Is Websktop a Nativefier alternative?

Yes. Websktop covers the same use case as Nativefier — wrapping a website into a desktop app — but is actively maintained and ships with a dashboard, branding controls, and cross-platform builds.

Is Nativefier still maintained?

Nativefier has been archived and is no longer actively maintained. That makes it risky for production desktop apps.

Do I need Node.js to use Websktop like Nativefier?

No. Websktop is a hosted dashboard. You configure your app in the browser and download a ready-to-share installer.

Can I migrate a Nativefier app to Websktop?

Yes. Paste the same website URL into Websktop, customize branding, and rebuild for Windows, macOS, or Linux.

Which platforms are supported?

Windows, macOS, and Linux from a single Websktop project.

Nativefier alternative

Nativefier Alternative: A maintained, scalable web-to-desktop builder

Nativefier is unmaintained. Websktop is a modern Nativefier alternative that turns any website into a Windows, macOS, or Linux desktop app with a dashboard, branding controls, and active development.

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How they compare

Feature

Websktop

Nativefier

Maintenance status

Actively maintained

Archived / unmaintained

Setup

Hosted dashboard

Node.js CLI

Branding controls

App name, icon, window rules, content protection

Limited CLI flags

Cross-platform builds

Windows, macOS, Linux from one project

Build on the target OS

Build artifacts retention

7 days free, unlimited on paid plans

Local files only

Platforms

Windows, macOS, Linux

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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Nativefier was a beloved CLI tool for turning websites into Electron desktop apps. It is also the textbook example of why teams search for a Nativefier alternative: the project is archived, no longer maintained, and built on an aging Electron stack.

Websktop is a modern, hosted replacement that covers the same use case with actively maintained infrastructure.

Why teams move off Nativefier

The project is archived and no longer receiving updates
Each build depends on your local Node.js environment
Branding options are limited to a handful of CLI flags
You can only build for the OS you are running on
Build artifacts live on your local disk — no dashboard, no history

For a hobby project, those tradeoffs are fine. For a production desktop app that real users install, they are risky.

How Websktop replaces Nativefier

Websktop covers the entire Nativefier workflow — and adds a dashboard, branding, and cross-platform builds on top:

Paste a URL in a hosted dashboard (no Node.js required)
Configure app name, icon, window behavior, and URL navigation rules
Build for Windows, macOS, or Linux from a single project
Keep a build history with downloadable artifacts
Get a shareable download page for each build

When Websktop is the right Nativefier alternative

Switch to Websktop if:

You need a maintained tool, not an archived CLI
You want a hosted dashboard instead of a local Node.js environment
You want to build for Windows, macOS, and Linux from one project
You want branding controls beyond a few CLI flags
You want a shareable download page for users

When Nativefier still works

Stick with Nativefier if:

You are building a personal tool and do not care about maintenance
You are comfortable maintaining a fork of the archived project
You only need builds for the OS you already run

For production desktop apps, Websktop is the safer, more scalable Nativefier replacement.