No Kotlin? No Problem. How I shipped Android Apps using React & Capacitor

For years, I thought mobile development was reserved for "native" developers. I looked at Java and Kotlin code, and frankly, I wanted to run away. I am a web developer. I think in terms of React components, hooks, and CSS.

But this week, I achieved something I didn't think was possible for me: I published my first two applications on the Google Play Store. And the best part? I didn't write a single line of native code.

Here is how I did it, and one mistake you should avoid.

The False Start: PWABuilder At first, I tried to take the shortest shortcut possible. I used PWABuilder to simply package my existing Progressive Web App into an APK.

It sounded perfect on paper, but in reality, it felt... pointless. While it technically worked, I felt like I had zero control over the native experience. It was just a website pretending to be an app, with limited access to device features and a shaky user experience. I realized that if I wanted to be on the Store, I needed something more robust.

The Solution: React + Capacitor. That’s when I found Capacitor. If you are a React developer, this tool is a superpower. Unlike PWABuilder, Capacitor allows you to keep your standard web development workflow but gives you a runtime that bridges the web world with the native world.

My workflow looked like this:

1. I built my UI in React (just like I do for the web).
2. I used Capacitor to wrap the build output.
3. I generated the Android project folder and opened it in Android Studio only to hit the "Build" button.

Suddenly, I had access to native plugins, a real file structure, and a performant app that didn't feel like a cheap wrapper.

The Boss Battle: Google Play Console Coding the app was actually the easy part. The real challenge was the Google Play Console. If you are an indie developer, be prepared for a bureaucratic nightmare:

The Verification Process: It’s getting stricter every year.

Privacy Policies: You can't just ignore them anymore.

Testing Tracks: You need 12 testers for 14 days before you can even think about production (if you have a personal account created after Nov 2023) - annoying AF...

It took me some time, but finally seeing that green "Approved" status is one of my biggest wins this year.

The Result Both apps are now live. They aren't perfect, but they are shipped.

So If you are a web developer afraid of mobile stores: Just do it. Don't waste time on shortcuts like basic PWA wrappers if you want a real store presence. Go with Capacitor (or React Native), leverage your JS skills, and push through the Google Play verification. It's worth it.