Hey all, this is a stupid question maybe, but what’s the actual difference between pushing a “Web App” vs a “Web Clip” in Hexnode? I just want a shortcut to our HR portal on everyone’s home screen.
I tried a Web Clip on my test iPhone and it just opens Safari with the URL bar and everything. Is there a way to make it look like a “real” app? Or am I using the wrong tool?
Cheers.
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Hey @zayn_nj, that’s not a basic question at all; this comes up quite often.
On iOS, a Web Clip is essentially a home screen shortcut that opens a URL in Safari. So what you’re seeing is expected—it will launch with the browser UI (address bar, navigation controls, etc.).
You can enable the Full Screen option in the Web Clip policy configuration to hide the Safari UI and make it feel more like an app. That said, it’s still opening web content and doesn’t enforce strict navigation control.
Web Clips are typically used for quick access—not just to portals, but also to things like PDFs, internal documents, or static resources hosted online.
If your goal is just easy access from the home screen, a Web Clip (with Full Screen enabled) usually does the job.
Got it, that makes sense. Where do Web Apps come into play then? I’ve seen that option under Apps but wasn’t sure when to use it.
On iOS, Web Apps are primarily designed for kiosk use rather than as general home screen shortcuts. Unlike Web Clips, they aren’t pushed directly to the home screen on their own. In simple terms:
Web Clip → Best for quick, direct access from the home screen
Web App → Best when you need a more controlled, kiosk-style experience
For your use case, unless you’re planning to lock the device into a kiosk setup, sticking with a Web Clip (with Full Screen enabled) is the right approach.
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