Web To App

7.1K stars
Unlicense
Active this week
Last commit today

Last verified Oct 31, 2026

Build signed Android APKs from web projects on your phone, with on-device Node.js, PHP, Python, Go, and WordPress runtimes. No PC needed.

Visit website GitHub7.1K

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Web To App is for#

Web developers packaging a local project as an Android app

If you have a working web project (a React app, a Flask server, a WordPress site) and want to distribute it as an installable Android APK without setting up Android Studio, WebToApp handles the build on-device. Fill in the app name and URL, enable the relevant runtime from About, and build.

Skip if:

If you need to ship to iOS or need a cross-platform framework targeting both Android and iOS from a single codebase, WebToApp does not cover that use case.

Developers building apps with real server runtimes

The on-device runtime support (Node.js, PHP, Python, Go) lets you package a small server app as a self-contained APK that runs entirely offline, with no external dependencies. This works for demos, admin tools, offline viewers, and portable prototypes that need backend logic.

Skip if:

If your app only needs to call a remote API and a simple URL wrapper suffices, the basic Web type is simpler and the advanced runtime is unnecessary overhead.

Developers targeting users in censored or restricted networks

The hardened network stack (DoH, TLS fingerprint spoofing, ECH, SOCKS5 proxies, CORS bypass) is configurable per app in the editor. Developers targeting users in regions with aggressive filtering can set the network layer each APK needs without writing any networking code.

Skip if:

If your app serves a general consumer audience in unrestricted markets, the network hardening options add configuration complexity with no benefit for most users.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Building an Android app from a web project normally means a desktop machine with Android Studio, the Android SDK, an emulator for testing, and several gigabytes of tooling. For web developers who want a mobile presence for a personal project, a self-hosted tool, or a WordPress site, the setup barrier is out of proportion to the app itself.

Conventional web-to-app services address this by running the build in the cloud, but they trade one problem for another. The build happens on their servers at their price, with their packaging defaults and no control over signing keys, APK permissions, or network behavior. A developer who wants a custom network stack, an on-device server runtime, or a Play-ready AAB with their own keystore cannot get that from a hosted service at any tier.

how Web To App solves it

How it solves it#

On-device server runtimes

Node.js 18.20, PHP 8.4 with Composer 2.10, Python 3.14, Go 1.26, and WordPress 7.x over SQLite run as native fork+exec'd binaries from app storage, without any remote connection. Each runtime is downloaded once and managed from the Linux Environment screen. PHP and Python support custom native extensions; Go handles on-device build and run. URL-wrapper tools cannot do this at all.

On-device APK signing and Play Store export

V1, V2, and V3 signing all happen inside the app via apksig, using a keystore you manage. Exporting to Google Play produces a signed AAB with targetSdk rewritten to the current requirement and generates the Play metadata, entirely on-device. No account with a third-party build service is needed at any stage.

Hardened anti-censorship network stack

Each generated app can be configured with DNS-over-HTTPS (7 providers), TLS fingerprint spoofing (Chrome 131, Firefox 133, or Safari 18 JA3 profiles), Encrypted Client Hello to encrypt the SNI on both the system WebView and GeckoView, per-app SOCKS5/PAC proxies, and CORS bypass for SPAs calling external APIs.

MV3 Chrome extensions and Tampermonkey userscripts

Generated apps can bundle MV3 Chrome extensions with content scripts in isolated or main worlds, with chrome.* polyfills for runtime, storage, tabs, and scripting. Userscripts follow the Greasemonkey/Tampermonkey API (GM_* bridge, promise-based GM.* variants). Extensions can be searched live from the Chrome Web Store or imported manually.

12 app types from URL wrapper to full-stack APK

App types include Web (URL wrapper), HTML/static frontend, Node.js, PHP, Python, Go, WordPress, image viewer, video player, gallery, multi-site hub, and installed-APK clone. Server-backed types require enabling Advanced features in About; gallery and the Web type are available from first install. Each type previews in the same runtime the export will use.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

