Key takeaways
- An app pays off when customers buy often: fashion drops, beauty, food and loyalty-led brands.
- Every Shopify store already appears in Shop, Shopify's own shopping app.
- App builders turn your store into an app quickly, for a monthly fee.
- A custom React Native or Flutter app, built on Shopify's Storefront API, offers full control at a higher cost.
- Push notifications, saved carts and exclusive drops are the features that drive app revenue.
Mobile apps can be powerful for ecommerce brands: customers who install your app are usually your most loyal, and push notifications reach them directly. But an app only works if people download it and come back. Here is how to decide whether your Shopify store needs one.
When an app makes sense
- Customers buy frequently — weekly or monthly rather than once a year.
- You run product drops, limited editions or loyalty programmes.
- Your mobile website is already fast and converting well.
- You have an audience large enough to promote the app to.
Your options
- The Shop app: Shopify's own shopping app. Stores appear in Shop automatically, with order tracking and Shop Pay — a free first step.
- App builders: Services such as Tapcart turn your store into a branded app using templates, for a monthly fee. Fast to launch, with less flexibility.
- Custom app: A native app built with React Native or Flutter on Shopify's Storefront API. Full control over design and features, with higher build and maintenance costs.
Features that drive revenue
- Push notifications for drops, restocks and abandoned carts.
- Fast reordering from order history.
- App-only offers, early access and loyalty rewards.
- Saved payment details and one-tap checkout.
- Wishlists that sync with the website.
Costs to plan for
Beyond the build, budget for app store developer accounts, updates for new iOS and Android versions, push notification services and marketing to get the app installed. A custom app is a product in its own right and needs a roadmap.
Start with the mobile website
Most shoppers will never install an app, so your mobile website matters most. Make it fast and easy first — see our guides to store speed and conversion rate optimisation — then add an app for your most loyal customers.
Thinking about an app? We build Shopify mobile apps with React Native and Flutter, and we'll tell you honestly whether an app builder would be enough. Talk to us.
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Jay Patel