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Insights for the modern marketer
Every ecommerce brand has a website. It’s the foundation of your business. The place where customers browse, buy, and come back for more.
But more and more brands are realizing that their next big growth lever means extending beyond their website. To a mobile app.
Not long ago, building an app meant six-figure development budgets, months of engineering work, and a full-time team to maintain it. That’s no longer the case.
Today, no-code and low-code app builders make it possible for any brand to launch a high-performing, branded mobile app, quickly and affordably.
We’ve reviewed the top mobile app builders for ecommerce brands, from DIY platforms to fully managed services, to help you find the best fit for your business.
Read on to find the best fit for your brand, and start on the path to launching your very own branded mobile app.
Whether you want a fully managed service that does the heavy lifting or a DIY builder that comes with more work, but more control, there’s an option here to fit your budget, platform, and growth stage.
The ecommerce game is tougher than ever. Customer acquisition costs are climbing, ad platforms are volatile, and margins are getting thinner.
To protect profitability, brands are shifting their focus from acquisition to retention. And that’s where mobile apps shine.
Apps give you something the mobile web never could: a direct, always-on connection to your best customers. They live on your customers’ home screens, create frictionless buying experiences, and let you reach your audience instantly through push notifications (without paying Meta or Google every time you want to drive a sale).
The results speak for themselves:
For ecommerce brands, that means higher average order values, more frequent purchases, and more predictable repeat revenue.
A well-designed app could be your most powerful retention channel.
The only thing to figure out is how you’re going to launch it.

MobiLoud turns your existing ecommerce website into full featured iOS and Android apps, with no rebuild, no coding, no compromises.
Every feature, integration, and design element from your website carries over seamlessly, so your app looks and performs just like your store, but with the UX enhancements of a native app.
Unlike the majority of other no-code app builders, MobiLoud doesn’t force you to build a whole new app separate from your website.
There are no templates, no drag and drop blocks, no integration limits.
That means you have full flexibility with your app, on a level that most other app builders don’t allow. Whatever you can build on the web will transfer over to your app.
And once you launch, overhead is significantly lower, because all new features or changes on your website work in your app by default. There’s no duplicate work, making the ROI math so much easier.
Best for: Ecommerce brands that want to launch a high-performing mobile app fast, without spending months or hundreds of thousands on custom development.
Key Features:
Notable Clients: John Varvatos, Jack & Jones, Kiokii, Yon-Ka Paris, MASC, Country Life Natural Foods.
Why Choose MobiLoud: MobiLoud is the only solution that gives you a true native app experience without forcing you to rebuild from scratch. You keep your site exactly as it is (your design, your checkout, your integrations all intact), and simply add the power of push notifications, native speed, and home screen presence.
Most brands launch in just a few weeks, and immediately see higher engagement, more repeat orders, and higher revenue per user, all without adding new overhead.

Tapcart is a Shopify-exclusive mobile app builder built for speed, polish, and premium brand presentation.
It lets you create a native iOS and Android app using a simple drag-and-drop editor, with no coding needed. Designed specifically for Shopify stores, it syncs your products, collections, and content automatically, letting you launch a mobile app that feels like an extension of your storefront.
The features and UI of Tapcart look impressive. But, like a lot of app builders, there’s a fairly significant amount of work needed to manage the app.
It comes with limitations, too – as the pre-built integrations and templates mean full feature and design parity with your website is by no means guaranteed.
Best for: Established Shopify brands that prioritize design, on-brand visuals, and a high-end customer experience.
Key Features:
Drawbacks: Tapcart’s biggest limitation is its exclusivity – it only works with Shopify. Pricing is also on the higher end (especially for access to all their features), which may put it out of reach for smaller stores.
Why Choose Tapcart: If your brand already thrives on Shopify and you want a premium, visually striking app experience, Tapcart delivers. It’s one of the most refined DIY builders available, and its integrations make it a solid fit for fast-growing, design-focused DTC brands.

Vajro is another tool built for Shopify, and designed for simplicity and speed. It helps you launch fully branded mobile apps in a matter of days, without writing a single line of code.
The platform focuses on ease of use, offering live preview editing, automatic syncing, and straightforward customization tools that make app creation accessible for any store owner.
Best for: Small to mid-sized Shopify brands that want to get an app live quickly and affordably, without heavy technical setup.
Key Features:
Drawbacks: Vajro is limited to Shopify, and while it offers solid functionality, it lacks deeper customization and flexibility compared to more advanced builders.
Why Choose Vajro: Vajro is ideal for ecommerce founders who want a reliable mobile app solution at a decent price point. It’s straightforward, affordable, and gets the job done, helping smaller brands strengthen retention and engagement without investing in complex development.

