Converting Your Shopify Store to a Mobile App
You want to convert your Shopify store to a mobile app. That's a great idea. Mobile apps drive more sales, bring customers back more often, and give you a direct line to shoppers through push notifications.
You've probably already heard of Tapcart — it's one of the biggest names in the Shopify mobile app world. Big brands love it. The reviews are mostly great. It looks impressive. But then you see the price — $250 to $1,200 per month — and you think... 'Wait, do I really need to spend that much?'
Short answer: No. You don't. Meet AppOfWeb — a fully managed Shopify mobile app service that gives you a native iOS and Android app, a dedicated project manager, and hands-off support for just $99/month. In this post, we break down exactly how Tapcart and AppOfWeb compare — so you can make the smartest decision for your business.
What Is Tapcart?
Tapcart is a DIY Shopify mobile app builder. That means they give you a drag-and-drop tool, and YOU build and manage the app yourself. It syncs with your Shopify store in real time, lets you send push notifications, and gives you a nice-looking app. Tapcart is great for larger eCommerce brands with a dedicated marketing team who has the time and resources to manage an app on an ongoing basis.
But here's the thing most people don't realize until after they sign up: With Tapcart, you are doing most of the work yourself. You design the app. You manage the content. You set up push notifications. You figure out what blocks to use. You troubleshoot issues. And you're paying a LOT for that privilege.
The Pricing Problem with Tapcart
Let's talk numbers. This is where things get uncomfortable for Tapcart.
| Plan | Monthly Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $250/month | iOS & Android app, 15 blocks, 3 integrations, push notifications |
| Ultimate | $500/month | Unlimited blocks, more integrations, abandoned cart push |
| Enterprise | $1,000+/month | Unlimited everything, dedicated account manager + designer |
Plus a 'success fee' — Tapcart also charges 1.75% to 2.5% of every sale made through your app, on top of the monthly price. The more your app grows, the more you pay Tapcart. You also need an Apple Developer account ($99/year) and Google Play account ($25 one-time) just to publish your app.
| Plan | Monthly Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| AppOfWeb | $99/month | iOS & Android app, dedicated project manager, fully managed service, push notifications, ongoing support |
No success fee. No percentage of your sales. No hidden charges. Just $99/month, flat.
AppOfWeb vs Tapcart: Full Comparison
| Feature | AppOfWeb | Tapcart Core | Tapcart Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $99 ✅ | $250 ❌ | $1,000+ ❌ |
| Success Fee on Sales | None ✅ | 2.5% ❌ | 1.75% ❌ |
| iOS & Android App | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Fully Managed (Done For You) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (DIY) | ⚠️ Partial |
| Dedicated Project Manager | ✅ Yes | ❌ Not on Core | ✅ Yes (Enterprise only) |
| Push Notifications | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| App Store Publishing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Real-Time Shopify Sync | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Ongoing Hands-Off Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ⚠️ Partial |
| You Manage the App? | ❌ They handle it | ✅ You do it yourself | ✅ You do most of it |
| Best For | Small-medium Shopify stores | Large brands with teams | Enterprise/large brands |
The Biggest Difference: Hands-Off vs Hands-On
With Tapcart, you get a tool — a great tool, but still a tool. You're responsible for designing the app layout, setting up push notifications, updating content, managing integrations, and troubleshooting issues. If you're a founder already wearing 10 different hats every day, who has time for all that?
AppOfWeb is a fully managed service. They build your app from scratch, publish it to both stores, handle all updates and maintenance, and give you a dedicated project manager. When something needs changing, you tell your project manager — done. You focus on your business. They handle the app.
Real Cost Comparison Over Time
| Time Period | AppOfWeb | Tapcart Core ($250/mo) | Tapcart Enterprise ($1,000/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $99 | $250 | $1,000 |
| 1 Year | $1,188 | $3,000 | $12,000 |
| 2 Years | $2,376 | $6,000 | $24,000 |
| 3 Years | $3,564 | $9,000 | $36,000 |
Savings vs Tapcart Core over 3 years: $5,436. Savings vs Tapcart Enterprise over 3 years: $32,436. With AppOfWeb, your fee never changes. It's always $99/month, no matter how much you sell — while Tapcart's success fee means their cost grows as your app grows.
What Real Users Say About Tapcart
Real Tapcart users have noted: 'It's pricey for what you get' — many feel the basic plan doesn't justify $250/month. 'Android apps lag behind iOS' — multiple reviewers note fewer features and more bugs on Android. 'Launching took longer than expected' — Apple Developer setup and approval can delay your launch significantly. 'You need a team to manage it' — solo founders and small teams often feel overwhelmed. 'The success fee adds up fast' — as your app sells more, 2.5% becomes a serious additional cost.
