How to Convert a Web App to Desktop App?

Sumayya Ks
Appmaker.xyz
Published in
4 min readFeb 22, 2019

Is your Web App optimized with all browsers? If not, its probably going to cost you more. And this is one reason to convert your web app to a desktop app.

Both the web apps and the desktop app have unique features. At some point, Desktop Apps could yield more when compared to web apps.

Well, let’s see how these issues are solved with the Desktop App.

Why Should You go for a Desktop App?

Visibility:

Once after the users install the desktop app, It is always visible to the users. Which reminds the user and keeps him engaged with the desktop app. This would be quite a desktop app features if you wanted your app to be habitual for your users. For a web app, unless it is bookmarked the user might forget your app forever.

Customer Retention:

Retaining customer is the fundamental motive for considering Desktop Apps. Using a web app could drive distractions because at a time multiple tabs will be opened within a browser. And it becomes hard for you to engage users with your app. Unlike Web App, the desktop app provides more of a robust app feel, and that is quite engaging. This helps you reduce the churn rate.

Branding:

Desktop Apps can help you increase brand recognition. And how is this achieved? I would say — The Alt-Tab keyboard shortcuts. This most used shortcut to switch applications can give an impression of your brand logo and name. And that too among the most popular Desktop apps — And that’s what we address as a brand association. The Thing is, Your users always see your app and every time its a chance for you to convince them your apps exact purpose.

The desktop apps can be used for all OS’s including Mac, Linux, and windows.

Converting Web App to Desktop App

Desktop apps are always welcomed. But this comes with a cost.

The framework, Electron is used for creating desktop Apps. And definitely, there are some constraints to build a desktop app manually,

#1 Manpower: If you have no knowledge about how the frame electron works, you will need to hire a development team for creating a desktop app.

#2 Time: Building a desktop app manual could take a couple of weeks. This is not optimal if you have an urgency to convert your web app to a desktop app.

#3 Cost: Hiring a team to develop a desktop app can cost you a considerable amount Which you could invest in your core purpose of having a website/ app.

Here is a list of a top web app to desktop app converters, with which you can convert your web app to a desktop app with zero coding. And above all saves you from the constraints as mentioned earlier.

Top Web App to Desktop App Converters

  1. Web2Desk: Web2desk is a free tool provided by appmaker. It lets you convert your favorite website to desktop in just a click. The desktop app build with Web2desk is optimized with all OS
Web2Desk

2.Applicationize: A Google Chrome extension is generated by Applicatioize which installs your favorite web apps. Additionally, a custom Shortcut icon is placed in your app launcher just after you have installed it.

3.Fluid App: A website can be converted to a desktop app only by uploading an app icon, name.and by entering the website URL. Fluid App is free, and you can create a desktop app that can run on the various OS.

Building a Desktop app can help you in many aspects. Just as I mentioned, It can potentially reduce the churn rate and increase customer engagement. If you have a messenger web app or a music web app, definitely customer engagement is the core part of success. And this can be achieved by building a desktop app.

And let’s be sure that we build it in the right way with the right tool.

Thank you for reading this far!

Happy app building!

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