With mobile traffic taking over, having just a mobile-optimized website might not be enough. Did you know that 79% of smartphone users made a purchase using their mobile device in the last six months? This means that Shopify store owners need a dedicated mobile app to capture this huge market, improve user experience, and increase conversion rates.
If you’re wondering whether building an app for your Shopify store is complicated, don’t worry. There are plenty of mobile app builders that make this process easy and even fun. Whether you’re a small business or a growing ecommerce giant, this list will show you 6 of the best Shopify mobile app builder apps, highlighting key features, pricing, and why they could be the right choice for your store.
Shopify’s market cap as of August 2024 is $96.61 billion, a recovery from a drop in 2022.( Source )
Why Shopify Store Owners Need a Mobile App
Mobile apps aren’t just a luxury anymore. They’re becoming essential for businesses that want to keep up with shifting consumer habits. Here’s why:
1. Mobile Commerce is on the Rise
It’s no secret that mobile shopping is booming. According to recent data, 72.9% of total ecommerce sales will come from mobile devices by the end of 2023. This means most of your customers are browsing and shopping on their phones. A dedicated mobile app provides a smoother, faster, and more personalized experience than even the best mobile-optimized website.
2. Increased Conversion Rates
A mobile app removes barriers that exist with mobile websites. For instance, customers stay logged in, access their cart easily, and browse products faster. Features like one-click checkout and saved payment methods improve conversion rates by simplifying the buying process. Studies show that conversion rates on mobile apps can be up to 3x higher than mobile websites.
3. Push Notifications for Re-engagement
Push notifications are one of the best tools for keeping customers engaged. You can instantly notify users about flash sales, new arrivals, or abandoned carts. These notifications are a great way to pull users back into your store, and data suggests that push notifications can boost app engagement by up to 88%.
4. Better Customer Loyalty and Retention
Mobile apps allow you to implement loyalty programs directly within the app. Whether it’s exclusive discounts, points for purchases, or early access to sales, apps make it easy to reward loyal customers. This not only keeps users coming back but also increases their lifetime value to your store.
5. Offline Access
Unlike websites, mobile apps can offer limited functionality even when users are offline. Customers can browse through certain products, add items to their cart, or view their order history without an active internet connection. This improves their overall shopping experience.
Key Features to Look For in a Shopify Mobile App Builder
When selecting the right mobile app builder for your Shopify store, it’s essential to focus on the features that will make the app easy to use and beneficial for your business. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
1. Customization
Your app should reflect your store’s branding. Look for builders that offer a wide range of customization options—from color schemes to fonts and layouts. This way, you can ensure your app matches the look and feel of your Shopify store. Some builders even offer pre-designed templates to get you started quickly.
2. Ease of Use
Not everyone has coding skills, and that’s okay. Many Shopify mobile app builders come with drag-and-drop interfaces that allow you to create your app without any coding knowledge. A user-friendly interface makes it faster and simpler to set up your app, so you can focus on running your business.
3. Performance
No one wants to use a slow app. Your mobile app needs to be fast and responsive to keep users engaged. Look for app builders that prioritize performance, ensuring that pages load quickly, images are optimized, and the app runs smoothly on all devices.
4. Third-party Integrations
A great mobile app should integrate seamlessly with your existing Shopify store and any third-party tools you’re using. Whether it’s payment gateways, email marketing tools, or analytics software, make sure the app builder supports the integrations you need. This will help you manage your store and track customer activity more effectively.
5. Push Notifications
One of the biggest advantages of having a mobile app is the ability to send push notifications. Look for an app builder that allows you to send personalized notifications for things like sales, new products, and abandoned carts. This feature can significantly increase customer engagement and drive repeat purchases.
6. Support and Maintenance
Mobile apps need regular updates and maintenance to run smoothly. When choosing an app builder, check whether they offer ongoing customer support and maintenance services. You’ll want to ensure that any bugs are fixed quickly and that your app stays up to date with the latest Shopify and mobile OS updates.
