How to Develop a Shopify App: Complete Step-by-Step Guide 2026

How to Develop a Shopify App: Quick Overview

Short answer: To develop a Shopify app, you need a Shopify Partner account, knowledge of React and Node.js, Shopify CLI, and access to Shopify APIs. The process involves: setup, development, testing, deployment, and App Store submission (if public). A simple app typically takes 8-12 weeks to build.

This guide covers everything you need to know to build your first Shopify app.

Fuentes y Recursos Externos

• Shopify Developer Documentation - Documentación oficial de Shopify para desarrolladores
• Shopify Partners - Programa oficial de partners de Shopify

Prerequisites: What You Need

Before starting, ensure you have:

Optional but helpful:

• TypeScript knowledge
• Database experience (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
• Deployment platform account (Heroku, AWS, Railway)
• Understanding of OAuth and authentication

Step 1: Create Shopify Partner Account

Step 2: Set Up Development Environment

Install Shopify CLI

# Install Shopify CLI globally
npm install -g @shopify/cli @shopify/theme

# Verify installation
shopify version

Initialize Your App

# Create new app project
shopify app generate

# Follow prompts:
# - Choose app template (Node.js + React recommended)
# - Name your app
# - Select app type (public or private)
# - Choose database (PostgreSQL recommended)

Project Structure

After initialization, your app will have this structure:

your-app/
├── web/
│   ├── frontend/       # React admin interface
│   └── backend/        # Node.js API server
├── extensions/         # App extensions (themes, checkout)
├── .env               # Environment variables
└── package.json       # Dependencies

Step 3: Understand App Types

Public Apps (App Store)

Pros: Reach all Shopify merchants, potential for passive income, scalable business

Cons: Requires App Store approval, competition, ongoing maintenance

Best for: Apps that solve common problems for many merchants

Private Apps

Pros: No App Store approval needed, faster to deploy, custom solutions

Cons: Limited to specific merchants, less scalable

Best for: Custom solutions for specific clients or internal tools

Step 4: Build Your App

Core Components

Every Shopify app needs:

Development Workflow

1. Set up authentication: Implement OAuth flow to connect merchants to your app
2. Create admin interface: Build React components for merchant interaction
3. Build API endpoints: Create backend endpoints for app logic
4. Integrate Shopify APIs: Use Admin API or GraphQL to interact with store data
5. Handle webhooks: Set up webhooks for real-time updates (orders, products, etc.)
6. Implement billing: Set up Shopify Billing API for subscriptions (if applicable)
7. Add error handling: Implement proper error handling and logging

Key Technologies

Step 5: Use Shopify APIs

Admin API

Access store data, manage products, orders, customers:

// Example: Fetch products using GraphQL
const query = `
  query getProducts {
    products(first: 10) {
      edges {
        node {
          id
          title
          handle
        }
      }
    }
  }
`;

Storefront API

For customer-facing features (public-facing apps):

// Example: Create checkout
const mutation = `
  mutation checkoutCreate($input: CheckoutCreateInput!) {
    checkoutCreate(input: $input) {
      checkout {
        id
        webUrl
      }
    }
  }
`;

Billing API

Handle app subscriptions and one-time charges:

// Example: Create recurring charge
const response = await fetch(`https://${shop}/admin/api/2024-01/recurring_application_charges.json`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'X-Shopify-Access-Token': accessToken,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    recurring_application_charge: {
      name: 'Pro Plan',
      price: 29.99,
      return_url: 'https://yourapp.com/confirm',
    }
  })
});

Step 6: Testing Your App

Development Store Testing

Common Testing Tools

• Shopify CLI: Local development and testing
• ngrok: Test webhooks locally
• Postman: API endpoint testing
• Browser DevTools: Frontend debugging
• Shopify GraphiQL: Test GraphQL queries

Step 7: Deploy Your App

Deployment Options

Deployment Steps

1. Set environment variables: API keys, database URLs, OAuth credentials
2. Configure database: Set up production database
3. Update app URLs: Update Partner Dashboard with production URLs
4. Set up monitoring: Add error tracking (Sentry, LogRocket)
5. Configure webhooks: Point webhooks to production endpoints
6. Test production: Verify everything works in production environment

Step 8: Submit to App Store (Public Apps Only)

App Store Requirements

Review Process

• Initial review: 2-5 business days
• Code review: Shopify checks security and compliance
• Functional testing: Shopify tests app functionality
• Design review: UI/UX assessment
• Approval or feedback: You may need to make changes

Tip: Review process can take 1-3 weeks. Be prepared for feedback and iterations.

Timeline & Cost Breakdown

Additional Costs

• Hosting: $50-$500/month (depending on traffic)
• Database: $10-$100/month (usually included in hosting)
• Domain & SSL: $10-$50/year
• Shopify Partner fee: $0 (development), $99/year (App Store)
• Third-party services: $0-$200/month (APIs, tools)
• Ongoing maintenance: 10-20% of development cost/year

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Best Practices

Next Steps After Development

1. Monitor performance: Track installs, usage, errors, and merchant feedback
2. Gather feedback: Ask merchants for reviews and feature requests
3. Iterate: Release updates based on feedback and analytics
4. Market your app: If public, invest in marketing and App Store optimization
5. Scale infrastructure: Prepare for growth as user base increases

FAQ

Conclusion

Developing a Shopify app involves: setting up a Partner account, building with React and Node.js, integrating Shopify APIs, testing thoroughly, and deploying. For public apps, you’ll also need to submit to the App Store.

Key takeaways:

• Start with an MVP to validate your idea
• Use Shopify CLI and development stores for testing
• Follow Shopify design guidelines (Polaris, App Bridge)
• Plan for ongoing maintenance (10-20% of dev cost annually)
• Budget 8-12 weeks for a simple app, 12-20 weeks for medium complexity

Resources:

• Shopify Dev Docs: shopify.dev
• Shopify CLI: github.com/Shopify/cli
• App Store Guidelines: developers.shopify.com/app-store/guidelines

Whether you’re building for a client or launching your own app, following this guide will set you on the right path. Good luck with your Shopify app development!