Twinr Native Screens is live! Create native pages with powerful native elements in minutes. Know More

9 Signs It’s Time to Get a Mobile App for Your Shopify Store

By Gaurav Parvadiya | Last Updated On May 28th, 2025

Mobile traffic is rising, but websites on mobile devices often miss the chance to seal the deal. Why? That’s because smartphone websites are not intuitive, they take time to load and don’t give users what they are accustomed to. When a visitor leaves your site, abandons their cart, or doesn’t return to shop, that tells you something. 

Mobile web may be at its limits for your business and developing a mobile app can give you the growth solution you seek. The Shopify App Store hosts over 11,905 apps, making it one of the largest eCommerce ecosystems globally.

Shopify brands need to pay attention to mobile apps for these reasons:

  • Mobile shopping rose, but desktop purchases decreased during that same period, according to Statista records.
  • According to Statista, U.S. smartphone users spend over 4 hours and 39 minutes browsing mobile apps each day.
  • 96% of 18 to 44-year-olds have at least one shopping app on their phones and about half of all online shoppers use apps to shop regularly.

A brand without a mobile app will find it challenging to deal with higher ad prices, more competing brands, and higher customer expectations.

Why Apps Are the Future (and the Present) of eCommerce

Mobile traffic now makes up more than 80% of all visits to ecommerce sites. Surprisingly, those visits often don’t end in clients making purchases. The reason is that while mobile websites are responsive, they can’t perform as well or give users the same experience that an app does.

According to Salesforce, mobile apps help businesses achieve higher conversion rates than mobile websites. Why? Users benefit from apps which offer speed, keep them logged in, quicken checkout and allow easy navigation with a thumb. 

People are starting to have specific expectations as customers. They seek a brand interaction that feels individual, is simple to use and can be accessed often. Experiences on Shein and Amazon brands show why apps play a key role. Should you reach your ending objective professionally later than some others, your competitors might start taking your customers when they see they are more successful

Apps help you see what your users do, so you can give them offers and new products at the best opportunity. With that kind of information, you can retain customers and build a rewarding relationship with them.

9 signs it’s time for your Shopify store to get a mobile app

Below are listed 9 signs that shows it’s the time for your shopify store to get a mobile app: 

  • Your Mobile Conversion Rate Is Flat or Declining

Although you’ve improved your product pages, increased your site’s speed and quickened checkout, the success rate for mobile visitors remains low. Sound familiar? For Shopify users, it’s a frequent issue.

It’s not always the website doing this, it’s because of what mobile web can and cannot do. Many users find it hard to navigate the site, have issues logging in or get distracted, all of which can stop them from completing a purchase. Baymard Institute reports that mobile shoppers leave their carts over 79% of the time.

A mobile app makes things less stressful. When users are logged in, their products are held in the cart until they check out quickly with systems like Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Through apps, you can reach users who haven’t visited your site in a while by using push notifications, which isn’t practical for mobile sites. In other words, you’re focused on more than conversions. You’re reducing the number of people leaving and bringing them back.

  • You’re Seeing High Cart Abandonment on Mobile

It’s frustrating for ecommerce brands when people add products to their carts and don’t purchase. The mobile platform is the most guilty one. Reports have found that abandonment in mobile shopping carts can reach 86%, compared to 73% on desktops.

What is behind this occurrence? On a mobile website, people sometimes need to enter their passwords, address again or open very slow pages. Throw in minuscule buttons and slugish internet, and it’s easy to understand why people abandon apps

All of that shifts when you use an app. They don’t have to enter their details again; everything is remembered, and the checkout process is quick. The result? More people finish what they start, and less money is lost through failures.

It’s possible to set up reminders to happen automatically. Through push notifications, you can remind people who ignored their carts and encourage them to go back, which email is not as successful at. Should cart abandonment be taking away your revenue, launching a mobile app can provide a quick answer.

