How the Shopify API for Mobile Apps Works (And Why It’s Important)

If you're exploring a mobile app for your Shopify store, you'll find there are two ways brands have traditionally done this: custom app development, or no-code Shopify mobile app builders.

Both approaches use the Shopify Storefront API to pull data from your store and display it inside the app. Product titles, images, prices, collections, cart functionality, and checkout all flows through the API. 

The app is essentially a separate frontend that queries Shopify's backend for data, then renders it in its own interface.

While the API-driven approach might seem like it makes the most sense for your app, it actually comes with some notable downsides. We’ll explore this and more below.

What is the Shopify Storefront API & How Does It Work?

API stands for Application Programming Interface. It’s essentially a piece of code that lets software applications communicate with each other and share data, and is commonly used for websites or apps to get data from an external tool or server.

Shopify provides a number of APIs that allow third-party developers to create software applications for Shopify stores, or for Shopify businesses to extend the capabilities of their own store.

Most relevant if you're building a mobile app for a Shopify store is the Storefront API - a GraphQL API designed for customer-facing experiences. It handles:

• Product data - titles, descriptions, images, variants, pricing
• Collections - product groupings and basic sort orders
• Cart and checkout - creating carts, adding items, initiating checkout
• Customer accounts - login, order history, saved addresses
• Search - basic product search queries

In basic terms, it's what allows your mobile app to share data with your web storefront.

To use it, you generate access credentials through a custom app in Shopify Admin, configure API scopes (what data the app can access), and retrieve a Storefront API access token. The API works with iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter, and any language that can make HTTP requests.

‍Shopify’s documentation has instructions on how to generate API credentials. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Start by creating a custom app in the Settings section of your Shopify Admin panel.
• Now configure your API access scopes (what the API can do - such as read and modify checkouts, read content, read and modify customer details).
• Install the app.
• Go to “API credentials”, where you’ll see your Storefront API access token, which you’ll use in your application.

All this is relevant if you’re building a custom app. If you’re using an app builder, it’s not really important. But it is important to get the background on how your app operates.

Build a Mobile App with the Shopify API (Why It's Not Always Optimal)

If you're building a custom mobile app (an app built from scratch, with a framework like React Native, Flutter, or native Swift/Kotlin builds), or you're using a Shopify app (one of the dozens of mobile app builders in the Shopify App Store), you're likely using the Storefront API.

We cover these approaches in more detail in our complete guide to Shopify mobile app development. But to save you a click, here’s a quick summary of what happens with each approach, followed by the pros and cons of using the Shopify API to build an app.

Custom Development

Building a custom app means using mobile programming languages or frameworks to create a native mobile app, and using the API to link this app with your Shopify store.

Popular frameworks and languages for ecommerce apps include:

• Swift (for iOS only)
• Java/Kotlin (for Android)
• React Native (cross-platform)
• Flutter (cross-platform)

If you want to build a custom app, you’ll need a team of developers. You could bring them in on a permanent basis, hire freelancers, or contract an agency to supply the developers to build your app.

Custom development allows the most flexibility when building an app, but it’s also extremely expensive, time-consuming and complicated.

You’ll not only need to build a mobile UI from scratch, but build custom integrations for any Shopify apps or tools you use on your site.

Expect this to cost $100,000 minimum - not including ongoing maintenance after you launch, which can easily by 5 or 6 figures per year.

Shopify App Builders

The other option is to use a Shopify app builder, which is a no-code tool that’s already integrated with the Shopify API.

These tools let you build a mobile app yourself, without coding or hiring developers, with pre-built templates and a drag-and-drop builder.

App builders are more convenient and much cheaper than building custom apps from scratch, and are more likely to work within the budget and capabilities of small or medium-sized eCommerce businesses.

However, they’re also very limiting, and you may find it difficult to create the ideal app for your store. Many of these limits are due to the Shopify API itself, which we’ll discuss in more detail in the next section.

