Marketplaces & sellingPractical guide · updated for 2026
Build an App for a Shopify Store
First decide whether you need a private integration for one store or a public app for many merchants. Use Shopify’s current developer documentation and tools to create the app, request only needed permissions, and test it on a development store.
Have this ready
- A clear feature scope
- A Shopify Partner or developer setup, if required
- A development store and test data
Step by step
- 1Write down the store problem the app should solve and the specific data or actions it needs.
- 2Choose a custom app for a limited store-specific need or explore Shopify’s public app requirements for broader distribution.
- 3Set up a development store and follow Shopify’s current app development guide and supported framework options.
- 4Implement authentication and request only the API scopes necessary for the app’s features.
- 5Test installation, core workflows, error cases, and data handling on the development store.
- 6Before release, review Shopify’s current security, privacy, billing, and distribution requirements for your app type.
Want it done with you?
I can walk you through it in a Magic Box, show you the exact clicks, or do it with you and keep the recording. You log in yourself; I never see your password.
Common questions
Do I need to publish it in the App Store?+
Not necessarily; distribution depends on whether the app is for your own store or for other merchants.