Yes, you can turn a Shopify store into a native iOS and Android app without writing code. Install a Shopify mobile app builder, design the app on top of your synced products and collections, test it on your own phone, then submit it to the App Store and Google Play. With a builder, the publishing part takes days rather than months, and the cost is a monthly plan (entry plans that publish run from $79 to $500) plus $99 a year for Apple and a one-time $25 for Google Play. Custom development and progressive web apps (PWAs) are the two other routes, and we compare all three below.
Disclosure: SimiCart is our product, and we use it as the worked example in this guide. Every step shown comes from SimiCart’s own builder screens and its published FAQ. Prices for other apps come from their Shopify App Store listings, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Three routes: a no-code app builder (fastest and cheapest), custom development on Shopify’s Storefront API and Checkout Kit (most flexible, five to six figures), or a PWA (no app store listing).
- The builder route has seven steps: install and create a draft, design, preview on a real device, add languages, turn on features, choose a plan, and send a publish request.
- Building is free, publishing is not: SimiCart lets you build and preview at $0, and publishing to iOS and Android starts on Basic at $99/month with no success fee.
- Timeline: SimiCart processes a publish request within 48 hours, then Apple and Google typically take another 2 to 3 days.
- Use your own developer accounts if you can: they keep the listing, reviews and customers in your brand’s name. Apple’s rules for app generation services point the same way.
Can you turn your Shopify store into an app?
Yes. Shopify does not convert your store into a branded app by itself, but three well-documented routes get you there. They differ mostly in who does the building, so pick the route before you pick a vendor.
| Route | What you get | Typical cost | Time to launch | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No-code app builder | Native iOS and Android apps synced with your Shopify store | $79 to $500/month for the first plan that publishes, plus store fees | Days to a few weeks | Most small and mid-size stores |
| Custom development | Fully custom apps built on Shopify’s Storefront API and Checkout Kit | $6,500 to $120,000+ to build, plus 15% to 25% a year to maintain (CartCoders, 2026) | Months | Brands with unique features and a dev team or agency |
| Progressive web app (PWA) | An installable version of your mobile site, no app store listing | Varies by app or theme | Days | Stores that want a lighter step before a native app |
Why bother at all? Shoppers already buy on phones: Adobe reported that 56.4% of US online holiday transactions in the 2025 season happened on a smartphone, up from 54.5% a year earlier. An app adds push notifications, a home screen icon and a logged-in session. If you are still deciding whether it pays off, our guide to the features a Shopify mobile app needs is a good place to start.
What do you need before you convert your Shopify store to an app?
You need a working Shopify store, your brand assets, store listing copy, and ideally your own Apple and Google developer accounts. Gather these first.
- A clean catalog: products, collections and images as you want them to appear. The app reads them from Shopify, so fix them in Shopify, not in the app.
- Brand assets: logo, app icon, brand colors and fonts. Pick the icon carefully: on SimiCart it is the one thing that needs a new app version to change later.
- Listing copy: app title, short description, and the policies and support contact your store already has.
- Developer accounts (recommended): the Apple Developer Program costs $99 per year and a Google Play developer account costs a one-time $25.
- Time for Google’s testing rule: personal Google Play accounts created after November 13, 2023 must run a closed test with at least 12 opted-in testers for 14 days in a row before production access.
How to convert a Shopify store to a mobile app, step by step
With a no-code builder, you go from install to a published app in seven steps. The example below uses SimiCart’s Shopify mobile app builder, and the screenshots come from the builder inside Shopify admin. Most builders follow a similar flow.
Step 1: Install the builder and create your first app draft
Install the app from the Shopify App Store and open it from your Shopify admin. A “Welcome to SimiCart” checklist walks you through the setup, and the first item is creating an app draft: give it a name and choose a theme template, so you start from a working layout instead of a blank screen. You can duplicate a draft to try a second design.
Step 2: Design the app around your brand
Set your app colors (general, header, primary button, menu, product card) and fonts, then arrange the homepage with drag-and-drop design blocks such as banners, collections and a flash sale countdown. The Free plan includes 20 design blocks plus homepage and side menu customization, which is enough to build a complete first version. Pro raises the limit to 30 homepage blocks with customizable screens, and Premium to 50.
Step 3: Preview the app on a real device
Test on your own phone before anyone else sees the app. Download the SimiCart app for Shopify from the App Store or Google Play, go to Side Menu, then Live Preview, and scan the QR code the builder shows. Real device preview is included on the Free plan, so you can check speed, layout and checkout flow before paying anything.
Step 4: Add languages and currencies
If you sell in more than one market, translate the app interface. SimiCart ships pre-translated content for several languages, including English, Spanish, French and Arabic, and lets you edit any string; languages without a pre-translation can be filled in manually. Multiple languages and currencies are included on the Free plan.
