Webflow sync, pageviews & more.
NEW

Can I use a free solution like nativefier to create a Webflow Mac app using homebrew?

TL;DR
  • Install Node.js with Homebrew and Nativefier via npm to wrap your live Webflow URL into a Mac desktop app using a single command.
  • Resulting app is essentially a browser shell with limited offline support and no native macOS features—best for basic use or demos.

Yes, you can use Nativefier and Homebrew to turn your Webflow site into a basic Mac desktop app, but there are important limitations to consider.

1. What Nativefier Does

  • Nativefier wraps any web page into a desktop app using Electron.
  • It’s a command-line tool ideal for creating quick, single-site apps (SSBs).
  • The resulting app will run the Webflow site in a self-contained Electron browser window.

2. How to Install Nativefier via Homebrew

  • Install Node.js (required by Nativefier):
    Run: brew install node
  • Install Nativefier globally:
    Run: npm install -g nativefier
  • Once installed, you can package Webflow projects into .app files.

3. Packaging Your Webflow Site

  • Make sure your Webflow project is published and accessible via a public URL.
  • Run Nativefier in your terminal, like:
    nativefier "https://your-site.webflow.io" --name "My Webflow App"
  • This will create a standalone Mac .app file in a new folder.

4. Limitations of Using Nativefier with Webflow

  • Offline support is minimal — your Webflow site must be online.
  • No native macOS features like menu bar integration, notifications, or sandboxing.
  • This approach does not bundle your site’s code; it simply loads the live URL.
  • Performance depends on Electron overhead — it’s not a lightweight solution.

5. Alternatives if You Need More Native-Like Behavior

  • Consider PWA (Progressive Web App) setup inside Webflow with a service worker — though it’s limited without custom code hosting.
  • For full control, exporting your Webflow code (paid plan required) and building inside a custom Electron app might be better.

Summary

You can use Nativefier via Homebrew to easily convert a live Webflow site into a working Mac app, but it’s limited to a browser-wrapper experience. Ideal for quick demos or simplified desktop access, but not for fully featured apps.

Webflow Resources
Webflow templates
Webflow inspiration
Rate this answer

Other Webflow Questions

Explore Logic tutorials
How can I round the corners of a link block in Webflow in a way that also rounds the corners of the image inside it?
How to create a Masonry Layout using Flexbox in Webflow?
How can I autoplay a muted video on loop in Webflow, with responsive behavior on all screen sizes including mobile, and hiding the player controls?
Is there a way to effectively control Lottie animations in Webflow through other objects? I'm specifically interested in reversing the animation on a second button click, resetting it, or enabling looping.
How can I remove the purple test mode button on my website in Webflow?
How do I properly paste my Universal Tracking ID in Webflow for analytics?
What could be the reason for the layout issues and text display problems on Mac and iOS devices when my website, designed using Webflow, is working properly on Windows and Android?
How can I change the video in a video player using a button or thumbnail in Webflow?
What options are available in Webflow for placing two div boxes next to each other, with one being a Flexbox Div and the other potentially being one? Is there a way to achieve this without coding by creating a parent flexbox to hold both divs vertically?
Is it possible to use the "video background" div block with CMS items in Webflow and upload videos to CMS items for dynamic calling in a template?
Is it possible to have a custom form action to pass form data to a URL, while also submitting the form data from page 1 to Webflow using the default action?
Can anyone share their experience integrating a forum into a Webflow website for a VR company? Looking for recommendations on tools and build stack. Thanks!
How can I easily make future edits to exported Webflow sites hosted on Bluehost (or another hosting company) to avoid complications and still have the ability to make quick changes in the Webflow creator? Can you provide guidance on integrating WordPress for blogging with Webflow?
Can the template used on a website be checked using a template ID in Webflow?
How can I create a full-screen mobile menu like the one in this Read-only link in Webflow? Thank you for your assistance!
Can Webflow be used to call a CSS or JS file stored on a different server, instead of hosting them on GitHub?
How can I dynamically redirect to a CMS created after form submission in Webflow?
In Webflow, how can I hide specific elements in the footer (such as "Ramin Khaze The Difference" and "Schedule showing") when the URL contains a certain parameter, such as "?mls"? I am a beginner in coding and would appreciate any help. Thank you!
How can I prevent the "w-current" class in Webflow from overriding the height of my custom class on a link block element?
Can I capture a screenshot of a Webflow page on click and convert it to a downloadable PDF?
How do I mirror user input from a form field to a non-form text field on the same Webflow page in real-time using JavaScript?
How can I close a dropdown in Webflow when clicking on a link?
Is there a more optimal way to create a portfolio section with a sticky image container that changes as you scroll, similar to the design on Deveb's website, that works across different web browsers, especially Safari, using Webflow or any other JavaScript tools?
How can I implement a multi-select field with a pre-selected option in a popup form on a collection page using Webflow?
How can I alternate the layout of the image and heading for each collection item in a two-column format on Webflow?
How can I execute JavaScript code when clicking a specific button with a given ID in a Webflow project?
How can I disable the Webflow success or failure state for a sign-up form and display a custom thank you page using jQuery and the Webflow form submit state?
How can I create a vertical scrolling menu with Webflow, similar to the one on Apple's website, that switches to horizontal scrolling when the menu doesn't fit on one screen?
How can I change the language of the Google Maps embed from English to Arabic in Webflow?
How can I reduce the vertical space between lines within a bullet point in Webflow? Can I replace the bullet points with icons on the "Services" page?