Your best customers are already on their phones. The question is whether they are shopping with you through a browser tab they have to rack their brains to find again, or tapping your icon from their home screen, in between Amazon and Instagram.
A mobile app is how you win more repeat business. It’s how you connect with your customers on a deeper, closer level. And it’s easier than ever to build one.
A mobile app builder lets you launch your own, branded mobile app, which lives on your customer’s home screen, without the cost and effort of native app development. It makes mobile apps accessible to any store; from small boutiques to high-end enterprise brands.
Keep reading and we’ll share the best tools for the job, and guide you towards the one that fits your store the best.
Finding the Right Mobile App Builder for Your Store
App builders exist to solve one problem: building a native mobile app from scratch is slow and expensive. Per industry benchmarks, a custom app build costs anywhere from $150,000 to $500,000, and can take six months to a year to launch.
App builders collapse that into a monthly subscription and a launch measured in weeks. And for an ecommerce brand, the end result is essentially the same as what you’d get from a fully custom app.
There are hundreds of tools out there that do this – and more getting built every week. The challenge is finding the right one for your store.
You need an app builder that supports everything you want to do in the app and, importantly, one that actually works with your ecommerce platform.
- Does it integrate properly with your ecommerce platform? A lot of app builders are Shopify-only. Others work across Magento, BigCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, WooCommerce, and custom stacks. Start here, because it rules options in or out instantly.
- Will everything on your store carry over to the app? Your checkout, subscriptions, loyalty, search, and third-party apps should work in the app the same way they do on the web. Ask specifically about the integrations you depend on.
- Will your app and website stay consistent? If the two are separate systems, every change has to be made twice and they drift apart over time. Tools that keep the app in sync with your site save you that ongoing work.
- How much do you want to manage? Some builders are self-serve tools you operate in-house. Others are done-for-you services where a team builds and maintains the app for you. Neither is better in every case, but one will fit your team and the other will frustrate it.
- What does it really cost? Look past the headline monthly fee. Check for setup fees, revenue share, per-integration charges, and the cost of the time your team spends running the tool.
Mobile app builders make it a lot easier and more affordable to build an ecommerce mobile app. But you still need to keep in mind the end goal: a high-quality, usable mobile app that your customers are going to love.
The 6 Best Mobile App Builders for Ecommerce
Let’s dive in to the best mobile app builders for ecommerce brands today.
We’ve rounded up six high-quality options; crucially, covering a range of ecommerce platforms. Whether you’re on Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, or even a custom ecommerce build, one of the options below will help you launch the perfect mobile app.
1. MobiLoud: For Custom Apps for Ecommerce Brands on Any Platform
- Type: Done-for-you app development service
- Platforms: Any web stack: Shopify, Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce (Magento), Salesforce Commerce Cloud, WooCommerce, headless, and fully custom
- Starting price: From $1,499/month plus a one-time setup fee
- Key features: Full feature parity with your website, native push notifications (unlimited, no per-send cost), done-for-you design and build, app store submission and maintenance handled for you, deep linking, smart app banners
MobiLoud turns your existing website into native iOS and Android apps. It’s a fully managed service; not a DIY app builder, like most of the ecommerce mobile app builders on this list.
Another key distinction: it builds a mobile app that’s powered by your existing website. You get a custom app, with custom app screens and experiences, but the underlying tech stack is whatever your website is built on.
This makes it much easier to run, since there’s only one codebase to manage. And, importantly, it means that you can launch a mobile app from any ecommerce platform, with full feature parity.
It doesn’t matter if you’re on Shopify, Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, Magento, or even a custom or headless build. MobiLoud works seamlessly with whatever you’ve built on your site.
It’s this flexibility that sets MobiLoud apart, as well as the white-glove service they provide, helping you launch the perfect mobile app, with minimal upkeep required.
What users say: “We tried six companies and I feel like you guys have the best combination of service, functionality, and price,” says Kenneth Chan, Founder and CEO of TOBI.
2. Tapcart: For Shopify DTC Brands That Want to Design the App Themselves
- Type: No-code app builder (self-operated)
- Platforms: Shopify only
- Starting price: $250/month
- Key features: Drag-and-drop “App Studio” editor, block-by-block design control, scheduled and automated push, AI merchandising add-ons (AI push, product imagery, video), Shopify integrations
Tapcart gives merchants granular, block-by-block control over their app’s design through its App Studio editor, so you can build an app-native experience that looks distinct from your website rather than mirroring it.