  • Your Repeat Customer Rate Is Low

When it comes to ecommerce, keeping customers coming back is very valuable. When we hold on to customers, they spend more over time and are less expensive to maintain. Whenever your repeat customer rate stays under 30%, chances are you’re losing some of your earnings.

Often, the user experience ensures that buyers will return again and again. It’s easy for customers to return when they can use their saved preferences, quickly order again and earn rewards.

The same research showed that people using apps return twice as often to buy a product, while mobile web users visit less frequently. Push notifications, which are enabled by apps, can help run successful campaigns to keep customers engaged.

If your app icon appears on their home screen, they will think of what you do as soon as they get there. This closeness is valuable and allows your brand to remain close to your customers.

Growing your repeat purchase rate is dependent not only on marketing but also on the experience people get. 

  • You’re Running Paid Ads — But CAC Is Rising

Your CAC for advertising on Meta, TikTok or Google goes up every month. That’s generally what DTC brands face by 2025. Emphasizing paid ads for growth works, but you’ll always spend more than necessary if you don’t keep your customers long.

A mobile app helps you improve your results with every customer you attract. When retention, upsells, and personalization efforts grow, the average amount a customer spends and how often they buy increases.

Plus, having users install your app gives you an inexpensive way to communicate with them through push notifications. You won’t need to promote your business to every repeat customer constantly. When your CAC rises and your LTV doesn’t, an app helps correct the problem by rebalancing.

  • Customers Are Asking for an Easier Way to Shop

People sometimes contact you on your social networks or by email to ask: “Have you made an app yet?” People might ask why your website isn’t mobile-friendly. These are alerts, don’t overlook them.

Customers today use mobile devices more often than any other device. They hope shopping takes no more time or effort than texting their friends. Should the journey seem complicated, slow or unfitting, they’ll switch to a platform that solves these problems.

Apps are able to do just that. Site navigation is completely gesture-based, pages get instant responses and the process from browsing to buying is easy. Many customers hope to find a smoother way to shop and they are finding your app in the App Store. Social media platforms are a big opportunity if you don’t have one already.

  • You Have a Growing Product Catalog

In the early stages, with not many SKUs, discovering products is something anyone can handle. As your product range increases, having multiple categories and hundreds of products, the mobile web won’t work as smoothly.

Searching, filtering and browsing by category on mobile versions can be annoying because of how slowly it works or because it gives too many options. As a result, people feel overwhelmed, become annoyed and make fewer purchases.

These apps were built to deal with the complexity of electronic business. Sites load fast, their menus remain open for easier use all the time and the UX guides users to be efficient.

With these updates, adding predictive search, favorites and personalized recommendations to an app is simpler. When customers can’t easily reach their needs, you’re missing out on potential sales. An application addresses that issue.

  • You’re Losing Customers to Competitors With Apps

Be honest, your consumers are looking beyond your store and finding some retailers who have apps.  It doesn’t matter if a store is large or small—an app will help them seem more attractive, reliable and professional.

The brands that make the experience most convenient for customers are the ones people are likely to choose. If your mobile site loads slowly, you likely won’t keep the visitors around very long.

Even if your product is top, bumps in the user path can lead to you missing out on the sale. Having a branded app lets you compete by offering great experiences and competitive prices. Apps balance things out, letting you decide on the steps customers take.

  • You’re Ready to Build a Brand — Not Just Make Sales

A brand isn’t built just from what is sold—it is more complex than that. Apps make it possible to create a steady and engaging experience for mobile users.

An app developed for your business allows you to regulate the user interface, look, and communicate with buyers. A content hub allows you to collect stories, introduce special collections and make your customers want to participate.

Apps allow businesses to add community features, so customers can chat, receive reminders for special events or view their progress in earning benefits. An app helps you appear dedicated to potential customers. It is a sign of being skilled and mature, earning people’s trust. If you’d like people to remember and speak highly of your brand, an app helps make that happen.

