For brands and SaaS companies
Shopify App Development for Brands and SaaS Companies
Choose
Custom app or public app?
The first decision shapes everything else: who can install the app, whether it goes through App Review and how it is paid for.
| Custom app | Public app | |
|---|---|---|
| Who installs it | One store, or the stores of one Shopify Plus organization | Any merchant, from the Shopify App Store or a direct link |
| App Review | Not required | Required before the App Store listing goes live |
| How it is paid for | You pay for the build and the hosting, with no App Store billing | Merchants pay through the Shopify Billing API: plans, usage charges or one-time purchases |
| Typical owner | Brands and merchants | SaaS companies, agencies and app businesses |
| Typical first version | Three to eight weeks | Two to four months, including App Review |
Brands
For brands and Shopify Plus merchants
When your store outgrows what App Store apps can do, a custom app fits the way your business actually runs. Before building anything, I check whether an existing app already does the job: sometimes the best custom app is the one you don't need.
ERP, PIM and warehouse sync
Products, inventory, prices and orders kept in sync with the systems your operations depend on.
Admin tools for your team
Bulk editors, import pipelines, approval steps and dashboards built around how your team works.
Discount, delivery and payment rules
Shopify Functions for the rules that no App Store app expresses exactly the way you sell.
B2B and wholesale
Customer-specific catalogs and pricing, order forms and account flows on top of Shopify's B2B features.
Catalog content with AI
Descriptions, alt text, tags, translations and images generated from your own product data, reviewed before publishing.
Reports and data exports
Scheduled exports to your data warehouse, BI tool or accounting system, built on bulk operations.
SaaS
For SaaS and tech companies
Shopify merchants are a large audience used to paying for software, and the Shopify App Store is where they look for it. A public app is how your product reaches them. I build the Shopify side so your team can stay focused on your core product.
- OAuth installation, session tokens and an embedded admin built with Polaris
- Sync between Shopify and your API with webhooks, bulk operations and retries
- Plans, free trials, usage charges and one-time purchases through the Shopify Billing API
- Mandatory compliance webhooks and a privacy policy that matches the data you use
- The App Store listing, screenshots, test instructions and the review submission
- Help center articles and onboarding, so merchants get started without support tickets
Proof
Built by someone who runs Shopify apps every day
My own apps are the best reference I can give you: live on the Shopify App Store, paid for by merchants and reviewed in public.
- Public apps live on the Shopify App Store
- 10
- Verified App Store reviews
- 101
- Average rating across rated apps
- 4.8★
- Languages on every app's website and help center
- 12
I’ve noticed a significant increase in image search traffic since I started using it. It does what it promises.
We are very impressed by the power of this application; it's a must-have if you care about your store's SEO.
The AI tags are relevant and descriptive, not random words which helps my store search, internal filtering and seo.
FAQ
Questions brands and SaaS teams ask
Do I need Shopify Plus for a custom app?
No. Custom apps work on every Shopify plan. A few capabilities are limited to Shopify Plus, for example custom apps that use Shopify Functions, and checkout customizations in the information, shipping and payment steps. I flag these during scoping.
How much does a custom Shopify app cost?
It depends on the integrations, the number of screens and the volume of data. After a free scoping call you get a written scope and a fixed price for the first version, so you know the cost before work starts.
Who hosts and maintains the app?
Your choice. The app can run in your own cloud account, with your IT team, or on infrastructure I manage for you. A monthly maintenance plan covers monitoring, fixes and Shopify API upgrades.
Can you build our public app and get it approved?
Yes. I build to Shopify's App Store requirements from the start, prepare the listing and the test instructions, and handle the review feedback. The final decision belongs to Shopify, but I have taken 10 apps through App Review.
Can you work with our engineering team?
Yes. Many SaaS teams keep their core API in-house and have me build the Shopify app around it. I work in your repositories, follow your code review and document the integration for your engineers.
Do you sign NDAs?
Yes, before you share details. Your data and your customers' data stay in your systems and your store.
Start a project
Tell me what you want to build
A few lines are enough: the goal, who will use the app, the systems involved and your timeline. I reply within one business day with questions and a time for a call.
- Email [email protected]
- Based in Ottawa, Canada (Eastern Time)
- Replies Within one business day
Agency? See white-label app development for agencies.