How to Create Shopify Private Apps? 6+ Private Apps

If you're running a Shopify store and have thought, "I wish I could tweak this feature just a bit," then you're in the right place. Today, explore 10+ Shopify private apps for your online store’s growth.

And the best part? You don’t need to be a tech wizard to get started. We'll guide you through the fundamental steps of enabling a private app to ensure that you know to enhance your store's functionality and improve your overall user experience.

What Are Private Apps In Shopify?

Private apps in Shopify are custom applications designed specifically for your store. A private app can cater to your unique needs, whether integrating with a particular inventory system or creating a custom checkout process.

They will allow you to automate tasks, streamline operations, and add unavailable features in the Shopify App Store. 

3 Benefits of Using Private Apps

Customization

Imagine being able to tailor your store to fit exactly what you need. With private apps, you can do just that. You can add unique features, integrate with specific external systems, and customize functionalities that public apps can’t offer. It’s like having a store that’s built just for your business.

Automation

Who doesn't love saving time? Private apps can automate those repetitive tasks that eat up your day. You can streamline the process by updating your inventory, managing orders, or handling customer interactions for your business growth.

Enhanced Integration

If you’re using various tools to run your business, private apps can make everything work together seamlessly. A private app can integrate your Shopify store with your CRM, ERP, or any other external system you rely on.

How to Enable Shopify Private Apps?

By Custom App

1. Access Shopify Admin: Log in to your Shopify admin panel.
2. Apps Settings: Click "Apps" on the left sidebar from your admin panel.
   
3. Access Private Apps Section: In the Apps section, look for the "Manage private apps" link. Click on it to proceed.
4. Enable Private Apps: On the Manage Private Apps page, you'll see an option to enable private app development. Click on the "Enable private app development" button.
   
5. Review and Confirm: Shopify will provide you with information about private app development and the implications of enabling it. Review this information carefully. Confirm by clicking the "Enable private app development" button again if you want to proceed.
6. Confirmation Message: Once you've enabled private app development, you should see a confirmation message indicating that private apps are now enabled for your store.
7. Create Private App: Click the "Create new private app" button to create a private app. This will allow you to generate API credentials for your private app, which you can use to authenticate your app with your Shopify store.
8. Fill in App Details: Provide the necessary details for your private app, such as the app name, developer's email address, and permissions required. Make sure to specify the permissions your app needs to access Shopify's API.
   
9. Generate API Key: After filling in the app details, click the "Save" button. Shopify will generate API credentials for your private app, including an API key and password. Make note of these credentials, as you'll need them to authenticate your app with your Shopify store.
10. Use API Credentials: You can now use the generated API key and password to authenticate your private app with your Shopify store and start building the needed functionalities.

Related post: Mastering the Shopify API: Plans, Types, and Tips

By Available Private Apps

In cases where store owners aim to get verification of visitors before they access their store, private apps are a convenient choice. You can use privacy apps already available on the Shopify platform to secure your store. Here is the guide:

1. Log in to your Shopify admin: Go to your Shopify store's admin panel.
2. Go to the Shopify App Store: You can access the Shopify App Store from your admin panel by clicking "Apps" on the left-hand sidebar and selecting "Visit the Shopify App Store."
3. Search: In the search bar at the top, type in the name of the app you want to install. If you need help deciding which app to choose, you can browse the options and read reviews to find the one that best suits your needs.
4. Install the App: Once you've found the verification app you want, click on it to open its page. This page should have an "Add app" or "Install app" button. Click it to begin the installation process.
   
5. Follow Installation Instructions: Depending on the app, you need to follow specific installation guidelines provided by the developer. This could involve granting permissions, configuring settings, or adding code snippets to your Shopify store's theme.
6. Complete Installation: Once you've followed the steps, the app should be successfully installed on your Shopify store. You should refresh your admin panel to see the app's interface and use its features.
7. Configure Verification Settings: After installation, you'll likely need to configure the verification settings according to your preferences. This might include setting up verification criteria, designing the verification process, and integrating with other tools or platforms if necessary.

