How to create a custom Shopify app can install for multiple merchant

[huynhmaianhkiet]

I've written an custom Shopify app for a my client. This client has multiple stores and he want to setup this app for all his stores. Actually, this is a custom app but it's used as a public app (althought don't published on Shopify App Store). Previously, Shopify allowed that but that doesn't now.

Now, Shopify has 2 app types:

• Custom App: Limited to installation on one merchant store
• Public App: Unlimited merchant installs but need reviewed by Shopify to protect trust and security.

How to create a Shopify app can install for multiple merchant but don't need to review by Shopify because I don't want published this app to Shopify App Store.

[scottserok]

I haven't built custom apps so I'm not very familiar - what's the issue or error you're running into when trying to install the custom app on a 2nd store?

If it's not possible to do that for any reason, then could you create multiple custom apps, one for each merchant or store, and have them all pointing to the same hosted app?

[TomTranzistor]

Hi there, 

You can create a custom app and install it on several stores only if all the store are in the same Shopify Plus Organizations.

To do so, you just have to contact shopify to allow the process, with the app id and the url of the stores.

Happy to help 🙂

Thomas - Tranzistor.tech

[BogdanM]

Hi,

I have a similar situation:
I've been contracted to develop a custom app for a merchant who owns 3 stores.
The app needs to be installed in all 3 stores.
Also, the app requires features which are not available for private apps, so I cant use either Custom apps nor Private apps.

Until two months ago this would be easily accomplishes with a unlisted public app.

Considering the new changes in Shopify app types and introduction of Custom apps, I reached out to partner support to ask what would be the best approach.

I got this answer:
"I spoke to the App team about this and because the app is designed to be used on multiple stores (even if it's only going to be used by a single merchant), it will need to go through the review process.
The app will still need to be formally approved, even if it is going to be unlisted on the app store. I recommend going through the list of requirements that you received from the App review team and fixing those so the app can be reviewed successfully and approved."

I said, ok, let's fill in the app listing and check all requirements, even if it doesn't bring any benefit for my customer.
Of course, I explained in the test information area what is the purpose of the app and why I submit it for review and why I couldn't use a Custom app.

I submitted the app for review and it was rejected with the following comment:
"Apps submitted for review must be completed products designed for the public and not designed specifically for an individual merchant. Please refer to this document for more details. Please refer to the Shopify App Store requirements checklist and listing requirements as all public apps are subject to these rules prior to publication. It is suggested this app goes the custom app route to create an app for this merchant."

Now I have two contradicting recommendations.

Any idea how to move this forward?

Thanks

[huynhmaianhkiet]

Looks like the Partner team is collecting user comments for Custom Apps.

I think we should say about this issue with them. Hopefully they will change this policy in the future.

[BogdanM]

Yes, I already sent that feedback.

I suggested that we should be able to install Custom apps on multiple stores belonging to the same merchant or stores under the same Shopify Plus account.

I think that everyone having this issue should send feedback. If they get more feedback on one topic, it's more likely they will do something about it.

[agentlewis]

follow this guide to check that the link has been made correctly: https://community.shopify.com/c/Shopify-APIs-SDKs/Beta-process-for-unpublished-in-development-apps-i...

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

Is there a reason why 3 custom apps pointing to the same URL with a shop param won't work? Like so:

Custom app 1 : appname.com/?shop=myfirststore

Custom app 2: appname.com/?shop=mysecondstore 

Custom app 3: appname.com/?shop=mythirdstore 

Then you would release each custom app to the appropriate store for install. If you cannot use the same URL then easily a wildcard SSL + subdomain will solve that. I haven't ran into this situation and definitely an interesting one, waiting to read more solutions.

Regards,

Sam

[agentlewis]

I don't see why not - as long as you can identify the origin store either through a url param or in the payload.

I mean that is what public apps do right?

[Anonymous]

Public apps work pretty much the same way as custom apps except for the fact it can only be installed on a single shop, but that’s not a Shopify dilemma in my opinion rather the developer has to decide what design changes. Perhaps the same link can be published to multiple stores but I don’t see how that solves the problem because on your backend you still have to separate the shops and your billing could also look different for each shop.

[pjedrzejczyk]

In Shopify world - different app does not need to be different codebase - it's just different app created in the Partners dashboard that gets you different API_KEY and API_SECRET, but in the end it can be same instance of e.g. node app that just uses different API_KEY/SECRET pairs depending on the store it connects to.

You need to create multiple custom apps in Partners dashboard, pointing to same URL where you have your single app instance hosted.

I've created handy express server middleware that makes it easier to do it. All you need to do is to write your own createShopifyApp function that based on the shop returns shopifyApp instance created with "@Shopify/shopify-app-express"

https://github.com/paweljedrzejczyk/shopify-multistore-app-middleware

[remy727]

I know this is so old question.

But I just wanted to share that Shopify allowed the custom apps to be installed on the multi ple stores for one Plus organization.
You just need to check the Allow multi-store install for one Plus organization on the App Distribution page.

[kelvinS]

I have created a Shopify Custom App and now i want to share that API to multiple merchants without generating the distribution link or dynamically generate a common link which can be used by the multiple merchants to install that Custom App in Shopify.