How to Build a Mobile App For Your Shopify Hydrogen Site

In 2025, mobile commerce has to be a major focus for any eCommerce brand.

More than half of all online sales now come on mobile devices, yet few brands actually make mobile a priority.

By building a mobile app for your Shopify Hydrogen site, you can offer the best experience possible to your mobile customers, and boost mobile conversion rate and AOV as a result.

You’ll also build an incredible retention machine that will set your brand up for long-term success.

Read on and we’ll walk you through step-by-step building a mobile app for a Shopify Hydrogen site, and why MobiLoud is the best way to do it.

If you're on the fence about whether or not to build a mobile app for your store, check out our eCommerce App Revenue Calculator, to see how much new revenue you can generate from an app.

Can You Build Mobile Apps With Shopify Hydrogen?

While you can build a mobile-optimized website with Shopify Hydrogen, building a true mobile app is another story.

Web platforms like Shopify Hydrogen are built to create sites that run in the browser, utilizing web technologies. 

If you want your site to run directly in a mobile environment (e.g. operating systems like Android and iOS), you’ll typically need a completely different coding language.

This doesn’t mean you have to abandon your Shopify Hydrogen site. But you’ll need some help to allow your Shopify Hydrogen site to function as a mobile app, which we’ll explain next.

Three Ways to Build a Shopify Hydrogen Mobile App

If you’re on Shopify Hydrogen and you want to build a mobile app, there are three ways you can do it.

1. Build a Custom App from Scratch
2. Use a Template-Based App Builder
3. Convert Your Shopify Hydrogen Site to an App With MobiLoud

Let’s briefly break down these options now.

1: Build a Custom App from Scratch

The traditional way to launch an app is to build a fully custom app from the ground up.

This requires two separate builds - one for iOS and one for Android. It also needs skilled and expensive developers to bring your app to life.

Your developers will also need to build a custom API for your Shopify Hydrogen website, so store data can be exchanged between the website and app.

All in all, this can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take a year or more to finish. You’ll also need to keep a dedicated team of developers on staff to manage your apps, which adds up a significant ongoing cost for the lifetime of your app.

You can save some of the cost with cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter, but you’re still looking at a bare minimum of $50,000 just for the first version of your app.

2: Use a Template-Based App Builder

You could use a no-code app builder to create your app.

This option allows you to go to market quickly and easily, with pre-built templates that require little work and no coding experience.

However, there are a few issues with no-code app builders:

• App builders won’t let you fully replicate your website’s features in the app.
• These tools provide limited ability to customize your app, often leaving it looking dull and generic.
• Your app will still be managed separately from your website, adding to your workload.
• Finding an app builder that integrates with your Shopify Hydrogen site will be difficult, as most app builders are targeted towards Shopify or other, more popular, eCommerce platforms.

App builders can be a cheap and convenient way to launch an app, but severely limit your app’s potential.

3: Convert Your Shopify Hydrogen Site to an App With MobiLoud

The third option to launch a Shopify Hydrogen mobile app is to convert your site into an app, with MobiLoud.

This is a full-service, done-for-you approach that fully converts everything from your web store into mobile apps for Android and iOS.

There are none of the limitations of app builders, and none of the cost, complexity and overhead of custom development.

With MobiLoud, you get to leverage your existing website, and just add what it’s missing, so it can power your native mobile app - no rebuilding required. 

You get all the benefits of mobile apps (improved mobile UX, real estate on your users’ mobile device, and push notifications), you get to use the same playbook as big brands with a custom native app, but without the risk and limitations of other approaches.

Why MobiLoud is the Best Way to Go From Shopify Hydrogen to App

Your Shopify Hydrogen store is already 90% of a mobile app.

You've already built an incredible website that's blazing fast, silky smooth on mobile, and conversion-optimized. It's essentially an app masquerading as a website.

Instead of rebuilding everything from scratch, MobiLoud can transform your existing Shopify Hydrogen site into native mobile apps, carrying over all the best parts of your website to the apps.

Here’s why this is the best way to build a Shopify Hydrogen mobile app.

Full service - zero coding expertise required

We give you everything you need to launch your app and start driving new revenue. And you don’t need to write one line of code.

Our team does all the heavy lifting, transforming what already works on your website into a native mobile environment.

A fraction of the cost of custom development

We've stripped away all the complexity and cost that traditionally comes with app development, making it more accessible than ever to have your own app.

Starting from just a few hundred per month, you get everything needed to launch and grow your mobile app channel. This includes full conversion of your Shopify Hydrogen store, both iOS and Android apps, unlimited push notifications, complete App Store submission management, ongoing updates and maintenance, and expert support for app marketing.

