The honest answer: it depends
Shopify app development costs vary from $2,000 for a simple embedded tool to $80,000+ for a multi-store, multi-currency enterprise platform. Here's how to think about the ranges.
Factor 1: App type
| App Type | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Simple embedded app (basic CRUD UI) | $2,000–$6,000 |
| Public Shopify App Store listing | $8,000–$20,000 |
| Theme App Extension + backend | $5,000–$15,000 |
| Custom private app for one merchant | $3,000–$12,000 |
| Complex B2B / ERP integration | $25,000–$80,000+ |
Factor 2: Features that drive cost up
- **OAuth installation flow** — required for all app store apps, adds ~$800–$1,500
- **Webhooks** — order/product/customer event processing, adds $500–$2,000
- **Billing API** — recurring subscriptions, usage-based billing, adds $500–$1,500
- **Shopify Flow triggers/actions** — automation integration, adds $1,000–$2,500
- **AI/ML features** — significantly more, depends on model hosting
Factor 3: Ongoing costs
Don't forget:
- Shopify Partner account: free
- App hosting (Railway, Fly.io, Vercel): $5–$50/month
- Database (PlanetScale, Neon, Supabase): $0–$25/month
- Redis/queuing (Upstash): $0–$10/month
Getting a quote from Storesmith
We provide fixed-price quotes after a free 30-minute scoping call. We've built apps ranging from $3,500 to $45,000 — and we'll tell you honestly if your idea falls outside our sweet spot.
