How To Turn Shopify Store Into a Mobile App?

eCommerce has completely transformed how people do online shopping. Moreover, it has hugely affected the shopping habits of customers. Now, customers love to purchase most things from the comfort of the couch.

It has become essential for a small to a large online retail store to adopt the latest eCommerce trends. “If not, they will be not in the race anymore.”

If you also want to grow in the eCommerce world, then implement the trending things per the audience’s needs.

“One of the primary trends is to have a mobile app for your Shopify store.”

If you still hesitate, we will discuss several reasons why you should turn your Shopify store into a mobile app.

So, let’s start.

Why Turn Shopify Store into Mobile App?

• According to heady.io, 57% of users like to shop from mobile apps compared to the other channels. Considering this, if you own a Shopify store, you should build a mobile app to sell your products online.
• Moreover, it is also correct that mobile sites can’t help you enhance user engagement and retention. You have to launch a mobile app for the Shopify store to stay in line with the competitors and provide a better experience to the users.

Apart from this, you can provide a wide range of benefits to the customers:

• Offer more value to the users.
• Create a direct and personalized marketing channel through push notifications.
• Provide top-notch customer support via different mediums.
• It helps you to lower abandonment rates.
• Reach out to the customers efficiently and also enhance customer loyalty.
• Offer unique features and services to customers and more.

3 Ways to Turn Your Shopify Store into a Mobile App

Here we have explained different ways to turn your Shopify store into a mobile app and their benefits. Check them in detail and choose the best as per your needs.

1. Develop a Mobile App from Scratch

To build an app from scratch, you must go with custom mobile app development. Here, the development team you hire understands your business and develops a mobile app that helps you achieve business goals.

Key Benefits of Custom App Development

Here are some benefits of converting your store into an app with custom app development.

You are the sole owner of your app: All the essential documents, images, videos, resources, etc., belong to you.

Unique Design: With custom development, you can design your app effectively and offer a top-notch experience to the users.

High Scalability: Apps built with a plugin or SaaS platform offer little scalability. On the other hand, you can efficiently scale an app developed using a custom development approach.

Enhanced Security: You have the freedom to store all of your necessary data in a secure place.

100% Customizable: In custom development, you can update the app per your business requirements and needs. It helps you to analyze all the essential things about your app. You can keep things that users love and remove all that users don’t like. You can also add features based on your potential audience’s needs or trending features available in the market. It helps you to reach a wider audience and grow your business.

Easy to Maintain: In the case of a custom app development approach, you own the app and maintain it accordingly.

Is Custom App Development the Best Approach to Turn Shopify Store into Mobile App?

It is the best approach for converting your Shopify store into a mobile app. When choosing a custom app development approach, you can easily convert your store into a successful mobile app.

Also, you will not face any issues in scaling your mobile app. However, you will need to hire a mobile app development company that develops your Shopify store app from scratch. You need to invest more time and money than a plugin or a SaaS platform.

2. Using 3rd-Party Shopify Premium Plugins

Plugins available on the Shopify App Store are called Shopify Apps. Generally, these plugins are built by developers or a team. You can utilize them to convert your store into a mobile app.

Key Benefits of 3rd-Party Shopify Apps

There are many benefits of converting your Shopify store into a mobile app using plugins. They are as follows:

• Cost-effective: When you have a low budget but want to reach a wider audience, go with this option. You need to invest significantly less in a plugin. You have to pay monthly, and you are good to go.
• Access data: With these plugins, you can easily access the eCommerce store’s data.
• Quick Development: Plugins are the best option if you have less time. You can also create one within some days. Then you have to spend time launching the app.
• Personalized Marketing: These plugins are built to take your marketing to the next level. It further assists you in enhancing sales revenue.
• You don’t have to be a specialist: Even if you have a non-technical background, you can convert your store into a mobile app using the plugins.

Now, let’s check some of the most popular online plugins to turn the Shopify store into a mobile app.

1. Vajro – Mobile App Builder

Vajro is one of the most popular eCommerce plugins to convert your store into a mobile app. You don’t have to do any coding.

