---
title: "client app builder"
description: "Learn how to build a branded web or Android app for your clients with AI, and access our step-by-step instructions, FAQs, and everything you need to know!"
url: https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13631452-client-app-builder
collection: "client portal"
updated: 2026-11-05
language: en
---

# client app builder

Learn how to build a branded web or Android app for your clients with AI, and access our step-by-step instructions, FAQs, and everything you need to know!

## before you dive in

This article is one step from our [Master Help Guide: All About Client Portals](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/11430362-all-about-client-portals-a-master-help-guide.md), which acts as your project plan - teaching you the feature, laying out the steps in the right order, and linking to every resource you'll need along the way. We recommend starting with the Master Help Guide before diving into the technical setup below.

The client app builder takes your client portal to the next level. Describe your business in your own words, and AI builds a beautifully branded web app your clients can use in any browser, or an Android app they can install on their phone. This step is optional, but it's our recommended way to give your clients a truly branded experience.

what can you build with the client app builder?

-   **Web apps:** A fully customised client portal your clients access in any browser, where they can view courses, join communities, manage appointments and browse shared files
    
-   **Android apps:** A branded mobile app with your own navigation, layout, colours and mobile features like camera and photo access, which you download as an installable Android app file (known as an APK)
    

Every app runs on your existing client portal, so there's no need to rebuild anything or manage separate logins. Your apps can include:

-   **All standard client portal features:** Appointments, Courses, Communities, Invoices, Estimates, Contracts, Shared files, Affiliates, Billing & subscription
    
-   **Client accounts:** Clients sign in, sign up and reset their password using their existing client portal login
    
-   **Custom records:** Clients can submit and manage records saved to your CRM, like applications or service requests
    

You can build up to five apps in your ivorey account, across web and mobile.

what isn't currently available?

The client app builder is still growing, so the following are not currently available:

-   iPhone (iOS) apps (coming soon)
    
-   Publishing your app to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store (Android apps are downloaded as an app file instead)
    
-   Duplicating a web app, or restoring a previous version of it
    
-   Custom checkouts, shopping carts or coupon codes (payments in your app use ivorey invoices)
    
-   Desktop apps
    
-   The builder in languages other than English
    

> **Info:** 🧪 This feature is in **BETA**
> This is a newly released feature, so you may notice occasional bugs or changes as it continues to be tested and refined. If something doesn't work as expected, please reach out via the chat widget so we can look into it.

This guide is perfect if you want to:

-   Give your clients a beautifully branded app for their courses, communities, appointments and more
    
-   Offer your clients a web app they can use in any browser, or an Android app for their phone
    
-   Let clients submit and manage their own records, like applications or service requests
    
-   Share your app on your own business web address
    

* * *

## build your client app

The client app builder works like a conversation. You describe your app, answer a few questions and pick a design, then AI builds it for you in a live preview. From there, you can keep refining it until it feels right, then publish your web app or download your Android app.

> **Info:** You can't switch an app between web and mobile once it's created. If you'd like both, create a separate app for each.

### step 1: describe and plan your app

Your first prompt sets the direction for your whole app, so share as much detail as you can about your business, your clients and what they need to do. You'll then choose a starting point, answer a few planning questions, and pick a design system that sets your fonts, colours, shapes and motion together.

click here for the written steps

1.  From the main ivorey menu, go to **Portals** \> **Client App Builder**
    
2.  In the prompt box, describe the app you want to build, including:
    
    1.  Who your clients are and what your business does
        
    2.  What your clients need to do inside the app (e.g. complete courses, join your community, book sessions or view invoices)
        
    3.  Whether you want a web app or a mobile app
        
    4.  The look and feel you're after
        
    5.  For example: "Build a branded learning community for my coaching business. Make Courses and Communities easy to find, keep the Dashboard and Shared files close at hand, and use a warm, editorial look with clear progress tracking, discussions, events and downloadable resources."
        
3.  (optional) Click **Try an example prompt**, or select one of the examples (Client portal, Learning hub or Public page) for inspiration > or click **Prompt guide** for ready-made prompts you can copy and tweak
    
4.  (optional) Click the **\[+\]** \> click **\[Upload images\]** to attach reference images, such as a screenshot of a website you love or your brand imagery, or **\[Media Library\]** to insert a link or image  
      
    **Note:** Let AI know in your prompt how to use your image, for example "Use the attached screenshot as inspiration for the homepage layout, but keep my brand colours."
    