What AppOfWeb Does Differently
AppOfWeb was built for Shopify store owners who want results without the headache. It's fully managed from day one — no tools to learn, nothing to design or manage. You get a dedicated project manager from the very beginning at $99/month (Tapcart only gives you one at $1,000/month Enterprise). There are no success fees. Ever. AppOfWeb is 100% focused on Shopify, delivering better, more specialized results for Shopify merchants.
Who Should Choose AppOfWeb?
AppOfWeb is the perfect fit if you want a mobile app but don't have time to manage it, if you're a small or medium business without a dedicated marketing team, if you're a founder wearing multiple hats, if you want to convert your Shopify store to a mobile app without a tech background, if you're budget-conscious and looking for maximum value, or if you want a real human project manager — not just a ticket system.
Who Should Choose Tapcart?
Tapcart makes more sense if you're a large brand doing $10M+ in annual revenue with a dedicated marketing or tech team, you want the deepest customization and are willing to pay for it, you have the budget for $500–$1,000/month plus a success fee on every sale, or you need enterprise-level integrations and developer tools. Tapcart is a great product — it's just very expensive and very hands-on.
Final Verdict
Tapcart is a premium product built for premium brands with premium budgets. But the vast majority of Shopify store owners are hard-working entrepreneurs who want a mobile app that works — without spending thousands of dollars a month or hours managing a DIY tool. That's exactly who AppOfWeb was built for.
Same result: a beautiful, native iOS and Android app for your Shopify store. Different experience: fully managed, dedicated support, zero stress. Different price: $99/month vs $250–$1,200/month. If you want to convert your Shopify store to a mobile app and want someone to handle everything — AppOfWeb is the smartest choice in the market today.
Final Scorecard
| Category | AppOfWeb | Tapcart Core | Tapcart Enterprise | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99/mo | $250/mo | $1,000/mo | AppOfWeb 🏆 |
| Success Fee | None | 2.5% | 1.75% | AppOfWeb 🏆 |
| Hands-Off / Done For You | ✅ Full | ❌ DIY | ⚠️ Partial | AppOfWeb 🏆 |
| Dedicated Project Manager | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | Tie (but at 10x cost) |
| iOS & Android App | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Tie 🤝 |
| Push Notifications | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Tie 🤝 |
| App Publishing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Tie 🤝 |
| Real-Time Shopify Sync | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Tie 🤝 |
| Best for Small/Med Stores | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ | AppOfWeb 🏆 |
| Overall Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | AppOfWeb 🏆 |
Want to convert your Shopify store to a mobile app without the DIY headache — and without paying Tapcart's premium price? AppOfWeb gives you a fully managed iOS and Android app with a dedicated project manager for just $99/month. Visit appofweb.com to get started today.
So you've got a Shopify store and you're thinking — 'I should really have a mobile app.' Great idea! Here's why this matters so much right now: Over 72% of all online shopping happens on mobile devices. Mobile apps convert customers 3x better than mobile websites. App shoppers spend 20% more per order than website shoppers. Push notifications give you a direct line to your customers — no algorithm, no email inbox competition. And only 23% of Shopify stores have a mobile app — meaning you'll stand out from most of your competitors.
Building a mobile app from scratch can cost $30,000 to $100,000+ and take months. That's where Shopify mobile app builders come in. These tools and services let you convert your Shopify store into a mobile app — fast, affordable, and without needing to know how to code. Here are the Top 10 Shopify mobile app builders for 2026, explained in plain English.
Two Types of App Builders You Should Know
Type 1 — DIY App Builders: These give you a drag-and-drop editor and you build and manage the app yourself. You design it, set up push notifications, manage updates, and troubleshoot issues. Usually cheaper on the surface but require your time on an ongoing basis. Type 2 — Fully Managed Services: More like hiring an agency. A team builds your app, publishes it, manages updates, and gives you ongoing support. You just run your store. Some are surprisingly affordable.
Quick Comparison: All 10 Builders at a Glance
| # | Builder | Starting Price | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AppOfWeb | $99/month | Fully Managed | Shopify stores wanting hands-off service |
| 2 | Tapcart | $250/month | DIY | Mid-to-large brands with big budgets |
| 3 | MobiLoud | $399/month | Fully Managed | Any website type, hands-off |
| 4 | Vajro | $149/month | DIY | Live selling & fast launch |
| 5 | Shopney | $149/month | DIY | Design-focused brands |
| 6 | Plobal Apps | $99/month + fees | DIY | Analytics-heavy stores |
| 7 | MageNative | $49/month | DIY | Budget-conscious beginners |
| 8 | Apptile | $49/month | DIY | Visual design lovers |
| 9 | Mowico | $149/month | DIY | Simple drag-and-drop setup |
| 10 | Appbrew | $999/month | DIY/Custom | Enterprise, large DTC brands |
#1 — AppOfWeb: Best Value Fully Managed Shopify App Service
Price: $99/month (flat, no hidden fees) | Type: Fully Managed — They do everything for you | Best for: Shopify store owners who want an app without the hassle.
