Native Shopify admin embed.
Built with Polaris design system + App Bridge so your app looks and feels like part of the Shopify admin. No jarring custom UI — merchants don't need to learn a new tool.
SHOPIFY APP DEVELOPMENT
Shopify apps built by people who've already shipped three.
We build custom Shopify apps using Remix, Polaris, App Bridge, and the Admin GraphQL API. Native admin UI, mandatory webhooks done right, billing integration that handles edge cases, and full App Store submission. We've launched 3 of our own apps — Geo Redirect Xpert, Volume Discount, and Wishlist — so we know the App Store review process by heart.
MVP apps from $8,000 USD · 6–8 week delivery · App Store submission included
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Six things in every app we ship.
Remix or Next — your call.
Default stack is Shopify's Remix template. We use Next.js when teams have existing Next infrastructure. Both work; the official Remix path ships fastest to App Store.
Admin GraphQL + Storefront API.
Bulk operations for big catalogues, GraphQL Admin for app logic, Storefront API for theme-side rendering, App Proxy for custom storefront endpoints. Real Shopify primitives.
Billing + plan management baked in.
Shopify's billing API integrated correctly: free trials, subscription plans, usage-based billing, plan upgrades, prorations. We've shipped 3 of our own apps — we know the edge cases.
Webhooks + GDPR compliance.
All mandatory webhooks (app/uninstalled, customers/redact, customers/data_request, shop/redact) wired correctly. Mandatory privacy webhooks pass App Store review on first try.
App Store submission included.
We don't just build the app — we handle the full App Store review process. Listing copy, screenshots, demo video, review responses, BFS (Built for Shopify) prep where eligible.
THE PROCESS
Six steps. Eight weeks. App Store live.
Process honed across our own three apps. Every step has a clear deliverable.
- 1
Scoping & spec
Week 1Use cases, target merchant segment, billing model, App Store category, MVP feature list. Written tech spec with API surface, data model, and success criteria. Fixed quote.
- 2
Design (Polaris)
Week 2Admin UI screens designed in Figma using Polaris components. Onboarding flow, settings, dashboards, billing pages. Two design rounds included.
- 3
Build — admin app
Week 3-6Remix + Polaris + Prisma (or your DB of choice). Shopify session token auth, App Bridge, OAuth install flow, billing integration, webhook handlers, error reporting.
- 4
Build — storefront extension
Week 5-7App embed extension (theme-side widget), or app block (OS 2.0 sections), or app proxy (custom storefront API endpoints). Liquid + Vanilla JS or Web Components.
- 5
App Store submission
Week 7-8Full listing: tagline, description, screenshots (1280×800 minimum, 4-7 images), demo video (30-60s), GDPR docs, support email setup. Submit + handle review feedback.
- 6
Launch + post-launch support
Week 8 + 30 daysApp goes live in App Store. Monitor install funnel, error logs, support tickets. Bug fixes free for 30 days. We can also handle merchant onboarding emails for you.
TECH STACK
What we build with.
Default stack is Shopify's officially-recommended Remix template. Battle-tested, fastest path to App Store, and what most merchants' apps actually need.
- ✓ Remix (Shopify's official app framework)
- ✓ Polaris design system + App Bridge
- ✓ Shopify Admin GraphQL Admin API
- ✓ Shopify Storefront API
- ✓ App Bridge React (admin embed)
- ✓ Prisma + MySQL/Postgres for app data
- ✓ Vercel / Render / Fly.io for hosting (or your existing infra)
- ✓ Sentry / Logtail for error monitoring
VS. ALTERNATIVES
Specialist Shopify dev vs freelancer vs generic agency.
| Feature | Xpertshire | Freelancer | Generic agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native Polaris admin UI | ✓ | depends | ✓ |
| Mandatory webhooks (GDPR) wired | ✓ | ✕ | depends |
| Billing API integration | ✓ | depends | ✓ |
| App Store submission handled | ✓ | ✕ | extra |
| Built-for-Shopify (BFS) prep | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Theme-side extension (app block / embed) | ✓ | ✕ | depends |
| Free 30-day post-launch support | ✓ | ✕ | extra |
| Fixed quote | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
↔ Swipe horizontally on mobile
FAQ
App development questions, answered.
How much does custom Shopify app development cost?
Standard MVP apps with Polaris admin + a single feature (e.g., a custom discount, a specific automation, a small reporting dashboard) start at $8,000–$15,000 USD. Mid-complexity apps (5-10 features, billing, multiple webhooks, theme extension) land at $15K–$30K. Enterprise apps (B2B, integrations with ERPs, multi-tenant logic) start at $30K. Always a fixed quote.
How long does it take to build and launch a Shopify app?
MVP apps ship in 6–8 weeks from scoping to App Store live. Mid-complexity apps run 8–12 weeks. The longest-pole item is usually App Store review (5-15 business days), so we submit early and run polish in parallel. We've shipped 3 of our own apps so we know the timing levers.
Do you handle App Store submission and review?
Yes — fully. Listing copy, screenshots, demo video, app description, App Store category, GDPR/privacy docs, support email setup. We also respond to Shopify reviewer feedback (which is common — most apps need 1-2 review rounds). You don't have to learn the App Store process.
What's the difference between an embedded app, a theme app extension, and an app proxy?
Embedded app = the part merchants see in their Shopify admin (Polaris UI). Theme app extension = the part their CUSTOMERS see on the storefront (app blocks for OS 2.0 sections, app embeds for global widgets like cart drawers). App proxy = a custom URL endpoint on the storefront (e.g., yourstore.com/apps/your-app) that returns dynamic content. Most apps need 1-2 of these; some need all three.
Can you build a Built-for-Shopify (BFS) app?
Yes — and we recommend going for it from day one. BFS apps get prioritized in App Store search and earn merchant trust. Requirements: native Polaris UI, install/uninstall flow under 30 seconds, performance budget, support response time under 24h, app reviews 4.5+. We design for BFS criteria from the spec stage.
Do you build apps for Shopify Plus only?
We build apps that work on the standard Shopify plan AND on Plus. Plus-only features (Shopify Functions, Scripts, B2B, multi-store) are added when relevant to your use case. Most commercial apps target the standard plan first, with Plus features as upgrades.
Can you build my app idea? It's something Shopify doesn't natively support.
Almost certainly yes. Shopify's APIs cover a huge surface — products, orders, customers, discounts, fulfillment, shipping, subscriptions, B2B, markets, checkout. We've built A/B testing, custom redirects, country blocking, volume discounts, and complex billing logic — all on top of standard APIs. Tell us the use case in the scoping call.
What happens after the app launches?
30 days of free bug fixes and minor adjustments are included. After that, we offer monthly retainer plans starting at $1,500/month for ongoing development, support, and feature additions. Or you can take the codebase in-house — we hand off clean Remix code with documentation.
Got an app idea?
Send us the problem you're trying to solve and a rough sense of the merchant segment you'd target. We'll come back within 24 hours with a fixed quote and proposed feature scope.