Publishing an app where settings are set on a different platform

Retired Boards Appdev Partners Discussion
1

Hey there,

I’m looking to publish an app that integrates chatbot. Chatbot can be easily integrated using 2 lines of Javascript.

The idea is that settings and payment for the chatbot will be handled on the chatbot’s platform. Merchant signs up on chatbot’s platform and sets up the chatbot. The merchant will then install the Shopify App which will fetch the 2 lines of Javascript via API and injects it into Liquid Theme.

This means that the app will be free on Shopify (for integration only), but chatbot itself will be payed on its own platform.

Will there be any problems publishing such an app? I went through Shopify Guidelines to publish an app multiple times, couldn’t find any issues with this idea, but I just wanted to confirm.

2

Hi,

I just wanted to point you to a App Review session that Shopify is going to host on Twitch on April 22nd.
https://twitter.com/ShopifyDevs/status/1382842428655292422?s=20

There will be two actual members of the app review team that might be able to answer your question.

It seems that you can ask your question in advance here:
https://app.sli.do/event/9xdatnat/live/questions

The Twitch link:
https://www.twitch.tv/shopifydevs

Hope this helps getting your answer.

3

This helps, thanks Paul! Will ask my question there

4

Hey @shreyass ,

I can confirm that apps that wish to bill merchants are required to go through the Shopify Billing API. For that particular use-case you’ll likely want to implement usage based charges.

5

Thanks for your reply @_JB . I have 2 more questions.

  1. This chatbot is not Shopify exclusive. It can be integrated on other websites/platforms as well. Does it still mean it has to go through Shopify Billing API?

  2. Can we include an iframe in the Shopify App that takes the user to the chatbot platform for setup? This makes it seamless for the user to use the app, but not sure if Shopify would allow this.