How long does it take to build a Shopify app? From rapid MVPs delivered in under 2 weeks to full-featured public App Store listings in 10-16 weeks, this guide breaks down every phase so you can plan your project with confidence.
INR 2000
Per Hour
200+
Apps Delivered
4.9/5
Client Rating
<2 Weeks
MVP Delivery
Trusted by businesses worldwide
The timeline for building a Shopify app depends on the app type, feature complexity, number of API integrations, and whether you plan to list on the Shopify App Store. Based on our experience delivering over 200 Shopify apps, here is a realistic breakdown of development timelines for 2026.
An MVP is the fastest way to validate your Shopify app idea before committing to a full build. In under two weeks, we deliver a working prototype with core functionality.
What's included:
Best for: Founders testing product-market fit, agencies pitching concepts to clients, and teams needing quick internal tools.
Private apps are installed directly on one or a few specific Shopify stores. They skip the App Store review process and focus purely on solving a specific business need.
What's included:
Best for: Merchants needing custom workflows, inventory sync tools, order processing automation, or internal reporting dashboards.
Embedded apps run inside the Shopify admin panel and provide a seamless merchant experience. This tier covers multi-feature apps with complex business logic and third-party integrations.
What's included:
Best for: SaaS products built on Shopify, multi-feature merchant tools, apps with recurring billing, and products targeting multiple stores.
Public apps are listed on the Shopify App Store and available to any Shopify merchant worldwide. The additional time accounts for App Store compliance, OAuth implementation, and the review process.
What's included:
Best for: Startups launching SaaS products on Shopify, agencies building white-label solutions, and companies looking to monetize through the App Store ecosystem.
Enterprise apps serve large-scale Shopify Plus merchants with complex requirements spanning B2B, multi-location, checkout extensibility, and deep ERP/CRM integrations.
What's included:
Best for: Shopify Plus merchants, enterprise retailers, and businesses needing mission-critical integrations with existing systems.
Every Shopify app project is unique. The timelines above are based on averages from our 200+ delivered projects. Your actual timeline may vary based on feature scope, number of API integrations, design complexity, testing requirements, and team availability for feedback. We recommend starting with a free discovery call to get a detailed, project-specific estimate.
Each phase has clear deliverables and milestones so you always know where your project stands
Understanding these variables helps you plan more accurately and avoid surprises during development
The number of features, screens, and user roles directly determines development time. A single-feature private app takes 2-4 weeks, while a multi-module enterprise app can take 16+ weeks. Clear scope definition upfront prevents timeline creep.
Each Shopify API integration (Admin, Storefront, Billing, Functions) adds development time. Third-party integrations with ERPs, CRMs, payment gateways, or shipping providers require additional mapping, authentication, and error handling.
Apps using standard Polaris components ship faster. Custom UI designs beyond Polaris, complex data visualizations, drag-and-drop interfaces, or storefront theme extensions require additional design and development cycles.
Basic manual testing takes days. Comprehensive QA with automated unit tests, integration tests, load testing for high-volume stores, and security audits adds 1-2 weeks. Public apps need additional Polaris compliance validation.
Shopify's App Store review process typically takes 5-10 business days. Factor in potential revision requests for Polaris compliance, performance benchmarks, or security requirements. We prepare apps to pass review on the first submission.
Timely feedback on designs, features, and testing directly impacts delivery speed. Projects with a dedicated point of contact who provides feedback within 24-48 hours consistently ship faster than those with delayed review cycles.
MVP Delivery
Average Delivery
On-Time Delivery
Projects Completed
Transparent pricing tied to project scope and timeline
"We needed a custom loyalty app for our Shopify Plus store before the holiday season. Edesy delivered a fully functional app with points, tiers, and referral tracking in just 5 weeks. The tight deadline never compromised quality."
HO
Head of E-Commerce
E-Commerce at Premium D2C Brand
"Our MVP was live on a development store in 10 days. We tested it with real merchants, validated the concept, and then moved to a full public app build. The phased approach saved us months of guesswork and over INR 5,00,000."
F&
Founder & CEO
Leadership at Shopify SaaS Startup
"Edesy rebuilt our legacy Shopify app from Express to Remix with App Bridge 4.0 in 8 weeks while maintaining zero downtime for our 3,000+ active merchants. The migration was flawless and on schedule."
VO
VP of Engineering
Engineering at Commerce Platform
Resources to help you evaluate and implement
Get a free discovery call and a detailed project timeline tailored to your app requirements. Our Shopify experts will help you define scope, choose the right architecture, and map out a milestone-based delivery plan.