Did you know? In the United States, over 80% of e-commerce traffic comes from mobile devices. With customers spending more time shopping on their phones, having a mobile app for your Shopify store isn’t just a smart idea — it’s a competitive advantage.
If you’re a U.S.-based business owner selling on Shopify, you’ve probably asked:
“How much does it actually cost to build a mobile app for my store?”
Let’s walk through the real costs, what influences them, and how to make the right decision.
What Exactly Is a Shopify Mobile App?
A Shopify mobile app is a dedicated iOS or Android app that connects directly to your Shopify store. Instead of relying on mobile browsers, customers can shop, place orders, receive push notifications, and engage with your brand through a smooth, branded mobile experience.
It’s perfect for:
- Fashion and apparel brands
- Beauty and skincare stores
- Fitness and wellness products
- Subscription box businesses
- DTC brands that care about brand loyalty and repeat customers
Key Factors That Determine the Cost
1. The Route You Choose: App Builder vs. Custom Development
In the U.S., there are two common ways to build a Shopify mobile app:
Option 1: App Builders (like Tapcart, Vajro, Shopney)
These platforms offer drag-and-drop interfaces and ready-made templates to quickly convert your store into a mobile app.
- Ideal for small businesses or testing the waters
- Launch in a few days
- Subscription-based pricing
- Monthly cost: $99 – $400/month (depending on features and user limits)
Option 2: Custom Mobile App Development
This is when you hire a development agency or freelance team to build your app from scratch.
- Fully customized UI/UX
- Tailored features like AR try-ons, loyalty points, product bundling, real-time chat, and more
- One-time or milestone-based payment
- Cost range: $6,000 – $25,000+, depending on complexity and developer rates
2. Features and Functionality
The more features your app includes, the more development time and cost it requires. Here’s what to expect:
- Basic features: Product listings, shopping cart, push notifications, and Shopify sync.
Cost: $6,000 – $10,000 - Mid-level features: In-app chat, Apple Pay/Google Pay, loyalty rewards, personalized recommendations.
Cost: $10,000 – $18,000 - Advanced features: AR previews, live shopping, multi-currency/multi-language support, subscriptions.
Cost: $20,000 – $35,000+
3. Design and Branding
If you want your app to reflect your brand identity with custom animations, fonts, and visuals — and not just look like another Shopify clone — you’ll need to invest in custom design.
Custom app UI/UX design in the U.S. typically costs between $1,000 – $5,000, depending on the agency or freelancer and the scope of the design work.
4. Platform (iOS, Android, or Both)
If your customer base is mostly iPhone users (which is common in the U.S.), you can start with iOS. But if you want to reach everyone, you’ll want both iOS and Android apps.
- Building for both platforms increases your cost by about 40% – 50%.
- Cross-platform development (e.g., with Flutter or React Native) can help reduce costs compared to building two fully native apps.
5. Location of Your Developer
In the U.S., app developers and agencies charge more than their counterparts overseas — but often provide closer communication, better market alignment, and faster iteration cycles.
Here’s what you can expect to pay:
- Freelancers: $50 – $150/hour
- Agencies: $100 – $250/hour
- Flat project fees: $6,000 – $35,000+
If you’re open to working with trusted offshore teams (e.g., Appfur with U.S. collaboration experience), you can reduce costs significantly without sacrificing quality.
How Long Does It Take?
- Simple Shopify app: 2 – 4 weeks
- Mid-range custom app: 1 – 2 months
- Full-featured custom app: 3 – 4 months or more
Timelines vary based on features, design complexity, and team size.
App Builder vs. Custom App — Which Should You Choose?
Use an app builder if:
- You need to launch quickly
- You’re okay with paying monthly
- You want to test user demand before fully investing
Go custom if:
- You want to stand out with unique features and branding
- You need total control of performance and features
- You’re scaling your business and want long-term growth
Final Take: What’s the Real Price?
Here’s a practical range for U.S. Shopify store owners:
- App Builder (Template-Based):
$99 – $400/month on subscription (e.g., Tapcart, Vajro) - Custom-Built App (From Scratch):
$6,000 – $25,000+ one-time development investment, based on the level of customization, integrations, and platform.
Want to Build a Shopify Mobile App for Your U.S. Business?
At Appfur, we help Shopify brands in the U.S. create high-converting mobile apps tailored to your business goals. Whether you’re based in New York, Los Angeles, Austin, or Miami — we’ll work with you to design and build a Shopify mobile app that delivers real results.
Let’s chat.
Contact us today for a free consultation and custom quote. Your customers are on mobile — let’s meet them there.
If you found this post valuable and you're serious about turning your app idea into a real product, let’s take the next step together. At Appfur, we specialize in transforming early-stage concepts into fully functional, user-focused applications.
We’re offering a free 30-minute strategy session to help you:
- Validate your app idea with an expert
- Identify the fastest, most cost-effective path to launch
- Get a clear, actionable plan tailored to your goals
No hard pitches. No fluff. Just real value.
Click the link below to schedule your free call — spots are limited each week.
