Many Shopify merchants ask: Should I build a custom mobile app, or is the Shop App enough? It's a fair question.
Mobile commerce now drives almost 75% of total eCommerce revenue in 2025, making your mobile strategy critical. But no single platform captures all demand. If one did, marketplaces would dominate everything.
The truth is, a custom Shopify mobile app and the Shop App serve completely different purposes. One is your branded store app. The other is Shopify's multi-brand shopping platform. Understanding both is essential to making the right choice for your business. And this blog does exactly that.
Let’s dive right in!
Key Differences between Shopify Mobile App and Shop App: Side-by-Side Comparison
Here’s a quick overview of the difference b/w a Shopify Mobile App and the Shop App:
What is a Shopify Mobile App? (Custom Store App)
A Shopify mobile app is a branded, native iOS and Android application that converts your Shopify store into a standalone mobile app. Built using Shopify mobile app builders like Appbrew, these apps are dedicated exclusively to your brand and products. They live on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, giving customers direct access to your store from their home screens.
How a Shopify Mobile App is Created
There are two main methods to create your Shopify mobile app. The most common approach uses a no-code Shopify mobile app builder, with Appbrew being the best option for this. The alternative is custom development from scratch.
App builders automatically sync your product catalog, collections, pricing, and inventory in real-time with your Shopify store. Setup time matters. You can launch in less than a week with app builders. Custom development, on the other hand, takes 3-6 months.
Core Features
- A native mobile app, which most Shopify mobile app builders don’t offer
- AI features like Milo, Skin Analyzer, Concierge, and more that give a more premium feel
- AI-powered CMS with built-in AI copywriting and AI image generation
- Real-time product and inventory synchronization with your Shopify store
- Native mobile checkout with saved payment methods
- Unlimited push notifications for promotions, abandoned cart recovery, and order updates
- Customizable design matching your brand identity (logo, colors, themes)
- Loyalty and rewards programs built-in
- Wishlist and favorites functionality
- Multi-currency and multi-language support
- Offline browsing capabilities with automatic sync
- Advanced analytics and user behavior tracking
Key Performance Statistics
- Mobile apps deliver 3x higher conversion rates than mobile websites
- Apps load 2.5x faster than mobile websites, reducing bounce rates by up to 40%
- 35% increase in sales within the first 6 months of launching an app
- 60% reduction in cart abandonment rates
- 20% higher average order values
- 88% higher retention rates in the first 30 days with push notifications
- Users spend 7x more time in mobile apps compared to mobile browsers
What is the Shop App?
The Shop App is a free, multi-brand shopping platform owned by Shopify that allows customers to discover and shop from multiple Shopify stores in one place. It serves as a centralized order tracking hub for all purchases made from Shopify stores. Think of it as a consumer-facing marketplace where shoppers browse products from various brands without needing to download individual store apps.
Core Features
- Unified order tracking across all Shopify merchants
- Personalized product recommendations from multiple stores based on browsing behavior
- Shop Pay integration for fast checkout (up to 70% faster)
- Push notifications for deals and promotions from stores you follow
- Wishlist functionality across multiple brands
- Carbon-neutral shipping options
- Saved payment and shipping information for one-tap checkout
Merchant Benefits
The Shop App offers merchants a free product discovery channel and customer acquisition opportunity. Your products gain enhanced visibility on Shopify's consumer marketplace without additional marketing spend.
Shop Pay increases conversion rates by nearly 50%, making checkout smoother for customers who use it. You also benefit from reduced customer service inquiries through real-time tracking, as customers can monitor their orders independently.
Key Statistics
- 4 million monthly downloads in December 2024
- Achieved $100 million in GMV in a single month in 2023
- Shop Pay installments can increase average order value by 20-35%
- Cart abandonment reduced by 18% on average with Shop Pay
The Shop App provides reach and convenience. But it comes with a tradeoff. You're sharing the platform with thousands of other brands. Your customers see competitor products right alongside yours. You have limited control over the experience, branding, and customer relationship. This is where understanding the difference becomes critical for your mobile strategy.
Performance Comparison: Custom App vs Shop App
The numbers reveal a clear winner when it comes to driving business growth. While the Shop App offers reach, a custom Shopify mobile app delivers superior performance across every metric that matters for your bottom line.
1. User Engagement
Custom apps keep users engaged far longer than the Shop App. When customers download your branded app, they're committing to your store specifically. Session times are 8x longer compared to mobile web and significantly higher than the Shop App, where users browse multiple brands simultaneously.
