URL to App

Q: What is URL to App?

URL to App means converting a web address into an installable app. A converter takes your link, wraps it in a native Android shell (a WebView) with your app name, icon and colours, then compiles and signs an APK you can install and an AAB you can upload to Google Play. The app opens your live site full-screen.

How URL to App works

What happens to your link

A URL to app converter doesn't scrape or copy your site. It builds a small native Android app whose job is to open your URL beautifully — and nothing leaves your control.

Your URLhttps://shop.example.comThe start address. Every other page is reached from it.
App shellMainActivity + WebViewChrome's engine, set up for logins, uploads, back button and offline.
Identitycom.example.shopName, package name, icon, splash and theme colour.
Cloud buildgradle bundleReleaseCompiled and signed with your key on a build server.
Your appapp.apk · app.aabInstall it now. Upload the AAB to Google Play.

Read: inside a URL app, layer by layer →

Convert a link

Any link can become an app

A form, a store, a newsletter, an app someone built with AI. Each recipe covers what that kind of link needs to work well as an app.

URL app or file app?

Two ways to make the app

Pick by where your content lives. Most people want the first one.

URL to App

You have a live link

The app opens your website or web app full-screen with your icon on the home screen.

Content updates the moment you edit the site
Logins, carts and dashboards keep working
Needs internet; shows a friendly offline screen without it

Get Website to App

HTML / ZIP to APK

You have files, not a URL

Your HTML, CSS, JS and images are packed inside the app and load from the phone.

Opens instantly, works offline
Ideal for AI-generated pages, quizzes and games
To change it, rebuild and update

Get HTML & ZIP to APK

Learn

What every URL app needs to get right

Converting is the easy part. These guides cover what breaks inside an app and how to fix it before users notice.

/learn/what-is-url-to-app/LearnWhat is URL to App?URL to App explained: how a website link becomes an installable Android app (APK/AAB), what the app can do, what it can't, and when a URL app is the right choice./learn/convert-url-to-app-step-by-step/LearnConvert a URL to an app, step by stepConvert any website URL into an Android app in minutes: prepare the link, set name, icon and package, build a signed APK and AAB, then publish./learn/google-sign-in-in-url-apps/LearnGoogle sign-in in URL appsWhy “Sign in with Google” fails inside a URL to app WebView with 403 disallowed_useragent, and the fixes that work: Custom Tabs, email links, other providers./learn/google-play-policy-for-url-apps/LearnGoogle Play policy for URL appsWhy Google Play rejects some website-to-app conversions (minimum functionality, webview spam, impersonation) and the checklist that gets a URL app approved./learn/file-uploads-and-camera-in-url-apps/LearnFile uploads & cameraMake <input type=file>, camera capture, geolocation and downloads work in a URL to app WebView: what the app shell must support and what to change on your site./learn/url-app-deep-links/LearnDeep links & App LinksMake links to your website open straight in your URL app with Android App Links: intent filters, assetlinks.json, SHA-256 fingerprints and how to test verification.

Compare

URL to App vs the alternatives

Same goal — your site on a phone — very different trade-offs.

	URL to App (WebView)	PWA	Trusted Web Activity	Native rebuild
Starts from	Any URL	Your site + manifest + service worker	A PWA you own	A blank project
Installable APK / Play listing	Yes	No (browser install)	Yes	Yes
Works with sites you don't control	Yes	No	No (needs Digital Asset Links)	—
Google sign-in inside the app	Needs a Custom Tab	Works	Works	Works
Time to first install	Minutes	Hours	Hours to days	Weeks

URL to App vs PWA · WebView vs TWA · Best URL to app converters

Free tools

Prepare your URL before you build

Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

/tools/start-url-inspector/Free toolStart URL inspectorPaste the URL you want to turn into an app. Checks https, redirects-prone hosts, tracking parameters, ports and IPs, and suggests a clean start URL and package name./tools/url-to-package-name/Free toolURL to package nameTurn a website URL into a valid Android package name (application ID) using reverse-domain naming. Validates Java keywords, digits, hyphens and length./tools/link-scope-tester/Free toolLink scope testerPaste your start URL and a list of links from your site. See which open inside the app, in the browser or in another app (tel:, mailto:, WhatsApp, intent://)./tools/app-links-builder/Free toolApp Links builderGenerate assetlinks.json and the matching intent-filter for your URL app from domain, package name and SHA-256 fingerprints, plus adb verify commands./tools/app-mode-snippet-generator/Free toolApp mode snippetGenerate JS and CSS that detect when your site runs inside your Android URL app, add an in-app class and hide web-only elements like app banners./tools/app-utm-link-builder/Free toolApp UTM link builderClean old tracking tags out of your app's start URL and add consistent UTM parameters, so Google Analytics separates URL app sessions from website visits./tools/launcher-label-preview/Free toolLauncher label previewPreview how your app name appears under the icon on Android home screens and check Google Play's 30-character title limit. Pick a short name that won't be cut off./tools/status-bar-color-tester/Free toolStatus bar colour testerPreview your app's theme colour on the Android status bar with light and dark icons, check contrast and get the right setting for your URL to App build.

Library

The whole URL to App topic

Plus a glossary of every term from WebView to assetlinks.json.

FAQ

URL to App questions

What is URL to App?

URL to App means converting a web address into an installable app. A converter takes your link, wraps it in a native Android shell (a WebView) with your app name, icon and colours, then compiles and signs an APK you can install and an AAB you can upload to Google Play. The app opens your live site full-screen.

How do I convert a URL to an app for free?

Install the free Website to App Android app, paste your https:// link, set a name and icon, and tap Build. The cloud build takes a few minutes and returns a signed APK. Full walkthrough.

Is URL to APK the same as URL to App?

On Android, yes. APK is the file format of an installable Android app, so “URL to APK” is the Android-specific name for the same conversion. For Google Play you upload an AAB (Android App Bundle) instead — the same app in Play's preferred package. APK vs AAB.

Will my app update when I change my website?

Yes. A URL app loads your live site, so new posts, prices and pages appear immediately. You only rebuild when you change the app itself: name, icon, start URL, permissions or version. What needs a rebuild.

Why does Google sign-in fail in my URL app?

Google blocks OAuth sign-in inside embedded WebViews (error 403 disallowed_useragent). Open the sign-in page in a Custom Tab, or offer email or another login. The fix, step by step.

Can I convert a URL to an iPhone app?

Not as an APK — iPhones don't install APKs. An iOS app needs an Xcode build, an Apple developer account and App Review, which is stricter about website wrappers. What your options are.

Will Google Play accept a URL app?

Often, if it is more than a copy of your website: working navigation, an offline screen, notifications or features that only make sense in an app. Bare wrappers can be rejected for minimum functionality. Play policy for URL apps.