WeWeb for Mobile Apps? Why Natively Is the Better Choice
WeWeb builds web apps. If you need a real mobile app on the App Store or Google Play, here's what you actually need.
Founder, Natively
If you're looking at WeWeb and wondering whether it can build you a mobile app for the App Store or Google Play — the short answer is no. WeWeb is a visual web app builder. It's good at what it does, but what it does is build web applications, not native mobile apps. If mobile is your goal, you need a different tool entirely. Let me explain why, and what the right option actually is.
Key Takeaways
- WeWeb builds web apps — Vue.js single-page applications that run in the browser, not on iOS or Android natively
- Web apps are not mobile apps — they can't access native device features, don't appear in the App Store, and feel different to users
- Wrapping a web app in a WebView leads to poor performance, bad UX, and frequent App Store rejections
- Natively builds real native apps — using React Native + Expo, fully in the browser, with no downloads needed
What WeWeb Actually Builds
WeWeb is a no-code / low-code visual development platform. You use a drag-and-drop editor to build your app, connect it to data sources, and publish it. The output is a Vue.js single-page application — a web app that runs in the browser.
It's designed for building things like SaaS dashboards, internal tools, customer portals, and web-based business applications. You can self-host the exported code or deploy it on WeWeb's hosting. These are all web-first use cases.
Why That Matters for Mobile
A Vue.js SPA is not a mobile app. It doesn't compile to native iOS or Android code. It doesn't use native UI components. It can't access device features like push notifications (via APNs/FCM), the camera with native controls, Face ID, HealthKit, background location, or NFC. It's a website — and users can tell the difference immediately.
Can You Make a WeWeb App "Responsive" for Mobile?
Yes, you can make a WeWeb app look decent on a phone screen. But a responsive web app is still a web app. Users open it in Safari or Chrome, not from an app icon on their home screen (not in any real way). There's no presence in the App Store or Google Play. No push notifications. No offline support. No native gestures. Responsive design solves a layout problem, not a platform problem.
What About PWAs?
Progressive Web Apps are sometimes pitched as a middle ground. You can add a web app to the home screen, and it can work offline in limited scenarios. But PWAs on iOS have significant limitations — no push notifications until recently (and still limited), no background sync, restricted storage, and Apple has actually removed PWA support in some contexts. Most importantly, PWAs are not listed in the App Store and don't feel native. Users expect a real app.
Why a Web App Won't Cut It as a Mobile App
This is the fundamental issue. If someone told you that you can just "wrap" your WeWeb app in a native shell and ship it to the App Store, they're giving you bad advice. Here's why that path fails:
Two paths to the App Store
WeWeb Web App vs. Natively Native App
Vue.js SPA / Browser-based
WebView Wrapper
Capacitor / Cordova
App Store
NativelyDescribe your app idea with AI
Real Native Code
React Native + Expo
App StoreUser Experience Problems
- ✗Scrolling feels wrong — no native momentum, rubber banding, or inertia
- ✗No native navigation — no swipe-to-go-back, no proper tab bars or stack navigation
- ✗Text inputs and keyboards behave differently than native apps
- ✗No haptic feedback, no native gestures, no native transitions
App Store Problems
- ✗Apple's guideline 4.2 specifically targets repackaged websites
- ✗Reviewers test for WebView-only apps and reject them
- ✗Even if it passes once, future updates may get rejected
- ✗Users leave poor ratings when the app feels like a website
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." Wrapping a WeWeb Vue.js app in a WebView container and submitting it to the App Store falls squarely into what this guideline is designed to reject. Google Play has similar policies against low-quality wrapper apps.
For the technical breakdown, see our guide on native code vs WebView wrappers.
Need a Real Mobile App?
Skip the web-to-mobile workarounds. Describe your app idea in Natively and get a real native iOS and Android app built with React Native + Expo. No downloads, no local setup — just real native code that's ready for the App Store and Google Play.
Why Natively Is Built for Mobile
Here's the thing — WeWeb is good at building web apps, and Natively is good at building mobile apps. They're different tools for different jobs. If you landed on this page because you want a mobile app, Natively is designed exactly for that purpose.
How Natively Works
Like WeWeb, Natively runs entirely in the browser — no downloads, no local dev environment, no Xcode or Android Studio. You describe what you want your app to do, and AI generates a complete React Native + Expo project. The critical difference: the output is real native mobile code, not a web app.
