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Guide

How to get your Bubble app on the App Store

Your Bubble app already works — real users, real data, live on the web. Getting it into the App Store is where it gets confusing: Bubble now sells native mobile plans, agencies quote thousands for a wrapper, and Apple's rules read like a legal document. Here's the straightforward path: keep your existing Bubble web app exactly as it is, and ship it to the App Store as a native iOS app.

The short answer

A Bubbleapp 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 Bubble site

Bubble hosts your app on the web — deploying from Development to Live puts it on your bubbleapps.io URL (or custom domain), 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 Bubble app deployed to Live on its public URL (bubbleapps.io or your custom domain — this needs a paid Bubble plan)
  • An Apple Developer account ($99/year, paid to Apple)
  • A 1024×1024 app icon

Get your Bubble app on the App Store with Paludis

  1. 1

    Deploy your Bubble app to Live

    In the Bubble editor, deploy your app from Development to Live so it's on its public URL — yourapp.bubbleapps.io or your custom domain. Live deployment requires a paid Bubble plan. That live URL is what your iOS app will load.

  2. 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. 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. 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. 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 Bubble 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 Bubble 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. Already been rejected? Read our guide to fixing a Guideline 4.2 rejection.

Frequently asked questions

Can you publish a Bubble app to the App Store?

Yes. A Bubble web app can't be uploaded to Apple directly — it has to be wrapped in a native iOS shell, signed with an Apple Developer account, and submitted through App Store Connect. Paludis automates that whole pipeline from your Bubble app's live URL, so your existing app ships as-is.

Doesn't Bubble have its own native mobile apps now?

It does — Bubble's mobile plans start around $42/month (mobile-only) on top of what you may already pay for web. It's a genuine native option, but it means building your app's interface again in Bubble's separate mobile editor and paying an ongoing plan for it. If you already have a working Bubble web app and want it on the App Store without a rebuild, wrapping your live app is far faster, and Paludis charges once per app rather than monthly.

Do I need a Mac or Xcode?

No. iOS apps normally have to be built and signed on a Mac running Xcode. Paludis does that step in the cloud, so the entire process — from pasting your Bubble URL to TestFlight — happens in your browser.

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 is aimed at apps that are 'simply a website bundled as an app'. Bubble apps usually clear that bar comfortably — they're interactive products with logins, workflows, and data, not brochure sites. Do make sure your Bubble app is responsive on a phone-sized screen before submitting; a desktop-only layout is the most avoidable rejection there is. 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.

Does the iOS app update when I deploy changes in Bubble?

Yes. The app loads your live Bubble app, so every time you deploy from Development to Live, the iOS app shows the new version immediately — no App Store resubmission for content or workflow changes. Only a new name, icon, or native capability needs a fresh build.

Ready to get your Bubble app on the App Store?

Paste your URL and we'll handle the native build, Apple signing, and TestFlight — no Mac required.

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