It has a large, design-forward DTC customer base, including brands like Princess Polly and BÉIS.
Tapcart’s recent push has been heavily into AI merchandising: AI-driven push notifications, a personalized “For You” feed, and generative product imagery and video. If app-native personalization is central to your strategy, that suite is deeper than most competitors offer today.
Tapcart is only for Shopify – it doesn’t work with Magento, BigCommerce, or any other ecommerce platforms. But it’s a solid option for Shopify brands that want to put the effort into creating a unique app experience.
What users say: “We’ve been using Tapcart as our mobile app builder for a while now, and it’s been a great choice. It allows us to build the app exactly the way we want, and if we need custom screens, the Tapcart team is there to help,” writes Nutricost on the Shopify App Store, where Tapcart holds a 4.6 rating.
3. Appbrew: For Shopify Brands That Want an AI-Native, Performance-Focused App
- Type: No-code Shopify app builder with managed onboarding
- Platforms: Shopify and Shopify Plus only
- Starting price: $499/month
- Key features: React Native native build, “Milo” AI growth assistant, AI content generation and personalization, native video shopping, subscription management and bundles (Enterprise), A/B testing
Appbrew is a newer entrant to the Shopify mobile app market, which leans hard into two things: performance and AI. Its apps are built on React Native, and it markets concrete performance numbers (sub-one-second load times, app size under 45MB). Its onboarding is partly managed, so the team builds your initial app from your brand guidelines rather than leaving you to assemble everything yourself.
The AI feature set is its calling card. “Milo” is an AI growth assistant, and the platform includes AI-generated content, AI personalization, and vertical-specific tools like an AI size chart and skin analyzer. It carries a perfect 5.0 rating on the Shopify App Store across a healthy review count, with reviewers praising ease of use and responsive support.
Like Tapcart, Appbrew rebuilds your storefront as a separate React Native app that mirrors your Shopify store, so you are maintaining a parallel storefront that needs to stay in lockstep with your site. It’s Shopify-only; but another decent option for brands on this platform.
What users say: “The platform is easy to use and it’s amazing how we can build out a fully functional app without needing a lot of expertise,” writes Kiyoko Beauty on the Shopify App Store, where Appbrew holds a 5.0 rating across its reviews.
4. AppMySite: For Small Stores and Budget-Conscious Brands on WooCommerce, Shopify, or WordPress
- Type: DIY no-code app builder
- Platforms: WooCommerce, Shopify, WordPress, and any website (via web views)
- Starting price: Free plan available; paid from $29/month
- Key features: No-code app editor, WooCommerce and Shopify product sync, push notifications, custom branding and themes, multi-language support, white-label agency plans
AppMySite is the most affordable option on this list by a wide margin, and it is built for accessibility. It is a true DIY tool: you connect your store, customize the app in a no-code editor, and publish, with paid plans starting at $29 a month and a free plan to test the build before you commit.
It is one of the few options here with strong WooCommerce and WordPress support alongside Shopify.
The price makes it a good fit for smaller stores, side projects, and businesses that want an app presence without a meaningful budget. It holds a 4.2 rating across more than 400 reviews on G2, and reviewers frequently praise the value and the ease of getting an app published.
What users say: On Trustpilot, one reviewer summed up the common theme: AppMySite is “very helpful for those with small businesses and looking for an app at a very good price.” Across G2 and Capterra, affordability and ease of setup are the most-cited strengths.
5. Jmango360: For European and B2B Brands on Non-Shopify Platforms
- Type: Done-for-you app agency
- Platforms: Magento (Adobe Commerce), Shopify, BigCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Lightspeed, PrestaShop
- Starting price: Custom (quote-based)
- Key features: Native B2C and B2B apps, B2B features (user groups, login-gated pricing), 40+ integrations, smart push notifications, app management dashboard, full-service build and support
Jmango360 is a Netherlands-based app agency that builds native shopping apps across a broad range of ecommerce platforms, with particular strength on Magento and Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
Jmango360’s extensive integration capabilities make it a strong choice for merchants that rely on multiple business systems. Companies needing custom app connectivity and seamless data synchronization often benefit from partnering with a Magento 2 integrations agency to connect ERPs, CRMs, payment gateways, and other third-party services while maintaining reliable app performance.
