How to Convert a Replit Project to a Mobile App
Short answer: if your Replit project is a web app, you can't convert it directly. Here's what to do instead.
Founder, Natively
You've built something on Replit and now you want it as a real mobile app — on the App Store, on Google Play, on people's home screens. I get why you're searching for this. Replit makes it fast to go from idea to working project. But the thing is, most Replit projects are web apps, and turning a web app into a native mobile app isn't a matter of clicking an export button. Let me explain what's really going on and what your options actually are.
Key Takeaways
- Most Replit projects are web apps — built with React, Next.js, Flask, or other web frameworks that run in the browser, not on your phone
- Web apps and native mobile apps are different things — there is no converter that transforms one into the other
- Wrapping a web app in a WebView gives you a poor experience that Apple frequently rejects from the App Store
- The real path is to rebuild your app idea using a native mobile framework like React Native — and you can use AI to do it fast
What Replit Actually Builds
Replit is a cloud-based development environment. You can write code in the browser, run it on Replit's servers, and deploy web apps directly from the platform. It supports over 50 programming languages and has an AI assistant that can generate code from prompts.
The vast majority of projects people build on Replit are web applications. Think React frontends, Next.js full-stack apps, Python Flask or Django backends with HTML templates, Node.js servers. These all run in a browser.
Web Apps vs. Native Mobile Apps
This is the fundamental issue. A web app runs in a browser — Safari, Chrome, Firefox. It's built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (or Python serving HTML). A native mobile app is compiled code that runs directly on your iPhone or Android device using the platform's own frameworks. They're completely different things.
Replit Project vs. Native Mobile App
What you get from a typical Replit project vs. what app stores expect
| Feature | Replit Web App | Native Mobile App |
|---|---|---|
| Runs in browser | Yes (only) | No — runs on device |
| Push notifications | ✗ | ✓ |
| Native gestures & navigation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Camera, Bluetooth, NFC | ✗ | ✓ |
| App Store / Google Play | ✗ | ✓ |
| Offline access | ✗ | ✓ |
| Native performance | ✗ | ✓ |
What This Means for Your Replit Project
If you built a web app on Replit — which is the most common case — that project can't access native mobile features like push notifications through APNs or FCM, Face ID, HealthKit, background location tracking, or any of the native UI components that make mobile apps feel like mobile apps. It runs in a browser tab, not as a standalone app on someone's phone.
What About Replit's Mobile App Support?
Replit has added some support for Expo projects. But Replit is fundamentally a general-purpose code editor — it's not built specifically around mobile app development. The mobile preview, device testing, and app store deployment workflows are not the core focus. If you already have an existing Replit project, chances are it's a web app, not a React Native project. And that's the project you're trying to convert.
Why You Can't Just Convert It
I want to be straightforward here because there's a lot of misleading advice online. Some tools claim they can "convert" any web app to a mobile app. That's not really what happens. Here's why your Replit web project specifically can't become a native mobile app:
Different Rendering Engines
A React or Next.js app from Replit renders through a browser engine. A native iOS app renders through UIKit or SwiftUI. A native Android app renders through Jetpack Compose or Android Views. These are completely different rendering pipelines. Your React components, CSS styles, and web routing don't translate to native mobile components. A <div> is not a UIView. CSS flexbox is not a native stack layout.
Different Navigation Models
Web apps navigate between URLs. Mobile apps navigate between screens using a navigation stack with gestures — swipe back, modal presentations, tab bars, bottom sheets. These patterns are baked into how native apps work, and users expect them. Web navigation inside a mobile shell feels immediately wrong to anyone who uses their phone regularly.
No Access to Native APIs
Even if the UI somehow looked right, a web app running in a container still can't access native mobile APIs properly. Push notifications, background app refresh, Siri shortcuts, widgets, NFC, Bluetooth, haptic feedback — these all require native code.
What About Python Backends?
Many Replit projects are Python-based — Flask, Django, or plain Python scripts serving web pages. These are server-side applications that generate HTML. They're even further from a native mobile app than a React SPA. The server-side code can stay exactly where it is as an API, but the frontend needs to be rebuilt natively for mobile.
