Webflow for
Mobile Apps?
Here's What You Need.
Webflow is a powerful website builder, but it cannot create native mobile apps. If you need a Webflow for mobile apps experience that generates real iOS and Android binaries, Natively is purpose-built for that.
The Webflow Reality
Webflow is one of the best website builders on the market. But building a Webflow native app is not something it was designed to do. Understanding this gap is the first step to choosing the right tool.
What Webflow Excels At
Webflow is a visual website builder with a powerful CMS, responsive design tools, and hosting. As of late 2025, it also introduced App Gen for AI-powered web application generation.
Webflow's Strengths
- Beautiful responsive website design
- Powerful CMS with up to 20,000 items
- Custom animations and interactions
- Built-in hosting on Cloudflare CDN
Where Webflow Falls Short
Webflow cannot build native mobile apps. There is no "Export to iOS" button, no APK download, no app store publishing. It produces HTML/CSS websites that run in a browser, not on a device's operating system.
The Browser Sandbox Problem
- No native iOS or Android app output
- No App Store or Google Play publishing
- No push notifications, offline mode, or background tasks
- No Bluetooth, NFC, Face ID, or contact list access
Device APIs You Miss with Webflow
Native mobile apps have direct access to the device's hardware and operating system. Webflow sites, running in a browser, are sandboxed from all of these:
Camera & Photos
Full camera control, photo library
GPS & Location
Background tracking, geofencing
Bluetooth & NFC
IoT devices, contactless payments
Face ID & Touch ID
Biometric authentication
Push Notifications
APNs & FCM, rich notifications
Offline Mode
Local storage, background sync
In-App Purchases
Subscriptions, one-time buys
60fps Performance
Native UI, fluid animations
Why Native Apps Win
A responsive Webflow site is not a substitute for a native mobile app. The numbers tell the story.
Of smartphone time is spent in native apps, not browsers (Sensor Tower, 2026)
Native apps convert at 3x the rate of mobile websites on average
Projected global consumer spending in app stores in 2026
Average time users spend in mobile apps per day worldwide
User Engagement
App users view 286% more products per session than mobile web visitors. Push notification opt-in users show 2–3x higher retention rates.
Key Metrics
- 4.6% push notification CTR (Android)
- 70% of US digital media time from apps
Conversion & Revenue
Mobile commerce hit $649 billion in the US alone, with 54% of mobile transactions happening in apps, not browsers.
By Industry
- On-demand services: +307% vs. mobile web
- Entertainment: +233% vs. mobile web
Market Opportunity
An estimated 299 billion app downloads are projected for 2026, with mobile representing 62–64% of all global web traffic.
Growth Trends
- $419B global mobile ad spend (2025)
- 59% of ecommerce is mobile
Sources: AppInventiv, Business of Apps, MobiLoud
Head-to-Head Comparison
Explore the differences across key categories.
| Feature | Webflow | Natively |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Website design & CMS | Native iOS & Android apps |
| Technology | HTML, CSS, JavaScript | React Native + Expo SDK 54 |
| AI Generation | App Gen (web apps only) | Full native app from text prompt |
| Backend Included | No (third-party required) | Liquid Backend + Supabase |
| Code Export | HTML/CSS only (no app code) | Full React Native + TypeScript |
| Starting Price | $14/month (Basic site) | $5/month (all features) |
The WebView Wrapper Trap
Many Webflow users turn to third-party services that wrap their site in a native shell. While this sounds convenient, the results often disappoint.
Popular Webflow-to-App Wrappers
| Service | Approach | Key Limitation | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| MobiLoud | WebView wrapper | Still a website in a frame | Custom (typically $500+/mo) |
| Median.co | WebView wrapper | Performance tied to web view engine | From ~$59/mo |
| Nativator | WebView wrapper | Limited hardware API access | Subscription-based |
| Progressier | PWA toolkit | Not a real app store submission | Free tier + paid |
Why Apple Rejects WebView Apps
Apple's App Store Review Guideline 4.2 specifically targets apps that are "simply a website bundled as a native app." Wrapped Webflow sites frequently trigger this rejection.
Common Rejection Reasons
- App is a repackaged website without native functionality
- App does not use iOS native UI components or design patterns
- App provides no value beyond what Safari already offers
Guideline 4.2 in Detail
Apple requires apps to provide "a curated, high-quality experience" that justifies their presence in the App Store. WebView wrappers that merely display a responsive website offer nothing a bookmark could not. Apps built with React Native, the framework Natively uses, compile to actual native UI components and are fully compliant with Apple's guidelines.