GoodBarber is a versatile no-code app builder, made for businesses in a range of industries (not just ecommerce).
It serves a somewhat niche role in the ecom market. It lets you create an app from the ground up, and sell directly through the app. No integration with a website needed.
That said, it’s only really suited for this use case. The lack of integration with platforms like Shopify make it difficult to juggle both platforms, if you’re doing a lot of sales through your website as well.
You can integrate GoodBarber apps with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce with third-party extenders like Zapier or Make, but that’s not ideal (especially when there are other options that are built to integrate with these platforms by default).
Best for: Niche ecommerce brands or B2B businesses that primarily sell products within the app, like small retail chains, in-store companion apps, or wholesale ordering apps.
Key Features:
Drawbacks: GoodBarber isn’t designed to integrate with your existing ecommerce site. Connecting it via third-party tools adds complexity, and you’ll be managing two separate systems.
Why Choose GoodBarber:
If your goal is to create a standalone app, one that sells products or services natively, without relying on an external store, GoodBarber is an easy, highly customizable way to build a great-looking app with no coding.

Plobal Apps is a Shopify-exclusive app builder focused on automation and marketing performance. It’s designed to help mid-sized and enterprise Shopify brands launch apps that drive repeat purchases and track performance through detailed analytics.
Best for: Growing Shopify stores that want to automate customer engagement and make data-driven decisions to improve retention.
Key Features:
Drawbacks: Plobal Apps is limited to Shopify, and while it includes strong analytics and automation tools, it doesn’t offer as much design freedom as platforms like Tapcart or the hands-off simplicity of a managed website to app service like MobiLoud.
Why Choose Plobal Apps: Plobal is a good fit for data-focused ecommerce teams that want to combine marketing automation with a mobile app experience. If your store already runs on Shopify and you want to optimize for retention through insights and automation, Plobal offers a solid balance between functionality and performance.

Appbrew is a no-code mobile app builder designed for mid-market ecommerce brands.
It takes a more modular approach than some other no-code builders, aiming for flexibility closer to that of a custom app, but at the cost of an app builder (albeit a little more expensive than most others).
It’s built for Shopify and Shopify Plus stores, with APIs that allow for more complex integrations and design customization than platforms like Tapcart or Vajro.
Best for: Established ecommerce brands that want a premium app experience without going fully custom.
Key Features:
Drawbacks: Appbrew’s flexibility comes at a higher price point, and it typically caters to larger brands. It’s not a plug-and-play solution. Onboarding requires collaboration with their team, making it less suitable for smaller or early-stage stores.
Why Choose Appbrew: Appbrew bridges the gap between a template-based builder and a full custom build. It’s best suited for brands that have outgrown simple no-code tools and need a flexible, high-performance app experience that reflects their brand at scale.

Shopney is one of the most popular Shopify app builders, known for its focus on simplicity and quick setup.
It offers a wide selection of templates, real-time syncing with your Shopify store, and built-in features for in-app chat, personalized recommendations, and push notifications.
Best for: Shopify brands that want a ready-to-launch app with minimal effort.
Key Features:
Drawbacks: Shopney is limited to Shopify and lacks the deeper customization that more advanced tools like Appbrew or MobiLoud provide. Its feature set is broad but somewhat constrained by its template system.
Why Choose Shopney: Shopney is ideal for Shopify brands that want to launch fast, look professional, and start driving app sales right away. It’s intuitive, affordable, and focused squarely on helping Shopify merchants turn mobile traffic into repeat customers.

BuildFire is a flexible no-code app builder that supports a wide range of use cases, from ecommerce to internal business apps.
It offers both DIY and custom development options, giving you the freedom to either build your app yourself or have BuildFire’s team handle it for you.
While it’s not ecommerce-specific, it does integrate with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce through plugins and custom APIs.
It sits in a similar niche to GoodBarber, in that you can build an app from the ground up, without needing to connect to a website, though it offers a bit more flexibility in how you’re able to integrate with other platforms.
Best for: Businesses that want a highly customizable app builder capable of serving both ecommerce and non-ecommerce needs.
Key Features:
Drawbacks: BuildFire isn’t specialized for ecommerce, and integrations often require extra setup or third-party plugins that are less reliable. For brands that need deep ecommerce functionality, dedicated tools like MobiLoud or Tapcart are usually more efficient.
Why Choose BuildFire: BuildFire is ideal if you want a single, flexible platform, to build app-first. It’s especially useful for businesses that want more custom functionality or plan to build different apps beyond their store.

