Guide · For vibe-coders
How to ship a vibe-coded app to the App Store
You shipped an MVP in a weekend with Lovable, Bolt, v0, Cursor, or Replit. Users love it. Now they're asking for an app. Here's the gap nobody warned you about · and the fastest path across it.
The gap every vibe-coder hits
Every AI app builder ships the same thing · a web app. None of them publish to the App Store, none of them give you a signed .ipa, and none of them speak to APNs for iOS push. The web part takes a weekend. The native part takes weeks of Xcode, Android Studio, provisioning profiles, App Store Connect, Google Play Console, screenshots, privacy strings, and a 7-day Apple review.
| Tool | What it gives you | What's missing |
|---|---|---|
| Lovable | Responsive React web app | No App Store path · no native push |
| Bolt.new | Full-stack web app | No App Store path · no native push |
| v0 by Vercel | Next.js + components | No App Store path · no native push |
| Cursor | Hand-coded web app | Native is on you · Xcode, signing, review |
| Replit | Hosted web app | No App Store path · no native push |
| Bubble | Visual web app | No App Store path · no native push |
The fastest path · wrap, don't rebuild
Rebuilding in React Native or Flutter throws away the work the AI just did for you. The shortcut · wrap the live web app in a native Capacitor shell. Same code, same domain, same backend · plus a real .ipa for the App Store and a .aab for Google Play. Your vibe-coded app keeps the speed advantage that made you ship it in the first place.
What you get when you go native
- Real push notifications · APNs on iOS, FCM on Android · lock-screen reach you can't get from web push.
- Biometrics · Face ID, Touch ID, Android biometrics · one-tap return logins.
- App Store distribution · searchable listing, reviews, ratings · the trust signal of a real install.
- Deep links · Universal Links on iOS, App Links on Android · web URLs open the app.
- Camera, mic, photo library · proper native permissions, not the half-broken browser ones.
- Instant content updates · update your Lovable / Bolt / v0 / Cursor / Replit app and the change appears on next launch · no resubmission.
Three options · pick your trade-off
DIY with Capacitor. Free, but you learn Xcode, Android Studio, signing, and the App Store review dance · plan for 40–80 hours the first time. Worth it if you're a developer who enjoys infrastructure.
Hire a native developer. £8k–£25k for the same outcome · a thin native shell around your vibe-coded web app.
Done-for-you service. KW Native ships the same outcome from £399 one-time · 10 business days · full source code on day one. Built specifically for vibe-coded apps from Lovable, Bolt, v0, Cursor, Replit, and Bubble.
What you don't have to give up
Your prompt-driven workflow, your AI builder of choice, your backend, your domain. The shell is a thin layer on top · everything else stays exactly as the AI generated it. Lovable, Bolt, v0, Cursor, and Replit remain the source of truth · the native shell just gives them a way onto the App Store and Google Play.
Ship your vibe-coded app to the App Store
Lovable, Bolt, v0, Cursor, Replit, Bubble · same process, same one-time price · from £399.