It positions itself as a full-service partner rather than a self-serve tool, building and supporting the app for you, and it works with established European brands including Studio Anneloes and Vlisco.
Its standout feature is genuine B2B support. Jmango360 handles user groups and pricing behind a login, which makes it one of the few app builders on this list equipped for wholesale and B2B commerce alongside B2C. Combined with its coverage of Magento, BigCommerce, and Salesforce Commerce Cloud, that makes it a natural fit for mid-market and enterprise brands, especially in Europe, that are not on Shopify.
Pricing starts at €299 a month (roughly $325) and is quoted in euros, with enterprise pricing on request. It holds a 4.6 rating on G2, where reviewers praise the user-friendly interface and customer support that makes setup and integration straightforward, though a few note the cost. There is no free trial, so evaluation runs through a demo.
What users say: On G2, reviewers “consistently praise the user-friendly interface and excellent customer support provided by Jmango360, which facilitates easy app setup and integration.”
6. BuildFire: For Brands Building a Custom Ecommerce App From the Ground Up
- Type: No-code app builder with a plugin marketplace and custom dev option
- Platforms: Shopify integration plus general-purpose app building (any vertical)
- Starting price: From $165/month
- Key features: 150+ plugin marketplace, developer SDK for custom functionality, drag-and-drop editor, in-app purchases and subscriptions, push notifications, white-label reseller program, optional done-for-you build
BuildFire serves a different niche to the rest of the tools here. It’s not linked to any ecommerce platform; instead, made for creating apps from the ground up. You get an empty canvas, with templates and pre-designed blocks you can use to compile a no-code mobile app.
This may present a problem if you want to link the app to an existing store. If you’re already running a successful web store, an option like MobiLoud or Tapcart may be a better choice.
But Buildfire is perfect if you’re building a standalone ecommerce app. Think a dedicated app for a retail store, or an app-only product brand, or an app for a restaurant. For all these use cases, Buildfire stands out as a unique solution that can do what other ecommerce mobile app builders can’t.
What users say: On Capterra, one CEO called it “the best WebApp builder out there.” A G2 reviewer praised being able to “create my app in no time, with zero coding” and “great around-the-clock support.”
What Is EcomBalance?
EcomBalance is a monthly bookkeeping service specialized for eCommerce companies selling on Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Etsy, WooCommerce, & other eCommerce channels.
We take monthly bookkeeping off your plate and deliver you your financial statements by the 15th or 20th of each month.
You’ll have your Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement ready for analysis each month so you and your business partners can make better business decisions.
Interested in learning more? Schedule a call with our CEO, Nathan Hirsch.
And here’s some free resources:
- Monthly Finance Meeting Agenda
- 9 Steps to Master Your Ecommerce Bookkeeping Checklist
- The Ultimate Guide on Finding an Ecommerce Virtual Bookkeeping Service
- What Is a Profit and Loss Statement?
- How to Read & Interpret a Cash Flow Statement
- How to Read a Balance Sheet & Truly Understand It
Final Thoughts: Which App Builder Is Right for Your Store?
The best mobile app builder is the one that fits your site’s ecommerce platform, works with the same integrations your site uses, and fits the operational model that works best for you.
Here’s a quick breakdown on which mobile app builder fits which type of store the best:
- If you want a custom app that works on any platform and you would rather a team handle it, MobiLoud is the strongest fit. It carries your entire website, integrations included, into native apps and runs them for you, which matters most for complex stores and for brands on BigCommerce, Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, or custom stacks.
- If you are on Shopify and want hands-on control of the app’s design, Tapcart and Appbrew are the leaders, with Appbrew the pick if AI-driven personalization is your priority.
- If you are a small store on a tight budget, AppMySite gets you a working app for as little as $29 a month, especially on WooCommerce or WordPress.
- If you are a B2B or European brand off Shopify, JMango360’s B2B features and platform coverage make it a specialist worth a demo.
- If you want to build a custom ecommerce app from the ground up, BuildFire’s plugin marketplace and developer SDK give you the most room to extend.
Whichever you choose, anchor the decision on integration and consistency, not on the app builder’s marketing. An app that leaves out half of what your website does will lose you the loyal customers it was meant to keep. Match the tool to your platform and your stack first, and the rest follows.
Huge thanks to MobiLoud for collaborating on this post!