Pricing: Webflow vs Natively
Even if Webflow could build mobile apps (it cannot), the cost comparison is illuminating. Here's what you would pay for each platform.
Webflow Pricing
Website plans (billed annually)
None of these plans include mobile app building, app store deployment, or native device features. Adding a WebView wrapper service costs $59–$500+/mo extra.
Natively Pricing
All features included in every plan
What You Get for $5/Month
From Idea to
App Store
You don't need Webflow, Xcode, or Android Studio. Describe your app in plain language and let AI handle the rest. Natively uses React Native and Expo SDK 54 under the hood, the same technology powering apps at Discord, Shopify, and Coinbase.
Describe Your App
Tell the AI what you want to build in plain English. For example: "Create a recipe app with categories, favorites, and a shopping list." No wireframes or mockups needed.
AI Generates Native Code
The AI writes production-ready React Native and TypeScript code. Real native components, not HTML in a wrapper. Full 60fps animations and platform-specific design.
Preview on Your Device
Scan a QR code to run the app on your physical phone via Expo Go. See native touch responses, swipe gestures, and haptic feedback in real time.
Deploy to App Stores
Download an Android APK with one click, or use Expo Launch to submit to the iOS App Store. No Mac required. Your app, in the stores.
Building your restaurant app with:
- Menu with categories & images
- Order placement & pickup flow
- Loyalty points system
- Push notifications for offers
When You Need a Native App
A Webflow site works great for content and marketing. But these use cases demand a real native mobile app.
E-commerce & Marketplace
Push notifications for abandoned carts, offline browsing, Apple Pay and Google Pay integration, barcode scanning.
Social & Community
Real-time messaging, photo/video sharing from camera roll, contact list integration, deep linking between screens.
Health & Fitness
Apple Health and Google Fit integration, background step tracking, workout timers, wearable device sync.
On-Demand & Delivery
Real-time GPS tracking, background location updates, push notifications for order status, driver-side camera access.
Field Service & Internal Tools
Offline-first data capture, barcode/QR scanning, photo documentation, biometric login for secure access.
SaaS & Subscription Apps
In-app purchases via RevenueCat, biometric authentication, push notification re-engagement, offline dashboard access.
Webflow or Native App?
Not sure which tool fits your project? Take this 60-second quiz and get a personalized recommendation.
What do you want to build?
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Webflow is a website builder that creates responsive websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It cannot generate native iOS or Android app binaries (IPA or APK files), publish to the App Store or Google Play, or access device hardware like Bluetooth, Face ID, or the contact list. For native mobile apps, you need a dedicated app builder like Natively.
You can wrap a Webflow site in a WebView container using third-party services like MobiLoud or Median.co, but the result is essentially a website displayed inside a thin native shell. These wrapped apps often get rejected by Apple under Guideline 4.2 for lacking native functionality, perform worse than true native apps, and cannot access most device hardware features. For a genuine native app, building with a purpose-built tool like Natively produces far better results.
A Webflow mobile site is a responsive website that adjusts its layout for smaller screens but still runs in a browser. A native app is compiled code that runs directly on the device operating system, offering 60fps performance, full hardware access (camera, GPS, Bluetooth, Face ID), native push notifications, offline functionality, and presence in the App Store and Google Play. Native apps convert at 3x the rate of mobile websites.
No. Natively is an independent platform built by Small Scale Labs AB. Webflow is a great website builder, while Natively is purpose-built for creating native iOS and Android mobile apps using AI. They serve different needs and can complement each other — use Webflow for your marketing site and Natively for your mobile app.
Natively starts at just $5 per month, which includes AI-powered app generation, a built-in code editor, real-time device preview, one-click Android APK builds, Liquid Backend (database, auth, storage), and GitHub integration. There are no hidden costs. External fees include an Apple Developer Account ($99/year) and a Google Play Developer Account ($25 one-time) if you want to publish to the stores.
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Use Webflow for your website. Use Natively for your mobile app. Build the real thing in minutes, not months.
Webflow is a trademark of Webflow, Inc. This page is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Webflow, Inc. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. Information on this page is accurate as of February 2026 based on publicly available data.