  • You Want to Improve Your Customer Experience

Battling for a good customer experience is now a main competitive point. Because customers are aware of advanced apps, poor load times, difficulty in using your site, and basic UX are unacceptable.

You can rely on apps for good performance, a prompt response and simple controls. People don’t need to fill out their details again, recall their login passwords or use their fingers to see small images.

Since native options include Face ID login, storing their carts and swipeable galleries, customers have a better time shopping, and it drives up their chances of buying.

A good experience can lead to positive reviews, more people recommending your business and a rise in lifetime value. That’s the method winning companies use to expand.

How a Mobile App Strengthens Your Entire Sales & Marketing Strategy?

Do you know how a mobile app strengthens your entire sales and marketing strategy? Read below: 

  • Retention: Mobile engagement reaches new heights when you rely on push notifications. They appear directly on people’s phones, not getting caught by filters or confused with many other emails. Emails may not be read, yet app alerts instantly remind users about your store and bring them back, especially if your message is special for them or offers a fast-ending deal. Retention involves being more than a reminder for customers; it’s about keeping up with what’s important to them.
  • LTV: Apps make it easy for customers to buy more by offering order repeat and upsell choices. The success or failure of your paid acquisition efforts largely depends on how much value your users bring over time. Apps help increase how often users come back by simplifying each follow-up interaction. With reorder buttons, saved choices and experiential upsales, customers tend to purchase more frequently. You can also upsell your customers at the perfect moment with your app.
  • Customizing: Use targeted prices, recommend certain offers and trigger actions based on actions. Modern ecommerce relies heavily on personalisation, and apps only make it stronger. If a mobile app knows a user’s browsing habits and lets them stay logged in, this app can make better-tailored suggestions, push offers at the best price and remind them about products they searched for. You might show off your newest products for those who have bought from you before, deliver a birthday discount via push notifications or have recently seen products show up the minute the app opens.
  • Loyalty: Only for app users, with special offers, points and VIP benefits. Your best customers seek a sense of importance from your business. With a mobile app, you can make sure all your customers enjoy a personalised experience. An app makes it easier to offer, use and highlight loyalty programs. Customers don’t have to sign up anywhere or use a card because they already have their perks and points.
  • Brand Equity: A well-designed app tells customers the company is starting large and puts them first. A brand, not simply a seller, is recognised when someone downloads your mobile app. It proves you’ve focused on customers and are set up to expand. Users can feel more confident. A familiar app gives your brand more trust. It is displayed with other prominent apps on people’s main screen, putting you in their minds like the leading names.

Unlock Your Shopify Store’s Full Potential with a Mobile App

Businesses should see a mobile app as a crucial tool for retaining users and boosting their income. Thanks to Twinr and other no-code options, you don’t have to spend time and money on programming or wait for months to get started. 

Preview your Shopify store as a mobile app in seconds-  no code, no devs, just results. Start your free trial with Twinr.

FAQs

What factors show that I should turn my store into a mobile app?

If your company’s mobile sales are poor, the cost of getting customers is rising and users don’t stick with the app, it’s time to take action.

Do apps on your phone really convert sales better than using a mobile website?

Yes. Games convert customers two or three times more often, especially for repeat transactions.

Is it possible to make a Shopify app without learning how to code?

Yes. You don’t need to write any code—Twinr makes building an app for your store easy.

What is the cost to change my Shopify store into an app?

Usually, costs for development and upkeep can be as low as $20k and as high as $100k. You don’t have to pay upfront; Twinr costs little to use when growing.

How likely will my app’s users actually download and use it?

Certainly, when you advertise properly, include helpful benefits and give a better experience than your website, it can work well.

Gaurav Parvadiya

Gaurav is the founder and CEO of Twinr, a tech entrepreneur with a decade of experience and a passion for SaaS. With a Master's degree in Computer Science, he specializes in no-code development, driving innovation in the mobile app industry. When he's not busy growing the company, you'll find him writing about tech, growth, software development, e-commerce, and occasionally sneaking in a game of badminton.