Compare this to traditional app development starting at $250,000 plus ongoing maintenance costs. We're making it possible for growing brands to compete with the biggest players in their space.

Launch in 4 weeks, not months

The transformation of your Shopify Hydrogen store to an app happens quickly. 

In the first two weeks, we handle app setup and design, optimizing your store for the mobile app experience while maintaining your brand identity.

Weeks three and four are focused on testing and managing the entire app store submission process. By the end of the month, you're ready to start engaging your best customers through their preferred channel.

Clear ROI in under 2 months

The impact of a mobile app on your business metrics comes quickly. 

Our customers consistently see visit frequency triple compared to their website. Average order values increase by 15-20% as app users engage more deeply with the brand. Customer lifetime value multiplies by 7x, and many brands see ROI of 53x or higher on their app investment.

Since you don’t need to wait a year for the first version of your app, you can gauge the success of your project much faster. And with a much lower cost to launch, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll have a positive ROI.

Everything on your site just works

The app works with your entire tech stack, with no APIs or integrations required. 

Your entire product catalog, collections, cart and checkout flow, account management, loyalty programs are all there and working beautifully. Even your marketing tools and analytics will work in the app.

You’ll never be able to replicate everything from your website with an app builder, and custom development will mean custom integrations, which come at a huge cost and are prone to breaking.

With MobiLoud, you lose nothing. It’s all upside.

Your app updates with your website

Working with us means there's no separate app codebase to maintain. 

Just keep managing your website with no changes to your development resources or existing workflows. No overhead. When you update your website, your app updates too.

This lets you keep your team lean, and your workflow simple.

All the features of million-dollar mobile apps

To the customer, your app will look no different from apps that major brands spend millions of dollars to build and maintain.

MobiLoud apps have everything you need from a native app, including:

• Native UX elements
• Unlimited push notifications
• Automated cart recovery
• App exclusive experiences
• CRO and A/B Testing
• Instant syncing

There’s no reason why your app can’t be as successful as an app from any of the world’s largest retail brands.

Try it risk-free

There’s no risk to building a Shopify Hydrogen mobile app with MobiLoud.

Start with a 30-day trial to see exactly how your branded app will look and perform. Test it yourself, share it with your team, and experience the power of push notifications firsthand. 

You'll get full support from our team throughout the process, and you only move forward when you're convinced it's right for your brand.

And at the end of the day, you only need a small increase in revenue to pay back the cost of your app.

How to Build Your Shopify Hydrogen Mobile App in 5 Steps

From start to finish, launching your Shopify Hydrogen mobile app with MobiLoud takes just five easy steps.

1: Kickoff & Setup

To start, we'll ask you to share your website URL, brand assets like logos and colors, and your app icons through our simple onboarding form.

You can also share any special requirements in your intro call. This is all we need to get to work building your app.

2: App Configuration

Once we’ve got your initial details, our team rolls up their sleeves and starts putting your app together.

We’ll develop two apps - Android and iOS - with all key mobile features built in, such as push notifications.

We'll structure everything to mirror your website's navigation and functionality, making sure all the essential features work perfectly in your app.

3: Testing & QA

In a couple of weeks, we'll send you preview versions of your apps to test out for yourself. 

You’ll be able to click around, try out the features, and get a real feel for how your customers will experience it.

You can share feedback at this stage, and let our team know if there’s anything we can do to make your app even better.

Our team also does their own testing, including everything from the basics to tricky edge cases you might not think about.

We make sure your app works smoothly on all kinds of devices, and fix any bugs or hiccups before moving on.

4: App Store Submission

We'll submit your app to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. We’ll create eye-catching screenshots, write optimized descriptions to help with discovery, and take care of all the technical requirements that the stores ask for.

If either store comes back with questions or concerns (which can happen even to the best apps), don't worry. We know exactly how to handle it.

We manage the whole submission process, including any back-and-forth with the review teams.

5: Final Optimization, Full Launch & Growth

We’ll make any final changes that need to be made, either from your feedback or from the app stores.

Then, it’s time to launch.

We'll coordinate the release of your app on both platforms, and set you up with a launch strategy with specific ideas on how to spread the word about your new app.

Plus, we'll help you set up engagement tools like push notifications and app promotion banners so you can start building your app’s user base right away.

Convert Your Shopify Hydrogen Site into a Mobile App Now

Over 2,000 brands have already chosen this path to grow their mobile revenue and deepen their customer relationships, including major names like JACK&JONES, buybuyBABY, John Varvatos, and ESTÉE LAUDER. 

The question isn't whether your store needs an app. It's whether you'll launch before your competitors do.

Get started now, and in less than a month your brand can be in the app stores, next to the world’s largest retail brands.

Book a free consultation now and turn your Shopify Hydrogen website into a revenue-generating mobile app.