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How to get your Framer app on the App Store

Framer made your site look like it cost ten times what it did. If you want that same polish on an iPhone home screen — for your community, your content, your storefront — you'll hit a wall: the App Store doesn't accept websites. Here's how to turn your published Framer site into a signed native iOS app, and how to make sure Apple actually approves it.

The short answer

A Framerapp 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 Framer site

Framer publishes your site to the web — the Publish button puts it live on a free framer.website subdomain or your 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 Framer site published to a live URL (its framer.website subdomain works; custom domains need a paid Framer site plan)
  • An Apple Developer account ($99/year, paid to Apple)
  • A 1024×1024 app icon

Get your Framer app on the App Store with Paludis

  1. 1

    Publish your Framer site

    Hit Publish in Framer so your site is live — on its free framer.website subdomain, or your custom domain if you have a paid site plan. That 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 Framer 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 Framer 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 Framer site to the App Store?

Yes. Framer publishes websites, and Apple only accepts compiled, signed native iOS apps — so your site 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 published Framer URL and we build, sign, and ship it.

Do I need a Mac or Xcode?

No. Normally this is where a designer's workflow dies — iOS builds want a Mac running Xcode. Paludis builds and signs in the cloud instead, so you stay in the browser the whole way, same as Framer itself.

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.

My Framer site is mostly a marketing site — will Apple accept it?

Be honest with yourself here, because Apple will be. Guideline 4.2 exists precisely to reject brochure sites bundled as apps, and a pure landing page is the textbook case. Framer sites that succeed in review offer something people return to: a members' area, courses or content, a catalogue with real browsing, bookings, a community. If yours does, make that the heart of the app. 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 Framer site 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. Publishing on a framer.website subdomain is free; a custom domain needs a paid Framer site plan you may already have. There are no ongoing Paludis fees.

When I update my Framer site, does the app update too?

Yes. The iOS app loads your live published site, so every time you hit Publish in Framer the app reflects it immediately — no App Store resubmission for design or content changes. Only a new name, icon, or native setting needs a fresh build.

Ready to get your Framer app on the App Store?

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

Convert your Framer app

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