July 5, 2024

4 Best Shopify App Builders for Customer Loyalty

This article compares the best Shopify app builders to help you select the one that can maximize customer loyalty and drive the most success for your e-commerce business.

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Millions of people use smartphones and apps for virtually everything—from social media and banking to food delivery and shopping. In fact, mobile e-commerce sales now make up 60% of all e-commerce sales worldwide, with Shopify being one of the leading platforms.

This is where Shopify app builders prove invaluable. These tools help brands maximize their Shopify presence through custom apps.

But, with over 1,500 platforms available, each offering multitudes of capabilities and use cases, choosing the right one is crucial.

What features should you look for? How quickly can you have your app live?

To help you answer these and other questions and select the best solution, we've prepared an in-depth review of the top four Shopify app builders. 

Below is everything you need to know to choose the best builder for driving customer loyalty, sales and overall success through your app.

Top 4 Shopify app builders for your online store

Here are the best four Shopify mobile app builders that can help you enhance customer engagement and retention for your online store.

1. Youshie 

Youshie app dashboard

With Youshie, you can create your own branded app for iOS and Android, increasing your repeat business and boosting customer loyalty. Features like detailed customer insights, a rewards program, personalized offers, and push notifications help you ensure your products stay top of mind for your customers.

The best part?

You get a custom mobile solution that centralizes customer interactions and works independently yet integratively with Shopify and other third-party tools to help you build and foster a loyal community. 

When customers open your app, they feel part of a community where everything aligns with their needs, providing a seamless experience that reflects your business's vision.

With Youshie, you can build your app, integrate it with your Shopify store and other valuable tools, and keep it running independently even if you deactivate your accounts on third-party platforms. We chose to limit the ‘builder’ component so that the shop owner can focus on promoting the app and driving revenue, as opposed to worrying about ‘building’.

Here's an example of a branded app built with the Youshie mobile app builder:

Example of Youshie branded app

Features

Here is the basic feature set you gain access to when you sign up with Youshie:

  • Spotlight: Youshie's mobile app builder lets you deliver up-to-date content directly through your app, centralizing your communication and eliminating the need for multiple systems.
  • Shop: With a modern mobile e-commerce shop interface, seamless shopping experience, and advanced checkout integrated with Shopify and Stripe, you can effortlessly guide customers to checkout.
  • Dynamic rewards: Reward your audience's loyalty with Dynamic Rewards—offering personalized, limited-time deals and exclusive offers to show appreciation and encourage repeat business, ensuring they keep returning for more.
  • Engagement assistant: Youshie's Engagement Assistant maximizes customer loyalty through personalized interactions. Using AI, the Engagement Assistant can send targeted re-engagement campaigns, deliver relevant notifications based on customer behavior and automated emails for personalized rewards. 
  • Apple & Google Play Store compatibility: Get your Shopify mobile app listed on the major app stores, so customers can reach you outside of Shopify.
Youshie features

Use cases

Here are ways to use your branded app to boost customer loyalty and supercharge your Shopify store.

  • Push notifications: Remind your customers of abandoned carts, upcoming promotions, or product launches to increase engagement and drive consumer conversions.      
  • Integrations: Integrate your branded app seamlessly with your Shopify store. You can also connect it with other essential third-party tools, including Mailchimp, Stripe, Square, and Moneris, providing you with everything you need to make your app a powerful sales channel.
  • Promotions: Drive engagement through rewards, events and discount offers.
  • Automation: Use the built-in Engagement Assistant to automate customer interactions.
  • Data collection: Gather insights on user behavior and preferences to enhance understanding, improve the customer experience, and drive more sales.
  • In-store shopping: Leverage mobile functionalities to enrich the in-store shopping experience, including QR code scanning and integration with Shopify POS.
  • Seamless integration with your Shopify store: Effortlessly sync your app with your Shopify store to ensure real-time updates and transactions. 
Youshie use cases

Process

Creating your branded, high-converting mobile app with Youshie is simple, smooth, and quick. And when I say quick, I mean it—you can get your Shopify loyalty-boosting app designed, built, and tested within five days.

Here's how:

  1. Install Youshie from the Shopify App Store
  2. Follow the on-screen prompts and when completed, Youshie will automatically begin syncing your Shopify store's products to your new branded app.

  1. Customize your app to match your brand using Youshie's features.
  2. When your product data is imported, and branding details are set, the Youshie expert developer team will work magic to have your branded loyalty app up and running in less than a week, earning and engaging loyal customers.

Pros

  • Free plan available
  • Modern and intuitive user interface    
  • iOS and Android app
  • App tailored to your business branding
  • Personalized experiences for customers
  • App up and running in as little as five days
  • Support and monitoring from the Youshie team 24/7
  • Integrates with third-party tools but works independently*

Pricing

You can choose from two pricing plans:

  • Core: $199 per month

Choose Core if you're looking for a ready-made branded Shopify app or just starting your mobile e-commerce store strategy.

