Shopify App Development: Public vs Custom Apps and When You Need One
When your Shopify store needs a custom app, the difference between public and custom apps, common use cases and how Shopify app development works.
Shopify's App Store has thousands of apps, so why would a store need one built just for it? Because at a certain size, stacking generic apps creates cost, conflicts and slow pages, and your workflows stop fitting someone else's product.
Key takeaways
- Custom apps solve store-specific workflows that generic apps handle poorly.
- Integrations with ERPs and warehouses are the most common reason to build one.
- Fewer, better apps usually means a faster store.
- Shopify's extension points let apps add features without editing the theme heavily.
Public apps vs custom apps
| Public app | Custom app | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Many merchants | One store or brand |
| Listed in App Store | Yes | No |
| Review by Shopify | Required | Not required |
| Best for | Products you want to sell to merchants | Your own workflows and integrations |
Common reasons to build a custom app
- Sync orders, inventory and prices with an ERP or warehouse system
- Custom pricing and discounts such as B2B tiers or bundle logic using Shopify Functions
- Loyalty, referral or subscription programmes tailored to your brand
- Automated operations: tagging orders, routing fulfilment, sending data to accounting
- Product configurators for made-to-order or personalised items
Need a custom Shopify app? See our Shopify & eCommerce services and loyalty & rewards app solution, or talk to us.
How Shopify app development works
- Discovery: map the workflow and the data that must move.
- Design: decide which parts run in the Shopify admin, the storefront and the backend.
- Build: an app backend using Shopify's APIs and webhooks, plus admin and theme extensions where needed.
- Test on a development store with realistic data.
- Install and monitor on your live store, with logging and alerts.
Keeping your store fast
Every app that injects scripts into your storefront affects speed. Audit your installed apps, remove those you do not use, and replace overlapping ones with a single custom solution where it makes sense. A faster store converts better and ranks better.
