Installable Web Apps That Launch From the Home Screen Like Native Apps

Installed PWAs see higher session frequency, longer session duration, and better conversion than browser-based visits. We build installable web apps with manifest configuration, install prompt optimization, and standalone display that put your app next to the user's native apps on their home screen.

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68%

increase in mobile traffic for PWAs, with installed users showing significantly higher engagement than users who access through a browser tab

Google, 2020

Installable Web Apps

Installable web application development with manifest configuration, custom install prompts, standalone display mode, and cross-platform compatibility that puts your app on users' home screens.

Smartphone displaying popular social media apps like Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Snapchat.

What's Included

Everything you get with our Installable Web Apps

Installability Implementation

Complete PWA installability requirements: HTTPS deployment, service worker registration, web app manifest with icons and display mode, and install criteria verification across browsers

Custom Install Flow

Deferred install prompt with custom UI, contextual trigger timing based on user engagement, install success tracking, and cross-platform install instructions for browsers that do not support automatic prompts

Standalone App Experience

Standalone display configuration, themed status bars, app-like navigation patterns, back button handling, and window management for desktop PWAs

Our Installable Web App Process

Install Criteria Audit

We verify all browser install requirements are met: HTTPS, service worker registration, manifest with required fields, and sufficient engagement metrics. We identify and fix any blocking issues.

Manifest and Icon Configuration

We configure the complete manifest with app name, icons in all required sizes including maskable, splash screen colors, standalone display mode, start URL with install tracking, and app shortcuts.

Custom Install Prompt Development

We implement the beforeinstallprompt handler, design a custom install UI that matches your brand, configure contextual trigger timing, and add install success analytics. We handle iOS separately with manual install instructions.

Cross-Platform Testing

We test the full install flow on Android Chrome, iOS Safari, desktop Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. We verify icon rendering, splash screens, standalone behavior, and post-install engagement tracking on each platform.

Key Benefits

Home screen presence that drives repeat usage

Your app icon sits on the home screen alongside Instagram, Gmail, and Slack. Users see it every time they unlock their device. This visibility drives significantly higher return rates than browser bookmarks that are buried in menus.

No app store gatekeepers or fees

No App Store review process. No Google Play approval delays. No $99/year developer accounts. No 15 to 30 percent revenue commission on in-app purchases. You control distribution, updates, and revenue entirely.

Instant launch from cached app shell

Installed PWAs load from the service worker cache. Users tap the icon and see your app in under 100ms. No browser startup, no URL loading, no tab finding. The experience is indistinguishable from launching a native app.

Research & Evidence

Backed by industry research and proven results

PWA Impact Study

Installed PWAs show significantly higher engagement metrics: more sessions per user, longer session duration, and higher conversion rates compared to browser-based access

Google (2020)

Page Load and Conversion

A 1-second site converts at 3x the rate of a 5-second site, and installed PWAs load from cache instantly, eliminating the URL-typing and tab-finding friction of browser access

Portent (2022)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a user need to do to install a PWA?

On Android Chrome, they tap an install prompt or select 'Add to Home Screen' from the menu. On iOS Safari, they tap Share then 'Add to Home Screen.' On desktop, they click the install icon in the address bar. We implement custom install prompts on supported platforms and show manual instructions on others.

Can we control when the install prompt appears?

Yes. We intercept the browser's beforeinstallprompt event and defer it. The custom install prompt appears when the user has engaged enough to understand the value: after they complete a key action, visit multiple pages, or reach a natural pause point. This approach achieves much higher install rates than prompting on first visit.

How do installed PWAs handle updates?

Service workers check for updates on each launch. New versions install in the background and activate on the next navigation. Users always get the latest version without manual updates. For major changes, we show a notification prompting users to reload.

How long does it take to make a web app installable?

If you already have a service worker and HTTPS, adding installability takes 3 to 5 days including manifest configuration, icon generation, install prompts, and cross-platform testing. If you need service workers and HTTPS added first, budget 2 to 3 weeks for the complete implementation.

Related Services

Explore more of our progressive web apps services

Put Your App on the Home Screen

Share your web application. We will implement the installability features that put your app next to users' native apps without any app store involvement.

Make Your App Installable