5.  Click the **\[↑\] arrow** icon to submit your prompt
    
6.  On the **Choose a starting point** screen, select **Web** (a client portal your clients use in any browser) or **Mobile** (a branded Android app your clients install on their phone) > then select your starting point:
    
    1.  **Describe it instead** - AI designs every page from your prompt. You'll answer a few questions and pick a design system, and every page is built on your client portal members and sign-in
        
    2.  **ClientPortal standard** - Start from your existing client portal. Keep your courses, communities and invoices, restyle them, and add new pages around them
        
    3.  **Templates** - Industry templates (such as Fitness studio, Online academy and Member community) are not currently available to select. To suggest one, type it into the Request a template box > and click the **\[→\]** arrow icon
        
7.  Click **\[Continue\]**
    
8.  Review the questions under **Some questions I need clarity on** > and select the options that best match what you need, such as:
    
    1.  Here's what your app will include - features are pre-selected based on your description. Untick anything you don't need, or tick any to add them, including **Appointments, Courses**, **Communities**, **Invoices, Estimates**, **Contracts, Shared files**, **Affiliates**, **Billing & subscription**
        
        ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/helparticle/20261030103511_6772.png)
    2.  **What should we call it?** Confirm or edit the name of your app  
          
        **Note:** The questions you see will depend on what you described in your prompt.
        
9.  Click **\[Build my app\]** to continue
    
10.  Choose your design:
     
     1.  **For web apps** - On the **Choose your look screen**, under **Pick a design system**, select the design you like best (e.g. **Bloom**, **Studio**, **Counsel**, **Signal**, **Atelier** or **Campus**). AI marks the design that suits your description best with a **Best fit** label
         
     2.  **For mobile apps** - Select a colour palette and your fonts, or use an existing [brand board](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/10050473-create-a-brand-board.md)
         
11.  For web apps, AI presents a plan before it builds > review the plan > and click **\[Approve & build\]** to continue, **\[Refine\]** to request changes, or **\[Reject\]** to decline it
     
12.  Follow the build progress in the chat panel on the left > your live preview will appear on the right when it’s ready
     

* * *

### step 2: review and refine your app

Once your first draft is ready, review it carefully and refine it until it feels like your business. You can make changes by chatting with AI, using ready-made prompts, or selecting exactly what you want to change in the preview.

click here for the written steps

1.  From the main ivorey menu, go to **Portals** > **Client App Builder** \> and open the app you want to build on
    
2.  Inside your app, you'll find the chat panel on the left-hand side and your live app preview on the right > at the top of the preview:
    
    1.  Use the controls at the top of the preview to switch between desktop, tablet and mobile views, or copy the preview link (mobile apps display inside a phone frame instead)
        
    2.  Click the **\[/\] slash** icon to select a page to preview
        
    3.  Click the **↗ square arrow** icon to open the preview in a new tab
        
    4.  Click the **\[⟳\] circle arrow** icon to refresh the preview
        
3.  Review your app against your original prompt, checking:
    
    1.  Your business name and branding
        
    2.  Your home page
        
    3.  Navigation between pages
        
    4.  Your courses, communities and any other client portal features you included
        
    5.  Client sign-in and account pages
        
    6.  Any buttons or forms
        
4.  To make changes, type into the **Ask AI to make another change...** box at the bottom of the chat panel > and click the **\[↑\] arrow** icon. For example:
    
    1.  "Add a Community page where clients can find our groups."
        
    2.  "Make the homepage feel warmer with softer colours and larger headings."
        
    3.  "Move my client's next session above the course list."  
          
        **Note:** For the best results, ask for one change at a time and review your preview before moving on to the next. AI keeps your existing design in place unless you ask for a redesign.
        
