What is GoNative?

Need to convert a website or web application into a native app? GoNative provides an easy to use online app builder platform used by thousands of companies and web developers to build highly custom native iOS and Android apps powered by web-based content. Get started on your first app at https://gonative.io/new

Want to build an app without needing to learn our platform? We offer a full-service app configuration service. Our team will meet with you to determine your requirements and will configure a ready-to-publish app.

Need help publishing your app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store? We offer an app store publishing service. We will publish your app to both stores, managing the process from end to end.

Need to ensure your apps continue to function through future device and operating system updates? We offer enterprise-grade support and maintenance agreements with SLA terms, effectively becoming your fractional mobile app development team so you can launch and maintain native apps without needing any iOS or Android developers.

What do I need to create my app?

All you need is the URL of your existing website and within minutes the GoNative online app builder will create a native app that displays your web content. GoNative’s app builder is free of charge to test and evaluate. Enter your URL at https://gonative.io/new

How long does it take to create my app?

The GoNative app builder will build your app within minutes. You’ll then be able to preview your app immediately in our browser-based simulators or download to test on a physical device. Once you’ve finished configuring your app you can then publish to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Looking to have our team configure and publish your app? Typically we can have your app configured and published to the app stores within two weeks.

Can I create a white-label app without any GoNative branding?

Of course! All apps created using GoNative can and should be customized with your own branding before being published. You can replace the app icon and app splash screen with your own images, and customize all user interface colors to align with your brand identity.

Get started customizing your app by adding your own App Icon.

Will this work with my website?

Yes! The GoNative platform works with all website development platforms. Your app will display your website content as it is displayed in a mobile web browser such as Mobile Safari or Mobile Chrome.

We have many customers who develop their web content using Wordpress, Weebly, Wix, Webflow, and more. And customers who build web applications to deploy as web apps using Microsoft .NET and SharePoint, Salesforce Lightning, Bubble.io.

Most websites will display within apps created using GoNative automatically. To build highly immersive native apps as a web developer use the GoNative JavaScript Bridge to add a range of native functionality

• Change the app status bar color dynamically to match your web content and branding
• Add native navigation menus such as a native bottom tab bar menu
• Adjust the device screen brightness when displaying a QR code for other devices to scan
• Prevent the device screen from timing out and going to sleep when showing long form content for the user to read

What happens if something changes within my website?

All of the changes made to your website will be reflected immediately in your app similarly to how they will be reflected in a standard mobile browser. Native apps built using GoNative obey the same cache headers as a browser, which are sent by your web server. If you are experiencing delays seeing your updated website reflected in your app, we list potential solutions here.

How are app updates handled?

GoNative maintains our common app codebase to ensure compatibility with future iOS and Android updates so you don’t have to worry about maintaining code. An active support and maintenance plan is required to obtain future updates.

We publish our codebase publicly on GitHub and should you extend the native code of your app yourself you can manually merge our future updates back into your own app.

For native plugins an active support and maintenance plan is required to obtain future updates

What's different than a basic webview wrapper app?

Apps built using GoNative are much more than a wrapper app. The GoNative platform allows you to build an app with advanced native functionality and features. You can add native navigation menus, native push notifications (with OneSignal and other push providers), and incorporate our premium native plugins such as Face ID / Touch ID Biometric authentication, Social Login, QR/Barcode scanner, In-App Purchases, and much more.

When building your app you'll also benefit from the GoNative build platform which has been supported and maintained since early 2014. As iOS and Android changes are released you can rebuild your app using the GoNative App Builder to maintain compatibility while avoiding the overhead that comes from maintaining your own code base.

What are the benefits of converting my website into an app rather than building one from scratch?

Using GoNative you can build your own iOS and Android app in minutes, all at a fraction of the cost of hiring a developer to build an app from scratch. By converting your existing website into a native app, you will only need to maintain a single web codebase rather than separate iOS and Android apps.

Need to add advanced native features? We offer a range of Native Plugins that will get the job done or you can engage our team for custom development to add the native functionality you require. You will then only need to build an integration once using the GoNative JavaScript Bridge, a powerful API built into your app that allows your website to communicate with and control your app.

Using GoNative allows you to focus on developing the content and business logic of your app rather than hiring developers to build, update, and configure low-level native code from scratch. We make this process easy so you don’t have to worry about all of the technicalities and can focus on what really matters: creating a high quality experience for your users.

What is a Native Plugin?

Native Plugins are code modules that can be added to your iOS and Android app that provide access to native device hardware, functionality, and third-party services. Native Plugins are easily accessed through the GoNative JavaScript Bridge, a powerful API built into your app that allows your website to communicate with and control your app.

Some of our featured plug-ins include OneSignal Push Notifications, Touch ID/Face ID Biometric Authentication, Social Login with native Google Sign In, Facebook Login, and Sign-in with Apple, QR/Barcode Scanner, In-App Purchases. Check out our full Native Plugin library here.