No PC, no account, no remote build queueThe entire build pipeline runs on the Android device. Signing keys never leave the phone, no account is required with any service, and no build queue is involved. Hosted web-to-app services require uploading your project to a third-party server and accepting their signing and packaging defaults; WebToApp gives you the full pipeline locally.
Unlicense: true public domain with no restrictionsThe Unlicense dedicates the code to the public domain. There are no usage restrictions, no attribution requirements, and no copyleft conditions. Fork it, embed it, or ship it commercially without any license compliance overhead.
Real server runtimes, not just URL wrappingWith 7,147 GitHub stars and active development through October 2026, WebToApp ships Node.js, PHP, Python, Go, and WordPress as native on-device binaries. These are the same runtimes you would run on a server, packaged into an installable APK. No commercial web-to-app service offers on-device server execution at any price point.
50+ fingerprint vectors and AES-256-GCM resource encryptionEach app can disguise browser fingerprint across over 50 vectors: User-Agent, WebGL, Canvas, AudioContext, ClientRects, timezone, language, memory, media devices, WebRTC, fonts, battery, and more. Resource encryption uses PBKDF2 + AES-256-GCM on packaged config, HTML, and media. Activation-code gating supports local verification or a custom HTTPS endpoint.

Trade-offs

-Android-only, no iOS pathWebToApp produces Android APKs and AABs. There is no iOS equivalent: no macOS build path, no Xcode integration, no Apple Developer account flow. Developers who need to ship to both platforms will need a separate workflow for iOS.
-Advanced runtimes require a manual toggleNode.js, PHP, Python, Go, WordPress, image, and video app types are disabled by default and require navigating to About and enabling Advanced features. Gallery is the only media type that works without this step. First-time users who do not read the setup notes may miss these types entirely.
-Distributed as a GitHub APK, not via the Play StoreInstalling WebToApp itself requires sideloading an APK from GitHub Releases, which means enabling installation from unknown sources on the device. The builder is not available through the Google Play Store. This is a friction point for users unfamiliar with Android sideloading.

versus alternatives

Web To App vs alternatives#

WebToApp vs Median.co

Median.co (previously GoNative.io) is a hosted service that converts web apps into native Android and iOS shells with configurable navigation, push notifications, and app store submission support. Both tools turn a web project into a mobile app, but the build location and technical depth differ sharply.

Feature	WebToApp	Median.co
License	Unlicense (public domain)	Proprietary, subscription
Build location	On-device (your phone)	Median's remote servers
iOS support	No	Yes
On-device server runtimes	Node.js, PHP, Python, Go, WordPress	No
Google Play AAB export	On-device, with your keystore	Handled by Median
TLS fingerprint spoofing	Yes	No
Pricing	Free	$49+/month

WebToApp is the better fit when you need a free build pipeline, on-device server runtimes, or a hardened network stack for users in restricted regions. Because the build runs on your device, your signing keys and project files never leave your control.

Median.co is worth considering when you need iOS support alongside Android, or when you want a managed submission pipeline that handles the App Store and Play Store review process. For simple web-app wrapping with no custom runtimes, Median's hosted flow involves less manual configuration.

WebToApp vs WebViewGold

WebViewGold is a paid Android Studio template sold on CodeCanyon that converts a URL or local HTML files into an Android app. Buyers purchase a one-time license and build the APK using Android Studio on a desktop machine.

Feature	WebToApp	WebViewGold
License	Unlicense (public domain)	Commercial (CodeCanyon)
Build location	On-device (Android)	Desktop (Android Studio required)
On-device server runtimes	Yes (Node.js, PHP, Python, Go)	No
PC required	No	Yes
Cost	Free	~$28 one-time
MV3 extension support	Yes	No

WebToApp is the stronger choice when building from an Android device without a PC, or when on-device runtimes, extension support, or the hardened network stack matter. WebViewGold is a reasonable option when you have an Android Studio environment already and want a familiar template-based workflow for basic URL-to-APK conversions.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

Download the WebToApp builder APK from GitHub Releases onto an Android 7.0 or newer device: https://github.com/shiaho777/web-to-app/releases/latest

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: KotlinPHPPython
Frameworks: Vue

frequently asked

FAQ#

Does WebToApp require a computer to build apps?

No. The entire build pipeline runs on the Android device, including signing and Play Store export. Install the builder APK on any Android 7.0+ device and build from there. A PC is not needed at any stage.

Can I publish apps built with WebToApp to Google Play?

Yes. The Google Play export option builds the APK, converts it to a signed AAB with targetSdk rewritten to current Play requirements, and generates the Play metadata, all on-device. You still need a Google Play developer account to submit the app; WebToApp handles the technical packaging.

What server runtimes are available on-device?

