How to Turn Your Shopify Store into a Mobile App (Step-by-Step)

Why Turn Your Shopify Store into a Mobile App?

Shopify powers over four million online stores worldwide, and the vast majority of their traffic comes from mobile devices. Yet most Shopify stores rely entirely on their mobile website for these customers. The data is clear: native mobile apps convert three times better than mobile websites, reduce cart abandonment by over 75 percent, and generate three to four times higher customer lifetime value.

If you are serious about maximizing revenue from your Shopify store, a dedicated mobile app is one of the highest-ROI investments you can make.

What You Need Before Starting

Before building your Shopify mobile app, ensure you have:

• An active Shopify store on any plan (Basic, Shopify, or Advanced)
• At least 10 published products with complete descriptions and images
• A Shopify API access token — generated from your Shopify admin under Apps > Develop apps
• Your brand assets — Logo file, brand colors (hex codes), and app icon image (1024 by 1024 pixels)
• Apple Developer account (99 dollars per year) for iOS publishing
• Google Play Developer account (25 dollars one-time) for Android publishing

You do not need any coding experience, technical knowledge, or design skills.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Sign Up for BrewmyApp

Create your free account at BrewmyApp. No credit card required. You can design and preview your app completely free before committing to a build.

Step 2: Connect Your Shopify Store

In the BrewmyApp dashboard, select Shopify as your platform and enter your store's myshopify.com URL. You will be prompted to install the BrewmyApp app from the Shopify App Store or generate API credentials manually.

Once connected, BrewmyApp automatically imports:

• Your complete product catalog with all images, descriptions, and pricing
• Product variants, options, and inventory levels
• Collections and categories
• Store settings including currency, language, and shipping zones

This process typically takes one to five minutes depending on your catalog size.

Step 3: Configure Your App Settings

Set up the foundational elements of your app:

• App name — Usually your store name. This appears on the home screen under your app icon and in the App Store and Google Play listings.
• App icon — Upload a 1024 by 1024 pixel image. This should be your logo on a solid background color. Avoid text-heavy icons as they are illegible at small sizes.
• Splash screen — The loading screen shown when the app first opens. Use your logo on your brand's primary color.
• Primary and accent colors — Match your Shopify theme's color scheme for brand consistency.

Step 4: Design Your Home Screen

The home screen is the most important screen in your app. Use the visual editor to arrange sections:

• Hero banner — A full-width promotional banner linking to your current sale or new collection. Update this regularly to keep the home screen fresh.
• Collection carousel — A horizontal row of your product collections with images. Customers tap to browse specific collections.
• Featured products — A grid of your bestselling or highest-margin products.
• Promotional cards — Secondary banners for specific offers, new arrivals, or seasonal content.
• New arrivals — The latest products added to your store.

Arrange these sections in the order that drives the most engagement. Hero banner first, followed by collections, then featured products.

Step 5: Configure Navigation

Set up your bottom tab bar with three to five tabs:

1. Home — Your curated home screen
2. Shop — Full product catalog with collection browsing
3. Cart — Shopping cart with item count badge
4. Account — Login, order history, wishlist, and settings
5. Search (optional) — Dedicated search for stores with large catalogs

Step 6: Preview on Your Device

Before building, preview your app on your actual phone using BrewmyApp's preview feature. Test every aspect:

• Browse products and verify images and prices are correct
• Add items to cart and test the checkout flow
• Navigate between tabs and verify all sections load properly
• Check that your color scheme and branding look correct on a real device
• Test search functionality with different product queries

Make adjustments in the visual editor until everything meets your standards.

Step 7: Build Your App

When you are satisfied with the preview, initiate a build. BrewmyApp compiles native iOS and Android apps using React Native. The build process typically takes 15 to 30 minutes.

Step 8: Submit to App Stores

Once your build completes, you will receive downloadable app files ready for submission:

• iOS: An IPA file for submission to the Apple App Store via App Store Connect
• Android: An AAB file for submission to Google Play via the Google Play Console

BrewmyApp provides step-by-step guidance for the submission process, including recommended App Store descriptions, screenshot specifications, and metadata requirements.

Apple typically reviews apps within 24 to 48 hours. Google Play reviews usually complete within a few hours to one day.

For a detailed guide on the publishing process, see How to Publish Your Ecommerce App to the App Store and Google Play.

Step 9: Launch and Promote

Once your app is approved and live on the stores, drive downloads:

• Add a smart banner to your Shopify website prompting mobile visitors to download the app
• Send an email announcement to your customer list
• Post on social media with app download links
• Include QR codes in packaging inserts
• Offer an app-exclusive discount for first-time app purchases

Shopify-Specific Features

BrewmyApp's Shopify integration includes features specific to the Shopify ecosystem:

• Shopify Payments support — Native integration with Shopify's payment processing
• Discount codes — Full support for Shopify discount codes and automatic discounts
• Collection-based navigation — Your Shopify collections map directly to app categories
• Variant handling — Size, color, and custom options with variant-specific images
• Inventory tracking — Real-time sync with Shopify's inventory management
• Multi-location inventory — Support for Shopify's multi-location fulfillment
• Customer accounts — Login with existing Shopify customer credentials

Timeline and Costs

Timeline

• Account setup and store connection: 15 minutes
• App design and customization: 1 to 4 hours
• Preview and testing: 30 minutes to 1 hour
• Build: 15 to 30 minutes
• App Store review: 1 to 3 days
• Total: Your app can be live within a week

Costs

• BrewmyApp subscription: See current pricing
• Apple Developer account: 99 dollars per year
• Google Play Developer account: 25 dollars one-time
• No development costs, no per-transaction fees, no hidden charges

Compare this to custom app development costs of 30,000 to 200,000 dollars.

Common Questions

Will my Shopify theme affect the app?

No. Your app is independent of your Shopify theme. The app pulls product data, collections, and order information through the Shopify API. The visual design is controlled entirely through BrewmyApp's editor.

What happens when I add new products?

New products added to your Shopify store automatically appear in your app through real-time sync. No manual updates needed.

Can I keep my existing Shopify apps and plugins?

Yes. Your Shopify store continues to function exactly as before. The mobile app is an additional sales channel that works alongside your existing setup.

Do I need to manage two inventories?

No. Your Shopify inventory is the single source of truth. The mobile app reads and writes to the same inventory, so stock levels are always synchronized across all channels.

Get Started Now

Create your free account and see your Shopify store as a mobile app in minutes.

Related reads:

• The Real Cost of Building a Shopify Mobile App
• 10 Signs Your Shopify Store Needs a Mobile App
• Best Shopify Mobile App Builders Compared
• Shopify Push Notifications for Sales and Retention
• Reduce Cart Abandonment with a Shopify Mobile App