From Idea to the App Store
- 1Describe your app
Tell the AI what your mobile app should do — features, screens, functionality. Be as detailed or high-level as you want.
- 2AI generates native code
Natively creates a full React Native + Expo project with native UI components, proper mobile navigation, and real device API access.
- 3Preview on your phone
Test the app on your actual device using Expo Go — scan a QR code and see it running natively on your iPhone or Android phone.
- 4Publish to the App Store & Google Play
Build your app and submit it to both stores. You own 100% of the source code with no vendor lock-in — export to GitHub anytime.
What Makes the Output Different
A WeWeb app renders HTML/CSS in a browser engine. A Natively app compiles to actual native UI components — the same ones used by apps like Instagram, Discord, and Shopify. This means native scrolling, native navigation stacks, native gestures, and full access to device hardware and APIs.
Fully Online — No Downloads Needed
One thing Natively and WeWeb have in common: both work entirely in the browser. You don't need to download Xcode, Android Studio, or any code editor. You don't need to install Node.js or configure a development environment. Everything happens online. The difference is what comes out the other end — a web app vs. a real native mobile app.
Built-in Backend Too
Natively includes a built-in backend called Liquid Backend with database, authentication, file storage, and serverless functions. So you're not just getting a frontend — you're getting the full stack needed for a production mobile app. If you already have a backend (like Supabase), Natively integrates with that too.
Looking at other no-code platforms? We also cover Softr, Bubble, and Glide.
WeWeb vs. Natively: The Key Differences
To be clear: this isn't about which tool is "better" overall. They solve different problems. Here's a direct comparison so you can pick the right one for your project.
| WeWeb | Natively | |
|---|---|---|
| What it builds | Web apps (Vue.js SPAs) | Native mobile apps (React Native + Expo) |
| Runs on | Browser (Safari, Chrome) | iOS & Android natively |
| App Store / Google Play | No (web only) | Yes — publish directly |
| Push notifications | Limited (web push only) | Full native (APNs & FCM) |
| Device APIs | Browser APIs only | Full native — camera, biometrics, NFC, Bluetooth, etc. |
| Works in browser | Yes | Yes — fully online, no downloads |
| AI-powered | Yes (web app generation) | Yes (native mobile app generation) |
| Code ownership | Export available | Full ownership — export to GitHub |
| Best for | Web dashboards, portals, internal tools | Mobile apps for iOS & Android |
When to Use Which
Use WeWeb if you're building a web-based application — a dashboard, an internal tool, a customer portal, or any product that lives in the browser.
Use Natively if you want a real mobile app on the App Store and/or Google Play — something your users download to their phone, with push notifications, native performance, and full device integration.
Can You Use Both?
Absolutely. Many products have both a web app and a mobile app. You could use WeWeb for your web dashboard and Natively for your mobile app, both connecting to the same backend. They serve different user contexts and don't compete with each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a mobile app with WeWeb?
No. WeWeb is a visual web app builder that outputs Vue.js single-page applications. These run in the browser, not natively on iOS or Android. You cannot submit a WeWeb app to the App Store or Google Play as a native app.
Can I wrap my WeWeb app to put it on the App Store?
Technically you can wrap any web app in a WebView using tools like Capacitor, but this is not recommended. Apple frequently rejects these under guideline 4.2, and even if it passes, users will notice the non-native feel — laggy scrolling, no native transitions, and limited device access.
Does Natively require downloading any software?
No. Natively runs entirely in your browser. You don't need to install Xcode, Android Studio, Node.js, or any development tools. The AI generates your native app code, you preview it on your phone via Expo Go, and you can publish directly to the app stores.
What kind of apps can I build with Natively?
Any kind of mobile app — social apps, marketplace apps, fitness trackers, productivity tools, business apps, and more. Natively generates React Native + Expo code, which is the same technology behind apps like Instagram, Discord, and Shopify. You have full access to native device features.
How much does Natively cost?
Natively starts at $5/month. Compare that to hiring a mobile development agency ($50,000–$300,000+) or trying to learn Swift and Kotlin yourself. You get full source code ownership and can export your code to GitHub at any time.
Can I connect my existing backend to a Natively app?
Yes. Natively supports Supabase integration out of the box and can connect to any REST or GraphQL API. If you already have a backend powering a WeWeb app, your Natively mobile app can use the same backend. Natively also includes its own built-in backend (Liquid Backend) if you need one.
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