E-commerce App Builders Comparison: How to Choose the Right One?

There is no doubt that commerce is shifting heavily toward mobile devices. If you have ever tracked customer shopping habits, you will notice they spend hours on their smartphones. And if your online store does not yet have a dedicated mobile app, you might be missing out on a tremendously high-potential reach channel. But how do you build an app, and which platform is worth investing in? This article will give you a clear perspective and help you make the right choice.

The e-commerce app builder market is growing rapidly. From simple drag-and-drop tools for beginners to powerful platforms that allow deep customization for large enterprises. The question is: What is the best choice for your store? Let's find out.

Why is mobile commerce so important?

Statistics are pointing to a very clear trend. According to an aggregated source, by 2024, the number of mobile shoppers in the US could exceed 187 million. Globally, mobile commerce accounts for up to 72.9% of total e-commerce revenue. This is no longer an option, but almost a mandatory requirement.

Not stopping there, 55.4% of internet users make purchases via phone, and nearly 70% of them use shopping apps. In the last 6 months, up to 79% of smartphone users have made online purchases via mobile devices. These numbers show that your customers are ready to buy via app; the only question is whether you can get ahead of the curve.

82 billion hours were spent by users on shopping apps in 2020. Imagine if your store was present there.

Benefits of owning a mobile app for your online store

Building a mobile app is not only a trend, but it also brings many practical benefits to businesses. Here are the reasons why you should consider investing:

• Maximum convenience: 76% of users state that they shop on smartphones because it saves time. Quick scanning, tapping, and snapping make the shopping experience easier and faster.
• Reach more customers: The number of mobile users is growing rapidly, and having an app helps you expand your pool of potential customers.
• Build loyalty: Users tend to choose apps from their favorite brands. An app is a bridge between the store and loyal customers.
• Increase revenue: When having an app, customers can shop anytime and anywhere, helping to increase transaction volume and profits.
• Smart marketing strategy: Apps allow tracking user behavior, personalizing content, and suggesting relevant products.
• Superior experience: Unlike websites, apps can work offline, allowing the loading of heavy content, animations, and gamification features.
• Push notifications: This is a great tool to update news, promotions, and customer appreciation programs.
• Faster speed: Apps are usually 1.5 times faster than mobile websites because data is stored locally.

How to choose the right app building platform?

Before choosing an app builder, you need to clearly define your business needs. Do not rush to choose a platform based on trends or because friends recommended it. Every business has its own characteristics, and choosing the wrong tool will waste time and money with disappointing results.

Based on practical experience, here are the most important criteria you need to keep in mind:

1. Your business's specific needs: Do you need an app on iOS, Android, or both? Does that app builder support your product type (online, physical, combos, etc.) or not?
2. Simple and clear dashboard: You should choose a platform with an easy-to-use dashboard, the ability to send push notifications, and a flexible layout editor so you can customize quickly when needed.
3. Easy-to-use UI/UX design: The app needs to optimize content for small screens, place prominent products, and feature an easy-to-understand navigation menu. Prioritize minimalism and clarity.
4. Focus on sales: Search is the beginning of the shopping journey. Make sure your app has a prominent search bar, filters, and a "buy now" button to guide customers straight to checkout.

Top app builders to consider for your store

There are many app builders on the market. Below are prominent names used by many businesses, along with their pros, cons, and reference pricing.

Appery.io

Appery.io is a cloud-based drag-and-drop platform that supports creating hybrid apps and responsive webs. It supports popular frameworks like Apache Cordova, Ionic, and jQuery Mobile. Its highlights include fast deployment, allowing publishing to Google Play and App Store, automatic updates, and sharing projects with teams. Beginner plans are around $25/month, Pro $70, Team $135, and Ultimate $500.

Mobincube

This is a free tool for everyone, supported by ads. It allows creating complex apps with multiple HTML modules, forms, and account registration. However, the interface is not very user-friendly and only features a PayPal payment gateway. Subscription prices range from 0 to 99.99 EUR/month depending on the plan.

AppYourself

Developed by a German company since 2011, it supports creating apps for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and HTML5. The interface is friendly, featuring an online store module, table reservation via OpenTable, and membership cards. Weakness: only integrates PayPal. Prices start from 46 EUR/month.

Shoutem

Shoutem offers 30 features and 40 layout templates, suitable for various app types: events, dating, business. It has high social engagement, allowing users to share opinions, comments, and photos. Regarding eCommerce, you can create a store right on the platform or connect to Shopify. Prices start at $79/month for the Android-only version, Standard $129, and Professional $229.

AppMachine

AppMachine automates the process: you just need to provide your website link, and the platform will import all necessary content. Building blocks help you easily create features. However, the eCommerce section is relatively simple, lacks sales statistics, and only integrates PayPal. Prices start from $49/month.

Goodbarber

Goodbarber is one of the most creative platforms with over 30,000 apps. It focuses heavily on eCommerce, supporting many features such as automatic login, one-tap checkout, persistent cart, promotional banners, product variant management, and up to 9 images per product. Payment methods include Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay. Published on iOS, Android, and web (PWA). Prices start from 25 EUR/month.

Swiftic

Swiftic powers over 1 million apps worldwide. This is an economical solution if you already have a store on Shopify, Etsy, or eBay. Additionally, it features loyalty cards, in-app discount codes, and appointment scheduling. The downside is that it only has PayPal. Prices start from $39/month.

BuildFire

BuildFire is a platform trusted by over 30,000 businesses. It allows creating various types of apps including eCommerce. However, to sell products, you must have a Shopify website. It supports PayPal and Stripe, but push notifications are limited if you have a large user base. Prices start from $159/month.

No app builder is absolutely perfect

In reality, no platform fits everyone. Each builder has its own strengths, but also certain limitations. For example, low-cost platforms often limit features or only support PayPal. Meanwhile, high-end platforms come with significant costs, but in return, you get flexibility and scalability.

The important thing is that you must identify your priority factors. If you are a small store selling only a few products, a simple, low-cost solution is enough. If you have a large store system requiring complex management, invest in a more powerful platform, even if the price is higher.

So are you ready to bring your store to mobile phones? Take time to research, try demos, and choose a reliable companion for yourself. If you have experienced a certain platform, feel free to share your thoughts below. That could be a great suggestion for those who are still hesitating!