5.  (optional) Click the 📎 **paperclip** icon, at the bottom left of the chat panel, to attach an image
    
6.  For ready-made ideas, click the 📖 **book** icon in the top right corner to open the **Prompt guide** > search or browse the prompts (e.g. under Change the look, you'll find **Use your brand colours**, **Make it feel premium**, **Match a screenshot** and **Go dark**) > and click **\[Use\]** to add a prompt to your chat, or click the copy icon to copy it and tweak it first  
    
    ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/helparticle/20261030102131_4032.png)
    
7.  For web apps built with **Describe** **it** instead, click **\[Visual edits\]** at the bottom of the chat panel > select the element/s in your preview (up to 20 at a time) > and type what you’d like to change (e.g. “Change this button to my main brand colour and make the corners more rounded”)  
      
    **Note:** If your app links to a page that hasn’t been built yet, you may see a **Build this page** option so you can create it.
    
8.  For apps built with **ClientPortal** standard, click the project name drop-down in the top left corner > under **Panel**, select **Layout and apps** or **Theme** \> and customise your brand colours, fonts, logo, navigation items, default pages and opening screen (for mobile apps, also your bottom tabs, header style, and whether the app opens in **Light** or **Dark** mode)
    
    If a build stops or fails, review the build status or error details in the chat > and send another message to continue or fix it
    
9.  At any time, click the **\[←\] back arrow** in the top left corner to return to the client app builder home page > your project is saved as a draft to come back to later
    

* * *

### step 3: publish your web app

When you're happy with your app, publish it so your clients can start using it. Connecting your own domain gives your clients a branded web address, like members.yourbusiness.com.

click here for the written steps

1.  From the main ivorey menu, go to **Portals** \> **Client App Builder** > and open the app you want to publish
    
2.  Click **\[Publish\]** in the top right corner > choose an available address for your app > review any warnings about pages that are linked but haven’t been built yet > build the missing pages, or choose to publish with them incomplete > and click **\[Publish\]**
    
3.  (optional) Connect a custom domain (e.g. app.yourdomain.com) - you can connect up to 10 custom domains  
      
    ​**Note:** If you’re creating a custom domain, this needs to be a **NEW** subdomain that is **NOT** used anywhere else, including the domain that’s already connected to your client portal.
    
4.  Test your app thoroughly using a test client account. Sign in, click through every page, and check that your courses, communities, and other features display as expected
    
5.  Keep improving your app any time by chatting with AI inside your project > and hit **\[Publish\]** whenever you are ready to push the changes live
    

* * *

### step 4: build and download your Android app

When your mobile app is ready, you’ll build it into an installable Android app file (APK) that you can download. Take your time testing first, as this is the version your clients will install.

> **Info:** Only one signed Android app file can be built per app at the moment. Apps built with Describe it instead also can’t receive new AI-generated screens after the file is built, so please test your app thoroughly before you build it.

click here for the written steps

1.  From the main ivorey menu, go to **Portals** \> **Client App Builde**r > and open your mobile app
    
2.  Check your app inside the phone frame preview, clicking through every screen and menu
    
3.  Click **\[Publish\]** to open the publishing controls > and add your app details:
    
    1.  **App name** - 1 to 30 characters
        
    2.  **App icon** - PNG, 1024 x 1024 pixels, up to 5 MB
        
    3.  **Splash screen** (the screen clients see while the app opens) - PNG, 1080 x 1920 pixels, up to 5 MB
        
    4.  (optional) **Firebase configuration** - a google-services.json file, up to 5 MB
        
4.  Click **\[Build signed APK\]** to start building your app > and keep an eye on the build status (a typical build takes around 15 to 25 minutes)
    
5.  Download your signed APK when it’s ready, to share with your clients
    
6.  To update your app after it’s installed:
    
    1.  **ClientPortal standard apps** - Supported design and setting updates can be published to installed apps
        
    2.  **Describe it instead apps** - New AI-generated screens need a new app file, which isn’t currently supported
        

* * *

## let clients manage their own records

If your business runs on information that doesn't fit into a standard contact record, like coaching applications, bookings or service requests, the client app builder can create custom objects for you. A custom object is a record type designed around your business, and your clients get their own pages to view, add and manage these records, with everything saving straight to your ivorey CRM.

> **Info:** AI always shows you a plan and asks for your approval before creating anything in your CRM.

click here for the written steps

1.  From the main ivorey menu, go to **Portals** \> **Client App Builde**r > open your project
    
2.  Inside your project (or in your first prompt), describe the information your clients need to submit, including the details you'd like to collect. For example: "Let clients submit a strategy call application with their business name, monthly revenue range, main challenge and preferred session topic. Clients should be able to see their own applications."
    