Step 5: Turn on app features
The Features page lists what the app can do beyond browsing and checkout. From Basic you get unlimited push notifications, product reviews (for example through the Judge.me integration), a wishlist, custom product labels, live chat and quick add-to-cart. Pro adds a smart app banner that invites mobile web visitors to install the app, app-exclusive discounts and loyalty program integration. Check this page for the third-party apps you rely on: if one is not listed, it will not work inside the app yet, and you can ask the team to consider it.
Step 6: Choose a plan that publishes
Publishing to the App Store and Google Play starts on Basic at $99/month, and every paid plan has a 14-day free trial and no success fee on in-app sales. Billing runs through your Shopify invoice. The full plan comparison is on our SimiCart pricing page.
Step 7: Send the publish request
On the Publish screen, pick the draft, choose the publishing account, choose the market (Android, iOS or both) and fill in the listing details. If you use your own developer accounts, the screen tells you which SimiCart addresses to invite as admins. Then send the request.
Here is what happens next, per SimiCart’s FAQ: the team processes the request within 48 hours (slightly longer on weekends) and sends the finalized app to your store email for approval. After you confirm, SimiCart submits the app to Google and Apple, which typically takes another 2 to 3 days to go live.
After launch: what stays in sync
Updates to your Shopify data, such as products, prices, inventory and orders, show up in the app right away. Most design changes also take effect immediately without a new release; the app icon is the exception, because it requires publishing a new app version.
How do you make an Android app for a Shopify store?
Follow the same seven steps and choose Android (or both) as the market in Step 7. A Shopify Android app needs a Google Play developer account, which costs a one-time $25, and Google Play’s own review before it goes live.
Two Android-specific points are worth planning for. First, the testing rule: a personal Google Play account opened after November 13, 2023 must run a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 continuous days before you can publish to production. Second, store policy: Google may flag app names or listing metadata, as happened to Sweet City on its first submission; SimiCart’s team adjusted the app name and listing, and the app was approved on the second try, as described in the Sweet City launch story.
If you have developers and want to integrate Shopify with an Android app you build yourself, Shopify’s Mobile Buy SDK for Android is still maintained on GitHub and wraps the Storefront API for products, carts and customers. Pair it with Checkout Kit so Shopify handles payment and creates the order.
What changes for a Shopify iOS app?
An iOS app needs the Apple Developer Program at $99 per year and must pass App Review, which Apple says handles 90% of submissions in under 24 hours on average. Three App Store Review Guidelines matter most for a Shopify app:
- 4.2 Minimum Functionality: an app should include features, content and UI that elevate it beyond a repackaged website. A native app with push, wishlist and account features fits this better than a site wrapped in a web view.
- 4.2.6 Template and app generation services: Apple says apps from these services should be submitted by the provider of the app’s content, meaning your business. This is one reason we recommend publishing under your own Apple account.
- 3.1.3(e) Physical goods: apps selling physical products must use payment methods other than in-app purchase, such as Apple Pay or card entry, so Apple does not take a commission on your product sales.
What are the alternatives to an app builder?
The main alternatives are another builder, custom development, or a PWA. Each is the right call for some stores.
Other Shopify app builders
Dozens of builders on the Shopify App Store convert a Shopify store into an app, and they differ mostly in price, push limits and integrations. SimiCart’s Basic plan ($99/month) is cheaper to publish than Shopney ($149), Superfans ($150), Plobal ($199), Appbrew ($199) and Tapcart ($500), as listed on the Shopify App Store, October 2026. It is not the lowest price on the market: Hulk lists $79/month, and a few smaller builders list less. Tapcart’s higher tiers ($1,250 and $2,850) add A/B testing, advanced analytics and an uptime SLA that large brands may need.
To compare features side by side, use our Shopify app builder comparison hub or read the full review of the best Shopify mobile app builders.
Custom development
A custom app gives you full control over every screen. Developers build the storefront on Shopify’s Storefront API (products, search, cart, customer identity) and present Shopify checkout through Checkout Kit, available for iOS, Android and React Native. The trade-off is cost and upkeep: CartCoders estimated in January 2026 that a basic Shopify app costs $6,500 to $15,000, a mid-level app with a US or Canada team $40,000 to $120,000, and yearly maintenance 15% to 25% of the build cost.
Go custom when you need something no builder offers, such as a product configurator or deep ERP logic, and have a team to maintain it.
Progressive web app (PWA)
A PWA makes your mobile site installable on the home screen without going through the app stores. Since iOS and iPadOS 16.4, Home Screen web apps can also receive web push. The catch is discovery and habit: there is no App Store or Google Play listing, and shoppers have to add the site to their home screen themselves. A PWA is a sensible first step for a store that is not ready for a native app; our overview of Shopify PWA options covers the tools.
How much does it cost to turn a Shopify store into an app?
