Shopify App Development

Custom Private Apps, Shopify Plus Functionality, and Full App Store Releases

Shopify offers a lot by default. However, if you need something more, like a unique logistics integration, a custom workflow, or features that existing apps don’t provide, you need a custom Shopify app.

Eltrino builds custom Shopify apps for merchants and agencies: private integrations, Shopify Plus functionality, and public apps built for and published to the Shopify App Store. We’ve built and shipped apps ourselves, which means we know the full cycle, including what Shopify’s review process actually requires. Get an estimate

What Shopify app development includes Custom and public Shopify app development When Shopify AI tools are enough and when custom app development makes sense Types of Shopify apps we develop Shopify app development case studies

What Shopify app development includes

What Shopify app development includes

Our Shopify app development services cover both one-off business solutions and scalable app products.

We can help with:

Custom Shopify app development for a single store or business group
Public Shopify App Store app development
Embedded apps for Shopify admin
Shopify Plus app development for more advanced workflows
Integration apps for ERP, CRM, PIM, shipping, marketplaces, and internal systems
Ongoing support, upgrades, fixes, and feature development

Some businesses need an app to automate internal operations. Others want to build a product that serves many Shopify merchants. We work with both models.

Custom and public Shopify app development

Shopify app development for two business goals

Custom Shopify app development for your business

Sometimes a merchant outgrows the capabilities of standard apps. You may need to connect Shopify with your internal systems, automate complex logic, or improve your team's and customers' workflows.

In these cases, Shopify custom app development offers greater flexibility and control.

We build custom apps for:

order processing automation
shipping and delivery workflows
warehouse and fulfillment operations
ERP, CRM, and PIM synchronization
custom pricing or B2B processes
merchant dashboards and internal admin tools
customer account features
business-specific workflows not supported by standard apps

A custom app lets you shape the logic of your business rather than adapting it to someone else’s app limitations.

Shopify App Store app development for product companies

Some businesses are not just solving a problem for themselves, they are creating an app product for the Shopify ecosystem.

In that case, the challenge is different. You need not only working functionality, but also scalable architecture, merchant onboarding, billing, usability, support readiness, and a product that can grow after launch.

We help companies build public Shopify apps for the marketplace, including:

architecture for multi-merchant use
embedded app UX
merchant onboarding flows
settings and admin experience
app billing and subscriptions
app listing readiness
launch support
post-launch improvements and feature growth

This approach is especially relevant for SaaS vendors, logistics providers, payment-related services, and technology companies expanding into the Shopify ecosystem.

When Shopify AI tools are enough and when custom app development makes sense

Shopify is making it easier for merchants to do more without a technical team. With tools like Sidekick, merchants can now generate apps in Shopify admin, create Shopify Flow automations from natural-language prompts, and get help with a range of operational tasks. We also explore Shopify’s AI capabilities in more detail in our Magento vs Shopify comparison.

That is great news for businesses that want to move faster. But it does not remove the need for custom development in more complex scenarios.

What you may be able to do without technical expertise

In some cases, Shopify’s built-in AI and automation tools may be enough to help you:

create simple internal tools
set up basic workflow automations
improve admin productivity
test lightweight ideas before investing in full development
reduce manual work in common store operations

If your use case is relatively simple, internal, and low-risk, it often makes sense to start there.

When it is better to hire a Shopify app development agency

You will usually need an experienced team when the app or workflow involves:

complex integrations with ERP, CRM, PIM, shipping, or internal systems
custom business logic that goes beyond standard automation
Shopify Plus-specific complexity
public Shopify App Store app development
multi-merchant architecture
app billing, permissions, onboarding, and long-term support
performance, security, and maintainability requirements

In these cases, the challenge is not only writing code. It is designing the right architecture, data flows, merchant experience, and long-term product foundation.

If Shopify AI can help you create or automate the solution safely inside your existing store workflows, start there.

If the solution affects core operations, customer experience, checkout logic, external systems, or your product roadmap, custom Shopify app development is usually the better investment.

Types of Shopify apps we develop

Every app project is different, but most Shopify apps fall into a few key categories.

📦 Shipping and fulfillment apps

We build apps that simplify shipping operations, automate delivery workflows, and improve the checkout and post-purchase experience.

These solutions can include:

live shipping rates
pickup point or branch selection
label generation
shipment tracking
delivery method logic
customs-related workflows
carrier integrations
merchant shipping automation

This is one of the areas where Eltrino has especially strong practical experience.

🔌 Integration apps

Shopify stores rarely work in isolation. Most growing businesses need Shopify to exchange data with other platforms and internal systems.

We develop Shopify apps that integrate with:

ERP systems
CRM platforms
PIM solutions
marketing systems
loyalty systems
shipping providers
accounting tools
external inventory or warehouse systems
internal business software

Integration apps help reduce manual work, prevent data inconsistency, and keep business processes connected.

🏢 Shopify Plus and advanced workflow apps

Larger merchants often need more complex logic, more control, and more tailored user experiences.

Our Shopify Plus app development work can support:

advanced B2B workflows
customer-specific processes
operational automation
multi-market logic
custom merchant tools
more complex integration architecture
checkout-related extensibility where relevant to Shopify Plus environments

For growing or enterprise merchants, apps often become a key part of how the business operates day to day.

