A Shopify app costs between $5,000 and $80,000+ to build in 2026 depending on app type (private, custom, public), complexity, integration surface, and whether you plan to submit it to the Shopify App Store. This guide covers all three paths, the full cost breakdown, and how to decide which one you need.
The three types of Shopify apps
Private apps (now called "custom apps" in Shopify Admin) are built for a single merchant. They live inside that merchant's admin, use API access tokens, and never touch the App Store. Cost: $5,000–$25,000 for straightforward use cases.
Custom-distributed apps (Shopify Plus feature) let an agency build an app for one merchant but distribute it through the Shopify Partner network without public App Store listing. Cost: $15,000–$50,000.
Public apps (App Store apps) are built for anyone to install, go through Shopify's review process, and can earn revenue as SaaS. Cost: $25,000–$80,000+ to build v1, plus ongoing engineering and support costs.
What drives Shopify app cost
Six factors determine the price:
- Integration scope — one Shopify surface (checkout, admin, POS, storefront, order flow) or many? Each additional surface adds engineering time.
- Data model complexity — does the app store just settings, or full transactional data (subscriptions, custom inventory, custom pricing)? A simple settings-only app can ship in 3–4 weeks; a subscription engine takes 3–6 months.
- UI depth — a single settings page, or a full custom UI inside admin using Shopify Polaris? Full UIs take 2–4× the time.
- Merchant scale — Shopify Plus features (Flow, Scripts, custom checkout) add integration work.
- Third-party APIs — every external service (ERP, shipping, tax, payment, email) is a mini-project.
- Public review requirements — App Store submission mandates GDPR compliance, security review, uninstall handling, and specific UX patterns. Adds 4–8 weeks even to otherwise simple apps.
Cost breakdown by app type
Private (custom) app for a single merchant — $5,000 to $25,000
Common use cases: pulling Shopify order data into an ERP, custom pricing logic for wholesale customers, integrating a specialised shipping carrier, adding metafields for editorial content, embedding an internal tool as an admin extension.
Timeline: 3–8 weeks. Ships as a Node.js or Ruby on Rails app with Shopify GraphQL API access, deployed on Vercel or a cloud VPS. No App Store review, no long-term SaaS obligations. Best value option when the app only needs to serve one merchant.
Custom-distributed app (Shopify Plus) — $15,000 to $50,000
Same architecture as a private app but distributed through Shopify Partner infrastructure. Enables install flows and merchant access management without full App Store overhead. Typical use case: an agency building the same custom checkout logic or workflow tool for a handful of clients.
Timeline: 6–12 weeks. Includes OAuth install flow, per-merchant configuration UI, webhook subscription for uninstalls.
Public App Store app — $25,000 to $80,000+
Full public app: OAuth install flow, per-merchant billing (Shopify Billing API), settings UI in Polaris design system, webhook handling, uninstall data purge, GDPR compliance, App Store listing assets, and Shopify's review process.
Timeline: 3–6 months for v1. Common categories and their typical build cost:
- Subscriptions app — $50,000–$120,000
- Bundling / product customiser — $30,000–$70,000
- Loyalty / rewards — $40,000–$90,000
- Wholesale / B2B — $50,000–$100,000
- Reviews / UGC — $25,000–$50,000
- Custom fields / metafield editor — $15,000–$35,000
- Shipping / fulfilment integration — $30,000–$60,000
Add 20–40% for post-launch iteration, App Store optimisation, and merchant support setup.
Hidden costs in Shopify app development
- App Store review revisions. Shopify's review team typically requests 2–4 rounds of changes on public apps. Budget 2–4 weeks of engineering time per submission cycle.
- Compliance. GDPR endpoints (customer data export, deletion) are mandatory. Data residency handling for EU merchants. Add $5,000–$15,000.
- Merchant support. Public apps need customer support. Budget 15–25% of engineering time on ongoing merchant tickets in year one.
- Shopify API rate limits. Larger merchants hit rate limits fast. Cost-effective architecture requires queue-based background processing (BullMQ, Sidekiq) — add $5,000–$10,000 to any high-throughput app.
- Billing integration. Shopify Billing API is straightforward but adds $2,000–$5,000 for subscription products.
Tech stack for Shopify apps in 2026
The dominant stacks:
- Remix + Shopify App Bridge — Shopify's preferred stack in 2026. Templated, deploys anywhere.
- Next.js + Shopify GraphQL Admin API — flexible, works for teams already on Next.
- Ruby on Rails + Shopify Gem — traditional Shopify partner stack.
- Node.js + Fastify or NestJS + Shopify SDK — good for API-heavy or webhook-heavy apps.
Nagro Solutions builds Shopify apps on Remix or Next.js by default. We pick Rails when the client's existing infrastructure or team makes it faster.
Private app vs public app: how to decide
Build a private app if:
- The app serves only one merchant (yours or a client).
- Time-to-value matters more than long-term productisation.
- The functionality is highly specific to one business's workflow.
- Budget under $25,000.
Build a public app if:
- You plan to sell the app as SaaS to many merchants.
- You want to leverage the App Store as a distribution channel.
- You have capacity for ongoing support and marketing.
- Budget above $30,000 and you can absorb 6–12 months to break even.
Everything else is somewhere between — hybrid custom-distributed models cover the gap.
FAQ
How long does a Shopify app take to build?
Private apps: 3–8 weeks. Custom-distributed apps: 6–12 weeks. Public App Store apps: 3–6 months to v1, plus 2–8 weeks of review revisions before approval. Simple settings apps can ship faster; anything touching checkout, subscriptions, or fulfilment takes longer.
Does Shopify charge for private apps?
No. Private (custom) apps are free to install on the merchant account they were built for. Shopify only takes revenue share (15% or 20%) on public apps that charge merchants via Shopify Billing.
What is Shopify Polaris?
Polaris is Shopify's design system for admin UIs. Public apps and embedded apps must use Polaris components to blend into the Shopify admin experience. Learning Polaris adds 1–2 weeks to a first-time app build.
Can I build a Shopify app without approval?
Yes — private and custom-distributed apps do not need App Store approval. Only public App Store listings go through Shopify's review process.
What is the Shopify App Store commission?
Shopify charges 15% on the first $1 million a public app earns per year, then 20% above that. Free apps and revenue below $1 million/year are not charged.
Does Nagro Solutions build Shopify apps?
Yes. We build private, custom-distributed, and public Shopify apps — plus custom headless Shopify storefronts and Shopify Plus checkout customisations. See our Shopify Store Cost pricing page for typical engagement scopes.