Guide
How to get your Bolt app on the App Store
Bolt got you from prompt to working product in an afternoon — but what Bolt ships is a web app, and the App Store doesn't take web apps. This guide covers the missing last mile: turning your Bolt project into a real, signed iOS app your users install from the App Store, with no Mac and no Xcode.
The short answer
A Boltapp can't be uploaded to the App Store directly. It has to be wrapped in a native iOS app, signed with an Apple Developer account, and submitted through App Store Connect. You can do this by hand with Xcode on a Mac — or use Paludis to automate the entire build-and-submit pipeline from your browser.
Why you can't just upload your Bolt site
Bolt builds and deploys a web app — when you hit Deploy it goes live on the web (hosted via Netlify), not into any app store.Apple's App Store only accepts native iOS app bundles (.ipafiles) that have been compiled and cryptographically signed with your Apple Developer credentials. So getting from “live website” to “App Store listing” means three things: wrap your site in a native shell, sign it with Apple, and submit it for review. Each of those normally needs a Mac, Xcode, and a fair bit of Apple-specific knowledge.
What you'll need
- Your Bolt app deployed to a live HTTPS URL (Bolt's Deploy button does this)
- An Apple Developer account ($99/year, paid to Apple)
- A 1024×1024 app icon
Get your Bolt app on the App Store with Paludis
- 1
Deploy your Bolt app
Hit Deploy in Bolt so your project is live on a public HTTPS URL — Bolt hosts it for you via Netlify, and a custom domain works too. That URL is what your iOS app will load.
- 2
Paste the URL into Paludis
Create an app in Paludis, paste your URL, and set your name, icon, and colours. We render every icon and splash size for you.
- 3
Connect your Apple account
Add your App Store Connect API key once. We store it encrypted and use it to sign and build under your own Apple account.
- 4
We build, sign & ship
Paludis generates a native iOS project, signs it, builds it in the cloud, and uploads it to TestFlight — automatically, with no Mac or Xcode.
- 5
Test, then submit to the App Store
Install your app from TestFlight on your iPhone. When it's ready, submit for App Store review — Apple typically reviews within a day or two.
Will Apple approve a Bolt app?
This is the part people underestimate. Apple's Guideline 4.2 lets reviewers reject apps that are “simply a website bundled as an app.” A Bolt app can absolutely get approved — but you should make it feel like a real app, not a bookmark. Things that help:
- A genuinely mobile-optimised layout that looks native on iPhone
- Real, useful functionality — not just an info page
- Native touches like push notifications or offline support
- Working demo login credentials if your app has a sign-in
Paludis runs a readiness check on your site before you submit and flags the avoidable rejections, so you go into Apple's review with your eyes open. And if Apple does reject: we fix and resubmit with you until it's approved, or refund you in full.
Frequently asked questions
Can you publish a Bolt.new app to the App Store?
Yes — but not directly from Bolt. Bolt produces a web app, and Apple only accepts compiled, signed native iOS apps. The web app has to be wrapped in a native iOS shell, signed with an Apple Developer account, and submitted through App Store Connect. Paludis automates that pipeline: paste your deployed Bolt URL and we build, sign, and ship it.
Do I need a Mac or Xcode?
No. iOS builds normally require a Mac running Xcode, which is exactly the wall most Bolt builders hit. Paludis builds and signs in the cloud, so the whole process runs from your browser — Windows and Linux included.
Do I need an Apple Developer account?
Yes — anyone publishing to the App Store needs an Apple Developer account, which costs $99/year and is paid directly to Apple. There is no way around this; it's Apple's requirement, not ours. We walk you through connecting it.
Will Apple approve an app that's based on a website?
Apple's Review Guideline 4.2 lets reviewers reject apps that are 'simply a website bundled as an app', so a bare wrapper is a risk. Bolt apps are usually real, interactive products — which is exactly what reviewers want to see — and native touches like push notifications and a mobile-first layout push your odds up further. And every Paludis build is covered by our rejection guarantee: if Apple rejects your app, we fix and resubmit with you until it's approved — or you get a full refund.
How much does it cost to get a Bolt app on the App Store?
Two costs: Apple's Developer Program at $99/year (paid straight to Apple), and Paludis's one-time fee per app. Bolt's own hosting is whatever your Bolt/Netlify plan already includes — there are no ongoing Paludis fees.
What happens when I redeploy from Bolt — does the iOS app update?
Yes. Your iOS app loads the live deployed site, so every time you redeploy from Bolt the app picks up the change immediately. You only rebuild the iOS app itself for things like a new name or icon — never for content or feature updates.
Ready to get your Bolt app on the App Store?
Paste your URL and we'll handle the native build, Apple signing, and TestFlight — no Mac required.
Convert your Bolt app