The Bottom Line: There are three ways to turn a Shopify store into a mobile app: no-code DIY builders, a managed website-to-app service like MobiLoud, or custom native development. For most Shopify and Shopify Plus brands, a managed service delivers the best balance of quality, speed, and cost, with your full store experience preserved.
You've built a Shopify store that works. You've spent years fine-tuning your theme, optimizing checkout, and getting every third-party app dialed in.
Now you want a mobile app to drive retention, repeat purchases, and higher AOV.
Or maybe you already have an app, and it's not living up to expectations. It's falling behind your website, your team spends hours keeping it updated, and the experience doesn't match what you've built on the web.
Either way, you don't need a six-figure custom build. Custom native development typically starts at $150K and takes 6-12 months, and ongoing maintenance alone can run $50K+ per year.
For Shopify brands, it's overkill. There’s virtually no reason to invest in a fully custom native app today.
The real decision comes down to two approaches: DIY app builders, or a website-to-app service. Here's what each path looks like, why the difference matters more than you might expect, and ultimately - the best way to create a mobile app for your Shopify store.
Why Turn Your Shopify Store into a Mobile App?
Mobile commerce now accounts for over 60% of all ecommerce traffic, and the gap between mobile browsing and mobile buying is where apps come in.
Shopify stores with a native mobile app consistently see 3-7x higher conversion rates than mobile web, along with 20-50% higher average order values and 3x higher LTV.
The reason is straightforward: apps remove friction, and keep your best customers closer. They’re more convenient for the customer, the app icon is a permanent reminder of your brand, and you can reach app users on their lock screen (for free) with push notifications.
Push notifications alone are reason enough to launch an app. It’s a direct, high-visibility marketing channel you don’t have access to without an app.
Brands using MobiLoud typically see push notifications become one of their highest-ROI channels within weeks of launching.
The question isn't whether a mobile app makes sense for your Shopify store. It's how to build one without wasting months and six figures doing it.
How to Turn Your Shopify Store into a Mobile App
There are three ways you can build a mobile app for your Shopify store:
- Custom development (a six-figure dev project, with a recurring bill likely $100K+ per year as well)
- Use a DIY app builder from the Shopify App Store
- Directly convert your Shopify store into an app with MobiLoud
The best option?
It's different for different brands. But we can rule out custom development for most brands.
It's just not efficient to spend potentially $250K+ on a custom mobile app. If you're Nike or Red Bull, maybe - you've got the resources to do it.
But for 99% of brands, the ROI is not there.
So you're left with two options:
DIY app builders; or a full website to app service like MobiLoud.
The decision comes down to one question: do you want to rebuild, or convert what already works?
DIY App Builders
The hundreds of Shopify mobile app builders that live in the app store (like Tapcart, Shopney, and others) take this approach:
- They connect to your Shopify store through Shopify's APIs
- You build a separate app experience using a drag-and-drop editor, and import the content from your store
The appeal is real. You get visual design tools, custom layouts, and the ability to create an app that looks different from your website.
For brands that want a completely custom app experience and have the team to build and manage it, these tools are a great way to do it.
But there are trade-offs that most brands don't discover until they're already live:
1. You're managing two platforms
Your website and your app are separate products. Every homepage update, new collection, and promotion needs to happen in both places.
That's typically 5-10 hours per week of hands-on management, which can translate to $800-$2,000/month in labor - on top of the subscription you pay for the tool.
2. Shopify's APIs don't return your storefront
They return product data. Your custom theme code, Liquid customizations, merchandising rules, and metafield-driven layouts don't carry over.
The app is built from the API's version of your store, not the one your customers actually see on the web.
3. Integration limits
DIY builders advertise lists of 50, 80, or 100+ supported third-party apps. That sounds comprehensive until you realize there are over 10,000 apps on the Shopify App Store.
If you use a tool that's not on the builder's list, it won't work in your app. And every integration between the builder and a third-party tool is a connection that can break when either side pushes an update.
4. Your app and your website won't match
If you've spent months optimizing sort order, product layouts, and custom features on your site, and those optimizations don't transfer to the app, that gap affects conversion rates.