Why Wrapping Your Replit Web App Won't Work Either
The next thing people try is wrapping. Tools like Capacitor, Cordova, or various "web-to-app" converters let you package a web app inside a native shell. You get an app icon and you can technically submit to the stores. But here's what actually happens:
Two paths to the App Store
Wrapped Web App vs. Native App
React / Next.js / Flask / Django
WebView Wrapper
Capacitor / Cordova / PWA
App Store
NativelyDescribe your app idea with AI
Real Native Code
React Native + Expo
App Store & Google PlayUser Experience Problems
- ✗Scrolling doesn't feel native — rubber banding, momentum, and inertia are all off
- ✗Transitions and animations look janky compared to native apps
- ✗Text selection, input fields, and keyboards behave differently
- ✗No native gestures — swipe-to-go-back, long press menus, haptics
App Store Problems
- ✗Apple's guideline 4.2 rejects apps that are just repackaged websites
- ✗Reviewers specifically test for WebView-only apps
- ✗Even if it slips through, users leave poor reviews
- ✗Future updates may get rejected even if the first version passed
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 WebView wrapping a website are routinely rejected. This applies directly to wrapping a Replit web app in Capacitor or a similar tool and submitting it. Google Play has similar policies under their spam and minimum functionality guidelines.
For a full technical comparison, see our native code vs WebView guide.
Want Your App Idea on the App Store?
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 Replit project and you want it as a mobile app, the path forward is to build a native mobile app separately. This doesn't mean your Replit work was wasted — you've already figured out what you're building, validated the concept, designed the user flows, and maybe built a backend. That's all valuable.
What you need is a tool that is purpose-built for native mobile apps. That's what Natively does.
How Natively Works
Natively works similarly to Replit's AI features 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.
Built Specifically for Mobile
Unlike general-purpose code editors, Natively is designed from the ground up for mobile app development. The AI understands mobile patterns — tab navigation, stack navigation, pull-to-refresh, native modals, platform-specific design conventions. Everything it generates is mobile-first.
From Replit Idea to the App Store
- 1Use your Replit project as a reference
You've already figured out the features, screens, and user flows. Use that as your blueprint when describing what you want built.
- 2Describe your app in Natively
Tell the AI what your app does. Be as detailed as you want — reference your Replit 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.
- 4Test on your real device
Preview the app on your actual iPhone or Android device. See it running natively — not in a browser, on the actual device.
- 5Deploy to the App Store and Google Play
Build and submit your app to both stores. You own 100% of the source code with no vendor lock-in.
What You Can Carry Over From Replit
Building native doesn't mean throwing away everything. Here's what transfers directly from your Replit project:
Your Idea and Product Thinking
The most valuable thing you built on Replit 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 carries over directly when you describe your app in Natively.
Your Backend and API
If your Replit project has a backend — whether it's a Python API, a Node.js server, or a connection to Supabase — your native app can connect to the same backend. Natively supports Supabase integration out of the box and can connect to any REST or GraphQL API. Keep your backend, swap out the frontend.
Running Both a Web App and a 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 Replit project can stay live as your web version while your Natively app serves mobile users. Same product, same backend, optimized for each platform.
Wondering about other tools? We also have guides for Bolt.new, v0, and Lovable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I directly convert my Replit project to a mobile app?
If your Replit project is a web app (React, Next.js, Flask, Django, or similar), no. Web apps and native mobile apps are fundamentally different technologies. There is no converter or export tool that transforms web code into native mobile code.
Does Replit support building native mobile apps?
Replit has added some Expo support, but it is primarily a general-purpose web development platform. The vast majority of Replit projects are web applications. If you're looking for a tool purpose-built for native mobile app development, you need a dedicated mobile app builder.
Can I wrap my Replit web app to put it on the App Store?
Technically, yes — using tools like Capacitor or Cordova. But Apple commonly rejects these under App Store guideline 4.2 for being repackaged websites. Even if it gets approved, users will notice the app feels like a website — poor scrolling, no native gestures, limited device access.
Can I keep my Replit backend and just build a mobile frontend?
Yes, and this is actually a great approach. If your Replit project has an API backend (Python, Node.js, etc.), you can keep it running and point a native mobile app at it. Natively supports connecting to any REST or GraphQL API, so your existing backend works as-is.
Do I have to rebuild everything from scratch?
Not entirely. Your product concept, feature set, user flows, and 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.
Spin to Win
Try your luck for $5 off your first month.