Read More:12 Best Shopify Retail Apps: Top Products Apps on the Shopify App Store
6 best shopify mobile app builder apps for 2024
1: Tapcart
Tapcart is one of the most popular mobile app builders for Shopify stores. It’s designed for ecommerce businesses looking for an easy way to convert their store into a sleek, high-performance mobile app. Tapcart’s intuitive drag-and-drop builder means you don’t need to know any code, and you can get your app up and running in just a few hours.
Best For:
Tapcart is ideal for Shopify store owners who want a highly customizable app with real-time syncing to their Shopify store. It’s perfect for those looking to drive engagement through push notifications and dynamic in-app content.
Key Features:
- Real-time Store Syncing: Every change made to your Shopify store is automatically reflected in the mobile app.
- Drag-and-Drop Builder: Create and customize your app without any coding.
- Push Notifications: Reach out to your customers instantly with announcements, sales, or personalized messages.
- Real-time Updates: Any updates to products, inventory, or content on your Shopify store reflect in the app immediately, so you don’t have to manually update both platforms.
- Integrations: Supports various Shopify apps like Yotpo, Smile.io, Klaviyo, and more, allowing you to enhance your app with advanced marketing tools.
Pros:
- Super intuitive and easy to use, even for non-technical users.
- Offers a 14-day free trial, so you can try before committing.
- Excellent customer support and onboarding.
- Push notifications help improve customer engagement and retention.
Cons:
- Higher pricing compared to other app builders, which might not be ideal for smaller stores.
- Limited to Shopify, so it’s not a solution for multi-platform businesses.
Pricing:
Tapcart offers different pricing tiers depending on the features and level of customization you need. Pricing starts at $99/month, with more advanced features available at higher tiers.
Why It’s Good for Your Store:
Tapcart is excellent if you’re looking for an app that closely mirrors the look and feel of a native app while offering powerful features to engage your customers. The real-time syncing ensures your app always reflects your store’s latest updates, and the ability to send push notifications gives you a direct line to your customers.
Read More:7 Best Shopify Sales Channels Apps – Shopify App Store
2: Vajro
Vajro is another top-rated Shopify mobile app builder known for its speed and ease of use. It offers a wide selection of pre-designed templates to help you quickly build a mobile app that looks professional, even if you have zero coding experience. Vajro is designed to help ecommerce store owners create apps that provide a smooth, engaging user experience.
Best For:
Vajro is ideal for Shopify stores looking to get their mobile app up and running quickly with minimal effort. It’s especially useful for stores that want an easy-to-build app with live selling features, making it perfect for brands that engage heavily through live video content.
Key Features:
- Live Selling: Integrated live selling features make it easy to showcase products and convert customers during live streams.
- Pre-designed Templates: Choose from a wide variety of beautiful templates to create a professional-looking app in no time.
- Customizable Push Notifications: Send personalized push notifications to promote new arrivals, special offers, and abandoned carts.
- Drag-and-Drop Builder: No coding required, allowing anyone to build an app quickly.
- Real-time Syncing: Syncs seamlessly with your Shopify store to update inventory, product listings, and order details automatically.
Pros:
- One of the easiest platforms to use, with a beginner-friendly interface.
- Live selling capabilities are a standout feature for stores using video to engage with their audience.
- Comes with a 60-day free trial on certain plans, which is generous compared to other app builders.
- Integrates well with popular Shopify apps and marketing tools.
Cons:
- Customization options are a bit limited compared to some higher-end app builders like Tapcart.
- Some advanced features, like analytics and detailed customizations, may require higher-tier plans.
Pricing:
Vajro offers several pricing tiers, starting at $99/month, which includes basic features and push notifications. Premium features like live selling and advanced marketing tools are available in higher plans.
