CapacitorCapacitor vs LetsDeployIt at a glance
- Capacitor
- Your web app in a native WebView
- LetsDeployIt
- Rebuilt as a native React Native and Expo app
- Capacitor
- You
- LetsDeployIt
- Us
- Capacitor
- A Mac with Xcode, and Android Studio
- LetsDeployIt
- Your Lovable app's link
- Capacitor
- None, it's a framework
- LetsDeployIt
- Full refund if a compliant app isn't approved
- Capacitor
- Free (MIT license)
- LetsDeployIt
- Free preview, then a flat fee
- Capacitor
- Your web code plus the native projects
- LetsDeployIt
- The React Native and Expo source code
| Capacitor | LetsDeployIt | |
|---|---|---|
| How the app is built | Your web app in a native WebView | Rebuilt as a native React Native and Expo app |
| Who submits to the stores | You | Us |
| What you need | A Mac with Xcode, and Android Studio | Your Lovable app's link |
| Approval guarantee | None, it's a framework | Full refund if a compliant app isn't approved |
| Price | Free (MIT license) | Free preview, then a flat fee |
| Code you get | Your web code plus the native projects | The React Native and Expo source code |
How Capacitor works
Capacitor, made by Ionic and released under the MIT license, runs a web app inside a native WebView on iOS and Android and reaches device features through plugins. You add it to your exported Lovable code and build the native projects yourself.
- Plugins for native features, from Ionic and the community.
- Xcode, which needs a Mac, to build and submit for iOS; Android Studio for Android.
- You handle signing, store listings, privacy forms and submission.
Your website in an app, or a native app: what App Review sees
A tool that shows your published web app inside an app keeps one codebase: change the website and the app changes too. The trade-off is App Review. Apple's Guideline 4.2 asks apps to go beyond a repackaged website, so an app that is mostly your site needs native features to stand on.
We rebuild the screens as a native React Native and Expo app on your existing backend, so the app reads as an app from the first review. More on why wrapped apps get rejected.
Who does the store work
Capacitor is a framework, so the whole store side is yours: certificates and signing, listings and screenshots, privacy labels and the Data safety form, the Google Play closed test and replies to reviewers. With LetsDeployIt all of it is done for you.
The full list is in the Lovable launch checklist and costs, and new personal Google Play accounts also need a 14-day closed test with 12 testers.
What Capacitor and LetsDeployIt cost
Capacitor itself is free. You'll need a Mac for iOS builds and your own time to build, sign and submit. Apple's $99 a year and Google's $25 one-time fees apply either way.
Our plans, live from our pricing:
- Price
- Free
- What it covers
- Full native conversion, preview on your phone, editor access. Edit and re-preview as much as you like.
- Price
- $99.50 (usually $199)
- What it covers
- Full React Native source code. You handle submission.
- Price
- $499.50 (usually $999)
- What it covers
- App Store and Google Play. We handle everything. Care plan: 3 months included, then $99/month.
- Price
- $349.50 (usually $699)
- What it covers
- App Store or Google Play. Same service, one platform. Care plan: 3 months included, then $99/month.
| Plan | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Preview | Free | Full native conversion, preview on your phone, editor access. Edit and re-preview as much as you like. |
| Export | $99.50 (usually $199) | Full React Native source code. You handle submission. |
| Launch | $499.50 (usually $999) | App Store and Google Play. We handle everything. Care plan: 3 months included, then $99/month. |
| Launch (single store) | $349.50 (usually $699) | App Store or Google Play. Same service, one platform. Care plan: 3 months included, then $99/month. |
Fixed-price add-ons for phone-only features: In-app purchases + RevenueCat, Sign in with Apple, Push notifications, Android closed testing, Deep links / universal links, Offline mode + caching, Analytics + attribution, Admin panel.
Prices in USD, excluding Apple and Google developer account fees. Full details on the pricing page.
Choose Capacitor or LetsDeployIt?
- Choose LetsDeployIt if
- You don't want to set up Xcode, signing and store consoles.
- Choose LetsDeployIt if
- You want a native app built to pass App Review, with a refund if a compliant app isn't approved.
- Choose LetsDeployIt if
- You want it live in weeks without learning the stores.
| Choose Capacitor if | Choose LetsDeployIt if |
|---|---|
| You're a developer and want full control at no tool cost. | You don't want to set up Xcode, signing and store consoles. |
| You have a Mac and time to learn Xcode and the store consoles. | You want a native app built to pass App Review, with a refund if a compliant app isn't approved. |
| You're happy to keep the app as your website in a WebView. | You want it live in weeks without learning the stores. |
Comparing more options? See the best ways to publish a Lovable app.
We take your Lovable app the last mile.
We rebuild your Lovable app as a native React Native and Expo app, do all of the store work and submit it to both stores, approved or your money back. Preview it on your phone for free first; see pricing.