👥 Customer-facing and merchant-facing apps

Some apps improve the shopper experience. Others are built mainly for merchant teams inside the Shopify admin.

We develop both.

Examples include:

self-service account tools
order and return management features
subscription-related experiences
merchant dashboards
operational control panels
inventory or catalog tools
team productivity apps
customer service support tools

The right app can improve both customer experience and internal efficiency at the same time.

Shopify app development case studies

Nova Poshta Service App

Nova Poshta is Ukraine's largest logistics network - 522 million parcels delivered in 2025, through over 50,000 service points across the country. For any Ukrainian merchant on Shopify, Nova Poshta integration isn't optional. It's what every customer expects at checkout.

When we built this app in 2021, there was no Shopify integration for Nova Poshta. We built it from scratch and published it to the App Store ourselves. It's been actively maintained since: real-time shipping rates at checkout, pickup point selection, TTN generation, label printing, and tracking sync.

→ Read the case study

Nova Post Shopify App

Nova Post operates international deliveries within NOVA Group. 29 million international shipments in 2025. Similar logic but different APIs, and some different from Nova Poshta domestic functionality.

We built and published the Nova Post Shopify app as a standalone integration: real-time rates, shipment creation, and tracking sync, built against Nova Post's own API.

→ Read the case study

Beyond these, most of our Shopify development projects are covered by NDA. If you want to know whether we have worked on something similar to what you need, ask us directly.

Shopify App Development Process

1. Discovery and scope definition

We start by understanding the business problem, users, workflows, and technical requirements. This helps define whether the app is best built as a private solution, a custom app, or a public app product.

2. Technical & UX Assessment

We review existing systems, third-party integrations, and operational constraints to identify what needs to be built, what Shopify plan capabilities apply, and where potential blockers are.

3. Solution planning

We shape the architecture, integration logic, and user flows. At this stage we focus on building the right app, not just building quickly.

4. Development

Our team builds the app, integrations, business logic, and core workflows according to the agreed scope.

5. Testing & Review Prep

Internal QA, edge case handling, and for public apps preparation for Shopify’s review checklist.

6. Launch & App Store Publication (public apps)

Deployment and go-live. For public apps: App Store submission, listing setup, and shepherding through Shopify’s review process. Once approved, we handle App Store listing configuration and support the first post-launch iteration.

7. Ongoing Support

Shopify frequently launches updates, deprecates API versions, updates its requirements, and merchants find edge cases. We maintain what we build.

Why choose Eltrino for Shopify app development

Choosing a Shopify app development partner is not only about finding developers. It is about finding a team that understands eCommerce operations, integrations, merchant experience, and long-term app growth

Official Shopify Partner

Eltrino is an official Shopify Partner, which reflects our active work within the Shopify ecosystem and our focus on building reliable Shopify stores and apps.

7 years of Shopify experience

We have 7 years of hands-on experience with Shopify, including custom development, integrations, and app-related solutions for merchants and platform partners.

14+ years in eCommerce

Eltrino has over 14 years in eCommerce and has been delivering commerce solutions since 2011. That broader background matters because many Shopify app projects are really eCommerce operations projects, not just software tasks.

Real Shopify app delivery

We do not just offer Shopify app development as a service. We have built public Shopify apps, including Nova Poshta Service and the Nova Post Shopify app for cross-border shipping workflows.

Strong integration background

Eltrino’s Shopify services explicitly cover integrations with ERP, CRM, PIM, shipping providers, and other systems - a core capability for custom Shopify app development.

Let’s build the right Shopify app

Whether you need a custom app for your own operations, an advanced solution for Shopify Plus, or a public app for the Shopify ecosystem, Eltrino can help you move from idea to working product. We build Shopify apps that are designed around business needs, operational logic, and long-term usability.

Talk to our team about Shopify app development

FAQ

A: A private app is built for a single store and isn’t listed on the App Store. A public app goes through Shopify’s review process and is available to any merchant. Private apps are faster to ship and have fewer constraints; public apps require meeting Shopify’s technical and UX requirements but can reach a wider audience. Eltrino builds both.

A: Yes — and we’ve done it. Both the Nova Poshta Service app and the Nova Post Shopify App were built by Eltrino and published to the App Store. We handle the full cycle: build, review submission, App Store listing, and ongoing maintenance.

A: Not necessarily. Most custom integrations and private apps work on any Shopify plan. Shopify Plus is required for specific capabilities: checkout UI extensions, checkout extensibility, and certain B2B APIs. We’ll confirm in the discovery phase whether your requirements depend on Plus.

A: A straightforward private integration typically takes 4–8 weeks. A public App Store app with a full feature set, App Bridge integration, and review preparation takes longer — usually 8–14 weeks depending on complexity. We scope this accurately in discovery before committing to a timeline.

A: Yes. Third-party integrations — logistics APIs, ERP systems, fulfilment platforms, CRM connections — are the most common type of custom app work we do. If the system has an API, we can build the integration.

A: Yes. Shopify regularly deprecates API versions and updates its requirements. We offer maintenance, version updates, and ongoing support after launch. For App Store apps specifically, we handle re-submissions when Shopify’s review requirements change.

Book a free consultation

Tell us about your project and we’ll help you find the best Shopify solution