Why It’s Good for Your Store:
Vajro stands out for its live selling features, making it ideal for brands that want to engage with their audience in real-time. It’s also great for Shopify stores that need a fast and easy solution to create a mobile app without a steep learning curve. With its extensive selection of templates, you can create a professional app in hours.
3: Plobal Apps
Plobal Apps is a comprehensive mobile app builder designed to help Shopify store owners create feature-rich mobile apps that focus on growth and sales. Known for its powerful marketing automation tools and detailed analytics, Plobal is perfect for ecommerce stores looking to scale. It also offers advanced features like deep linking, app store optimization, and abandoned cart recovery.
Best For:
Plobal Apps is best suited for growing ecommerce stores that want to increase sales through advanced marketing strategies. If you’re looking for an app builder that offers a robust set of conversion optimization tools, Plobal is a strong contender.
Key Features:
- Deep Linking: Direct users to specific pages or products in your app, boosting conversions and engagement.
- Abandoned Cart Recovery: Automated reminders and push notifications to reduce cart abandonment.
- Marketing Automation: Offers tools to help with push notifications, in-app banners, and personalized offers based on customer behavior.
- Advanced Analytics: Track everything from user engagement to sales performance, giving you a clear picture of your app’s success.
- App Store Optimization (ASO): Helps you improve your app’s visibility in the App Store and Google Play Store.
Pros:
- A wide array of marketing features designed to boost engagement and sales.
- Comprehensive analytics to help you track performance and tweak your strategies for better results.
- Seamless integration with tools like Mailchimp, Google Analytics, and Klaviyo, allowing you to supercharge your marketing efforts.
- Offers personalized onboarding and setup support.
Cons:
- Pricing can be high, especially for smaller stores or startups.
- Some users find the learning curve steeper compared to more basic app builders.
Pricing:
Plobal Apps offers custom pricing depending on the needs of your store, making it a more tailored solution. It typically starts higher than some of the simpler builders due to its focus on growth and marketing tools. You may need to contact Plobal for an exact quote based on your store’s size and requirements.
Why It’s Good for Your Store:
Plobal is a fantastic option if you’re looking for an app builder that not only helps you create a mobile app but also provides you with marketing and automation tools to increase your revenue. The abandoned cart recovery and deep linking features alone can significantly impact your sales, while its advanced analytics help you fine-tune your strategies for growth.
Read More:10 Top Shopify Apps for Order Fulfillment
4: Shopney
Shopney is a highly rated Shopify mobile app builder that focuses on providing high-performance apps with great design flexibility. It’s known for its smooth interface, excellent user experience (UX), and offline capability, making it a great option for brands that prioritize customer experience. Shopney offers real-time syncing with Shopify, ensuring your app always reflects the latest products and updates from your store.
Best For:
Shopney is ideal for Shopify store owners who want a well-designed, fast, and responsive app that feels native. It’s great for businesses looking to create a branded, seamless shopping experience on mobile.
Key Features:
- Offline Mode: Customers can browse through products even when they’re not connected to the internet.
- Customization: Shopney provides a range of customizable design options to align your app’s look with your brand.
- In-app Messaging: Built-in chat features allow for real-time interaction with customers, improving customer support.
- Multilingual Support: Shopney supports multiple languages, making it an excellent choice for stores with a global audience.
- Real-time Syncing: Automatically syncs with your Shopify store, reflecting real-time product updates, inventory changes, and more.
Pros:
- Provides a great user experience with high app performance.
- Offline access is a unique feature that enhances the shopping experience, even when customers are not connected.
- Multilingual capabilities make it easier for stores with an international audience.
- The in-app chat feature is great for stores that value customer interaction and support.
Cons:
- Some advanced features, like deeper customization and integrations, are available only in higher-tier plans.
- No free plan available, only a free trial.
Pricing:
Shopney offers a 14-day free trial, after which pricing starts at $99/month. Higher tiers offer advanced features like in-app messaging and multilingual support.
