Bolt.new lets you build web apps with AI. Turning one into a mobile app usually means dealing with Expo. Median.co makes this much simpler. Median turns your Bolt app into native iOS and Android apps, with features such as push notifications, native navigation, and in-app purchases. Everything is built and submitted in the cloud, so you don’t need a Mac, Xcode, Android Studio, or Expo.
What is Bolt.new AI tool
Bolt.new, built by StackBlitz, lets you build web apps by describing what you want in plain language. It creates the code, shows you a live preview, and lets you publish your app online.
You can host your app on a free bolt.host URL or connect it to Netlify and use your own domain. You can also share the app via a link or export the code whenever you need to.
How to publish a Bolt.new app to the App Store and Google Play
Bolt.new makes it easy to build and launch web apps. You can describe what you want, and Bolt can create a working app in minutes and host it at a free bolt.host URL.
But turning that web app into a mobile app for the Apple App Store or Google Play requires a few extra steps. Typically, you need to set up Expo or React Native, create the mobile app builds, and then go through the App Store and Google Play submission process.
Median makes this mobile layer easier to handle from your existing Bolt URL. You keep building your product in Bolt, while Median provides the mobile app, native features, cloud builds, and publishing workflow.
Bolt's mobile path runs through Expo, not native code
Bolt doesn't generate a native Xcode or Android Studio project the way some AI builders do.
Bolt builds the web app, but taking it to mobile adds another step: Expo. Bolt builds the web app. To get it to mobile, you add Expo, which provides the tools to create iOS and Android builds.
This means working with an Expo project, configuring mobile settings, creating signed builds, and using Expo Application Services (EAS) to prepare your app for the App Store and Google Play. But building the app is only part of the process.
You still need to manage developer accounts, store listings, screenshots, privacy requirements, testing, submissions, and ongoing updates.
So the journey looks like this: Bolt → Expo → Mobile builds → App Store / Google Play
For founders who don't want to add another development workflow just to get their Bolt app onto mobile, there's another option. Median can handle the mobile layer directly from your existing Bolt URL.
Median skips the Expo step
Median takes a different, no-code approach. Instead of moving your Bolt app into an Expo project, Median starts with the live app you’ve already deployed and turns its URL into native iOS and Android apps.
You can add mobile features such as push notifications, native navigation, and in-app purchases through RevenueCat. Builds and app store submissions are handled in the cloud, so you don’t need a Mac, Xcode, Android Studio, or an Expo project.
If you've already got a working Bolt app, Median skips the Expo and mobile build steps and works straight from your URL.
How to build the native app from your Bolt URL
Step 1: Build your app in the Median App Studio
Start at median.co/app. Enter your app's URL as the "Website URL" and set your app name. A bolt.host link works for building and testing, and a custom domain routed through Netlify is the strongest base for a public launch (since it gives users and reviewers a stable, branded address).
Step 2: Preview and test
Median's browser-based simulators preview your app on iOS and Android devices without leaving your browser. Check your core flows inside the app frame first. A layout that looks right in a desktop browser tab can behave differently inside a mobile WebView.
Step 3: Customize the native app
In the Branding tab, upload an app icon and splash screen and set your theme colors. Interface Settings, Link Handling, Website Overrides, and Permissions control how the app behaves around your web content, and Native Navigation adds the app-like structure Apple and Google expect from a listed app.
Median's native plugins add push notifications, haptics, biometric login, offline access, and other device features a Bolt web app can't reach from the browser alone.
Step 4: Test on real devices
Use the public sharing link for stakeholder testing, and install test builds on physical devices before submission. An Apple Developer account is required for iOS device testing.
Step 5: License and launch
The Billing tab in the App Studio lists plans by app functionality. Median also offers an optional publishing service in which its team manages the app store submission process end-to-end.
Tip: Download Median's free App Store Publishing Checklist before you get into store setup, so you know what Apple and Google will ask for before you're mid-submission.
How to publish your Bolt app to the Apple App Store and Google Play
The steps below assume you've built the app in the Median App Studio and tested it in the simulators or on a device.
Publishing to the Apple App Store
Register with the Apple Developer Program. Enrollment runs about $99 USD per year. Businesses register as an Organization, which requires a D-U-N-S Number, so the brand name appears correctly in the App Store.
Create your app record. In App Store Connect, create a New App and match the Bundle ID to the one in your Median-built app.
Complete metadata and privacy details. Upload iPhone screenshot sets, fill in name, description, keywords, category, and support URL, and complete Apple's App Privacy section. If the app requires login, add demo credentials under App Review Information.