For brands with heavily customized storefronts, even small differences add up.
"None of the app builders let us use our custom sort order due to API limitations. The impact on our revenue was so great, they lost our business over it."
-- David Cost, VP of Ecommerce & Marketing, Rainbow Shops
Are DIY app builders worth using?
Here's the honest answer: these Shopify app builders are really good ways to launch a mobile app.
They're massively cheaper than custom development, and the end result is good enough (at least; generally better).
If the comparison is DIY app builder vs custom build, app builder is the way to go.
And if you want the flexibility to build a unique user experience in your app, these tools are the best option.
But if you want a lower TCO (total cost of ownership), full feature parity with your website, and minimal maintenance overhead, there is a better option.
MobiLoud: Converting Your Shopify Store into an App
MobiLoud takes a different approach to every other Shopify mobile app builder.
Instead of rebuilding your store through Shopify's APIs, MobiLoud delivers your actual Shopify website inside a native iOS and Android app.
Everything you've built (theme, integrations, checkout, custom features) carries over automatically. When you update your website, the app updates too. There's no second platform to manage, no separate content to keep in sync, and no API limitations stripping out your customizations.
Native features are layered on top: push notifications, deep linking, native navigation, and app-exclusive experiences.
Your customers get native performance, push notifications, and deep linking, all running on top of the store you've already built.
And it's fully managed. MobiLoud handles the build, QA, App Store and Google Play submission, and ongoing maintenance. Your team doesn't need to learn a new platform or set aside hours each week for app management.
What About Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)?
A Progressive Web App is a website that behaves somewhat like a native app. It can be "installed" to a home screen, load faster through caching, and work offline in limited ways.
Shopify's Hydrogen framework supports PWA features out of the box.
PWAs are free to build on top of your existing site, and they don't require App Store or Google Play submission. But they have meaningful limitations for ecommerce:
- No presence in app stores (which means no discovery or credibility signal)
- Limited push notification support (only web push; not native)
- It's unclear how to add it to the home screen for most customers (few will realistically do it)
PWAs are a great way to improve your mobile web experience. But they're not a substitute for a real mobile app.
Why Shopify Brands Choose MobiLoud
MobiLoud offers something distinctly different to the other Shopify mobile app development solutions on the market.
Here’s what you get when you launch your Shopify mobile app with us.
Full Website Parity
Everything you've invested in (theme customizations, product pages, collections, merchandising rules, checkout optimizations, third-party apps) works in the mobile app from day one.
Your app customers get the same experience as your web customers, because the app is running your actual store.
This matters more than it might sound. For brands with complex, high-converting Shopify storefronts, the differences between your website and an API-rebuilt version of it can directly affect revenue.
Works with Your Entire Shopify Stack
MobiLoud is compatible with everything.
Shopify Plus, Checkout Extensibility, Shopify Functions, Hydrogen, and every third-party app you run.
Loyalty programs, review widgets, subscription tools, personalization engines, upsell apps.
Bottom line: if it works on your website, it works in your app. No integration list to check against. No limits tied to your pricing tier.
One Platform, Zero Duplicate Work
Update your website, and the app updates automatically. Launch a sale, swap your homepage banner, add a new collection, update your navigation. It's reflected in the app immediately.
No syncing. No second CMS. No worrying about whether the app matches the website.
Push Notifications That Drive Revenue
Native push notifications for iOS and Android. Not web push: real, native notifications that show up on the lock screen and bring customers back to your store.
Abandoned cart recovery, back-in-stock alerts, flash sale announcements, new arrival notifications, personalized offers.
For most brands, push notifications become one of the highest-ROI marketing channels within weeks of launching. Abandoned cart notifications, alone, have the potential to generate six figures per month in net-new revenue.
Fully Managed, Done-for-You
MobiLoud handles the build, App Store and Google Play submissions, QA testing across devices, ongoing maintenance, and OS updates.
Your team needs zero Shopify mobile app development expertise, nor a dedicated app manager.
This is a partnership, not a platform. If something breaks, we fix it. If Apple changes their guidelines, we handle it. If you want to adjust your app's navigation or add a feature, we take care of it.
