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How to convert your website into an iOS app: A step-by-step guide

TL;DR: This guide covers everything from planning and designing to developing and launching an iOS webview app on the Apple App Store — using trusted technologies and tactics. Discover the advantages of webview, hybrid, and progressive web apps, and why and how to leverage tools like Xcode, Swift, and Median.co's JavaScript Bridge for a seamless iOS app development experience.

Ready to transform your website into a powerful iOS app? This comprehensive guide will walk you through the crucial steps of planning, designing, developing, and launching your app on the Apple App Store.

Read more to discover how to elevate your digital presence by creating a dedicated iOS mobile app that captivates users and drives success.

Key takeaways

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Why convert your website to an iOS app?

Transforming a website into an iOS app can significantly enhance user experience and drive business success — and reach users beyond their desktop. These apps often outperform mobile websites in terms of user engagement and conversion rates, resulting in more time spent within the app and — likely — increased revenue.

The unique functionality that webview apps provide is distinctive — and valued — by users. For instance, the ability to send push notifications directly to devices is a distinctive app feature, often yielding better results than traditional communication methods like email or SMS.

These applications are also able to use device-specific features like GPS, camera integration, and contact synchronization that provide engaging, personalized experiences for users.

With Apple device usage continuously growing worldwide, maintaining both an online presence through a website and an accessible app ensures businesses connect with their potential customer base amidst ongoing market changes.

Four different types of mobile applications

When you're planning to convert your website into an iOS app, it's essential to know the different types of applications you can choose from. Each type has its own advantages, depending on your goals and resources. Here are the different types of mobile apps:

  • Webview apps: These apps essentially act as a browser within an app shell, allowing users to access web content without leaving the app environment. While easy to develop, they may lack the full functionality and performance of native apps, unless you use a trusted webview app development platform that is able to unlock native features and functionality (like Median).
  • Hybrid apps: Blending native and web technologies, hybrid apps are built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, yet run inside a native container. This allows them to access some device features while being more cost-effective and quicker to develop than fully native apps.
  • Progressive web apps (PWAs): These are web applications that deliver an app-like experience on mobile devices. They can work offline, send push notifications, and be added to the home screen, offering a flexible solution without the need for app store distribution.

Step to convert your website into an iOS app

Transforming your website into an iOS app is a multifaceted process that requires careful planning and execution. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process effectively:

  1. Set your goals: Begin by establishing clear conversion goals. Identify your target user base and determine the essential features to include in your app. While a wrapper app can simplify the conversion of your web presence into an iPhone app, partnering with a professional webview app development platform like Median.co can provide a more tailored and effective solution that provides a truly app-like experience.
  2. Plan your conversion: Lay out a solid plan that aligns with your objectives, such as boosting user interaction or enhancing ease of use. Understanding your users is crucial, and conducting user research through surveys, interviews, and analytics can help tailor your app design to their needs. This ensures your app's features and interface align with user expectations.
  3. Design the app: Prioritize ease of use with instinctive design elements. A consistent aesthetic with uniform color palettes and font styles can significantly improve user interaction. Adhering to Apple's design guidelines is crucial for creating a user-friendly app that meets the expectations of iOS users. By following these standards, you ensure that your app is visually appealing and consistent, providing a seamless user experience on Apple devices.
  4. Develop the app: Most modern enterprises use webview technology (inputting your website’s URL to populate an app) to deliver on this step. Median.co provides development resources and expertise to streamline this process, ensuring your app is built efficiently.
  5. Test and debug: Ensure your app operates seamlessly across different iOS devices. Testing on various iPhones and iPads is essential, and Median.co’s App Studio Simulator offers a robust solution for this. It allows you to test and debug your webview app on the spot, providing real-time insights into how your app performs across different iOS devices. By using it, you can quickly identify and rectify potential issues early on, ensuring a seamless user experience once the app is launched.
  6. Publish your app to the Apple App Store: Follow Apple’s guidelines meticulously to ensure your app gets approved. Median.co can guide you through the submission process, increasing the likelihood of a successful launch.

By following these steps you can transform your website into a mobile app that enhances user experience and aligns with your business objectives.

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Tools and technologies for iOS app development

An iPhone app showing an image of a skyline.

You can think about creating an iPhone app using some key tools and technologies. As a start, Xcode is Apple's main tool for building apps, helping you manage projects, write code, and fix bugs.

Swift is the go-to language for building iPhone apps because works well with Objective-C, another popular language for iOS apps.

For designing app interfaces, developers can choose between SwiftUI, which allows real-time updates, and UIKit, which offers a more traditional approach.

If you're working with data, Core Data and CloudKit are great for storing information within your app.

Median's JavaScript Bridge

Median's JavaScript Bridge is a powerful tool that enables the seamless integration of your website content and the native functionalities of iOS devices.

By using this bridge, developers can effortlessly access native features such as the camera, GPS, and push notifications on users’ devices.

This capability allows for a more interactive and enhanced user experience, as it bridges the gap between web technologies and native app capabilities.

The JavaScript Bridge simplifies the process of converting a website into a webview app by providing a robust framework that supports various native plugins. This means you can extend the functionality of your app without extensive coding, making it a cost-effective and efficient solution for businesses looking to enhance their mobile presence.

Case study: AON's app development success with Median.co

There are millions of examples of businesses choosing webview technology to deliver on their business-critical apps. 

Just take AON.

AON PLC, a global financial services firm, faced the challenge of engaging over 30,000 employees via a single mobile app.

As the company expanded, enhancing communication became crucial. To address this, AON's IT innovation team selected a mobile app platform to boost employee engagement and streamline information access.

The solution involved partnering with Median.co to develop a hybrid web and native application. The team looked for a secure, user-friendly enterprise-level app solution that met AON's system requirements.

The result was a user-centric app created with Median’s platform, which improved engagement and simplified work life. It provides features like secure office access and push notifications for important announcements, consolidating daily tasks into one mobile solution. Read the entire case study here.

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Summary

Transforming a website into an iOS app enhances user engagement and functionality by leveraging native application features. The process involves key steps like planning, designing, developing, testing, and launching on the Apple App Store.

Understanding the differences between, webview, hybrid, and progressive web apps is crucial for selecting the right type for your needs.

Essential tools such as Xcode, Swift, and Median's JavaScript Bridge facilitate effective app development.

By prioritizing user experience and using device-specific capabilities, businesses can create smooth and engaging apps that align with their goals and meet industry standards.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert my website into an iOS app?

To convert your website into an iOS app, you can use the “Add to Home Screen” feature on an iPhone, which allows users to create a shortcut to the website on their device.

For a more advanced solution, consider using app builders or a framework that packages your website as a native app.

Why should I convert my website into an iOS app?

Transforming your website into an app for iPhone can elevate the user experience and boost engagement through faster access, as well as offering essential features like push notifications and the ability to function offline.

Making this switch can markedly enhance the way users engage with your content.

What are the key steps in converting a website to an iPhone/iPad app?

To successfully convert a website to an iPhone app, focus on planning, designing, developing, testing, and launching it on the Apple App Store. Each step is vital for a well-executed conversion.

What tools and technologies are essential for iPhone/iPad app development?

Xcode, Swift, Objective-C, SwiftUI, UIKit, Core Data, CloudKit, and Instruments are essential tools and technologies for iPhone app development. They facilitate project management, code editing, debugging, and application profiling.

*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.*
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