Node.js 18.20, PHP 8.4 (with Composer 2.10), Python 3.14, Go 1.26, and WordPress 7.x over SQLite. These are disabled by default; enable them from About > Advanced features. Each runtime is downloaded once on first use and stored in app storage. The Linux Environment screen manages dependencies for Node, PHP, and Python.

Is WebToApp free to use?

Yes. WebToApp is released under the Unlicense, which places it in the public domain. There is no subscription, no account, and no per-build fee. Download the APK from GitHub Releases and use it without restriction for any purpose, including commercial.

Does WebToApp support browser extensions in generated apps?

Yes. Generated apps support MV3 Chrome extensions (content scripts in isolated or main worlds, chrome.* polyfills) and Tampermonkey/Greasemonkey-style userscripts (GM_* bridge with promise-based GM.* APIs). Extensions can be searched by keyword and installed live from the Chrome Web Store within the builder, or imported manually.

also worth a look

Similar open-source tools#

Freebuff

Alternative toCursor

Free AI coding agent with five tools across desktop, CLI, and cloud

13,872 GitHub stars
Licence Apache-2.0

Crest

Alternative toArc

Open source browser with Spaces, Peek, and Split View for Mac and iOS

983 GitHub stars
Licence MPL-2.0

Deviload

Alternative to4K Video Downloader Plus

yt-dlp desktop app with media library, player, and editor

181 GitHub stars
Licence MIT

Termux App

Alternative toTermius

Linux terminal and package manager for Android devices.

63,494 GitHub stars
Licence GPL-3.0-only

Nvm

InDeveloper Tools

Switch Node.js versions per shell with a single bash command

95,708 GitHub stars
Licence MIT

Rust

InWeb Development

Systems language with memory safety and no garbage collector.

120,823 GitHub stars
Licence Apache-2.0

by category

12,855 GitHub stars
Licence AGPL-3.0
#Email

Omnara

Alternative toClaude Managed Agents

Open-source agent deployment API. Self-host or use Omnara Cloud.

3,325 GitHub stars
Licence Apache-2.0
#AI Agents

rakazo

Alternative toGrok Bot

AI teammates you own: your keys, your model, your machine.

6,242 GitHub stars
Licence Apache-2.0
#AI Agents

Advertise your product

The projects we add and every new guide. Free, unsubscribe any time.

Find open source alternatives to paid software

WebToApp vs Median.co

Feature	WebToApp	Median.co
License	Unlicense (public domain)	Proprietary, subscription
Build location	On-device (your phone)	Median's remote servers
iOS support	No	Yes
On-device server runtimes	Node.js, PHP, Python, Go, WordPress	No
Google Play AAB export	On-device, with your keystore	Handled by Median
TLS fingerprint spoofing	Yes	No
Pricing	Free	$49+/month

WebToApp vs WebViewGold

Feature	WebToApp	WebViewGold
License	Unlicense (public domain)	Commercial (CodeCanyon)
Build location	On-device (Android)	Desktop (Android Studio required)
On-device server runtimes	Yes (Node.js, PHP, Python, Go)	No
PC required	No	Yes
Cost	Free	~$28 one-time
MV3 extension support	Yes	No

Who Web To App is for#

Web developers packaging a local project as an Android app

Skip if:

Developers building apps with real server runtimes

Skip if:

Developers targeting users in censored or restricted networks

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

On-device server runtimes

On-device APK signing and Play Store export

Hardened anti-censorship network stack

MV3 Chrome extensions and Tampermonkey userscripts

12 app types from URL wrapper to full-stack APK

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Web To App vs alternatives#

WebToApp vs Median.co

WebToApp vs WebViewGold

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Similar open-source tools#

Open source tools in these categories#

Web & App Development

Developer Tools

Find open source alternatives to paid software

Who Web To App is for#

Web developers packaging a local project as an Android app

Skip if:

Developers building apps with real server runtimes

Skip if:

Developers targeting users in censored or restricted networks

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

On-device server runtimes

On-device APK signing and Play Store export

Hardened anti-censorship network stack

MV3 Chrome extensions and Tampermonkey userscripts

12 app types from URL wrapper to full-stack APK

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Web To App vs alternatives#

WebToApp vs Median.co

WebToApp vs WebViewGold

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Similar open-source tools#

Open source tools in these categories#

Web & App Development

Developer Tools

Find open source alternatives to paid software