Instance apps can now be installed as Progressive Web Apps

You can now install Instance apps directly to your mobile device—no App Store or Play Store required. Every app you create is automatically installable as a Progressive Web App (PWA), making it easy to share and use your apps like native mobile apps.

Here’s how it works:

1. On mobile, tap the ⋮ menu in the chat and select Share app.

2. Choose which version you want to share—we recommend publishing first for stability.

3. Select Share as app to generate an installable PWA link.

4. Send the install link to your users. They’ll see a banner prompting them to install the app on their device.

Once installed, the app appears on the user’s home screen and opens in full screen—just like a native app.

A few notes:

• On Android, tapping Install adds the app instantly.
• On iOS, installation takes a few extra steps, but Instance provides a built-in guide for your users.
• You can customize the app name and icon by prompting Instance or uploading an image.

This feature is live now and requires no extra setup—PWA support is built in and enabled by default. While PWAs can’t be published to app stores, they’re fast, flexible, and free of platform fees.

Give it a try and let us know what you think.