Upload the build. Connect your Apple Developer account in the Median App Studio using an App Store Connect API key. Median builds a signed distribution IPA in the cloud and uploads it directly to App Store Connect for TestFlight and App Store submission.
Submit for review. Apple typically responds within 24 to 48 hours, though it can take longer.
Publishing to the Google Play Store
Create your Play Console account. Registration is a one-time $25 fee, and Google requires developer verification before publishing.
Complete the Play Console checklist. Store listing metadata and graphics, a valid privacy policy URL, the Data Safety section, content declarations, permissions, target audience details, and app access instructions if login is required.
Upload your Android App Bundle, generated from the Median App Studio.
Start the rollout. After review and policy checks pass, roll out to Production. New accounts can wait up to 7 days for the initial security review.
Subscriptions and in-app purchases in a Bolt app
If your app charges for any digital content, Apple requires In-App Purchases, and Google Play requires Google Play Billing. A web checkout can't be used for in-app payments.
Median's RevenueCat plugin ships both stores' billing integrations inside your builds, and your web app reads subscription status through Median's JavaScript Bridge to gate premium features. The RevenueCat subscriptions guide covers console setup and why the app needs a rebuild after monetization is added.
Frequently asked questions about how to publish a Bolt.new app
Why can't Bolt just export my app to the App Store?
A Bolt app is a web app, not an iOS or Android app. Publishing it to the App Store or Google Play requires mobile builds, app signing, configuration, and store submission. Bolt uses Expo and EAS for its mobile workflow, which adds a separate mobile project and build process. Median takes a different approach by turning your deployed Bolt URL into iOS and Android apps without requiring an Expo project.
Does Bolt.new support mobile apps?
Yes. Bolt.new supports mobile app development through Expo. This gives you a React Native project and access to Expo's build tools, but you'll still need to manage mobile configuration, signing, and app store submission. Median can instead build from your existing Bolt app URL without an Expo project.
How do I deploy an app built with Bolt.new?
With Bolt's Expo workflow, you configure EAS, create signed iOS and Android builds, and submit them through Apple App Store Connect and Google Play Console. Alternatively, Median's web to app converter can turn your deployed Bolt URL into signed mobile builds and provide a managed publishing option.
How do I launch a Bolt app?
You need to prepare your store listings, submit your builds, and pass Apple's and Google's reviews. Apple usually responds within 24 to 48 hours of submission. Google's review window varies, and new developer accounts can wait up to seven days for the initial security check. Median's Publishing Service can handle the entire publishing workflow, including metadata, review feedback, and any resubmissions.
Is Bolt free to publish?
Publishing your Bolt app to the web can be free, but publishing to the App Store and Google Play has additional costs. Apple and Google charge developer account fees, and you may also pay for services such as Expo or Median depending on the approach you choose.
Do I need an Expo account to publish my Bolt app through Median?
No. Median builds your mobile app from your deployed Bolt URL, whether you're using a bolt.host address or a custom domain. You don't need an Expo project, EAS setup, or React Native experience.
Bolt is for web, Median is for mobile
If you're comparing the two approaches, the biggest difference is how much extra work it takes to get your Bolt app onto people's phones.
Bolt.new is great for quickly building full-stack web apps. But turning that web app into something people can download from the App Store or Google Play requires a separate mobile workflow.
Median starts with the URL of your deployed Bolt app and turns it into iOS and Android apps. You don't need a separate mobile codebase, Mac, Xcode, Android Studio, or Expo project.
For a Bolt app, that can mean less time and technical work:
Your web app stays in Bolt. Median builds from that same live app for mobile, so you don't maintain a second codebase.
You can add native features such as push notifications, biometrics, offline access, and in-app purchases without learning React Native or Swift.
Median handles the mobile build process in the cloud and can manage app store publishing too, so local development tools aren't part of the equation.
If you're already using Expo, you can still point Median at your deployed app URL. It's an option if you'd rather not keep managing the Expo workflow yourself.
Enter your Bolt app's URL below to see how it works.
*DISCLAIMER: This content is provided solely for informational purposes. It is not exhaustive and may not be relevant for your requirements. While we have obtained and compiled this information from sources we believe to be reliable, we cannot and do not guarantee its accuracy. This content is not to be considered professional advice and does not form a professional relationship of any kind between you and GoNative.io LLC or its affiliates. Median.co is the industry-leading end-to-end solution for developing, publishing, and maintaining native mobile apps for iOS and Android powered by web content. When considering any technology vendor we recommend that you conduct detailed research and "read the fine print" before using their services.*