  • Unlimited: Get a quote

Opt for Unlimited to maximize your Shopify mobile app's potential through advanced customization and features.

*Both plans include a free 1-month trial.

Youshie pricing plans

User rating

Business owners love the Youshie Shopify mobile app builder because it puts their products at their customers' fingertips. 

Youshie's users value the targeted rewards and promotions that maintain engagement and encourage repeat visits. Also, Youshie's mobile commerce solutions earn impressive reviews, as they simplify checkout and post-order processes, enhancing operational efficiency and improving the overall shopping experience for customers.

Youshie customer reviews

Sign up to get your app!

2. Shopney

Shopney interface

Shopney is a Shopify mobile app builder designed to create and manage iOS and Android apps connected to Shopify*.

With many customization options, you can create a unique mobile presence that amazes your audience. It also has a comprehensive suite of features that enable content management, push notifications, and rewards programs to enhance engagement and foster loyal customer relationships.

*To use Shopney, you must maintain an active Shopify account. If, at any point, for any reason, you decide not to have a Shopify account anymore, you won't be able to continue using your Shopify app.

Features

  • Design editor: This no code mobile app builder allows you to create an app without coding or design experience. Keep in mind that building an app with a no-code builder could push your focus away from marketing. 
  • Theme options: Shopney offers a variety of mobile app UI/UX design patterns and eight theme options tailored to different store types.
  • Push notifications: Shopney offers unlimited push notifications, so you can effectively engage with your audience, reduce abandoned cart issues, and boost repeated purchases.
  • In-app chat: Shopney's in-app chat feature allows quick responses, helping customers make purchasing decisions faster. They no longer need to wait for emails; instead, they receive instant answers directly within the app.

Use cases

  • Seamless integration: Effortlessly sync your app with your Shopify store, ensuring real-time updates and transactions. 
  • In-app messaging: Boost customer satisfaction and retention with fast and always available customer support through in-app messaging.
  • Automated processes: Use Shopney mobile app builder to automate tasks like order management and inventory updates, freeing up your time to focus on growing your business.

Process

The process begins by linking Shopney to the Shopify account to import products. Next, Shopney's editor allows you to design and select the theme for your app. The final step involves the development team programming and launching the Shopify mobile app.

Shopney apps on Apple and Google stores

Pros

  • Intuitive editor
  • In-app live chat
  • Rich integration suite
  • Great customer support
  • Personalized shopping experience
  • Tailored themes for different store types

Pricing

Shopney offers four pricing plans.

The Silver plan is the most affordable, starting at $119 per month. It includes essential features, but for advanced capabilities like Abandoned Cart Notifications and Product Review Integrations, you'll need to upgrade to the Gold plan for $239. 

Also, Loyalty and reward Programs are only available in Platinum and Enterprise plans, which start at $499 and $999 per month, respectively.

Shopney pricing plans

User rating

This Shopify mobile app builder has a 4.8 score on Saasworthy and Capterra total reviews. 

Users especially highlight its customer service, stating they are helpful and available for all inquiries and support needs.

Shopney customer review showcasing satisfaction with customer service

Source: SaaSworthy

3. MobiLoud

MobiLoud interface

MobiLoud assists businesses in transforming their websites into Shopify mobile apps. Therefore, your business must have a website to use this app builder.

MobiLoud allows real-time syncing between the app and the website, instantly reflecting updates on both platforms. There's also a push notifications feature for automatic shipping and order updates.

Unlike the other apps on our list, which offer quicker launch times, MobiLoud requires a bit longer for your branded app to go live—approximately one month.

Examples of Mobiloud apps

Features

Here are some of the MobiLoud's key features:

  • Rich shopping experience: MobiLoud helps you transform your website into a custom e-commerce app to encourage engagement, reduce friction, and provide a tailored experience for high-value buyers.
  • Apple & Google Play Store compatibility: You can get your Shopify mobile app listed on the major app stores, increasing your brand's visibility and trustworthiness among customers. 
  • Unlimited push notifications: The push notification feature allows you to retain customer attention, alert users to offers and new products, and update them on the delivery and shipping options.
  • Automated operations: With MobiLoud, you get features like Apple and Google Pay's one-click checkout, automatic logins, personalized product recommendations, and seamless browsing.
Example of push notifications

Use cases

  • Great shopping experience: Build a sales channel that improves customer engagement with seamless browsing, personalized recommendations, and easy checkout.
  • Increased brand visibility: Launch your solution as an iOS and Android app to expand your brand's reach and visibility.
  • Direct customer communication: Send push notifications about new products and special offers to enhance engagement and drive sales and customer loyalty.
  • Streamlined operations: Set up auto logins and quick checkout features to eliminate manual entry for customers, reduce cart abandonment and boost conversions.

Process

To build an app with MobiLoud, you need a website with a mobile version optimized for app conversion. After signing up and authorizing MobiLoud, they transform the website into an app, typically completing it within a few weeks. 