Predictable Pricing
Our pricing starts at $799/month (we’ll give you an exact quote tailored to your needs).
There’s no revenue share. No per-transaction fees. No surprise charges as your app grows. The subscription includes the build, ongoing maintenance, updates, and support.
For most brands, the app pays for itself within the first month through higher conversion rates and more repeat purchases.
When a single automated abandoned cart push campaign can generate thousands in monthly revenue, the math works out quickly.
What the Results Look Like
These are real numbers from Shopify brands using MobiLoud:
- SLEEFS: 30% higher average order value, 40% higher conversion rate, and 3x more revenue per user compared to mobile web. The app also cut their operational overhead by 50%, since there's no separate platform to maintain.
- Pharmazone: 7x higher conversion rate than the website, with the app driving 63% of their total online revenue. Their abandoned cart push notifications convert at 22%.
- XCVI: 2x the conversion rate of mobile web, 30% higher average order value, and 4.8x higher revenue per user. The team also saves 10 hours per week by not having to manage a separate app experience.
- Bottle Stop: 5x higher customer lifetime value and 4x higher revenue per user from app customers. The app added 10% to total revenue, and because it runs their existing site, complex updates roll out to the app automatically.
As Bottle Stop CTO Damien Smith put it: "The fact that we can roll out quite complex solutions and updates to improve our experience for customers on the website, and that's immediately in the app, that's priceless."
Across MobiLoud's customers, the benchmarks are consistent: apps deliver 3.5-7x more revenue per user, up to 7x higher conversion rates, and 10-50% higher average order values compared to mobile web.
The mobile app typically accounts for 10-30% of total online revenue. For a brand doing $20M per year, that’s $2-$6M in annual revenue through your app; for a cost of low four-figures per month.
That’s a no-brainer.
How It Works: From Shopify Store to Native App in 30 Days
Here's how you can launch a full-featured mobile app for your Shopify store with MobiLoud:
1. Book Your Strategy Call
Get in touch with us and book a free consultation. We'll discuss your goals, answer your questions, and assess whether MobiLoud is the right fit. No commitment.
2. Get Your Custom App Preview
Our team builds a personalized preview of your native app. You'll see exactly how your Shopify store looks, feels, and performs as a native app, before you commit to anything.
3. Launch in 30 Days
We handle everything: build, QA, App Store and Google Play submission. Your app goes live while you focus on running your business.
We've built 2,000+ apps for brands like yours. You can go from first call to App Store in weeks, not months, for the cost of a slow morning’s sales.
Ready to see what’s possible? Get a free consultation now.
How Do You Get Customers to Download Your Shopify App?
Launching the app is only half the equation. The brands that see the strongest results promote their app across every customer touchpoint:
- Website banners and popups - A persistent banner on mobile web ("Get our app for exclusive deals") is the single biggest driver of installs for most brands.
- Email and SMS campaigns - Announce the app to your existing list. Offer a first-purchase incentive for app users (10% off, free shipping, loyalty points).
- Post-purchase and checkout prompts - After a customer completes an order, prompt them to download the app for order tracking and exclusive offers.
- App Store Optimization (ASO) - Optimize your App Store and Google Play listings with relevant keywords ("shopify store" isn't one of them; think about what your customers search for). Use high-quality screenshots showing real product pages, and encourage reviews from happy customers.
- Social media - Pin a "Download our app" post and include the link in your bio.
Realistically, 90% of it comes down to being available. You’ve got to show people you have an app. Your best customers will want to download it.
When you build your app with MobiLoud, we’ll help you set up and execute your launch plan; including adding smart banners and QR codes to your website, which we find drive the bulk of app downloads.
Your Shopify Store Is Already Great. Why Rebuild It for an App?
You've already done the hard work. Your checkout converts. Your integrations are dialed in. Your customer experience is optimized.
MobiLoud turns what you've already built into a native iOS and Android app, with push notifications, native performance, and a fully managed service behind it. No duplicate work. No API limitations. No rebuilding.
Book a free 30-minute strategy call to talk through your goals, and see if MobiLoud is the right way for you to launch a mobile app for your Shopify store.