It allows you to use the drag-and-drop elements to customize and develop a best-in-class Android or iOS Shopify store app.

With the help of push notifications, the plugin allows you to reduce cart abandonment rates, release new products, etc.

Rating: 5/5
Price: Starts from $99 per to $399 per month.

2. MageNative Shopify Mobile App

MageNative is another plugin that helps you convert your Shopify store into a feature-reach Android or iOS app.

It ensures that your app synchronizes well with the categories, products, etc. Moreover, the mobile app is fully compatible with the Magento store. The purpose of MageNative is to help businesses increase engagement and conversation through the mobile app.

Rating: 4.8/5
Free Trial: 30 Days
Cost: Starts from $29

3. Shopney – Mobile App Builder

Shopney is another well-known Shopify plugin for converting your store into a mobile app. It is the best solution for businesses that want to design a personalized mobile store, increase sales and move their business forward.

It allows you to convert your store into an Android or iOS app within a day. It has many unique features to build a customized app efficiently.

Rating: 5/5
Cost: Start from $99 per month

Are Shopify Plugins the Best Way to Turn Shopify Store into App?

It depends on what you need. In the case of plugins, you are not the sole owner of the app you build with a plugin. Your app belongs to the plugin owner.

If you have a limited budget, plugins are the best option. Here, you just rent or pay a monthly fee.

There is no technical support whenever required. Yes, some plugins offer good support. Generally, the support is available for a limited time, after which you will need to pay.

3. Using an App Builder (Saas Platform)

SaaS stands for Software as a Service. It is a cloud-based service where you can access the software without worrying about installation and maintenance. This service is mainly available through different subscriptions.

In this model, as most things are available as ready-made modules, they are called constructors. The provider looks after the entire application and its security, availability, and performance.

Key Benefits of the SaaS Platform

Affordable: You don’t have to pay for hardware or maintenance costs. Moreover, it works on the pay-as-you-go model.

No coding skills needed: You don’t require any technical skills. You can utilize various layouts and modules available in SaaS to initiate development. Moreover, these platforms allow you to integrate different features available in eCommerce stores.

24*7 Accessibility: You can access a SaaS platform from any internet browser on any device.

Scalability: It allows you to scale your app anytime per your need.

Analytics: With the help of analytics, you can access the various essential report of your app.

Let us go through some popular app builders to turn the Shopify store into an app.

Are SaaS Platforms the Best Way to Turn Shopify App into Mobile App?

In this case, you are not the owner of the app you develop. When you choose to go with a SaaS solution, you are bound to it. It means you have less freedom to migrate your store.

To migrate to another software provider, you must build your app again. The SaaS platform you choose doesn’t provide you with complete customization.

To integrate new features, you must wait for the software provider to release trending features.

You get limited support for any queries. To get more help, you have to pay extra charges.

Built Shopify Store App Through Custom Development: What’s Next?

Mere building a Shopify Store app does not guarantee you get rapid growth in your product sale. You will need to promote your Shopify store mobile app using multiple channels to attract customers to install your app.

But how do you promote your Shopify Store App?

Some of the essential tips to promote your Shopify store app is creating a catchy CTA (Call-to-action) on your website for users to install your mobile app. Your Shopify store website is the best place to promote your mobile app. Another way to promote the Shopify store app can be by optimizing your App store listing and offering exclusive discounts only for app users.

Final Words

We hope you have understood the different ways of converting your Shopify store into an app. All three methods of turning the Shopify store into a mobile app have benefits and drawbacks.

Firstly, use a SaaS solution or plugins if you have a limited budget and want an immediate solution. Secondly, if you don’t have plans to update most things in the app, then also choose the SaaS platform or plugins.

Suppose you want to give next-level experience to your users and grow your business exponentially in a few years. In that case, you should contact a custom mobile app development service provider like us. We have delivered some of the best mobile apps to clients worldwide. Hence, we can understand your business briefly and provide you with the best possible solution that helps your business grow.

Frequently Asked Questions