Choose a URL app when your content lives on a server and changes — stores, blogs, dashboards, web apps with accounts. Choose an HTML app when you have files (index.html, CSS, JS, images) that should work offline — tools, quizzes, games, brochures, AI-generated single pages. Use Website to App for the first and HTML & ZIP to APK for the second.
Comparison
| URL app | HTML app | |
|---|---|---|
| Content lives | On your server | Inside the APK |
| Update content | Edit the site | Rebuild and update the app |
| Works offline | Cached pages only | Fully |
| First open speed | Network-dependent | Instant |
| Logins, databases, carts | Your existing backend | Only via APIs you call |
| Hosting needed | Yes | No |
Typical URL apps
WooCommerce store, forum, booking page, SaaS, LMS, news site, dashboard. See Convert a link.
Typical HTML apps
An HTML5 game, a calculator or converter made with ChatGPT, a product catalogue PDF turned into pages, a wedding or event guide, a quiz for a class.
Hybrid
An HTML app can still fetch live data from an API, and a URL app can cache pages offline with a service worker. Start from where your content lives today.
FAQ
Can I switch from a URL app to an HTML app later?
Yes — build the HTML version with the same package name and signing key and a higher version code, and it updates the existing app.
Which is better for Google Play?
Neither by default. Both must provide real functionality and content you own.