Back to blog
Websktop vs ToDesktop: Which web to desktop app builder fits a SaaS team?
A practical comparison of Websktop and ToDesktop for teams turning websites and web apps into desktop apps.
comparisonweb to desktopdesktop apps
A practical comparison of Websktop and ToDesktop for teams turning websites and web apps into desktop apps.
If you are searching for web to desktop, you will usually find two different product directions:
ToDesktop is known for both of those directions, but they are not the same product. Their public site positions the main platform around Electron infrastructure, while ToDesktop Builder is the lower-code path for converting a web app into a desktop app.
Websktop sits squarely in the second category.
| Category | Websktop | ToDesktop |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Web to desktop app creation from a URL | Electron app operations and a separate Builder product |
| Best for | SaaS teams, internal tools, and websites that need a desktop wrapper | Teams already using Electron, or teams that want ToDesktop Builder |
| Setup style | Paste a URL, configure the app, and build | Builder is web-app focused; main platform is Electron-centric |
| Supported platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| App size | Up to 4 MB build size | Typically much larger because Electron bundles Chromium and Node.js |
| Customization | App name, icon, window behavior, URL rules, content protection, branding | Strong release, signing, update, and deployment tooling |
| Operational focus | Generate and distribute desktop builds | Ship, secure, sign, test, and update Electron apps at scale |
ToDesktop’s homepage currently emphasizes Electron app infrastructure. That is a good fit if you already have an Electron codebase and want help with distribution, code signing, smoke testing, release workflows, and analytics.
Their site also highlights ToDesktop Builder, which is the closer comparison for a web app owner who wants to create a desktop app from an existing website.
In practice, ToDesktop is strongest when your team already thinks in terms of Electron development or wants a broader app-ops platform.
App size is one of the clearest differences between the two products.
Websktop is built to stay lightweight. Your app size is capped at 4 MB, which is a good fit when you want a desktop wrapper that stays small and quick to distribute.
ToDesktop’s Electron-based approach is naturally heavier. Electron embeds Chromium and Node.js into the binary, so the installed footprint is typically far larger than a lightweight wrapper. In practice, that often means a desktop app package that is well over 100 MB once the runtime and app assets are included.
That does not make Electron wrong. It makes the tradeoff explicit:
Websktop is built for the simpler question:
How do I turn a website into a desktop app without rebuilding my product?
That is where Websktop is a better fit if you want:
The biggest difference is product intent.
ToDesktop is a broader Electron platform with a Builder path for web apps. Websktop is focused on the web-to-desktop workflow itself.
That usually matters for SEO as well:
web to desktop usually want a direct conversion workflow.Electron ops or code signing for Electron want infrastructure.ToDesktop alternative want a simpler builder comparison.Websktop is designed to answer the first and third searches directly.
Websktop keeps the setup model simple:
ToDesktop Builder is also aimed at simplifying desktop app creation, but the overall product family still includes Electron infrastructure language and workflows that are more technical.
Websktop focuses on generating desktop installers and download links for the main desktop platforms.
ToDesktop’s public messaging emphasizes release infrastructure, secure distribution, code signing, and update delivery.
If your priority is app ops at scale, ToDesktop is compelling. If your priority is getting a website packaged as a desktop app quickly, Websktop is more direct.
Websktop gives you app-level controls that matter for a SaaS-style desktop wrapper:
That makes it useful for internal dashboards, customer portals, admin panels, and web apps that should feel native on desktop.
If you are a SaaS founder or product team, Websktop is easier to explain:
Turn your website into a desktop app for your users.
That is a clear commercial story for support, onboarding, and acquisition.
ToDesktop is excellent if you also need the broader Electron release pipeline.
Pricing is another major differentiator.
$0
$12/mo
$39/mo
ToDesktop publishes different pricing for its Electron platform and its Builder product.
For the Electron platform, the public pricing page currently lists:
$100/mo$300/mo$1,200/moThe Builder product currently lists:
$100/mo$240/moIf you are comparing total cost of ownership, Websktop is positioned as the lower-cost entry point for teams whose primary goal is to convert a website into a desktop app.
Choose Websktop if:
web to desktopChoose ToDesktop if:
For the exact search intent behind web to desktop, Websktop is the more direct match.
ToDesktop is a strong platform, but its main product story is broader and more infrastructure-focused. Websktop is intentionally narrower: it helps people turn a website or web app into a desktop app with less setup and less technical overhead.
If your goal is to build a desktop version of a SaaS, internal tool, or web product, that narrower focus is often the better fit.