Learn how to deploy an Emergent website or web app, connect a domain, and understand why an Expo mobile preview is different from app-store publication.
Knowing how to deploy on Emergent AI starts with a choice you make before publishing: are you building a website, a web app, or a mobile app? In my video, I demonstrate why those project types lead to different sharing and release paths.
If you are following along from the beginning, you can try Emergent AI through my partner link. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This guide focuses on the publishing steps shown in the recording, not on building the initial application.
Choose the Correct Project Type
A website or web app is accessed through a browser. After deployment, you can share its web address with visitors, and a custom domain can give it your own branding.
A native mobile project has a different destination. Testing it on a phone through Expo Go is not the same as distributing it publicly through the Apple App Store or Google Play. Decide which experience your audience needs before starting the project.
Publish a Website or Web App
For the website in my demonstration, I finish the pages and click Publish near the top of the project interface. The recording describes a deployment time of about four to five minutes. Treat that as an example, not a guaranteed waiting time.
The published project receives an address ending in emergent.host. I copy that address and open it in a browser to view the live website.
Follow this sequence:
- Finish and review your core pages in the project preview.
- Select Publish and read the current deployment charges.
- Wait for deployment to finish.
- Copy the live address and open it outside the editor.
- As a practical release check, try navigation, forms, and sign-in where applicable.
The video shows a charge of 50 credits per month for keeping a project online. Confirm today's deployment price and billing conditions in your account before publishing.
Connect Your Own Domain
The demonstration includes an option to add a custom domain and either link it automatically or configure it manually. Your domain provider is where the required nameserver or DNS changes are made.
Follow the exact records and instructions displayed for your project. Do not copy settings from an unrelated tutorial: providers may use different connection methods. DNS changes can take time, so wait for the connection status to update before treating a delay as a failed deployment.
Test a Mobile Project With Expo Go
For the calorie-tracker mobile app, I show the Expo Go testing route. A tester installs Expo Go and scans the project's QR code to open the preview on a phone.
After publishing the mobile project in the demonstration, the share button provides a link for this testing flow. That does not mean the app is already listed in an app store or that anyone can find it through store search.
Use the phone preview to check touch targets, screen layouts, and the main task your app performs. These are practical checks before you start a public release.
App-Store Release Is a Separate Step
Public distribution requires the appropriate Apple or Google developer registration and the store's submission process. The provider reviews the app, and approval is not automatic. Follow the current publishing instructions for your project and the target store.
| Project type | What the demonstration shares | Public access route |
|---|---|---|
| Website or web app | Live browser address | Hosted URL or connected custom domain |
| Mobile prototype | Expo testing link or QR code | Preview through Expo Go |
| Store-ready mobile app | A submitted app build | Store listing after approval |
My Recommendation
For a browser-based product, a website or web app is the direct route to a shareable URL. For a native mobile experience, plan for both device testing and store submission. You can open Emergent and review your publishing options before deciding which route fits your project.
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