Integration with Shopify stores without App

[larswiik]

Hi Shopify Experts,

I am looking for a way to integrate with Shopify stores without creating a shopify app (if that is possible). I do not want to create a public Shopify app since the integration part requires additional setup to work.

Essentially, I want to create an independent consumer facing frontend that will interact with multiple eCommerce platforms, one of which is Shopify - so I do not want to lock myself into the Shopify ecosystem with an app. I have not found a way to do this because everywhere I see it recommends me to create an app.

The closest I have found is to make the store owner create a Custom app, grant the accesses to that app, then install the app, and then share the Admin API access token and StoreFront API access token with me. But is this really the best way to do it?

So my questions is: "Is there a way for my company to integrate with shopify stores without me or them creating a shopify app?". And if not, is the custom app the way to go?

Hope someone can give me some more detailed information, I am eager to learn/implement this.