Shopify Public Apps and Custom Apps: A Comparative Study

Summary: If you need an app to add store-specific features or functionality, or want to integrate with other software or services, then you must know the right option to suit your purpose well. Whether a Shopify public app or a Shopify custom app is right for you depends on your specific requirements. In this blog, we have compared the various aspects of Shopify public apps and custom apps in detail. Hope this will help you to make the correct decision.

It is crucial for a Shopify merchant to select the app perfect for enhancing the functionality of the store. Both Shopify public and custom apps come with a unique set of benefits but still there is more to it and you must choose the one that fits your business needs the best. In this blog we have drawn a comparative analysis of the Shopify public and custom apps to understand the specific set of advantages, disadvantages, features, and uses of each type. This effort will certainly help you find out the app that will align with your business objectives perfectly.

Let’s dive into the Shopify custom app vs public app comparison!

Public Shopify Apps: An Overview

The Shopify public app development can be done once and can be listed in the Shopify App Store so that several other stores can download and install. If any feature requires using the Shopify API, a database, or third-party integration then the public apps prove to be useful enough. They can balance out costs across many users. They can be free or cost less than $10 per month. At the same time, it can be critical to customize them as the code is hosted on the cloud and is inaccessible to the user. So, if there is a requirement to fix issues or make customizations then the users need to solely rely on the app creators involved in the Shopify public app building services.

Some public apps bear a Shopify tag which ensures that the apps have passed a stringent set of quality, safety, and performance standards. The Shopify public apps are usually free and supported by Shopify.Wbhen you get in touch with a Shopify public app development company, make sure to discuss this point clearly.

Unlisted public apps aren’t displayed in the Shopify App Store search results or categories. They need to pass the Shopify review process and can be installed from the app’s App Store listing or directly from the developer’s website.

Custom Shopify Apps – An Overview

A custom Shopify app is meant for enhancing the functionality of your online business and extending it to other platforms. It is used for adding features you can’t find on the Shopify app store. So it is specially built for your store and its unique needs. Such apps are not listed on the Shopify App Store. A custom app can be made by an external app developer without API access to your store and access to your Shopify admin. You can install a custom app by clicking an install link provided to you by the app’s developer.

Top benefits of custom Shopify apps include,

• Personalized features,like, custom product recommendations, loyalty programs, inventory management integration, cloud-based app integration, and so on.
• Custom apps streamlines workflows for task automation, communication, accounting, shipping, and so on.
• Personalized customer experience using various custom features to browse products, use interactive features, and more.
• A Custom Shopify app uses the Shopify API to access your store data legitimately, helping power several functionalities and improve integration
• Custom Shopify apps improve the experience for businesses and consumers.
• It is a crucial aspect of running an ecommerce business, and bears great potential in this regard.

Custom Shopify app development aids businesses to improve functionality and that will surely surpass your standard Shopify experience. The Shopify infrastructure is power packed in the first place but the custom Shopify applications make it even better. Custom Shopify apps offer more control over their features and data access to ensure they perfectly align with your store’s security requirements and business vision.

Now, let’s discuss the steps involved in developing the custom shopify apps,

First and foremost, you’ll need a Shopify partner account with all the right development resources and tools before beginning development on a Shopify custom application.

• Identifying the issues in the app
• Mapping all relevant functionality
• Building an intuitive, user-friendly interface
• Integrating admin and storefront APIs to access the store data and functions
• Picking the correct development language
• Picking the proper development framework
• Testing the app to debug it
• Deploying the custom Shopify application to your Shopify admin
• Developing custom Shopify applications
• Tweaking the framework here and there

A Broad Comparison Between Public Shopify Apps And Custom Apps

Here we have drawn a comparison between Shopify Public and Custom apps. Instead of involving into a long discussion we have categorized the chief features of both types of apps and marked their differences based on that. Here is the table:

How can Shopify Custom Apps Maximize the Customer Shopping Experience?

A Custom Shopify app acts as a game changer for your online business creating engaging and seamless customer shopping experience in multiple ways. They are as follows,

Personalized Shopping Experiences

Custom Shopify applications take your store beyond basic recommendations and use customer data to offer personalized recommendations. The app largely helps in monitoring the customers’ browsing and purchase history, store behavior, and preferences to deduce what products they want.

When you are recommended personally, it makes customers feel seen, heard, and acknowledged. THus, a special bond is created between them and your business. A loyalty program can leverage this sentiment to further customer engagement with a custom app that tracks rewards and points and offers different incentives for repeat customers.

Improved Store Functionality

Develop a custom Shopify app backed by one-click and guest checkout options, pre-populated shipping information, and an effective content marketing strategy. The store can have polls, quizzes, and AR experiences to improve product interactions. Moreover,it can be a great idea to connect these features with advanced product search and filtering. It will help the product to get discovered easily.

Conclusion

Making a selection between Shopify custom and public apps is very crucial. It adheres to the specific needs and goals of your business and makes a huge difference to success. Custom apps offer flexibility and scalability for tailored solutions, while public apps add common features and functionality to your Shopify store. Understanding your business requirements and technical capabilities is critical to selecting the most suitable app type for optimal performance and growth in 2024.

If you are still not sure about which type of app is right for you, then you should consult with a seasoned industry-leading expert like CartCoders. We will help you to assess your needs and provide the best shopify app development services. Collaborate with us, and together, we’ll propel your business to new heights with our innovative and results-driven approach.