Why It’s Good for Your Store:
Shopney is a strong contender if you’re looking for a mobile app builder that balances design, speed, and offline functionality. Its emphasis on great UX and real-time syncing makes it a great fit for brands that care about providing a premium mobile shopping experience.
5: MageNative
MageNative is a cost-effective solution for Shopify store owners who want to convert their online store into a mobile app without breaking the bank. Known for its affordability and solid feature set, MageNative provides essential features like push notifications, offline mode, and social login integration.
Best For:
MageNative is perfect for small to mid-size stores that need a reliable, affordable mobile app builder. If your primary focus is launching a mobile app quickly and on a budget, MageNative offers a good balance of features and pricing.
Key Features:
- Offline Mode: Allows customers to browse products and add them to their cart even when they are offline.
- Push Notifications: Send promotional updates, reminders, or abandoned cart notifications directly to customers.
- Social Logins: Customers can sign into the app using their social media accounts, simplifying the login process.
- Multi-language Support: Cater to an international audience with support for multiple languages.
- Customization: Offers basic customization to align the app with your store’s branding.
Pros:
- Affordable pricing, making it accessible to startups and small businesses.
- Provides essential mobile app features like offline access and push notifications.
- Social logins improve the user experience and make customer registration easier.
Cons:
- Lacks some advanced features available in more premium mobile app builders.
- The design and customization options aren’t as extensive compared to other builders like Tapcart or Shopney.
Pricing:
MageNative offers an affordable plan starting at $49/month, with a 30-day free trial. It’s one of the more budget-friendly options on this list, making it a great choice for smaller stores or businesses with limited budgets.
Why It’s Good for Your Store:
MageNative provides a simple, cost-effective way to create a mobile app for your Shopify store. Its features like offline access and push notifications make it a practical choice for stores that need a mobile app but don’t require advanced marketing or customization tools.
Read More:8 Best Shopify Packaging Apps
6: MobiLoud
MobiLoud is a Shopify mobile app builder that specializes in helping you convert your existing Shopify website into a mobile app that mimics your site’s design and feel. It’s an ideal option for businesses that want their mobile app to closely mirror the web experience while adding mobile-native features like push notifications.
Best For:
MobiLoud is ideal for Shopify stores that want a mobile app that mirrors their website’s design without much customization. It’s perfect for businesses looking for a simple, fast mobile app launch that stays true to their existing Shopify store.
Key Features:
- Mirror Your Website: Converts your Shopify site into a mobile app with a design that closely reflects the original site.
- Push Notifications: Keep users engaged with targeted push notifications.
- Mobile Analytics: Gain insights into user behavior and app performance with in-built analytics.
- Custom Branding: Add your logo and brand colors to the app.
- Seamless Shopify Syncing: Automatically syncs with your Shopify store for real-time updates.
Pros:
- A quick and easy way to create an app that reflects your Shopify store’s design.
- Simple setup with real-time syncing of products and orders.
- Great if you want to maintain consistency between your web and mobile platforms.
Cons:
- Offers fewer customization options compared to more advanced builders like Tapcart or Plobal Apps.
- Limited flexibility in terms of design and functionality beyond replicating your website.
Pricing:
MobiLoud pricing starts around $199/month, with a higher-tier plan available for more advanced features and support.
Why It’s Good for Your Store:
If you’re looking for a simple and fast way to create a mobile app that closely matches your existing Shopify website, MobiLoud is an excellent option. Its seamless syncing and mobile-native features make it a solid choice for stores that want to enhance their mobile presence without overhauling their brand’s design.
Read More: Top 7 Best Shopify Apps for Inventory Sync
How to Choose the Best Mobile App Builder for Your Shopify Store
With so many great options, choosing the right Shopify mobile app builder can feel overwhelming. Here’s how to narrow down the best option based on your store’s needs and goals:
1. Consider Your Budget
The cost of mobile app builders can range significantly. If you’re a startup or small business, consider budget-friendly options like MageNative or Convertify. For larger stores with more advanced needs, Plobal Apps or Tapcart might be worth the investment.
