How to Convert a Rocket.new Project to a Mobile App
It depends on what you built. Here's the honest answer — and the fastest path to the App Store.
Founder, Natively
You've been building with Rocket.new and now you want a real app on the App Store or Google Play. I get this question a lot, and the answer isn't as simple as most people hope. It depends entirely on what kind of project you built — Rocket.new supports both web apps and Flutter mobile apps, and the path forward is different for each. Let me break it down honestly.
Key Takeaways
- Rocket.new builds two things — web apps (React, Next.js, HTML) and Flutter-based mobile apps. Your path depends on which one you made.
- Web apps cannot be converted to native mobile apps. Wrapping them in a WebView leads to App Store rejection and a poor user experience.
- Flutter apps are mobile code, but they use a custom rendering engine — not native iOS/Android components — and Rocket doesn't handle app store deployment.
- The fastest path to a production-ready app on the App Store is to rebuild your idea with a native mobile framework like React Native.
What Rocket.new Actually Builds
Rocket.new is an AI-powered app builder that takes a text description or Figma design and generates a working application. It's gained a lot of traction for how fast it can go from idea to deployed project.
But here's the thing most people miss: Rocket.new generates two very different types of output depending on what you ask for.
Web Apps (React, Next.js, HTML)
Most projects built on Rocket.new are web applications. If you described a dashboard, a landing page, an e-commerce site, or a SaaS tool without specifically requesting a mobile app — you got a web app. These use React, Next.js, Tailwind, or plain HTML and deploy to Netlify or custom domains. They run in a browser, not on a phone.
Flutter Mobile Apps
If you specifically asked for a mobile app or uploaded a mobile Figma design, Rocket.new generates a Flutter project using Dart. This is mobile code — Flutter can compile to iOS and Android. But as I'll explain in the next section, there are real limitations to this path that matter when you want to ship a polished app to the stores.
How to Tell What You Built
Check your project files. If you see package.json, React components, or next.config — it's a web app. If you see pubspec.yaml, Dart files, and a lib/ folder — it's a Flutter app.
The Flutter Limitation
If you built a Flutter app with Rocket.new, you're technically closer to the App Store than someone with a web app. Flutter does compile to iOS and Android. But there are some real limitations you should know about before you invest more time going down this path.
Flutter Doesn't Use Native UI Components
This is the big one. Flutter draws its own UI using a custom rendering engine called Skia (now Impeller). It doesn't use UIKit on iOS or Android Views on Android. It paints widgets onto a canvas that look like native components but aren't actually native.
For users, this means subtle but noticeable differences: scrolling physics feel off, text selection behaves differently, platform-specific gestures may not work as expected, and the overall feel doesn't quite match other apps on their phone. iOS users in particular are sensitive to apps that feel "different."
No Built-In Publishing
Rocket.new generates the code, but getting it onto the App Store or Google Play is entirely on you. You'll need to download the Flutter project, set up Xcode (for iOS) or Android Studio (for Android), configure signing certificates, manage build configurations, and submit through Apple's or Google's review process manually. If you've never done this before, it's a significant hurdle.
Limited to Mobile-Only Layouts
Rocket.new's Flutter support only handles mobile-sized layouts. If you upload a larger Figma frame, it gets treated as a web layout instead. There's no tablet support, which means if your app needs to work well on iPads — a common App Store requirement — you'll need to handle that separately.
React Native vs. Flutter: Why It Matters
React Native — the framework Natively uses — takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of painting its own UI, React Native renders actual native iOS and Android components. When you build a list in React Native, it uses a real UITableView on iOS and a real RecyclerView on Android. The app feels native because it is native. This is why apps like Instagram, Shopify, Discord, and Coinbase use React Native.
Two paths to the App Store
Rocket.new Flutter App vs. Native React Native App
Flutter / Dart / Custom renderer
Manual Setup Required
Xcode / Android Studio / CLI builds
App Store
NativelyDescribe your app idea with AI
Real Native Code
React Native + Expo → .ipa / .apk
App StoreRocket.new Flutter Output
- ⚠Custom-rendered UI (not native components)
- ⚠No app store publishing tools
- ⚠Requires Xcode/Android Studio for builds
- ⚠Mobile-only (no tablet layout support)
Natively React Native Output
- ✓Real native iOS and Android components
- ✓Built-in APK/AAB builder and Expo Launch
- ✓Test on your phone instantly with Expo Go
- ✓Full backend included (database, auth, storage)
If You Built a Web App on Rocket.new
If your Rocket.new project is a web app (React, Next.js, HTML), the situation is the same as any other web-to-native conversion: you can't convert it. Web code and native mobile code are fundamentally different technologies.
Don't Try Wrapping It
The first thing people try is wrapping their web app in a WebView using tools like Capacitor or Cordova. You get an app icon and can technically submit to the store. But Apple and Google know the difference, and so do your users.
The wrapping trap
Wrapped Web App vs. Native App
React / Next.js / HTML
WebView Wrapper
Capacitor / Cordova
App StoreNativelyDescribe your app idea with AI
Real Native Code
React Native + Expo → .ipa / .apk
App StoreApple'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 any web app — whether it came from Rocket.new or anywhere else — and submitting it as a native app.