AppOfWeb is a fully managed mobile app service built specifically for Shopify. That means their entire team, their entire focus, and every feature they offer is designed for one type of merchant: Shopify store owners. You don't do any of the work. They build your app, publish it to the Apple App Store and Google Play, handle updates, and you get a dedicated project manager — a real human who's your personal contact for anything you need.
What you get: Native iOS and Android app for your Shopify store. Real-time sync with your products, prices, and inventory. Push notifications to reach customers directly. Dedicated project manager from day one. Full App Store and Google Play publishing. Ongoing maintenance and updates handled for you. 100% Shopify-focused team. No success fees, no percentage of your sales — ever.
| Service | Monthly Price | Fully Managed? | Dedicated PM? |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppOfWeb | $99 | Yes | Yes |
| MobiLoud | $399 | Yes | Yes |
| Tapcart | $250–$1,200 | No (DIY) | Only on $1,000+ plan |
If you're a small to medium Shopify store owner who wants a real, native mobile app without hiring a team or managing a DIY tool every day — AppOfWeb is your answer. It's the best deal in the entire Shopify mobile app space. Most fully managed app services charge $300–$1,000/month. AppOfWeb charges $99. Same service, same support, same result — for a fraction of the price.
#2 — Tapcart: Best DIY Builder for Large Brands
Price: $250–$1,200+/month + 1.75%–2.5% of in-app sales | Type: DIY — You build and manage the app | Best for: Mid-to-large brands with a marketing team.
Tapcart is one of the most well-known names in Shopify mobile apps. Big brands like Princess Polly use it. The design quality is excellent, and their drag-and-drop App Studio gives you a lot of creative control. But Tapcart is a tool, not a service. You are building and managing this app yourself — design, push notifications, content updates, everything. If you have a marketing team dedicated to this — great. If you're a solo founder or small team — this is a LOT of extra work.
| Plan | Price | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $250/month | Basic features, no dedicated support |
| Ultimate | $500/month | More integrations, still DIY |
| Enterprise | $1,000+/month | Dedicated manager, but very expensive |
Great product. But expensive, and it requires your team to do a lot of ongoing work. The success fee is a real cost that grows as your app grows. Best for established brands with budget and staff.
#3 — MobiLoud: Fully Managed but Premium Priced
Price: $399/month+ | Type: Fully Managed | Best for: Any type of website, not just Shopify.
MobiLoud is another fully managed app service — they build and maintain your app and you get a dedicated project manager. The quality is solid and their reputation is strong. So why is it #3? Two reasons. First — Price: MobiLoud starts at $399/month, that's $300 more per month than AppOfWeb for the same hands-off experience — $3,600 extra per year for no additional benefit. Second — Focus: MobiLoud works with all kinds of websites (WordPress, WooCommerce, Wix, etc.), meaning they are NOT Shopify specialists. If you ARE on Shopify, you're paying $300/month more than you need to.
#4 — Vajro: Best for Live Selling
Price: $149–$999/month | Type: DIY | Best for: Stores that want live selling and fast launch.
Vajro is popular for being fast to set up and having native live selling features — great if going live on your app to sell products is part of your strategy. It syncs automatically with Shopify and works with popular tools like Klaviyo, Recharge, and Judge.me. Pros: fast setup, live selling built-in, unlimited push notifications. Cons: you build and manage everything yourself, pricing goes up steeply, no dedicated support on entry plans. Best for brands with teams who want live selling events inside their app.
#5 — Shopney: Best for Design-Focused Brands
Price: $149–$1,299/month | Type: DIY | Best for: Brands that care a lot about how their app looks.
Shopney is known for good-looking templates and an easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder. Pros: clean attractive templates, unlimited push notifications on all plans, in-app chat, multi-language support. Cons: full design customization only on the highest plan ($599+/month), abandoned cart notifications locked to higher-tier plans, most integrations also paywalled. Good-looking apps at a mid-range price, but key features require expensive plan upgrades.
#6 — Plobal Apps: Best for Data & Analytics
Price: $99/month + commission on sales | Type: DIY | Best for: Stores that love deep analytics and data.
Plobal Apps has a strong focus on analytics. If you love tracking data — user behavior, revenue by channel, engagement rates — Plobal gives you a detailed dashboard. Pros: drag-and-drop builder, strong analytics and reporting, unlimited push notifications, good integrations. Cons: charges a commission on in-app sales on top of monthly price (hidden cost!), best features locked to higher plans. The starting price looks affordable at $99/month, but the sales commission can add up fast.
