Start with user value
A native feature should remove friction, increase trust, or make an action possible on the phone. Avoid adding permissions just because they are available.
How WebNativeApp works
A WebNativeApp project keeps your website as the main product surface. Users install an app from the App Store or Google Play, tap an icon on their phone, see your branded launch screen, then enter the same product experience they already know from the web.
The important difference is that the app is not just a browser shortcut. It is a native mobile project with a controlled app shell, store metadata, app icons, splash screens, device permissions, and optional bridges to phone features. Those bridges are what make the app feel native: Face ID prompts, document scanning, voice input, NFC reads, calendar events, review prompts, and similar interactions.
The website still drives most screens and updates. Native features are added only where the phone can do something better than a normal website. That keeps the project simpler than a full mobile rewrite while still giving users moments that feel built for iOS and Android.
Pick native features that change the user experience.
Ask at the right moment
Camera, location, contacts, microphone, and tracking permissions should appear after a user action, with clear product copy explaining why the app needs access.
Keep a visible result
Each native plugin should create something the user can see or feel: faster login, a scanned PDF, a saved event, a spoken command, a map route, or a better app review flow.
13 additions with the strongest product impact.
This shortlist is based on the Capgo plugin catalog and favors capabilities that are easy to explain, useful across many products, and likely to make a website feel like a real app.
01Auth & Security
Biometric unlock
Add Face ID, Touch ID, or Android biometrics to protect sensitive screens and speed up repeat access. This is one of the clearest native upgrades because the user immediately recognizes the familiar system prompt.
- Best for
- Accounts, dashboards, finance, healthcare, admin tools, private content.
- User impact
- Less password friction, stronger trust, and a more app-like login moment.
- Plugin reference
- Native Biometric
03Auth & Security
Passkeys
Passkeys replace password entry with device-backed authentication. For users, it feels like approving a secure login from the phone itself, usually with biometrics or the device passcode.
- Best for
- Products that want modern account security without making login feel heavy.
- User impact
- Fewer forgotten passwords and a premium security impression.
- Plugin reference
- Passkey
05Media
Camera capture
Show a live camera view inside the app for profile photos, product photos, check-ins, augmented product moments, identity steps, or visual reporting. The capture experience feels direct because it uses the phone camera instead of a basic upload field.
- Best for
- Marketplaces, creator tools, field work, inspections, identity, inventory.
- User impact
- Users can take action in the moment instead of leaving the app to prepare files.
- Plugin reference
- Camera Preview
06Files & Storage
Document scanner
Turn the phone camera into a scanner that detects document edges, cleans perspective, and exports a usable document. This is a strong upgrade for any app that asks users to submit paperwork.
- Best for
- Invoices, contracts, certificates, medical forms, onboarding documents.
- User impact
- Cleaner submissions and less back-and-forth caused by bad photos.
- Plugin reference
- Document Scanner
07Media
Photo library access
Let users browse, pick, save, and manage photos or videos from the native photo library with proper permission handling. It is useful when media is central to the product rather than a small attachment.
- Best for
- Creator tools, portfolios, listings, social apps, support forms, before-after flows.
- User impact
- Media selection feels familiar and reliable on both iOS and Android.
- Plugin reference
- Photo Library
08Media
Speech recognition
Add voice input for search, notes, commands, accessibility, or hands-free workflows. The user speaks naturally and the app can react as words arrive instead of waiting for a full typed form.
- Best for
- Search, note-taking, support, education, field work, accessibility features.
- User impact
- Less typing on mobile and a memorable voice-first interaction.
- Plugin reference
- Speech Recognition
09Device APIs
NFC reading and writing
Allow the app to read or write NFC tags. Users can tap a phone against a card, badge, product, label, or device and trigger a real-world action in the app.
- Best for
- Events, access passes, retail, inventory, physical products, loyalty cards.
- User impact
- A clear physical interaction that websites cannot normally provide.
- Plugin reference
- NFC
11Device APIs
Calendar events
Let users save appointments, reminders, classes, renewals, or booking times into the native calendar. The app becomes part of the user's real schedule instead of only sending another email confirmation.
- Best for
- Appointments, ticketing, education, fitness, healthcare, subscriptions.
- User impact
- Better attendance and fewer forgotten commitments.
- Plugin reference
- Calendar
13Analytics
In-app review prompts
Ask satisfied users for an App Store or Google Play review without forcing them to leave the app. The prompt should appear after a positive moment, not immediately after install.
- Best for
- Consumer products, marketplaces, learning apps, service apps, communities.
- User impact
- More natural review requests and less interruption.
- Plugin reference
- In App Review
14Location
Geolocation
Access the device GPS to power nearby search, delivery tracking, check-ins, or location-aware content. Requesting location through the native permission prompt feels more trustworthy than a browser geolocation banner.
- Best for
- Delivery, local search, real estate, fitness tracking, ride-hailing, field service.
- User impact
- More relevant results and a permission flow users already recognize from other apps.
- Plugin reference
- Geolocation
15Communication
Push notifications
Send push notifications for updates, reminders, and re-engagement moments that reach users even when the app is closed. This is one of the clearest signals that an app is not just a website, since browsers cannot reliably deliver this on iOS.
- Best for
- Marketplaces, social apps, delivery, bookings, reminders, any product with time-sensitive updates.
- User impact
- Higher return visits and a direct channel to bring users back without an email.
- Plugin reference
- Push Notifications
16Files & Storage
File system
Read, write, and manage files directly on the device instead of relying on browser downloads. This unlocks offline access, exports, and attachments that behave like a real app rather than a web page.
- Best for
- Document tools, offline-first apps, exports, attachments, field work, creative tools.
- User impact
- Reliable file access and exports that work the same way users expect from native apps.
- Plugin reference
- Filesystem
17UI & System
Haptics
Add tactile feedback, a light tap or vibration, to confirm actions like completing a task, submitting a form, or reaching a limit. It is a small detail that makes interactions feel physically responsive.
- Best for
- Games, forms, checklists, fitness apps, anything with confirmations or toggles.
- User impact
- Interactions feel more responsive and satisfying without adding any visual clutter.
- Plugin reference
- Haptics
Turn the shortlist into a clear app scope.
The best WebNativeApp setup usually starts with three to five native additions, not all thirteen. Pick the moments that make your product feel faster, safer, or more useful on a phone, then add more once the app is live and users show where native behavior matters most.
Social login
Let users sign in with Google, Facebook, or Apple Sign-In through native account flows instead of a generic web form. The result feels more trusted on mobile and can reduce sign-up abandonment.