How I Built a Shopify Mobile App with React Native -So You Don’t Have To Struggle Like I Did

Okay, real talk—building a mobile app for your Shopify store sounds intimidating, right?

I mean, you already have a perfectly good website. Customers can buy stuff just fine. Do you really need an app?

Well, let me hit you with some quick facts:

• 67% of all eCommerce sales happen on mobile—and most of that is through apps, not browsers.
• Apps load 3x faster than mobile websites (because nobody likes waiting).
• Push notifications = free marketing (say goodbye to ignored emails).
• Customers spend 3x more time shopping on apps compared to websites.

So yeah, you need an app. But here’s where it gets tricky:

Building an app from scratch is expensive and takes forever.

I learned that the hard way.

At first, I thought, “I’ll just hire a developer.” Then I saw the price tag. $10k–$50k?! Yeah, no thanks.

Then I found React Native—the framework that lets you build a single app for both iOS and Android. Faster, cheaper, and honestly, way less of a headache than coding everything from scratch.

And after a lot of trial and error, I figured out the easiest way to do it. So, if you’re looking to build a mobile app for your Shopify store without wanting to throw your laptop out the window, keep reading.

Step 1: Set Up Your Shopify Store (Don’t Skip This!)

Before you even touch React Native, make sure your Shopify store is good to go. Otherwise, you’re just building a fancy app on top of a broken website.

Here’s a quick checklist:

• Mobile-friendly design (If your store is slow or clunky, fix that first!)
• Products & categories are organized (Customers should find what they need easily.)
• Payment gateways are set up (Shopify Payments, PayPal, Apple Pay—whatever works.)

Got that? Cool. Let’s move on.

Step 2: Install React Native (The Right Way)

If you’re new to React Native, don’t worry—I was too. Here’s how to get started without pulling your hair out.

Option 1: Use Expo (Best for Beginners )

Expo is like the “training wheels” version of React Native. It’s easier to set up, but slightly less flexible.

Run this command:

bashCopyEditnpx create-expo-app ShopifyApp

Boom. You’ve got a React Native project.

Option 2: Use React Native CLI (More Advanced )

If you want more control over the app (like using custom native modules), use the full React Native CLI:

bashCopyEditnpx react-native init ShopifyApp

Either way, you’re now ready to start coding.

Step 3: Connect Your Shopify Store to the App

Now comes the fun part—getting your products to show up in the app.

Shopify has something called the Storefront API, which lets your app fetch products, process orders, and basically do all the magic.

Here’s a simple API request to fetch your store’s products:

javascriptCopyEditfetch('https://your-shopify-store.myshopify.com/api/graphql', {  
 method: 'POST',  
 headers: {  
   'Content-Type': 'application/json',  
   'X-Shopify-Storefront-Access-Token': 'your_api_key'  
 },  
 body: JSON.stringify({  
   query: `{ products(first: 10) { edges { node { title, price } } } }`  
 })  
});

⚡ Pro Tip: You’ll need a Storefront API access token from Shopify. Get it from your Shopify Admin > Apps > Manage private apps.

Step 4: Build the UI (Because Nobody Likes Ugly Apps)

Let’s be honest—a bad design kills sales.

Your Shopify app should have:

• A product listing page – Shows off your items with images, descriptions, and prices.
• A shopping cart & checkout page – The whole point of this app is to make buying easy.
• A search & filter function – So customers can find what they need ASAP.

The easiest way to style your app? Use UI libraries like:

• React Native Paper – Prebuilt components that look clean and modern.
• NativeBase – Another great option for designing professional-looking UIs.

Step 5: Add Payments (Cha-Ching!)

Shopify’s Checkout API makes it easy to process payments in your app.

You can accept:

• Credit & Debit Cards
• Apple Pay & Google Pay
• PayPal & Other Gateways

This step can get a little technical, but Shopify’s Checkout API docs will walk you through it.

Step 6: Test Before You Launch (Trust Me, You’ll Thank Yourself Later)

Before you unleash your Shopify app into the world, TEST EVERYTHING.

• Use Expo Go – Lets you see your app on your phone instantly.
• Debug with React Native Debugger – Fix bugs before they break something important.
• Run Google Lighthouse – Checks your app’s speed and performance.

💡 Pro Tip: Try your app on different devices (iPhone, Android, tablet) to make sure it looks good everywhere.

Lessons I Learned (So You Don’t Have to Repeat My Mistakes)

• Keep it simple. Don’t try to cram every Shopify feature into your app—start with the basics.
• Optimize images. Huge images = slow load times. Use tools like TinyPNG to compress them.
• Use push notifications wisely. Spam your customers, and they’ll uninstall the app real quick.
• Update regularly. React Native (and Shopify) are always evolving—keep your app fresh.

Final Thoughts: Should You Use React Native for Your Shopify App?

100% yes.

If you’re serious about growing your Shopify store, a mobile app is a game-changer. And with React Native, you can build one without spending a fortune or waiting months for development.

So, what are you waiting for? Start building your Shopify app today! 🚀