How to Turn a Website Into an App on iPhone (2026)

By Umair Ali Sadaqat · Updated · Editorial policy

On iPhone, open the site in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen, and keep Open as Web App switched on. For an App Store listing you need a wrapper and a $99/yr Apple Developer account. Steps and costs, September 2026.

To turn a website into an app on iPhone, open it in Safari, tap Share, choose Add to Home Screen, leave Open as Web App switched on, and tap Add. It gets its own icon and opens full screen, free. If you want a listing in the App Store, you need a wrapper app with real native features and an Apple Developer account at $99 a year.

Start free with a template site; AI builds from one prompt on paid plans from $20/mo. Need the website first? Every We.Inc site is mobile-ready and can be added to any iPhone Home Screen.

Option 1: Add to Home Screen (free, 30 seconds)

These steps are for iOS 26. Earlier versions use the same menu with slightly different wording.

  1. Open the website in Safari. Other browsers on iPhone also offer Add to Home Screen, but Safari is the most reliable.
  2. Tap the Share button. The square with an arrow pointing up.
  3. Scroll and tap Add to Home Screen.
  4. Check Open as Web App. In iOS 26 this switch is on by default. Leave it on so the site opens full screen without the Safari address bar.
  5. Edit the name if you want, then tap Add.

The icon now sits on your Home Screen like any other app. If the site is a proper progressive web app, it can also remember logins, work partly offline and, since iOS 16.4, send push notifications once you allow them.

Option 2: Make your own site installable (a PWA)

If it is your website and you want customers to "install" it, turn it into a progressive web app:

  • Add a web app manifest. A small file with the app name, colors and icon list.
  • Add icons, including an Apple touch icon at 180 by 180 pixels.
  • Make it mobile-first. Tap targets, readable text, no sideways scrolling.
  • Add a service worker if you want offline pages or push notifications.
  • Tell visitors how to install it, since iPhone does not show an automatic install prompt.

Option 3: Put it in the App Store

This is where cost and effort jump. Apple's App Store Review Guideline 4.2 (minimum functionality) says an app should be more than a repackaged website. Wrapped apps that only show a website are commonly rejected. You need real app value: push notifications, offline content, camera or location features, or native navigation.

Routes, with prices checked in September 2026:

RouteCostSkills neededApp Store listingPush notifications
Add to Home ScreenFreeNoneNoYes, if the site supports web push (iOS 16.4+)
Make your site a PWAFree if you build it; included in many buildersLow to mediumNoYes, once installed
Natively (wrapper service)$19/mo, or $12/mo billed yearlyLowYesYes
Capacitor (open source)FreeDeveloperYesYes
Apple Developer Program$99/yr, required for any App Store routen/aRequiredn/a

Pros and cons of each approach

Home Screen web app

  • Pros: free, instant, no review, updates the moment you update the site.
  • Cons: no App Store presence; users have to know how to install it.

Wrapper service

  • Pros: App Store listing without writing native code; push notifications and native menus.
  • Cons: monthly fee plus $99 a year to Apple; still has to pass guideline 4.2.

Capacitor

  • Pros: free and flexible; full access to device features.
  • Cons: needs a developer and ongoing maintenance.

Where We.Inc fits, honestly

We.Inc is a website builder, not an app-store publishing service, so here is what it does and does not do.

  • Free plan. Build up to 3 sites from templates and publish them free on a we.inc address, no card. The free plan has no AI; building from one prompt and AI editing start on Starter at $20/mo (250 credits). Every site is mobile-ready, so it can be added to an iPhone Home Screen straight away.
  • One-prompt sites (Starter). Describe the business once, for example "a food truck in Austin with today's location, menu and pre-orders", and get a full mobile-first site. Ask the AI to add a web app manifest and icons, and it becomes installable.
  • Code access. Because you can export the code, a developer can wrap it with Capacitor for the App Store.
  • White label. Agencies can offer this under their own brand, with pricing quoted on a demo.
  • What We.Inc does not do. It does not submit apps to the App Store or manage your Apple developer account.

For mobile-first starting designs, see the Lucia Trattoria template, the Forge Athletics template and the Wild Daisy Fragrances store template.

More reading: how to build a web app without code, types of business websites, and free AI website builders with hosting.

Troubleshooting Add to Home Screen

  • No Add to Home Screen option? Scroll further down the Share sheet, or tap Edit Actions to add it.
  • Opens with the Safari bar? The Open as Web App switch was off when you added it. Delete the icon and add it again with the switch on.
  • Wrong or blurry icon? The site has no Apple touch icon. If it is your site, add a 180 by 180 pixel icon and a manifest.
  • Logged out every time? Web apps on the Home Screen keep their own storage, separate from Safari tabs, so log in once inside the web app.
  • No notifications? The site must support web push, and you must allow notifications from inside the Home Screen app, not from a Safari tab.

Verdict

For most people, Add to Home Screen is the answer: free, instant, and good enough to feel like an app. If you own the site, make it a PWA so customers can install it properly. Only go to the App Store when you have native features worth listing, and budget $99 a year plus a wrapper or a developer.

Start free with a template site; AI builds from one prompt on paid plans from $20/mo. Get a mobile-ready site today and put it on your Home Screen in 30 seconds.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a website an app on my iPhone?

Open the website in Safari, tap the Share button, choose Add to Home Screen, keep the Open as Web App switch on (it is on by default in iOS 26), and tap Add. The site gets its own icon and opens full screen like an app.

Can a website send push notifications on iPhone?

Yes, since iOS 16.4, but only after the user adds the site to their Home Screen and grants permission. The website must support web push. Safari tabs that are not added to the Home Screen cannot send push notifications.

Can I put my website in the App Store?

Only if the app does more than show your website. Apple's App Store Review Guideline 4.2 on minimum functionality rejects apps that are simply a repackaged website. Wrapped apps need native value such as push notifications, offline features or device integrations. You also need an Apple Developer Program membership at $99 a year.

How much does it cost to turn a website into an iPhone app?

Adding it to the Home Screen is free. A wrapper service such as Natively costs $19 a month, or $12 a month billed yearly, as of September 2026. Capacitor is free and open source but needs a developer. Every App Store route also needs Apple's $99 a year developer membership.

What is a progressive web app?

A progressive web app, or PWA, is a website with a web app manifest and usually a service worker, which lets it be installed to the Home Screen, open full screen, work partly offline and, on iPhone, send push notifications once installed.

Do I need to rebuild my website to make it an app?

No. Make sure the site is mobile-friendly, add a web app manifest and icons, and it can be installed from Safari. Many AI website builders, including We.Inc, can add the manifest and icons for you when you ask.

Can I make a website an app on iPhone from Chrome instead of Safari?

On recent iOS versions, yes: open the site in Chrome, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. If you do not see the option, update iOS or use Safari, where it has been available longest.

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