What Wrapping Actually Gets You
Even if a wrapped app slips past App Store review, users will notice. Scrolling feels sluggish, transitions look janky, text selection behaves like a browser, there are no native gestures, and the keyboard experience is different from every other app on their phone. These aren't subtle issues — they're the reason users leave 1-star reviews saying "this is just a website."
We explain the technical reasons in our native apps vs web apps vs PWAs comparison.
Want Your Rocket.new Idea on the App Store?
Instead of fighting with Flutter builds or WebView wrappers, build a real native app with Natively. Describe your idea, and our AI generates production-ready React Native code — the same technology behind Instagram, Shopify, and Discord. Publish directly to the App Store and Google Play.
The Right Way: Build a Native App From Your Idea
Whether you built a web app or a Flutter app with Rocket.new, the fastest path to a polished, production-ready app on the App Store and Google Play is to rebuild your idea using a native mobile framework. And the good news is: your Rocket.new work isn't wasted.
You've already figured out your features, user flows, and what your app should do. That thinking is the hardest part. Now you need a tool that turns that into a real native app. That's what Natively does.
How Natively Works
Natively works similarly to Rocket.new in that you describe what you want and AI builds it. The key differences: Natively is purpose-built for native mobile apps. Every project uses React Native + Expo, which compiles to real native iOS and Android code. It includes a complete backend (database, authentication, file storage), built-in app store publishing tools, and instant device testing through Expo Go.
From Rocket.new Idea to the App Store
- 1Use your Rocket.new project as a reference
You've already figured out the features, screens, and user flows. Use that as your blueprint when describing your app.
- 2Describe your app in Natively
Tell the AI what your app does. Reference your Rocket.new project's screens, features, and behavior. Be as detailed as you want.
- 3Get a real native app generated
Natively creates a React Native + Expo project with native UI components, platform-correct navigation, and full access to device APIs like camera, push notifications, and Face ID.
- 4Test on your actual phone
Scan a QR code with Expo Go and see your app running natively on your iPhone or Android device. No Xcode or Android Studio required.
- 5Publish to the App Store and Google Play
Use the built-in APK/AAB builder and Expo Launch to deploy directly to the stores. You own 100% of the source code with no vendor lock-in.
What You Can Carry Over
Building native doesn't mean starting from zero. Here's what transfers from your Rocket.new project:
Your Product Thinking
The most valuable thing you built in Rocket.new isn't the code — it's the understanding of what your app should do, how users navigate it, and what features matter. That product thinking transfers directly to your prompt in Natively.
Your Backend and APIs
If your Rocket.new project connects to external APIs, a database, or any backend service, your native app can connect to the same ones. Natively also includes a complete backend out of the box — database, authentication, file storage — so you may not even need your existing backend depending on your use case.
Keep Both If You Want
You don't have to choose. Many products have both a web app and a native mobile app. Your Rocket.new web project can stay live as your web version while your Natively app serves mobile users. Same product, optimized for each platform.
Coming from a different platform? See our guides for Bolt.new, Lovable, and Emergent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert my Rocket.new project to a native mobile app?
It depends. If you built a web app (React, Next.js, HTML), no — web code cannot be converted to native mobile code. If you built a Flutter app, the code is technically mobile, but Flutter uses a custom rendering engine rather than native UI components, and Rocket.new doesn't include publishing tools. For a production-ready native app, rebuilding with React Native is the recommended path.
Does Rocket.new build native mobile apps?
Rocket.new can generate Flutter-based mobile apps, which compile to iOS and Android. However, Flutter is not truly native — it draws its own UI with a custom rendering engine instead of using the platform's native components. For apps that feel genuinely native on each platform, frameworks like React Native that render actual native views are a better choice.
Can I publish a Rocket.new app to the App Store?
Rocket.new doesn't handle app store submission. You can download the code and submit manually through Xcode (iOS) or the Google Play Console (Android), but you'll need developer accounts (Apple Developer Program costs $99/year, Google Play is a $25 one-time fee) and will need to manage signing, building, and submission yourself.
Is Flutter as good as React Native?
Both are capable cross-platform frameworks, but they differ in approach. Flutter draws its own UI from scratch, while React Native renders actual native components. React Native apps tend to feel more at home on each platform because they use the same UI building blocks as fully native apps. React Native powers production apps at Instagram, Shopify, Discord, and Coinbase.
Do I have to rebuild everything from scratch?
Not entirely. Your product concept, feature set, user flows, and any external backend or APIs all carry over. You're rebuilding the frontend in a native framework, not reinventing your product. With Natively, you describe what you want and the app gets generated — so the process is fast.
How much does it cost to build a native app with Natively?
Natively starts at $5/month. That includes the AI builder, a complete backend (database, auth, storage), APK/AAB builders, and device testing with Expo Go. Compare that to hiring a mobile developer or agency, which typically runs $50,000–$300,000+. You get full source code ownership and can export to GitHub at any time.