The iPhone arrived without the App Store. Initially, you were stuck with the apps Apple gave you. Beyond that, Apple’s “sweet solution,” according to its then-CEO Steve Jobs, was web clips – Safari shortcuts you could pin to a Home Screen.
A year after the iPhone’s debut, the App Store rocked up, and web clips faded in the minds of iPhone users. But web tech has since evolved. Today’s best Progressive Web Apps work, look, and feel like native iPhone apps, and aren’t limited by App Store rules.
This round-up outlines how to install PWAs and recommends some great options to augment what’s already on your iPhone.
How to install Progressive Web Apps on your iPhone
The process for saving a web app shortcut to a Home Screen is simple.
Visit the app’s website in Safari, and tap the share button. From the list of options, select Add to Home Screen.
In the sheet that appears, the majority of sites will provide a custom icon and title for your new web app shortcut. You can tap the name field to adjust its content if the default is too long or you’d prefer the shortcut to be called something else.
Tap Add and the web app will be placed on your Home Screen, whereupon it can then be managed like any other app. It will also launch as a standalone entity rather than in a new Safari tab. Be aware if the app/service requires a login, you’ll need to sign into the web app, even if you’ve previously signed into it using Safari.
iCloud
Apple’s iCloud is baked into your iPhone, and so saving the iCloud web app to your Home Screen might seem redundant. But it’s worth it. Doing so gives you a single place to peruse recent documents across iCloud services, plan and storage details, settings, and recoverable data. You can even tailor what’s shown – scroll down and tap ‘Customize’ to get started.
Xbox Cloud Gaming
In 2024, Apple finally opened the door to game streaming apps, but Microsoft’s still isn’t on the App Store. No matter, because install the web app and you’re in. Most titles require a controller, but some are touch-friendly. And most need a sub to Game Pass Ultimate, but one iconic title doesn’t: with this web app, you can get Fortnite back on your phone.
Puzzmo
If you crave a daily newspaper puzzle fix but don’t fancy buying an actual newspaper, Puzzmo does the business. It reimagines word searches, card games, chess, and more, in clever and interactive ways, some of which borrow from iPhone App Store hits. There’s plenty for free every day, but subscribe and you’ll unlock access to thousands of archive puzzles.
Every Time Zone
When friends, family, and colleagues are spread across the globe, you’ll need to figure out mutually convenient times to call. Every Time Zone’s sleek interface lists a range of time zones and gives you a slider to compare local times. Sign in with Google, and you can customize what’s shown to display only what matters to you.
Periodex
This one’s a standout example of how a focused educational tool doesn’t need an App Store release. Periodex is a smart, responsive periodic table that adapts to your iPhone’s display. Tap any element and you get a handy page that provides details about it. Great stuff for students or anyone else wanting to brush up on their science.
Deck.blue
Here’s one for iPad users. Many social media apps have PWAs, but Deck.blue is designed to extend a service, namely Bluesky. Instead of a single feed, you can have several side by side, each with unique content. This means you can live in several timelines at once, simultaneously monitoring your main feed, lists, notifications, and more.
Photopea
If we were awarding marks for ambition, Photopea would win all the prizes. This web app is a full-fledged Photoshop-style editor you can use to create complex multi-layered documents or edit existing PSD, Sketch, and RAW files. It even works well on iPhone and doesn’t feel any more alien than the native Photoshop app. Plus, you can use its full feature set for free, indefinitely.
Picular
Most search engines serve up lists, images, and places to shop. This one gives you color. Type in a search term and Picular rapidly analyzes prominent colors in Google Images results and transforms them into a palette. It’s a brilliant tool for designers searching for inspiration, but also a fun way for anyone to just zone out for a few minutes.
Wavemaker Cards
Like Photopea, this is a web app with serious ambition. It’s used for writing novels, even on a phone, and gives you a wealth of tools, including a planning board and mind-mapping. The closest App Store equivalent we can think of is Scrivener ($24/£24), and Wavemaker Cards is similarly impressive. That it’s also free is astonishing, although do donate a few bucks on Patreon if you use it often.
PlayXylo
GarageBand is free and fantastic, but a mite complicated. PlayXylo is an excellent alternative when you just want to make a bit of a noise. It gives you a vibrant multitouch xylophone, ready for unleashing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on unsuspecting nearby folks. And if you’re properly into your music composition, you’ll love being able to choose from six different scales.
Ventusky
The prettiest weather app around, Ventusky visualizes current conditions in style. On launch, particle-like lines illustrate wind data, and an additional layer shows temperatures, but can be switched to show precipitation, air quality, and more. The native app (free + IAP) has more features, but we’ll happily sing the praises of this web app for making beautiful, usable weather forecasting accessible for everyone.
Gridland
Flash was once the go-to for browser games, but it never worked on iPhone. Today’s titles use native web tech, and Gridland goes further as a full PWA. It’s a cracking gem-swapper that adds depth with resource management and a strategic night mode where you battle all manner of horrors. Sequel Super Gridland ($2/£2) hit the App Store, but we remain fond of the original.