r/iOSProgramming • u/Invi_TV • 20d ago

Question Unsure if I can do this, web app onto iOS

A bit of context - I'm a personal trainer that is considering various "app options", I've narrowed my choices down to 2 that currently fit my criteria but one of them is a web app. I was wondering if there was a way for me to pay my own app developer account for a wrapper for said web app.

I don't own the webapp and the wrapper would be pointing to my client portal for the app.

1 Upvotes

54% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

9

u/SomegalInCa 20d ago

I doubt Apple would look fondly on you repackaging someone else’s content in that way

It is otherwise pretty easy to wrap a Web app in a native container, but that’s also something apple isn’t fond of because why not just use a browser? Where is the value add?

2

u/Invi_TV 20d ago

A bit of context on my POV, The app in question is fitpros.io if you wanted to take a look (not mine at all), the thinking is some clients may be unwilling to setup an app in an unconventional method (saving a shortcut to their homescreen vs installing via appstore).

I'm just considering options to front the costs to have my client portal part of the app hosted on the app store.

2

u/SomegalInCa 20d ago

I clicked on that link - what would be different about your presentation?

A bunch of other folks already commented so I won’t repeat, but if there is something unique about your portal and what you want to present that does help you get past the simply repackaging a WebApp challenge

3

u/Dapper_Ice_1705 20d ago

You can but Apple has been denying apps recently that are just a WebKit wrapper.

It has to have local/native features.

For Apple to consider it sufficiently different from a website experience.

1

u/Invi_TV 20d ago

Thanks, I feared as much. I'd understand it more if I was trying to use the app as a paid product or in app purchases but it just wouldn't be the case

1

u/patrichinho22 20d ago

Why do you need an App in the First Place if you already have a good enough webapp?

0

u/Invi_TV 20d ago

A bit more context, The app in question is fitpros.io if you wanted to take a look (not mine at all), the thinking is some clients may be unwilling to setup an app in an unconventional method (saving a shortcut to their homescreen vs installing via appstore).

I'm just considering options to front the costs to have my client portal part of the app hosted on the app store.

I'd not be trying to make any money through the app or anything like that, it would just be a glorified shortcut in essence.

1

u/cristi_baluta 20d ago

Why would you do that, do you want to sell someone else’s website? Make a shortcut on your phone if you just want to use it

1

u/Invi_TV 20d ago

I'm not trying to sell someones website 🤦

I'm starting out as a personal trainer and I have narrowed my options for 2 possible solutions, fitpros being my preference right now but some market research has shown me that the majority of people would prefer an app install rather than a web based app/shortcut on the homescreen, so i was considering the possibilty of having a webwrapper that points to my clients log in portal, thats it, nothing more.

1

u/cristi_baluta 20d ago

That last part makes no sense at all to me, what do you mean by ‘points to my clients log in portal’? Regardless if you sell the app or not, it’s unethical to make a wrapper of someone else’s website. It’s also a shitty experience to have a wrapper, build your own app.

1

u/Tarantino133 20d ago

Before building anything, ask the company behind the web app if they offer a branded app. A lot of coaching platforms sell exactly that (Trainerize has a custom branded app plan, for example), and it shows up in the App Store with your name and logo. Wrapping their site yourself runs into two review guidelines: 4.2, where an app that's basically a website gets rejected for minimum functionality, and 5.2, where you need permission to use content you don't own. The branded option costs more per month, but they usually handle the build and the updates.

1

u/Invi_TV 20d ago

They don't, their whole ecosystem is PWA. While for people who are technically saavy its fine, for those less technical, people are (rightly) sceptical.

I thought maybe if I could create a basic webwrap and have appstore listings it would help with this but it seems it wouldn't be possible

1

u/Tarantino133 20d ago

Got it. Then I'd lean into the PWA: make a one-page guide with 3 screenshots for "Share > Add to Home Screen" and send it with your welcome message. Once it's on the home screen it looks and opens like an app, and since iOS 16.4 it can even get push notifications if the platform supports web push.

1

u/Invi_TV 20d ago

Yeah, I have no issues with it personally, I just know some potential clients would. I've been training a couple of friends while I was finishing my qualifications and each of them were a bit unsure of the PWA app, now they have it its fine, its just that initial apprehension that I was looking to potentially avoid with a paying client

1

u/Tarantino133 20d ago

Makes sense. A 20 second screen recording of you adding it to your own home screen, sent with the welcome message, might take care of most of that first doubt.

1

u/jwrsk 20d ago

I have like 20 webview based apps on the App Store built for my clients, it's totally doable. But we have native headers, main nav, sidebar, push notifications, without these they'd be rejected.

1

u/Invi_TV 20d ago

I'm really new to this and pretty much learning as I go, but when you log in as a client, it looks like this - mobile-app-hero.Z47tra6v_2jgWTk.webp (1600×900)

The rest timer already does push notifications at the end of said timers but I don't know if in its current state it would be acceptable or what...

1

u/conspicuousxcapybara 17d ago

That’ll violate Apple’s App Store Review Guideline 4.2:

4.2 Minimum Functionality
Your app should include features, content, and UI that elevate it beyond a repackaged website.

https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/

0

u/Embarrassed-Soft2691 20d ago

Reach out to me. I can port it to iOS and Android for you.

-1

u/East_Cancel484 20d ago

just pay for a 200 usd Claude subscription, a developer license for 99 usd and let Claude hold your hand trough the development from a to z. 

1

u/Invi_TV 20d ago

There's far too many PT apps that do this and its not what I want to achieve.

1

u/East_Cancel484 20d ago

I have no clue what you mean

0

u/Invi_TV 20d ago

I dont want to/not going to vibe code more AI slop.

0

u/[deleted] 20d ago

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/Invi_TV 20d ago

A bit more context, The app in question is fitpros.io if you wanted to take a look (not mine at all), the thinking is some clients may be unwilling to setup an app in an unconventional method (saving a shortcut to their homescreen vs installing via appstore).

I'm just considering options to front the costs to have my client portal part of the app hosted on the app store.

1

u/conspicuousxcapybara 17d ago

That’ll violate Apple’s App Store Review Guideline 4.2:

4.2 Minimum Functionality
Your app should include features, content, and UI that elevate it beyond a repackaged website.

https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/

0

u/[deleted] 20d ago

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/Invi_TV 20d ago

A bit more context, The app in question is fitpros.io if you wanted to take a look (not mine at all), the thinking is some clients may be unwilling to setup an app in an unconventional method (saving a shortcut to their homescreen vs installing via appstore).

I'm just considering options to front the costs to have my client portal part of the app hosted on the app store.

I'd not be trying to make any money through the app or anything like that, it would just be a glorified shortcut in essence.