Building a Shopify mobile app in 2025 comes with many cost factors. It’s not a one-size-fits-all answer.
Some apps cost a few hundred dollars, while others go well beyond thousands. Why? Because the final cost depends on your requirements and development method.
Should you rely on an average cost estimate? Not really. Outliers can skew the numbers, making estimates unreliable.
Is it always expensive? No. Some businesses get their apps up and running at minimal costs. Others invest heavily for a premium experience.
So, what should you expect? That, again, depends on what features you want to have in your Shopify mobile app. Whether you're considering a Shopify mobile app builder or hiring developers, costs will vary.
By the end of this blog, you’ll have a clear idea of how much you might need to spend. More importantly, you'll know which approach makes the most sense for your Shopify business.
Let’s dive right in!
Breaking Down Shopify Mobile App Development Costs
Though on average building an eCommerce app can cost you somewhere in the range of $25,000 to over $500,000. However, the factors mentioned below play a crucial role in determining how much your Shopify mobile app will actually cost.
1. Complexity and features
Not all Shopify mobile apps cost the same. A basic app with product pages and a simple checkout process will be the most affordable. But the moment you start adding advanced features, the costs go up.
Want push notifications? That’s an extra layer of development. Need deep linking to guide users seamlessly through the app? Personalization features? AI-driven recommendations? Augmented reality (AR) to let customers try products virtually? Each feature adds development time, increasing costs.
A simple app can cost you anywhere around $5,000 to $25,000. But if you want a beast of a Shopify mobile app AR, real-time sync, and a secure payment gateway and system, costs can hit well over $150,000.
Think about your business needs. If you just need a functional app for orders, you can keep costs low. But if you want an engaging, high-retention experience, be prepared to invest more.
2. Apple vs. Android or Both?
If you know your customers use only one type of device, developing for a single platform is an option. But in eCommerce, this is rarely the case. Where people shop is not tied to the device they use.
Most brands need an app for both platforms. If you take the traditional development route, building two native apps means separate coding efforts, which doubles the cost.
But is it really worth it to build separate teams to create separate apps when all this could be done on a platform for a fraction of the cost? You don’t even need our answer for this.
A Shopify mobile app builder like Appbrew allows you to create a native eCommerce app for both iOS and Android with minimal extra effort and no extra cost. This significantly reduces costs while ensuring you reach all potential customers.
3. Design of Your Shopify Mobile App
Good design is crucial for eCommerce success. A well-designed app keeps users engaged and makes the buying journey smooth. But the more complex the design, the more it costs to build.
A simple, clean UI with easy navigation is cost-effective. But if you want custom animations, unique layouts, and highly interactive elements, the development time—and cost—will increase.
A complex eCommerce app is usually worth over $20,000 in UI/UX design cost only and takes around 400+ hours.
Cutting costs on design might seem tempting, but it can backfire. A poor user experience leads to higher bounce rates and lower conversions.
If your customers struggle to navigate your app, they won’t buy. Investing in good design pays off in the long run, ensuring you recover your development costs with higher sales and better retention.
4. Team to Develop Your eCommerce App
Who builds your Shopify mobile app affects its cost. There are three main options:
- Freelancers – Budget-friendly, but quality can vary, and managing multiple freelancers can be challenging.
- In-house team – Gives you full control, but comes with high salaries, benefits, and overhead costs.
- Development agencies – Experienced and reliable but can be expensive, especially for top-tier agencies.
Geography also plays a role. Hiring developers in North America ($150/hour) or Australia ($110/hour) costs more than in Eastern Europe ($40/hour) or Asia ($30/hour).
However, expertise matters. Paying more for experienced developers often means fewer long-term issues. A poorly built app will require constant fixes, which adds to costs over time.
An alternative? Appbrew, a Shopify mobile app builder, eliminates the need for a large dev team. They provide a no-code Shopify mobile app solution, allowing you to launch a professional app without major development expenses.
5. Security Setup
Customers won’t buy if they don’t trust your app. Security is not an optional expense—it’s a necessity.
Your app will handle customer personal and financial data, and even a minor vulnerability can lead to data breaches. This not only damages your reputation but can also lead to legal trouble and lost sales.
