Every week, a Shopify brand owner types some version of this question into Google. The search results are mostly either listicles for no-code app builders or agency contact forms. Neither answers the actual question.
This guide explains how converting a Shopify store to a mobile app actually works, what the options are, and what you should think about before starting.
First: understand what "converting to a mobile app" actually means
The phrase covers two very different things, and choosing between them is the most important decision you'll make.
Option A: WebView conversion. A tool takes your existing Shopify storefront and wraps it inside a native app container. The App Store and Google Play have a downloadable app for your brand. When users open it, they see your Shopify theme running inside a WebView - essentially a browser window inside the app shell. Fast to set up. Looks like your website. Not a native app.
Option B: Native app build. Engineers build a React Native iOS and Android app that connects to your Shopify backend (product catalogue, cart, checkout, customer accounts) through Shopify's APIs. The app has its own design, navigation, and UX. Slower to build. Costs more. Delivers a genuinely different (and better) experience than your mobile website.
The reason this distinction matters: the conversion rate uplift, the user experience, and the long-term strategic value are very different between the two. A WebView app gets you in the App Store. A native app gives you the performance advantages of a native app.
Step 1: Decide which type of app you actually need
Answer these three questions:
What's your annual Shopify revenue?
- Under £500k: Start with a template builder or WebView tool. Test the channel cheaply.
- £500k-£2M: Both options are viable. The decision depends on how much your brand identity matters.
- £2M+: Seriously evaluate native. The economics of better conversion start to justify the cost.
What percentage of your revenue is from repeat customers?
The app's biggest lever is push notifications to opted-in customers. If 40%+ of your revenue is repeat business, the push notification channel has a clear value.
How important is design differentiation?
A template app will look like other template apps. A bespoke native app looks like your brand. For fashion, jewellery, premium lifestyle - where the aesthetic is part of what you're selling - this matters.
Step 2: Map your Shopify integrations
Before any developer touches your store, you need a clear picture of what your app needs to connect to:
Core Shopify: Product catalogue, collections and filtering, cart and checkout (Shopify Checkout Kit for native), customer accounts, search.
Payment: Shopify Payments, Klarna/Clearpay (important for UK - needs specific integration in native apps), Shop Pay.
Loyalty and reviews: LoyaltyLion, Smile.io, Yotpo Loyalty. Yotpo, Okendo, Judge.me for reviews.
Email and push: Klaviyo or equivalent for customer data sync. APNS (Apple) and FCM (Google) for push notifications.
Customer service: Gorgias, Zendesk - if you have a chat widget, does it need to appear in the app?
The more complex this list, the more important it is to be explicit about requirements before getting any quotes.
Step 3: Choose your approach
Option A: WebView (MobiLoud, similar tools)
Timeline: 2-6 weeks | Cost: £160-£400/month
Sign up, connect your Shopify store, configure basic branding, submit to App Store. You get an app in the App Store that shows your Shopify theme. You don't get native performance or custom checkout flow.
Option B: Template native app builder (Tapcart, Shopney, Vajro)
Timeline: 4-10 weeks | Cost: £80-£320/month
Design your app using their visual editor within their templates, configure your product collections and navigation, set up push notifications, submit through their managed process. You get a proper native app with native navigation. You don't get design that breaks from their template structure.
Option C: Bespoke native app (managed service or custom build)
Timeline: 12-20 weeks | Cost: From £1,999/month (managed) or £30k-£100k+ (one-time build)
Brief the agency, go through design phase with wireframes and prototype review, build phase in React Native, QA across devices, App Store submission and review. You get an app that looks like your brand with any integration your Shopify stack uses. You don't get speed to launch.
Talmee offers the managed native route from £1,999/month with no revenue share - this covers design, build, maintenance, and App Store management.
Step 4: Prepare your Shopify store
Before your app goes live:
Product images. Portrait-orientation images (taller than wide) work better on mobile app product pages. Square or portrait at 1:1 or 4:5 ratio is standard.
Product data quality. Incomplete descriptions, missing variant options, inconsistent tagging - all show up more visibly in app context. Do a product data audit.
Collection structure. Think about how users will browse in an app - typically through a structured collection hierarchy. Simplify if your web navigation has grown organically chaotic.
Step 5: Plan your install strategy before you build
This is where most brands get it wrong. They spend time and money on the app build and then have no plan for getting customers to download it.
Standard install channels:
- Email to your list. A campaign to existing customers announcing the app, with a QR code.
- Post-purchase redirect. After a mobile order, redirect to a soft landing page suggesting the app download.
- Paid social. Meta and Google both support App Install campaign objectives.
- Packaging inserts. A card in every order with a QR code and a compelling reason to install.
- App-exclusive offers. A real reason to download - app-exclusive discount, early access to sales, loyalty multiplier.
Step 6: Push notification strategy from day one
Push notifications are the main commercial case for an app. The numbers: push notification open rates of 20-40% vs email open rates of 20-35% - comparable but without deliverability issues and without the cost-per-send of SMS.
Treat push like SMS - high value, relatively infrequent, worth opening. Segments to prioritise from day one:
- Cart abandonment (most immediate revenue impact)
- New collection launch (high open rate from previous buyers)
- Low-inventory alert (FOMO, especially for limited edition products)
- Post-purchase (order confirmation, tracking update - builds trust and notification habits)
Timeline summary
| Approach | Time to App Store | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| WebView (MobiLoud) | 2-4 weeks | £160-£400 |
| Template builder (Tapcart, Shopney) | 4-8 weeks | £80-£320 |
| Managed native (Talmee) | 12-16 weeks | £1,999 |
| Custom one-time build | 16-24 weeks | £500-£2k maintenance |
FAQ
Can I turn my Shopify store into an app without coding?
Yes. WebView tools like MobiLoud and template builders like Tapcart, Shopney, and Appbrew are all no-code solutions.
How long does it take to convert a Shopify store to an app?
WebView tools: 2-4 weeks. Template native app builders: 4-8 weeks. Bespoke native apps: 12-20 weeks.
How much does it cost to convert a Shopify store to an app?
Template builders start from £80-£320/month. Managed native app services like Talmee start from £1,999/month with no revenue share. One-time custom builds run £30,000-£100,000+.
Does Shopify have its own mobile app builder?
Shopify does not sell a white-label app builder directly. Third-party platforms and agencies build on Shopify's API and Checkout Kit.
Will a Shopify mobile app improve my conversion rate?
Native apps typically convert at 2-3x mobile web rates (Criteo, 2024). WebView apps show smaller improvement. The actual impact depends on your starting mobile web conversion rate and how well the install and notification strategy is executed.
This guide was written by Talmee, a Manchester-based agency that builds custom native Shopify mobile apps. For more on whether a native app makes sense for your specific brand: talmee.com/why-an-app
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