export option that can take a Vitara.ai React web app and turn it into a native iOS or Android app. Here's why.
Different Rendering Engines
A Vitara.ai React app renders through a browser engine — it produces HTML elements that the browser paints on screen. A native iOS app renders through UIKit or SwiftUI. A native Android app renders through the Android View system. These are completely different rendering pipelines. Your React <div> is not a native View. Your CSS flexbox is not a native layout system.
Different Navigation and Interaction
Web apps navigate between URLs. Mobile apps navigate between screens using a navigation stack — swipe back on iOS, hardware back button on Android, tab bars, modal presentations. Users expect these patterns. Web navigation in a mobile shell feels immediately wrong.
No Access to Native Device APIs
A web app running in a container still can't properly access native APIs. Push notifications through APNs or Firebase Cloud Messaging, background tasks, widgets, NFC, Bluetooth, health data — these all require native code that talks directly to the operating system.
What About the Supabase Backend?
Good news here — your Supabase backend is completely independent from the frontend. It's an API. A native mobile app can connect to the same Supabase project as your web app. So the backend work you've done in Vitara.ai isn't wasted. The problem is only with the frontend — the React web UI can't become a native mobile UI.
Why Wrapping Your Vitara.ai App Won't Work Either
The next idea people usually have is wrapping. Tools like Capacitor or Cordova let you package a web app inside a native shell — essentially loading your website in a full-screen WebView. You get an app icon. You can technically try to submit it. But here's what actually happens:
Two paths to the app stores
Wrapped Web App vs. Native App
React / Supabase
WebView Wrapper
Capacitor / Cordova
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
- ✗Page transitions look janky compared to native screen animations
- ✗Input fields, keyboards, and text selection behave differently
- ✗No native gestures — swipe back, long press menus, haptic feedback
App Store Review Problems
- ✗Apple's guideline 4.2 rejects apps that are repackaged websites
- ✗Google Play flags WebView-only apps for quality policy violations
- ✗Even if it passes once, future updates can get rejected
- ✗Users leave poor reviews and uninstall quickly
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 wrapping a Vitara.ai project in Capacitor or a similar tool and submitting it.
For the full picture on why wrapping fails, see our native apps vs web apps vs PWAs guide.
Want Your Vitara.ai Idea as a Real Mobile App?
Instead of trying to convert 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 Vitara.ai project and you want it on the App Store or Google Play, the path forward is to build a native mobile app separately. Your Vitara.ai work isn't wasted — you've already figured out the features, user flows, and maybe even built a working Supabase backend. That's all valuable input.
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 Vitara 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 Vitara.ai Idea to the App Stores
- 1Use your Vitara.ai project as a reference
You've already figured out the features, screens, and user flows. Use that as your blueprint when describing the app in Natively.
- 2Describe your app in Natively
Tell the AI what your app does. Reference the features and screens from your Vitara.ai project — the more detail you provide, the better the output.
- 3Get a real native app generated
Natively creates a React Native + Expo project with native UI components, native navigation, and full device API access — for both iOS and Android.
- 4Test on your actual device
Preview the app instantly on your iPhone or Android phone using Expo Go — scan a QR code and see it running natively on your device.
- 5Deploy to the App Store and Google Play
Build your .ipa (iOS) and .apk (Android) files and submit to the stores. You own 100% of the source code with no vendor lock-in.
What You Can Carry Over From Vitara.ai
Building native doesn't mean starting from zero. Here's what transfers directly from your Vitara.ai project:
Your Idea and Product Thinking
The most valuable thing you built in Vitara.ai isn't the code — it's the understanding of what your app should do, how users should navigate it, and what features matter. All of that carries over directly to your prompt in Natively.
Your Supabase Backend
If your Vitara.ai project uses Supabase, your native app can connect to the exact same Supabase project. Same database, same auth, same storage. Natively supports Supabase integration out of the box. One backend, two frontends (web + mobile).
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 Vitara.ai project can stay live as your web version, while your Natively app serves mobile users. Same product, same backend, optimized for each platform.
Coming from a different AI builder? We also cover Blink.new, Meku, and Rocket.new.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I directly convert my Vitara.ai project to a mobile app?
No. Vitara.ai generates web applications using React and Supabase. These run in a browser, not natively on iOS or Android. There is no converter or export tool that can transform a React web app into a native mobile app.
Does Vitara.ai support building native mobile apps?
No. Vitara.ai is focused on web applications. It generates React-based frontends with Supabase backends. It does not support React Native, Flutter, or any native mobile framework.
Can I use Capacitor to wrap my Vitara.ai app for the App Store?
You can try, but the result will be a web app inside a native shell — not a real native app. Performance will suffer, the UX will feel off, and both Apple and Google commonly reject these. Apple's guideline 4.2 specifically targets repackaged websites. For anything intended for real users, wrapping is not a viable path.
Can I keep my Supabase backend when switching to a native app?
Yes. Your Supabase backend is an independent API. A native mobile app built with Natively can connect to the same Supabase project — same database, same authentication, same storage. You don't need to rebuild the backend.
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.