#7 — MageNative: Best Budget DIY Option
Price: $49–$249/month | Type: DIY | Best for: New stores or beginners testing mobile for the first time.
MageNative is the most affordable option on this list at $49/month. Pros: cheapest starting price, multi-language and multi-currency support, AI-driven product recommendations on higher plans, AR try-on features available. Cons: basic features at entry price, less design polish compared to premium builders, you manage everything yourself, not ideal for scaling brands. Great if you're brand new to mobile apps and want to experiment without risking a lot of money.
#8 — Apptile: Best for Visual Creativity
Price: $49/month+ | Type: DIY | Best for: Brands that want beautiful, personalized app designs.
Apptile uses a 'modular tile' system that lets you create visually rich, personalized experiences. They also have AI-powered product recommendations built in. Pros: visually stunning app designs, AI-driven personalization, modular tile builder is creative and flexible, affordable starting price, free plan available. Cons: complex backend systems may find it limiting, heavy focus on design means less technical depth, DIY — you manage everything. Perfect for fashion, beauty, lifestyle brands.
#9 — Mowico: Best for Simplicity
Price: $149/month | Type: DIY | Best for: Merchants who want the simplest possible setup.
Mowico prides itself on simplicity — you can set up your app in three steps. One flat price covers everything and they assign you a customer success manager for onboarding. Pros: very easy to use, one flat price, customer success manager included, fast setup, good integrations. Cons: only one pricing tier, less feature-rich than higher-end builders, you still manage the app yourself after onboarding. At $149/month for a DIY tool, AppOfWeb at $99/month with full management is still a better deal.
#10 — Appbrew: Best for Enterprise Brands
Price: $999/month+ | Type: DIY/Custom | Best for: Large, established DTC brands with developer resources.
Appbrew is in a completely different league — both in features AND price. Built with React for high performance, Appbrew offers deep customization for brands that need something truly custom. Pros: high-performance React-based apps, deep customization, advanced CMS, built for brands doing serious volume. Cons: starts at $999/month, very steep learning curve, some reported bugs on certain devices, overkill for 99% of Shopify stores. For enterprise brands with developer teams and $1,000+/month budgets only.
Final Rankings Summary
| Rank | Builder | Price | Managed? | Best For | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | AppOfWeb | $99/mo | Yes | Small-medium Shopify stores | 5/5 |
| #2 | Tapcart | $250–$1,200/mo | No | Large brands with teams | 4/5 |
| #3 | MobiLoud | $399/mo | Yes | All website types | 4/5 |
| #4 | Vajro | $149–$999/mo | No | Live selling brands | 3/5 |
| #5 | Shopney | $149–$1,299/mo | No | Design-focused brands | 3/5 |
| #6 | Plobal Apps | $99/mo + fees | No | Analytics-focused stores | 3/5 |
| #7 | MageNative | $49–$249/mo | No | Beginners & startups | 3/5 |
| #8 | Apptile | $49/mo+ | No | Visual/design-led brands | 3/5 |
| #9 | Mowico | $149/mo | No | Simple setup seekers | 3/5 |
| #10 | Appbrew | $999/mo+ | No | Enterprise brands | 2/5 |
So Which One Should YOU Choose?
Choose AppOfWeb if: you run a Shopify store and want someone to handle everything — build, publish, maintain. You want a dedicated project manager at an affordable price. You are a small to medium business or solo founder who wants to convert your Shopify store into a mobile app without any tech knowledge. You don't want to pay $400–$1,200/month for the same result.
Choose Tapcart if you're a large brand doing $5M+ in revenue with a dedicated team to manage the app daily and budget isn't a concern. Choose MobiLoud if you're NOT on Shopify. Choose a DIY builder (Vajro, Shopney, etc.) if you have an in-house marketing/tech team and want hands-on control of every detail.
The Bottom Line
Converting your Shopify store into a mobile app is one of the smartest moves you can make in 2026. More sales, more loyal customers, and a direct connection to shoppers through push notifications — it's a game-changer. But you don't have to spend a fortune or waste hours managing a DIY tool to get there.
AppOfWeb gives you everything: a real, native iOS and Android app, a dedicated project manager, full hands-off service, 100% Shopify expertise — all for just $99/month with no hidden fees and no sales commissions. Whether you're just getting started or you've been running your Shopify store for years, AppOfWeb makes it easy, affordable, and completely stress-free to convert your Shopify store into a mobile app.
Ready to convert your Shopify store into a mobile app today? Visit appofweb.com and get started with a dedicated project manager and full hands-off service for just $99/month.