Make your web app into a beautiful desktop app
Cross-platform desktop apps with cutting edge native functionality.
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Build in minutes.
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Code optional.
We are backed by Y Combinator Your Icon on the Desktop
With ToDesktop your users can install your web app (or website) to their computer and launch it from the same place as other desktop apps on Windows, Mac and Linux.
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Increase Active Users "Users who download our desktop app are more active than our existing users and we've reduced our churn rate as a result."
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Less Cluttered "Dropping the URL bar makes our UI look much cleaner and less cluttered. It makes it easier for our customers to keep the app open all day and not get lost in a sea of tabs."
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Native Look and Feel "Having that ‘installed’, native feel is important to our users. It gives them confidence that our app is solid."
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Save Time & Money "I was going to build and code a desktop app manually (using Electron). ToDesktop has just saved me a ton of time!"
Built for distribution to your customers
We handle the messy details around making a desktop app customer-ready.
Code Signing
We sign your desktop app with EV Microsoft Authenticode and Apple Gatekeeper certificates. Code signing is super-important because your app downloads and installs without warning dialogs.
Auto updates
Your app will regularly auto-update to ensure the underlying browser is always up to date. Plus, this is how we deliver performance improvements, security patches, and additional features to your app.
Native installers
You'll get a customised installer for Windows, Mac and Linux. We even provide a magic link you can send your users which will detect their operating system and download the most up to date version of your app.
Customer Story
Interplay's customers wanted a desktop app. Michael and his team delivered in one day with ToDesktop."
"I entered the details and uploaded our icon. ToDesktop gave me an installable app for Mac and Windows instantly. We rolled the desktop version of Interplay out to our beta customers the next day."
Michael has delivered a desktop app faster than he could have ever hoped. Now his team can focus on their web app and not worry about the ongoing effort of maintaining a desktop app.
Make it yours
Completely Customizable
ToDesktop will detect your icon and colours when you give it your web app's URL. Don't worry you can edit them if we don't get it right.
You can edit your app's icon and the window frame UI.
The best part is that you can see exactly what your desktop app will look like before you click the build button.
Choose the package that works for you.
Essential
- 7-day free trial
- Windows, Mac & Linux
- Native notifications
- Auto-updates
- Code signing
- Native installers
Professional
- Everything in Essential
- 7-day free trial
- Priority support & onboarding
- Launch at startup
- App badges & label
- Custom internal URLs
- Custom User Agent
- Fullscreen mode
- App protocols & deeplinking
Enterprise
- Everything in Professional
- Dedicated account manager
- Custom features
- Branded download links
- In-depth analytics
- MSI installer
To get started, enter your web app's URL below, or chat with us now .
How many days would it take to build in-house without ToDesktop?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is ToDesktop For Me?
That depends! If you would like to distribute your web app to your users as a downloadable desktop app then ToDesktop is for you.
If you want to make a desktop app of a website for your personal use, ToDesktop is overkill.
What's the difference? There are extra considerations when creating a desktop app for distribution to customers. Here are the top 3:
- Installer — Mac users expect a "drag to applications" DMG file. Windows users expect an installer and they also expect to be able to uninstall it from the control panel.
- Code Signing — By default Windows Authenticode and Apple Gatekeeper will stop your desktop app opening.Signing your code allows your app to open without issues.
- Auto-update — There is a web browser running "underneath" your desktop app. It's important to keep this updated for two reasons.
- Security issues + vulnerabilities can occur. Auto-update ensures that they stay patched over time.
- You don't want to be stuck supporting an old web browser in 5 years from now. This can happen if your desktop app's underlying web browser hasn't updated.
ToDesktop offers these features as standard! Saving you a ton of development time and effort.
Can I try ToDesktop without buying?
Yes. We offer a 7 day trial when you sign up. Cancel (it takes two clicks) within 7 days of sign-up and your credit card will never be charged.
Do you collect or store data about my customers?
No. When a ToDesktop app opens it contacts the our servers to check if an update is available. We do not collect or store any user data from these requests.
Does ToDesktop work with sites built with ___?
- Wordpress? Yes.
- Squarespace? Yup.
- Wix? Of course.
- Shopify? Definitely.
- React? You bet.
- Vue? Affirmative.
- PHP? 100%.
- Go? Absolutely.
If you're noticing a trend here, that's because ToDesktop works with sites built with any technology stack.
If it works in your browser it will work as a ToDesktop app.
What features are on the product roadmap?
If you have any suggestions, we'd love to hear! Please send us an email at support@todesktop.com or send us a message
How does ToDesktop work under the hood?
It can help to think of ToDesktop as a custom web browser dedicated to your web app or website. It shows a live version of your site or web app at all times, just like a web browser. There is no toolbar or address bar or refresh buttons but it behaves and functions just like a web browser. This means you don't need to do anything to your existing site, it will just work. If your site works in Google Chrome then it is compatible with ToDesktop.
ToDesktop uses a technology called Electron. You don't need Electron (or even coding) experience to create a desktop app with ToDesktop. Rest assured, the underlying "browser" engine is updated regularly through auto-updates. So the desktop version of your app will always have the latest web features available.
I want to use ToDesktop to convert multiple web apps, is there a bulk discount available?
Yes, let us know your needs. Please send us an email at support@todesktop.com or send us a message
Will my app work offline?
Think of ToDesktop as a normal browser that is just for your website. Your website will work exactly as it does in Chrome, or any other browser.
If you want to make the app work offline you'll need to make it into a progressive web app. Include a web manifest, service workers and client-side storage and voila — offline support.
Learn more on MDN.
Which version of Electron/Chromium is used?
ToDesktop is currently based on Chromium 87 and Electron 11.1.1. When Electron releases a new version you can expect us to update it shortlyafter. We prioritize security fixes and endeavour to release them as soon as possible. All updates are pushed out to all your users over auto-update.
What support do you offer?
We'll do our best to help you with any issue you encounter with ToDesktop. You can get in touch with us via email and chat.
On the Startup plan we deal with the same day or the next day.
On the Business plan you get concierge onboarding. This is a video/phoneonboarding session where we take you through the product and make sure you're happy set up. You also get priority support with your issues answered first. You can also schedule a phone/video support session if necessary.
You can email us at support@todesktop.com or chat with us
How does my app get updated?
Every time your app launches it contacts the ToDesktop update server. If there is a newer version available then it gets downloaded automatically. The user gets a notification that the new version will be installed the next time that they open the app.
Auto-updates are published on two occasions:
- An app detail (name, icon, default window dimensions) is changed.
- Electron or the ToDesktop standard library is updated.