Pros and Cons of the Shopify API

One of the reasons Shopify is the biggest ecommerce platform in the world is the breadth of tools they provide for developers - including the Storefront API.

But for building a mobile app, there’s some downside to doing it via the API.

Let’s take a closer look.

The Pros

• Stable, well-constructed with good documentation.
• Works with a variety of programming languages and frameworks.
• Scalable, with a high level of security and no rate limits.
• A convenient way to integrate the basic necessities of your store in a mobile app.

The Cons

• Building custom mobile apps with the API requires a high level of technical expertise.
• There are limits to what the API allows you to do; syncing things like order details and simple product information is easy, but more precise features (such as complex collections, sort orders and checkout flows) are limited with the API.
• Some apps or plugins aren’t supported by the API.
• The API won’t support any custom features you’ve built on your Shopify store.

Rainbow Shops ran into issues with their app, which was built with an API-based app builder, as their VP of Ecommerce and Marketing, David Cost, says:

“The Shopify API only enables certain things and all the major providers of apps for Shopify had limitations that the Shopify API would not let them get around.”

Rainbow had problems integrating the extensive optimizations they had made with collections and product variations in their app, due to the limitations of the API. These changes had proven to make a significant impact on conversions on the website, so it put a cap on the potential of their mobile app.

The Better Option: Convert Your Shopify Store Into a Mobile App with MobiLoud

If you want a mobile app that fully syncs with your Shopify store, without the limitations of the Storefront API, MobiLoud is the best way to do it.

MobiLoud is a managed service that converts websites into mobile apps. The apps look and feel just as good as custom mobile apps, and are fully synchronized with your website, but without relying on any APIs.

We reuse most of what is already on your website - the same design, product information, apps and integrations - and mix it with native features to give a proper native look and feel to your mobile apps.

This offers a lot more flexibility and fewer limitations, without the headache and expense of hiring developers.

MobiLoud has helped over 2,000 online brands create high-quality mobile apps, including many high revenue Shopify stores (check out some examples here). These brands get fast, full-featured apps, with no limitations and less work to maintain than an API-powered mobile app.

What Makes MobiLoud a Better Option?

MobiLoud is ideal for ecommerce businesses, because your app doesn’t need to do anything significantly different to your website.

If you have a well-optimized and responsive mobile website, you’re 90% of the way to having the perfect mobile app. All that’s needed are some small UI tweaks, and integration with native mobile push notifications.

Custom development is overkill for Shopify sites, while app builders limit you too much.

Here’s more reasons why MobiLoud is the best way for Shopify stores to launch a mobile app:

• We convert everything from your website into the app, including all apps and integrations and custom features.
• No integration limits or hidden fees to use specific Shopify apps (Klaviyo, Yotpo, Gorgias, Recharge, etc) in your mobile app.
• It’s fully managed - virtually nothing for you or your team to do.
• Fast and affordable - launch in less than a month, for a minimal investment.
• There’s no rebuilding required, and all your website features work seamlessly, out of the box.
• Your app updates as your site does - no difficulties or inefficiencies trying to stay consistent across app and website.
• There’s minimal overhead, as you don’t need to manage the app separately.
• Unlimited push notifications are included and built in, using leading push provider OneSignal.
• App maintenance and updates are included.
• App store submission is done for you.

How to Build a Shopify Mobile App with MobiLoud

With MobiLoud, you can get a full-featured mobile app for your Shopify store, live in a matter of weeks.

Start with a free preview and consultation, where you’ll get to see what your app could look like, and walk through the process.

From there, it’s all done for you. The build, testing, app store submission, as well as ongoing maintenance, handled by MobiLoud’s team.

You’ll get a custom app, running on your existing storefront, fully synced with your site, with none of the constraints of Shopify’s API.

It’s a better way to launch custom mobile apps for a Shopify store.

Book your free preview now and start building your hassle-free Shopify mobile app, with no limitations and no risk.