Mobile phones are the lifelines for individuals in a world dominated by technology, where time is limited, and speed is a necessity. Small and portable smartphones provide convenience in all areas of life. Everything is accessible via smartphones, from shopping to booking tickets, entertainment, and other businesses.
High user engagement is one of the reasons why companies are investing in mobile app development. Additionally, mobile apps offer global audience access, improved visibility, open communication between the businesses and the users, and more
It is not enough to have an online presence. You need a mobile presence to target active smartphone users. There are two ways to get closer to your target audience; responsive web design and intriguing mobile apps.
Responsive Web Design vs. Mobile Apps
Responsive web design means an optimized website for mobile users. The process involves coding a desktop-optimized site to rearrange and resize depending on the device used, adding user-friendly navigation, and ensuring a faster loading speed. You can find some web development companies with relevant experience.
Responsive web design is still fundamentally a website that offers better functionality and visual appeal for mobile users than its desktop version. But they do not provide the same user experience as an application.
Mobile apps are downloadable via app stores. They are native to the device they are built for, hence offer faster load time and operational speed. Additionally, mobile apps can function offline, allowing users to open and use the application without an internet connection.
Responsive web design is not a replacement for native apps. If the purpose of turning a website into an app is to increase retention, revenue, and user engagement, then develop a mobile app.
Over the internet, you’ll find plenty of options showing you how to turn a website into an app. ‘Converter’ platforms do the job in a few simple clicks, while other possibilities include hiring a development firm.
Without further ado, let’s dive in and explore your options to make a website into an app:
Using Converter Platforms
Converters offer simple drag and drop features to create custom mobile apps. They even have built-in templates for your use. The program works by gathering essential elements of your website and transferring them to the app that you can publish on the app stores.
An app created with converters is a washed-down version of native apps specific for iOS and Android and does not offer the same quality of user experience. Converters are of two types:
The first one creates a website wrapped in a WebView-wrapper within the app that makes it look and function like an official app. It is as if you opened a site via a mobile browser but modified it to look like an app.
The second one is for websites developed using engines like WordPress, Shopify, or others. These engines have plugins that provide specific APIs that the converters integrate with built-in templates to turn a website into an app.
The apps created via converters hold no comparison to the custom apps built by developers through proper channels. But converter apps are cheaper and offer faster conversion than the months it would take a developer.
Here are some of the converters that you can use to convert a website to an app:
BuildFire
With simple drag-and-drop, BuildFire lets you create a custom app for your website. You can use your brand images, choose the color scheme, and integrate your blog with the app via the RSS feed. Furthermore, if you want to reward your users, you can add a point-based loyalty program.
Como
Como is a converter best suited for small businesses. It offers features like reservations, scheduling, and user reviews. You can also add a blog and other content to the app, such as photos, videos, social sharing, and more.
DWNLD
It’s relatively new, but DWNLD packs an abundance of features that make it worth exploring. You can add all types of content, social feeds, media players, and more into your app. So far, it only offers robust solutions for iOS app development.
SwebApps
SwebApps is another converter platform that offers a unique set of features like lists and a calculator. You can organize the pages and data within the app via a drop-down list menu. It is useful if you want to provide your users with valuable resources offline. Additionally, a built-in calculator would help businesses of specific sectors like restaurant chains, real estate agencies, and more keep track of the money.
Onbile
If you don’t want to build an app from scratch, Onbile has a collection of ready-made templates that you can customize and turn your website into an app. Each one is well-designed and offers basic app functionality.
Mobiloud
Mobiloud is the second type of converter for WordPress sites. It lets you create an app via a WordPress plugin that keeps your app updated with your website.
Before you make your decision, here are some cons to consider:
Many converters only work with websites built with JS, HTML, and CSS. In such cases, you would need to create the app from scratch. It will increase development time and cost, and still, you won’t get a fully-functional app.
Apps built with converters cannot match native apps in performance, user experience, and user-friendly interface.
Some converters do not support the built-in features of a mobile device.
Converters have a limited assortment of features.
You cannot scale up your converter app into a high-grade product. If you want to integrate more features, you would need to build it again from the start with a team of experts.
Hiring an App Development Company
Hiring an app development company is the right choice if you want more functionality in your app. You can get other features integrated with the mobile app like chatbots for direct communication with your users.
Here are a few more reasons to help in understanding how a native app will be better than a converter app:
Native apps are built with native APIs, unlike apps wrapped in WebView-wrapper or other templates. They integrate naturally with the device’s OS, offering smooth performance and flawless UX.
With a native app, you can add custom features along with the built-in characteristics of a template.
You have the freedom to customize your app to give it a unique look instead of the thousands of similar apps built with the same converter platform.
A native app operates and loads faster, enhancing its usability and retaining the target audience.
Native app development processes offer you the flexibility to alter the app design at any stage of development.
Besides developing a native app for your site, a mobile app development agency can guide you better on how to turn a website into an app. Here’s what it will tell you:
First Create an MVP
An MVP is a functional prototype with the bare minimum features of a fully-fledged mobile app. It incorporates only those attributes fundamental to the app function and the UI/UX of the design. Over time, you can add more features to improve the design and user experience.
Designing an MVP before launching a fully-functional app will provide user feedback on your app idea. You can analyze the users’ reactions and work with the developers to make relevant modifications and improvements without wasting time, effort, and money.
Decide on the App Design
The app design needs to adhere to the mobile UX if you want your users to enjoy the experience. Mobile UX is different from web UX and involves distinct UI components and designs. For example, a pop-up will cover the entire screen on a mobile app, whereas, on a website, it may take up only a portion of the screen.
While creating a website into an app, hire designers with a knack for mobile design. They will create an optimized design for mobile devices.
Choose a Tech Stack
While converting a website into an app, you need to consider the current tech stack of your website. You can use different programming languages for website and app development. The two tech stacks include:
Frontend: Frameworks like React Native and Flutter allow you to reuse the codebase of your website. They can create hybrid apps that function similarly to native apps.
Backend: Use the existing backend of your website and build a new backend architecture for your app. You can use frameworks like Node.js or Django, which are used for website development.
Evaluate and Launch
Conduct rigorous testing of the app to ensure it meets the quality standards, and there are no glitches or bugs. You can test the app on emulators and real devices to get a clear picture of how it functions.
After successful testing, launch the app on the respective app stores. You can also use beta testing programs to gather feedback from users before the final launch.
Converting a website into an app can be a complex process, but with the right approach and tools, you can create a high-quality mobile app that provides a great user experience. Whether you choose to use a converter platform or hire a development company, make sure to evaluate your options carefully and choose the best solution for your needs.