Then, the initial code is tested on devices, and the app goes through final adjustments. Once everything aligns with the initial vision, MobiLoud developers publish the app to the app store.

Mobiloud app example

Pros

  • Ease of use
  • Customization
  • Modern interface 
  • Customer support
  • Performance tracking
  • iOS app and Android mobile app compatibility

Pricing

MobiLoud offers three pricing plans:

  • Professional—$199/month
  • Growth—$449/month
  • Corporate—$849/month
Mobiloud pricing plans

User rating

Business owners praise MobiLoud's customer support team, earning this mobile app builder a high score of 4.7 out of a maximum of 5 stars on Capterra. Additionally, they emphasize the benefit of immediate website updates being visible in the app.

MobiLoud customer review

Source: Capterra

4. MageNative

MageNative interfce

MageNative's Shopify mobile app builder provides push notifications, augmented reality, and other modern features to build apps that enhance the customers' shopping experience. It also offers templates that can be customized to reflect unique brand identities.  

Similarly to Shopney, MageNative is explicitly designed to create apps for Shopify stores. You must have a Shopify account to use MageNative and maintain your app. If you decide to no longer hold a Shopify account, you won't be able to continue using your app built with MageNative.

Features

  • Real-time preview: This Shopify mobile app builder lets you see instant updates as you import new products, ensuring that all changes you make in your store are reflected immediately in the app.
  • User-friendly interface: MageNative offers a user-friendly platform that simplifies the app-building process, enabling you to create your solution quickly and efficiently.
  • Augmented Reality: MageNative's Augmented Reality feature offers a unique and immersive way to showcase your products. It brings your products to life, allowing customers to interact with them like they would in real life.
  • App promotion advice: MageNative's team shares expert insights and tips for improving your rankings on the major app stores. This feature is accessible for premium plans only.
MageNative augmented reality feature

Use cases

  • Immersive shopping experience: Offer captivating augmented reality experiences in your app - increase engagement, conversions and, ultimately, sales.
  • Consistent updates: Instantly update your app with the latest products from your Shopify website, ensuring consistency across sales channels.
  • Simple app building: Easily create an app using MageNative's intuitive interface.
  • Expert guidance: Benefit from the insights and advice of the MageNative team to optimize your app rankings for better visibility.

Process

The initial steps involve registering and entering product details and images. The app can then be easily designed and customized with MageNative's drag-and-drop interface. The platform also allows easy customization of app functionalities, texts, and labels. Once all elements are finalized, the app can be published on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Pros

  • Cost-effective
  • Free plan available
  • Multilingual support
  • Developer team's support
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • iOS apps and Android app compatibility
  • Real-time synchronization with your store

Pricing

MageNative's Basic plan costs $49 per month, making this mobile app builder one of the cheapest on our list. It offers all the features essential for launching a functional Shopify mobile app. 

The Standard plan, at $149 per month, adds more design blocks, landing pages, and multi-language support. For additional functionalities like advanced analytics and unlimited push notifications, you'll need a Premium plan at $249 per month.

MageNative pricing plans

User rating

Users value this Shopify app builder for its seamless, user-friendly interface and wide range of features. As such, this tool has a high total of reviews and a 4.8 out of 5 stars overall rating.

MageNative customer review

Source: Shopify

Comparison Table

 

Best for Android/Ios Independence from third-party accounts Integrations
Pricing
Youshie Creating highly customized branded apps with deep customer insights, loyalty programs and engagement features ✓ (Can operate independently without third-party platforms) Shopify, Mailchimp, Stripe, Square, Moneris
From $199/month
Shopney Building iOS and Android apps with extensive theme and design options ✗ (Requires active Shopify account) Stamped, Klaviyo, Google Analytics
From $119/month
MobiLoud Turning websites into native mobile apps with rich shopping experiences ✗ (Requires website)
Shopify, Omnisend, Mailchimp
From $199/month
MageNative Creating affordable, feature-rich Shopify mobile apps with augmented reality and multilingual support ✗ (Requires active Shopify account)
Zendesk, Google Analytics, Smile
From $49/month

Conclusion: Choosing the best mobile app builder

Branded apps are essential for nurturing customer loyalty in your Shopify business. And now that you're familiar with four top-performing Shopify app builders, how do you choose?

Look for more than just a loyalty app—choose a solution that helps build meaningful relationships with your customers. It's also important to opt for an app builder that can work independently from third-party platforms, ensuring your app remains functional and supports your business growth.

With exceptional data insights, loyalty-centered features, and complete independence from third-party platforms, Youshie has it all.

Ready to try it out and elevate your customer loyalty and sales? 

Sign up for a free trial with Youshie today.

FAQs

How to build an app for your Shopify store?

You can use a Shopify app builder like Youshie. It enables you to quickly and effectively create a high-converting mobile app that seamlessly integrates with your Shopify store.

How to build a customer loyalty app?

Sign up with a mobile app builder like Youshie. It offers essential features such as push notifications, loyalty programs, and personalized experiences designed to nurture customer relationships and foster loyalty.

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