Your custom app sits on their home screen as a constant reminder of your brand. The Shop App, meanwhile, shows your products alongside dozens of competitors, diluting attention and making it harder to build meaningful engagement with your audience.
2. Conversion & Revenue
Custom Shopify apps deliver conversion rates 3-5x higher than mobile websites and consistently outperform the Shop App for individual merchants. The reason is simple: customers who download your app have purchase intent. They're not browsing casually across multiple brands.
Within the first six months, merchants typically see a 35% sales increase from their custom app. Average order values also jump by 20% because the focused shopping environment eliminates distractions. The Shop App splits customer attention across competing brands, making it harder to maximize revenue per visitor.
3. Speed & Performance
Loading speed directly impacts sales, and custom apps load 2.5x faster than mobile websites. They're optimized specifically for your catalog and customers. The Shop App handles thousands of merchants, which can create performance inconsistencies.
Custom apps also work offline, letting customers browse saved products without an internet connection. This reduces friction and keeps the shopping experience smooth regardless of connectivity issues.
4. Brand Loyalty & Retention
Custom apps build lasting customer relationships. Push notifications achieve 88% higher retention rates in the first 30 days. You control the messaging, timing, and personalization. In the Shop App, your notifications compete with alerts from other brands. Cart abandonment drops 60% with custom apps because you can send targeted recovery messages. The Shop App doesn't give you this level of control over your customer journey, making it nearly impossible to build the brand loyalty that drives long-term profitability.
When to Choose a Shopify Mobile App vs Shop App
Ideally you would want space on both channels, but if you can only do one:
Choose a Custom Shopify Mobile App When
You need complete control over your brand experience and customer relationships. A custom app makes sense when you have an established customer base ready to download and engage with your branded platform.
If you're generating consistent monthly revenue and want to maximize customer lifetime value, a custom app is essential. It's the right choice when you need direct communication through unlimited push notifications, want to reduce dependency on paid advertising, and aim to build a loyal community around your brand.
Businesses focused on retention, repeat purchases, and premium customer experiences see the highest returns from custom apps.
Rely on the Shop App When
You're just starting out and need free product discovery without upfront investment. The Shop App works well for testing market demand and gaining initial visibility on Shopify's marketplace.
It's useful as a supplementary channel when you're building your customer base and can't yet justify the investment in a custom app. New merchants benefit from the zero-cost exposure and Shop Pay's conversion boost.
The Optimal Strategy: Both
Most successful Shopify merchants use both platforms strategically. The Shop App attracts new customers through discovery. Your custom app converts them into loyal, high-value repeat buyers. This dual approach maximizes reach while maintaining control over your most valuable customer relationships and long-term revenue growth.
Conclusion
The distinction is clear. Custom Shopify mobile apps create exclusive branded experiences that deliver 3-5x higher conversions and build lasting customer loyalty. The Shop App provides free multi-brand discovery that helps attract new customers. They're complementary tools serving different stages of your customer journey.
If you're ready to build your custom Shopify mobile app, Appbrew is the best solution out there. With an intuitive drag-and-drop design, real-time Shopify synchronization, and proven performance metrics, Appbrew helps you launch in less than a week without any coding knowledge. The platform delivers everything you need - unlimited push notifications, AI features and editors, advanced analytics, loyalty programs, and seamless checkout - all at pricing that makes sense for growing brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Shop App enough for mobile commerce?
No. The Shop App provides exposure, but custom apps deliver 3-5x higher conversion rates through optimized, branded experiences. The Shop App is useful for discovery, but it can't replace a dedicated mobile strategy focused on conversion and retention.
How much does building a Shopify mobile app cost?
No-code app builders cost $400-$1000 per month, comparable to standard marketing tools. Custom development from scratch runs $20,000-$100,000, but it's unnecessary. With an average 35% sales increase within six months, app builders deliver strong ROI without massive upfront investment.
Does the Shop App replace the need for my own app?
No. They serve different purposes. The Shop App is for discovery and attracting new customers. Your custom app is for conversion, loyalty, and maximizing customer lifetime value. The best strategy uses both.
Do I need coding knowledge to build a Shopify mobile app?
No. Modern app builders like Appbrew use drag-and-drop interfaces requiring zero technical skills. You can design, customize, and launch your app without writing a single line of code.
Do mobile websites perform as well as native apps?
No. Native mobile apps convert 3-5x better and load 2.5x faster than mobile websites. Apps also reduce cart abandonment by 60% and deliver 88% higher retention rates in the first 30 days. The performance gap is significant.