On a builder, plan for about $1,300 in the first year at the entry level. Here is how that adds up on SimiCart’s Basic plan, compared with the other routes.
| Cost line | SimiCart Basic | Tapcart Growth | Custom build (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building and preview | $0 (Free plan) | 7-day trial | $6,500 to $120,000+ |
| Plan or maintenance, 12 months | $1,188 ($99 x 12) | $6,000 ($500 x 12) | 15% to 25% of build cost |
| Apple Developer Program | $99/year | $99/year | $99/year |
| Google Play account | $25 once | $25 once | $25 once |
| Fee on in-app sales | None | Not listed (external charges may apply) | None (your own code) |
| First-year total | About $1,312 | About $6,124 | Five to six figures |
Budget separately for app marketing, design help and any paid integrations. Our full Shopify mobile app cost breakdown covers every line, including done-for-you services and three first-year scenarios.
How long does it take to convert a Shopify store to a mobile app?
On SimiCart, publishing usually takes under a week after you send the request: up to 48 hours to process it, then typically 2 to 3 days of store review. Design time depends on you. A realistic timeline looks like this:
| Stage | Who | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Draft, design, languages and features | You | Depends on how many changes you make; the builder is no-code |
| Preview and test on your phone | You | A day or two of real use is worth it |
| Process the publish request and send the finalized app for approval | SimiCart | Within 48 hours (slightly longer on weekends) |
| Store review and release | Apple and Google | Typically 2 to 3 days |
| Closed test for new personal Google Play accounts | You and Google | 14 days, only if the rule applies to your account |
Real launches match that range. Maison Regard, a French lash extension supplier, went live in February 2026 just days after onboarding, according to the Maison Regard case study.
What results have Shopify stores seen after launching an app?
Results vary by brand and audience, so treat these as examples, not forecasts. These are the numbers SimiCart merchants agreed to publish:
- SMFit (sportswear, Bulgaria, Pro plan): launched in September 2025, the app paid for itself within the first month and recorded 2,110 tracked installs. Read the SMFit case study.
- boutiqueJZ (luxury goods, Kuwait): launched in November 2025, 8,680 tracked installs and 5.0 stars on the App Store from 10 ratings. Read how boutiqueJZ evolved its app.
- Sweet City (confectionery, South Africa, UK and USA): the owner credits push notifications, including abandoned cart reminders, with boosting its marketing.
More merchant apps are on our customers page.
Tips before you submit your Shopify app
Three checks save a round of rejections.
- Make it app-like: turn on features a website cannot offer, such as push and wishlist, so the app passes Apple’s minimum functionality rule easily.
- Test checkout with real payment methods: local gateways sometimes need extra setup, as Sweet City found with Payflex and Payfast, which SimiCart fixed in 1 to 2 days.
- Plan the launch: announce the app on your homepage, in email and on social, and use a smart app banner and an app-only discount to convert mobile visitors. Our guide on marketing a Shopify mobile app has more tactics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn my Shopify store into an app for free?
You can build and preview the app for free, but publishing it costs money. On SimiCart, the Free plan covers building, customizing and previewing on a real device, and publishing to iOS and Android starts on Basic at $99/month. Publishing under your own accounts adds $99 a year for Apple and a one-time $25 for Google Play.
How long does it take to publish a Shopify mobile app?
After you send a publish request, SimiCart processes it within 48 hours (slightly longer on weekends) and sends the finalized app to your store email for approval. Once you confirm, Apple and Google typically take another 2 to 3 days to publish it. New personal Google Play accounts must also complete a 14-day closed test first.
Do I need my own Apple and Google developer accounts?
We recommend it. Publishing under your own Apple Developer Program ($99/year) and Google Play ($25 one-time) accounts keeps the app listing, reviews and customers in your brand’s name. If you do not have them yet, SimiCart can also publish the app under SimiCart’s developer accounts.
Will my products, prices and inventory sync with the app?
Yes. A Shopify app builder reads data from your store, so updates to products, prices, inventory and orders appear in the app right away.
Will my other Shopify apps work in the mobile app?
Only the ones the builder integrates with. In SimiCart, check the Features page in your Shopify admin for the current list, such as Judge.me product reviews and loyalty programs. If an app you need is missing, ask the team so it can be considered for a future integration.
Can I publish only an Android app or only an iOS app?
Yes. On SimiCart’s Publish screen you choose Android, iOS or both. Many stores start with both because the builder creates them from the same design, but you can launch one platform first.
Can I change the app after it is published?
Yes. Most changes you make in the builder take effect in the app immediately, without a new store submission. The app icon is the exception, because changing it requires publishing a new app version.
Which route should you choose?
Choose a no-code builder if you want a native iOS and Android app this month on a monthly budget. Choose custom development if you need features no builder has and can fund a team to maintain them. Choose a PWA if you want an installable mobile experience without an app store listing yet. If the builder route fits, you can build and preview your app for free with SimiCart and decide on a plan once you have seen it on your own phone.