3.  When AI asks **Use custom objects in your CRM for this?** > click **\[Yes\]** to see the proposed plan
    
4.  Review the plan carefully, checking:
    
    1.  The names of the proposed custom objects
        
    2.  The fields and drop-down options
        
    3.  Connections to contacts, companies or other custom objects
        
    4.  The example records
        
    5.  Who can see each record (e.g. clients see only their own records, records linked to their company, or a read-only list of all records)
        
    6.  Whether an existing custom object will be reused, instead of creating a new one
        
5.  To change anything, describe it in the chat (e.g. "Add an Application Status drop-down with New, Under Review, Approved and Declined") > and review the updated plan
    
6.  Click **\[Approve\]** to create the custom objects in your CRM, or **\[Not now\]** to hold off for now  
      
    **Note:** AI can propose up to three custom objects in one plan. If your account is close to its custom object limit, you'll be given options to reuse an existing custom object, free up a space, or skip creating it.
    
7.  Click the links below the AI response to open and review your new custom objects in your CRM
    
8.  (optional) For web apps, If clients need to pay for a record (e.g. a paid service request), ask AI to add a **Pay** or **Buy** button. These buttons take payment through ivorey invoices, so you'll need a payment processor connected first. Please refer to our [Set Up Your Payment Processor](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/9574641-set-up-your-payment-processor.md) guide for the steps.  
      
    **Note:** Custom objects work in both web and Android apps, but payments and media attachments on records are currently available in web apps only.
    
9.  Submit a test record using a test client account > and check that it appears in the custom object in your **CRM**
    

* * *

## manage your app projects

You can build and manage more than one app from your ivorey account, with each one published as its own site. Your projects and builder settings are always close at hand, from the home page and inside each project.

click here for the written steps

1.  From the main ivorey menu, go to **Portals** \> **Client App Builder**
    
2.  On the home page, find your recent projects, or click **\[All projects\]** to search for an app, view your starred apps, and see whether each app is web or mobile, along with its status
    
3.  Open the options on any project to **Star** or **Unstar**, **Rename** or **Delete** it  
      
    **Note:** Deleting an app is permanent and can’t be restored. You can build up to five apps in your ivorey account, so if you’ve reached the limit, you’ll need to delete an app before you can create a new one.
    
4.  Inside a project, click the project name drop-down in the top left corner:
    

1.  Under **Appearance**, select **Light**, **Dark** or **System** to change how the builder looks while you work (System follows your computer's setting)  
      
    **Note:** This changes the builder only, not your app's design. Your preview keeps its own colours, so you can see exactly what your clients will see.
    

* * *

## Next Steps

> **Success:** If you’ve completed the steps above, head back to the [**Master Help Guide on Client Portals**](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/11430362-all-about-client-portals-a-master-help-guide.md) to move onto the next phase.
>
> Each Master Help Guide acts as your project plan - teaching you the feature, laying out the steps in the right order, and linking to every resource you’ll need along the way.

* * *

## frequently asked questions

what if my clients can't access certain courses or communities in my app?

Your app uses your existing client portal resources, so access depends on how they're set up. Check that the course or community is enabled in [client portal permissions](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13286039-client-portal-permissions.md), and that your client has the right [access granted](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/12106235-manually-grant-course-or-community-access.md).

who on my team can see and edit my apps?

Access depends on each team member’s role in your ivorey account. Admins can view, edit and delete every app in the account. Users can create apps and manage their own, but can’t see apps created by others. Anyone who can open an app can also publish it.

* * *

## need help?

Hit the support chat widget inside ivorey - we can:

-   Walk you through any of the steps
    
-   Troubleshoot anything that’s not working
    

We’re here and ready to help via the chat widget in the bottom right of your ivorey account. Or if you are looking for done-for-you support, you can browse our current services [here](https://ivorey.io/services) 🤍

## Related

- [all about client portals: a master help guide](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/11430362-all-about-client-portals-a-master-help-guide.md)
- [client portal custom domain](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13285810-client-portal-custom-domain.md)
- [client portal permissions](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13286039-client-portal-permissions.md)
- [customise your client portal branding](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13285949-customise-your-client-portal-branding.md)
- [client portal notifications and automated login emails](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13286720-client-portal-notifications-and-automated-login-emails.md)