2. Think About Customization Needs
If branding is a priority and you want an app that fully reflects your store’s aesthetic, go for builders that offer extensive customization options, like Tapcart or Shopney. These platforms allow you to tailor the design to match your Shopify store’s look and feel.
3. Evaluate Feature Sets
What features are critical for your app? If you’re looking for live selling, Vajro stands out. If you need advanced marketing tools, Plobal Apps offers some of the best automation and deep-linking features. If performance and offline access are essential, Shopney could be the best fit.
4. Check Third-party Integrations
If you rely on third-party tools for marketing, email campaigns, or customer engagement, make sure the app builder supports these integrations. For example, Plobal Apps integrates with tools like Klaviyo and Google Analytics, while Tapcart works seamlessly with a wide range of Shopify apps.
5. App Size and Scale
Consider the size of your store. If you’re an enterprise-level business with a large product catalog and high traffic, Shopgate is a solid choice due to its scalable infrastructure. For smaller stores, JCurve or Convertify provide simpler, faster solutions.
6. Support and Maintenance
Look at the customer support options available with each app builder. If you’re new to mobile apps, you’ll want access to ongoing support. Builders like Shopney and Plobal Apps offer excellent customer support and onboarding services, ensuring your app runs smoothly.
7. User Experience
Remember that a good mobile app isn’t just about looks—it’s about functionality and ease of use. Builders like Shopney and Vajro excel at providing a smooth, fast mobile experience for users, which is key to keeping customers engaged.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I really need a mobile app if my Shopify store is mobile-friendly?
While having a mobile-friendly website is essential, a mobile app takes the shopping experience to the next level. Apps offer better speed, push notifications, offline access, and improved user engagement. Plus, apps tend to have higher conversion rates compared to mobile websites because of their smoother experience and personalized interactions.
How long does it take to launch a mobile app using one of these builders?
The time to launch depends on the app builder you choose and the complexity of your customizations. Builders like Vajro, JCurve, and Convertify allow you to create an app within a few hours to a couple of days. More advanced platforms like Tapcart or Plobal Apps might take longer, especially if you’re adding deeper customizations or integrations, but generally, you can expect to launch within a week or two.
Are there any hidden costs associated with these apps?
While most builders are transparent about their pricing, it’s important to consider potential additional costs such as app store fees, advanced features, or integrations. For example, the Apple App Store charges $99/year for hosting your app, and Google Play Store charges a one-time fee of $25. Some features, like additional push notifications or in-depth analytics, may also come with premium plans.
Can these app builders handle high traffic and large product catalogs?
Yes, platforms like Shopgate and Plobal Apps are specifically designed to handle high-traffic stores and large inventories. They offer scalable infrastructure to ensure smooth performance even with thousands of SKUs or high traffic volumes. Smaller platforms like Convertify and MageNative work well for small to mid-size stores but might not be ideal for very large businesses.
Will I need to hire a developer to manage my app?
No, one of the biggest advantages of using Shopify mobile app builders is that you don’t need any technical knowledge or a developer to manage your app. Builders like Vajro, Tapcart, and JCurve are designed to be user-friendly, with drag-and-drop interfaces that anyone can use. However, if you want custom features or deep integrations, some app builders offer professional support or you can hire a developer for advanced customizations.
Conclusion
By now, you should have a clear understanding of the best Shopify mobile app builders available, their features, and how they can benefit your store. Whether you’re just starting out or running an enterprise-level operation, there’s a mobile app builder that fits your needs.
Take advantage of free trials offered by most of these app builders to see which platform works best for your store. Building a mobile app can help you stay competitive, improve customer engagement, and increase your sales—all with relatively low effort thanks to these powerful tools.
