Launch guidePlugins and integrations
How to launch a Shopify app
The Shopify App Store is where merchants look, and Shopify reviews every public app against a detailed requirements checklist. The rules shape the product: charge through Shopify's billing, authenticate embedded apps with session tokens, and pass automated checks before you can even submit. Plan the review into your launch date and put effort into the listing, because merchants compare apps side by side.
Updated · platform facts checked against the official docs linked below
At a glance
Where people find Shopify apps
- Shopify App Store: Merchants search by task and compare listings, ratings and pricing.
- Shopify Community and merchant groups: Merchants ask for app recommendations in forums and groups.
- Shopify agencies and partners: Agencies install apps for many stores; a partner program can pay off.
- Your own site: Use-case pages rank for merchant searches the App Store page won't.
Assets to prepare
| Asset | Spec or guidance |
|---|---|
| App icon | 1200×1200, bold and simple, no text, screenshots or Shopify trademarks.[1] |
| Screenshots | 1600×900, 3–6 desktop, at least one of the app UI, browser chrome removed.[1] |
| Feature media | A 2–3 minute promo video (max 25% screencast) or a 1600×900 static image with alt text.[1] |
| Privacy policy | Required in every listing.[1] |
| Pricing plans | Set up through Shopify's app pricing so merchants can change plans without contacting you.[1] |
Store and listing rules
What the platform itself says, with a link to the page we checked.
- Use Shopify App Pricing (Shopify's billing) to charge merchants.[1]
- Embedded apps should use session tokens, not third-party cookies or local storage, and must work in Chrome incognito.[1]
- Automated checks must pass before you submit; reviewers email the contact on your listing and can suspend review after repeated unanswered issues.[3]
- Developers keep 100% of the first $1,000,000 of gross app revenue, then 85%; larger companies pay 15% on all revenue.[2]
A 4-week launch timeline
Week 1 · four weeks out
- Read the requirements checklist line by line.
- Implement Shopify billing and session tokens.
- Pick the merchant task your listing leads with.
Week 2 · three weeks out
- Make the icon, screenshots and feature media.
- Write the listing in merchant language.
- Run the automated checks.
Week 3 · two weeks out
- Submit for review.
- Build use-case pages on your own site.
- Recruit a few beta merchants.
Week 4 · launch week
- Respond to reviewer feedback the same day.
- Prepare onboarding emails (template).
- Plan a post for merchant communities.
Launch-day checklist
- Confirm the listing is live and installs cleanly on a test store.
- Email beta merchants and ask for honest reviews after they've used it.
- Post in merchant communities with a real store example.
- Add the app to LaunchRanked.
After launch: SEO steps
Launch boards reset; search pages don't. These steps keep people finding you after launch week.
- Write "how to {task} on Shopify" pages that show the app solving it.
- Publish comparison pages with the apps merchants already use.
- Keep the App Store listing updated with each major feature.
Common mistakes
- Billing outside Shopify's system.
- Relying on third-party cookies in an embedded app.
- An icon with text or a screenshot.
- Ignoring reviewer emails until the review is suspended.
Templates for this launch
- Onboarding email sequenceA five-email onboarding sequence for new signups: welcome, first win, common blocker, social proof and a check-in, with timing and a filled example.
- Directory listing descriptionWrite directory and launch-site listings once: a 60-character tagline, a 160-character short description and a long version, with a filled example.
- Testimonial request emailAn email that asks happy customers for a testimonial with three easy questions, clear permission, and an option to review a draft, with a filled example.
- Case study outlineA case study outline: customer, situation, what they tried, what changed, measured results and a quote, with interview questions and a filled example.
FAQ
What are Shopify App Store image sizes?
App icon 1200×1200; screenshots 1600×900 (16:9), with 3–6 desktop screenshots; optional 1600×900 feature image or a 2–3 minute video.
What cut does Shopify take?
Developers keep 100% of their first $1M in gross app revenue, then 85%, with different terms for very large companies. There's a $19 one-time Partner registration fee.
How long does Shopify app review take?
Shopify's submission docs don't state a fixed time. Passing the automated checks and answering reviewer emails quickly shortens it.
Do I have to use Shopify billing?
Yes. The requirements say to charge through Shopify App Pricing, and merchants should be able to change plans without contacting support.
Sources
- Shopify.dev: App Store requirements checklist
- Shopify.dev: Revenue share
- Shopify.dev: Submit your app for review
Checked . Platforms change their rules; open the source before you rely on a number.
Related launch guides
- How to launch a WordPress pluginWordPress plugin launch guide: review within 14 business days, readme.txt fields, banner and icon sizes, the no-trialware rule, and SEO.
- How to launch a micro-SaaSLaunch a micro-SaaS as a solo founder: pick one niche channel, keep assets lean, use a 4-week plan and build search pages that bring customers without ads.
- How to launch a two-sided marketplaceLaunching a two-sided marketplace: seed supply first, launch to one niche, plan four weeks around liquidity and build SEO from real listings.
- How to launch a Figma pluginFigma plugin launch guide: Community review, 128×128 icon and 1920×1080 cover, network access rules, paid plugins and where designers look.