Shopify powers millions of online stores around the world, and it continues to grow as one of the most dominant e-commerce platforms. But here’s the secret behind its success: apps. From upselling to inventory management and custom checkout experiences, apps play a critical role in extending the power of Shopify stores.
If you’re a developer, agency, or entrepreneur, now is the perfect time to consider building a Shopify app. In this post, we’ll explore the top benefits of Shopify app development — and why it’s such a smart move.
1. Massive and Growing Market
Shopify hosts over 4.8 million active stores (and counting), many of which depend on apps to run key parts of their business.
- 40,000+ developers are building for Shopify
- 10,000+ public and private apps already exist — but merchants still crave more niche, specialized tools
- The Shopify App Store sees high daily traffic and merchant discovery
Whether you’re building for the global market or targeting local merchants (like in Zimbabwe or South Africa), the opportunity is huge.
2. Real Revenue Potential
Shopify allows developers to monetize apps in several ways:
- Subscription pricing
- Usage-based pricing
- One-time purchases
- Custom development (for private apps)
And the best part? Shopify only takes 20% revenue share from app sales — lower than most major app platforms.
Some developers generate thousands of dollars per month from a single niche app!
3. Powerful Developer Tools and APIs
Shopify offers one of the best ecosystems for developers:
- Admin API for managing products, orders, and customers
- Storefront API for headless commerce
- Checkout Extensibility for customizing checkout
- Shopify CLI, App Bridge, and Polaris UI library to speed up development
- React-based Admin UI extensions to integrate seamlessly into the Shopify Admin
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel — Shopify gives you all the tools you need.
4. Global Reach With Low Overhead
Unlike traditional SaaS apps, Shopify handles:
- Store hosting and scalability
- Payment processing (via Shopify Payments)
- Checkout security and PCI compliance
This allows you to focus on your app’s functionality, not the infrastructure.
Once your app is live on the Shopify App Store, it’s instantly available to merchants in 175+ countries — no need for a sales team or big marketing budget.
5. Create Real Value for Merchants
Shopify merchants are business owners, not tech experts. When you solve even a small problem for them — like improving product filtering, managing discounts, or syncing inventory — you create real, daily value.
And happy merchants:
- Stay subscribed longer
- Recommend your app
- Are open to upsells and custom work
Building Shopify apps isn’t just profitable — it’s impactful.
6. Build Public, Custom, or Private Apps
You’re not locked into one model. Shopify allows you to build:
- Public apps: Listed on the App Store for all merchants
- Custom apps: Installed for a specific client or merchant
- Private apps (being phased out in favor of custom apps): Custom backend-only integrations
This gives you flexibility whether you’re building products, freelancing, or running an agency.
7. Endless Niches to Explore
There are countless problems waiting for smart solutions, especially in fast-growing niches like:
- Subscription-based commerce
- Local delivery or logistics
- Multivendor marketplaces
- Education-based e-commerce
- Regional payment gateways (like PayNow or EcoCash in Zimbabwe)
You can build something meaningful without competing with massive apps — especially if you understand your local market.
Final Thoughts
Shopify app development opens the door to recurring revenue, global reach, and meaningful impact in the e-commerce world. Whether you’re a solo developer, freelancer, or startup founder, now is the time to join the Shopify ecosystem.
💻 Thinking of building your first app? Whether it’s for the Shopify App Store or a private client, I can help with planning, architecture, and development.
Let’s build something amazing — one app at a time.