Everything you need to know about converting a WordPress site to an Android APK.
Do I need to install a WordPress plugin to make an Android app?
No. Free App Maker does not log into or modify your WordPress install — it wraps your site's live, public URL in an Android WebView app, so there is nothing to install or maintain in wp-admin. That also means it works where plugins are not an option: free WordPress.com sites, client sites where you have no admin access, or locked-down company installs.
Does it work with free WordPress.com sites (yoursite.wordpress.com)?
Yes. WordPress.com's own documentation is clear that installing plugins requires a paid plan — free sites cannot install plugins at all. Because Free App Maker only needs your public URL, a free yoursite.wordpress.com blog converts like any other website: paste the address, name your app, and build. Note that free WordPress.com sites display WordPress.com's ads, and those ads may appear inside your app too.
Does it work with self-hosted WordPress.org sites?
Yes. Self-hosted WordPress sites — shared hosting, VPS, managed WordPress hosting — work on their own domain, whatever theme they run. Your plugins run on your server and render into your pages, so their output (forms, galleries, WooCommerce, memberships) should appear inside the Android app much as it does in a mobile browser. Load your own site in the app and check the pages that matter most before you share it.
Will WordPress.com's ads show inside my Android app?
On a free WordPress.com site, yes. WordPress.com displays ads on free sites to keep hosting free, and because your app shows your live site, those ads can render inside the app as well. Upgrading to any paid WordPress.com plan removes the ads from your site — and therefore from your app.
Will my WooCommerce store work in the APK?
Your storefront, cart, and checkout are normal web pages, so in most cases they load inside the app the way they do in Chrome. Payment flows are the part to check yourself: card payments, 3-D Secure steps, and regional gateways all involve redirects. Place a test order on a real Android device before sharing the app with customers.
Does the Android app update when I publish a new post?
Yes. Because the APK loads your live WordPress URL at runtime, a new post, an edited page, or a changed menu shows up the next time the app loads that page — subject to any caching or CDN you run. No new build and no new APK are required.
What happens if my site goes offline or my hosting expires?
The app is an honest wrapper around your live site: it needs an internet connection, and it needs your site to be online and public. If your hosting lapses, or you switch a WordPress.com site to Private or Coming Soon mode (Settings → Reading → Site Visibility), the app will have nothing to load. The app depends on your site staying reachable — your hosting, domain, and certificate all have to keep working.
Do my WordPress plugins keep working inside the app?
Yes — for everything that renders into your web pages. Plugins run on your server, not on the phone, so contact forms, SEO output, caching, galleries, membership walls, and WooCommerce behave the same way they do in a mobile browser, in most cases. The honest limitation: native-only device APIs that plain web pages cannot use — Bluetooth, NFC, background services — are not available to a WebView app either.
Can I upload the APK to Google Play Store?
The APK you receive is built for direct installation and testing — install it on any Android device or share the download link with your users. Google Play is a separate path: new app submissions require an AAB (Android App Bundle) rather than an APK, plus Google's own developer registration and review. If a Play listing is your goal, our team can prepare the AAB and help with publishing — reach out via our
contact form.
Is this completely free? Any hidden costs?
It is free to start — no account, no credit card, no subscription. You paste a URL, enter your email, and your app is built free. Downloading the signed APK is covered by a one-time unlock — priced by country and always shown before checkout — which also removes the small Free App Maker splash screen from every app you build.