Running your store on Elastic Path means you've chosen a platform built for composable commerce. You get an API-first foundation that lets you control how customers experience your brand, with the flexibility to customize your storefront for performance and conversions.
As you optimize your store and attract more customers, mobile becomes the clear next growth channel. Your most engaged customers deserve a faster, more convenient way to shop, and an app keeps your brand one tap away on their phone.
But unlike monolithic platforms like Shopify with plug-and-play app builders, Elastic Path doesn't offer a native solution for turning your store into an app.
Most brands on Elastic Path end up hiring developers to recreate their entire storefront in separate codebases for iOS and Android. This takes months and often costs well into six figures. Or worse, every time you add a feature or update your website, you need to rebuild that change in both apps to keep everything in sync.
But you don't have to start from zero. With MobiLoud, you can turn your existing Elastic Path storefront into native iOS and Android apps without rebuilding from scratch.
This guide shows you exactly how to do that. We'll cover why custom app development creates so much unnecessary work and expense, how Mobiloud actually works, and what kind of timeline you're looking at.
The Challenge: Why It’s Hard to Build Mobile Apps for Elastic Path
On platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, no-code app builders can turn your web store into a mobile app with minimal technical work. These tools exist because these platforms follow standardized templates.
Elastic Path doesn't have that because your store is built from composable microservices, not a single template. Catalogs, cart, checkout, payments, and orders are all separate services connected through APIs.
The Custom Development Path
Going the custom route means building native apps with Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android, or adopting a cross-platform framework like React Native or Flutter. Either way, you're rebuilding everything in completely different technology.
For enterprise ecommerce, initial custom development costs typically run between $150,000 and $450,000 or more, depending on your store's complexity.
The timeline is equally demanding with development taking at least 6 to 12 months for a basic version, with full feature parity often requiring a year or more beyond that.
Ongoing Maintenance After Launch
When you maintain native mobile apps alongside your website, you're running two separate codebase that need constant coordination.
When you launch a promotion or refresh your product pages, you're doubling your development work and testing cycles.
For most mid-market retailers, this duplication costs $100,000 to $200,000 annually in ongoing development, bug fixes, OS updates, and maintaining feature parity across platforms.
But the financial cost isn't even the real problem. The operational drag is what truly hurts.
Your team gets stuck in endless coordination cycles. A change that goes live on your website today might not reach mobile app users for two weeks, delayed by separate development cycles and App Store reviews.
The Solution: Ship a Native App with MobiLoud
MobiLoud helps Elastic Path brands launch native iOS and Android apps without starting from scratch. Instead of rebuilding your entire store in a separate codebase, you get a full native app that works by using your storefront as its source of truth.
Native Interface Elements
Your app includes native features for both iOS and Android. This means you get tab bar navigation at the bottom of the screen, native headers at the top, and swipe gestures that work the way users expect. You also get a branded splash screen when the app opens and everything required to pass App Store and Google Play review.
Keep Your Website and App in Sync
When you update your storefront, those changes appear in the mobile app automatically. You won't need to maintain two separate codebases or release app updates every time you make a change to your store
Launch in Weeks, Not Months
Most brands go live on the App Store and Google Play in about four weeks.
We handle everything for you: configuring the app, testing login and checkout, submitting to both app stores, and managing the App Store submission and review process.
Use Push Notifications to Bring Customers Back
MobiLoud gives you native push notifications, one of the biggest advantages of having an app. You'll connect a provider like Klaviyo or OneSignal, and we'll walk you through the setup during onboarding.
Once configured, you can send them as one-time campaigns when you launch new products, run sales, or want to highlight items based on what someone has viewed or purchased before.
You can also set them up to trigger automatically when someone leaves items in their cart, when products they viewed come back in stock, or when prices drop on items they've looked at.
The MobiLoud 4-Step Process
MobiLoud builds and maintains your mobile apps so you don't have to hire developers or manage a second codebase.
1. Consultation
Start with a free demo with a MobiLoud app expert. We’ll talk through your goals, walk you through how the platform works, and share relevant examples from other brands.
2. App Setup and Configuration
We configure everything needed to get your app ready for the App Store and Google Play. This includes setting up your app icon and launch screen, adding mobile navigation like bottom tabs, and optimizing how your content displays on mobile devices.
3. Build and Publish
We create your iOS and Android app files, set up features like push notifications, and handle the entire App Store and Google Play submission process to get your apps approved and listed.
4. Launch and Ongoing Support
Once your apps are live, we handle all ongoing maintenance and updates. When Apple and Google release new iOS and Android versions, we ensure your apps remain compatible and fully functional so nothing breaks for your customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it work with my custom React frontend?
Yes. MobiLoud works with any web technology stack. Whether you built your storefront with React, Next.js, Vue, Angular, vanilla JavaScript, or any other framework, it will work in the app. As long as your storefront loads properly in a mobile browser, it will work with MobiLoud.
Will my Elastic Path checkout work?
Yes, your checkout flow works the same way it does on your mobile website, which means you can keep your existing payment gateway and checkout UX.
How do push notifications work with headless?
MobiLoud integrates with push notification platforms like OneSignal and Klaviyo. If you do not already use one, our team will help you choose and set it up during onboarding. Once it is connected, you can use your push platform to send one-off campaigns and build automated flows that trigger based on your customers’ behavior, using the same events and data you already track on your site.
What happens if I change my Elastic Path API keys?
Because the app experience is tied to your storefront, backend or key changes are handled the same way you handle them for the web. If your website works, the app experience continues to work without requiring you to ship a separate app update for routine storefront changes.
Add Native Apps to Your Elastic Path Store
MobiLoud helps Elastic Path brands launch native iOS and Android apps without rebuilding your store from scratch.
As customer acquisition costs climb, a native app provides a direct line to your customers. Push notifications and a home-screen icon make returning to your store effortless.
With MobiLoud, you won't juggle multiple codebases or duplicate development work. Your existing Elastic Path storefront powers everything: both your website and native apps, while delivering the premium mobile experience today's shoppers expect.
Ready to get started? Book a free consultation today and see how we can turn your store into an app in around 4 weeks.