Security features include:
- Secure payment processing (PCI compliance, encryption)
- User authentication (two-factor authentication, biometrics)
- Data encryption (protecting sensitive information)
- Regular security updates (to prevent new threats)
A skilled security team is essential. Cutting corners here is risky and could cost you far more than just development expenses. If customers feel unsafe using your app, they won’t return. Investing in robust security ensures trust, loyalty, and long-term success.
How can traditional Shopify mobile app development become a huge cost?
There are many benefits of custom building your app with a development team. But that is if you’re in the app business — where your app is the product. For Shopify businesses, however, it’s another sales channel. So, the upfront investment is clearly not justified. And the invest is not low:
1. Developers are not designers
Developers can build your app, but that doesn’t mean they can design it well. Even if you remotely care about user experience, you need a good UX designer. However, experienced designers are hard to find and charge premium rates.
One solution is to build an in-house design team. But then hiring takes time and comes with additional operational challenges. If your app lacks a well-thought-out design, customer engagement and retention will suffer, ultimately costing you more in lost sales.
2. Working with APIs takes time
Many features in a Shopify mobile app require APIs from existing platforms. If your developer is inexperienced, they will take time to understand API documentation and integrations. More working hours means higher costs.
Delays in development also mean delays in launching your app. Every extra week spent troubleshooting APIs means lost revenue, as your customers don’t have access to the mobile shopping experience.
3. Separate teams for iOS and Android
Most developers specialize in either iOS or Android. If you want both versions of your app to have an identical user experience, you need separate teams. This not only increases development time but also doubles the cost.
Managing multiple teams also comes with communication challenges. Any misalignment in development can result in inconsistencies between platforms, leading to a poor user experience.
4. More features require more working hours
Every feature you add requires extra development time. Whether it’s AI-driven recommendations, personalized push notifications, or deep linking, each feature increases the number of working hours required. The more time developers spend building features, the higher the cost.
If you’re working with an hourly rate development team, your budget can quickly spiral out of control.
5. Ongoing costs
Many assume that developing a Shopify mobile app from scratch is a one-time expense. That’s not true. There are ongoing costs to keep the app running smoothly.
Some of the recurring expenses include:
- App maintenance and bug fixes – Regular updates are required to keep the app functional and secure.
- App store fees – Apple and Google charge fees for hosting apps on their stores.
- Server and hosting costs – Apps require backend infrastructure, which has ongoing costs.
- Security updates – New threats emerge all the time, and security patches are necessary.
- Marketing and customer support – Even a great app needs marketing to drive downloads and engagement.
Traditional development means handling all these costs yourself. But Shopify mobile app builders like Appbrew offer a more affordable alternative by bundling many of these expenses into their monthly/annual pricing models, helping you save significantly in the long run.
Why go for Shopify mobile app builder instead of traditional development?
For eCommerce businesses looking to maximize ROI while continuously investing in their growth, a Shopify mobile app builder is the obvious choice.
Traditional development comes with unpredictable costs, extended timelines, and ongoing maintenance, which can quickly drain resources.
With a Shopify app builder like Appbrew, brands get access to all the essential features without the hassle and expense of custom development.
Features that help drive success for Shopify businesses:
- Advanced Personalization – Deliver tailored experiences to each user.
- App Push Notifications with Deep Links – Re-engage customers with precise targeting.
- Performance-Based UI/UX – Ensure seamless navigation and high-speed performance.
- Real-Time Sync with Shopify – Keep inventory and product updates instant.
- Advanced Analytics – Track key metrics and optimize your strategies.
- Lightning-Fast Checkout – Loads in under a second, supports secured payments, and offers BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) options.
- Smart Search – Help customers find products quickly and efficiently.
- Advanced App Promotion Engine – Run promotions and discounts effortlessly.
- Shoppable Videos – A feature that would cost thousands to build traditionally.
- AI-Powered Features – Something like AI Skin Analyzer for beauty brands, allowing personalized product recommendations.
- Any Feature You Can Imagine – The flexibility to implement what your business needs.
With Appbrew, you remain in control. There’s no need to constantly communicate requirements or track development timelines. Any feature or update can be implemented instantly.
Plus, apps are native for both Android and iOS, allowing seamless integration with device capabilities to boost sales.
The benefits of using a Shopify mobile app builder over traditional development are immense. Book a demo today to learn more!
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