MageNative is an app builder for Shopify focused towards the lower end of the market.
It has all the hallmarks of typical app builders; simple publishing, ready-to-go templates, and integrations with many of the most popular Shopify apps.
The cost is lower than most other options (you can start from as low as $49/mo – which is crazy cheap for your own app). But, with that, comes simplicity and questions over scalability for higher-level brands.
Best for: Ecommerce businesses that want a straightforward app builder at a low cost.
Key Features:
Drawbacks: The UI and customization options feel more limited compared to modern tools like Tapcart or MobiLoud. The setup and design process can also be less intuitive for non-technical users.
Why Choose MageNative: MageNative is a practical choice for ecommerce brands that want a flexible, affordable way to launch mobile apps without rebuilding your entire site.

AppMySite can be a decent alternative to Shopify-only app builders for brands selling on WooCommerce.
It’s an affordable, simple no-code app builder made primarily for WordPress (and WooCommerce). It lets non-technical users launch apps quickly with minimal setup.
While it does integrate with Shopify too, the integration is less sophisticated and reliable.
Best for: Small to mid-sized ecommerce brands looking for an affordable, plug-and-play app builder that works across multiple platforms.
Key Features:
Drawbacks: AppMySite’s simplicity is also its limitation. Customization options are limited, and it can’t replicate complex website functionality as precisely as a managed service like MobiLoud.
Why Choose AppMySite: If you want to get an app live fast, without a big learning curve or development team, AppMySite is an affordable and practical choice. It’s perfect for small stores or content-driven ecommerce brands that just need a lightweight mobile presence.

SimiCart started out as a mobile app builder built specifically for Magento and Adobe Commerce stores, but has since pivoted to focus on Shopify (as with so many other platforms).
It’s significantly more affordable than most alternatives; with their highest plan clocking in at $199/mo, and the potential to launch an app for just $49.
Of course, that comes with tradeoffs in quality. But for stores with a low budget, it’s a viable option.
They do support Magento/Adobe Commerce still, as well. However their main focus is now squarely on Shopify, and Magento projects appear to be more of a custom developed option (with less ongoing support).
Best for: Shopify brands looking to build an app on a low budget; Magento stores looking for a simple app, launched fast.
Key Features:
Drawbacks: SimiCart may feel dated or lacking in polish compared to others in the market, as you can expect with any low-cost option.
Why Choose SimiCart: If you’re running a Shopify store and want to launch a mobile app with minimal friction (and at a low cost), SimiCart is a decent choice. It gives you the core mobile commerce features you need, at a price point that literally any store can afford.
With so many options available, the right choice depends on what kind of brand you are, and what you want your app to do.
Your choice should fit your tech stack, your growth stage, and the level of control (or simplicity) you want.
Here are the key factors to consider:
Start with your foundation. Some builders (like Tapcart, Vajro, and Plobal) only work with Shopify, while others (like MobiLoud) are platform-agnostic and support BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce, and even headless setups. If your brand doesn’t run on Shopify, your choices narrow quickly.
Building the app is one thing. Maintaining it is another. App store updates, OS changes, and bug fixes can be ongoing headaches. A managed service like MobiLoud handles all of this for you, while DIY builders require you to stay on top of updates yourself.
Make sure your app can truly mirror your online store. Some builders offer design freedom but limited checkout functionality or integration depth. If you rely on complex plugins, custom carts, or third-party integrations, confirm those will work in the app environment before committing.
Pricing ranges from $100/month for entry-level builders to thousands per month for managed services. But cost alone doesn’t tell the story. An app that drives even a small increase in repeat orders can easily pay for itself. Look at long-term ROI, not just monthly price.
Choose a builder that can grow with you. As your product catalog, customer base, and marketing needs evolve, you’ll want an app that can handle higher traffic, deeper integrations, and new features without needing to rebuild from scratch.
Your app should feel like an extension of your brand, not a generic template. Look for tools that let you maintain consistent branding, easy navigation, and a frictionless checkout flow.
Pro Tip: Think long-term. It’s easy to launch an app quickly. But switching platforms later is costly and time-consuming. Take your time making a decision, and choose a builder that can support your business not just today, but years from now.
A few years ago, launching a mobile app was a luxury reserved for major retail brands. Today, it’s a competitive advantage that any ecommerce business can access. And one that’s quickly becoming essential.
Apps don’t just make you look good in the App Store. They drive higher conversion rates, stronger retention, and deeper customer relationships.
They turn one-time buyers into loyal repeat customers, and give you a direct, owned marketing channel that isn’t at the mercy of ad costs or algorithms.
The best mobile app builder for your brand depends on what you value most:
Ultimately, choose the option that fits your goals, your stack, and your stage of growth. Whether you’re after total control or a done-for-you experience, the right app builder will help you turn your best customers into your most profitable channel.