Quick Comparisons of Top Shopify Private Apps

Best 6 Shopify Private Apps

1. Ecomposer

Introducing the age verification addon from Ecomposer! If your business involves products meant for mature audiences, you should ensure that your visitors are of legal age is paramount. This addon of Ecomposer offers a seamless solution and can give you control over who enters your store and when.

Key Features

• Age Verification: Ensure compliance with legal age restrictions by prompting visitors to confirm their age before accessing your store. Customize the age verification process with options to select the date of birth formats, set minimum age requirements, and define when and how the verification form appears.
• Privacy Functions: Safeguard sensitive information and tailor the browsing experience with private functions. Easily enable/disable features without removing the extension, and choose to display them on all pages or selectively. Customize design elements such as typography, color schemes, and button labels to maintain brand consistency and user engagement.

Pros & Cons

 Price

• Free
• Standard: $19/month
• Pro: $39/month
• Premium: $99/month

Rating

5/5 (3,608 reviews)

2. Avada GDPR Cookies Consent

Let's chat about Avada GDPR Compliance, the go-to app for Shopify folks like you who want to keep things squeaky clean regarding data privacy. You know how important it is to comply with GDPR and other privacy laws, especially when dealing with EU or other customers. Well, this app is your secret weapon for making sure you're on the right side of the cookie law and beyond.

Key Features

• Seamless Integration: It works seamlessly with Checkout Extensibility, Google Consent Mode v2, and Meta/TikTok Pixel, ensuring smooth functionality.
• Multilingual Support: Automatically translates cookie content to match your customers' language preferences, enhancing user experience.
• Customization Options: A fully customizable cookie banner allows you to tailor style, region, behavior, and content to align with your brand and compliance needs.
• GDPR Compliance Tools: Includes GDPR Privacy Policy Generator and facilitates customer data requests, simplifying compliance management.
• Cookie Scanner: Helps identify and display detailed information about cookies used on your store, promoting transparency.
• Versatile Popup Features: Offers various popup types (Announcements, Banners, Consent pop-ups, Custom pop-ups) and management options (Custom code, Custom fonts, Editor tool, Templates, Translation) for enhanced engagement and communication with visitors.

Pros & Cons

 Price

• Free
• Professional: $9.95/month
• Advanced: $23.95/month
• Enterprise: $49.95/month

Rating

5/5 (1,168 reviews)

3. Consentmo GDPR Compliance

As a Shopify store owner navigating the intricate landscape of data privacy regulations, finding a reliable GDPR compliance solution can be daunting. However, that journey was much simpler with the first-of-its-kind GDPR compliance app tailored specifically for the Shopify platform.

Key Features

• Comprehensive Compliance Coverage: This app fully complies with many regulations, including GDPR, LGPD, CCPA-CPRA, VCDPA, CPA, CTDPA, UCPA, PIPEDA, APA-NZPA, and APPI. It covers many regions, including EU/EEA, Switzerland, the UK, Brazil, California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and more.
• Integration: Integrating with Shopify’s Consent API and Online Store 2.0 themes and compatibility with Google Consent Mode V2 ensures a smooth and hassle-free setup process.
• AI-Powered Cookie Scanner: The app's AI auto cookie scanner takes the guesswork out of cookie management, helping you stay compliant effortlessly.
• Customizable Design: With a single click, you can synchronize your cookie bar's design with your brand's aesthetic, maintaining a cohesive look across your store.
• Accessibility Focus: This app prioritizes accessibility, ensuring WCAG 2.0 compliance and support for 24 EU languages, making your store inclusive and user-friendly.
• Multilingual Support: This app is for global audiences, and it offers everything from YouTube videos to admin translations in French, Italian, Spanish, and German.

Pros & Cons

 Price

• Free
• Standard: $8/month
• Plus: $24/month
• Enterprise: $39/month

Rating

4.9/5 (1,009 reviews)

4. TnC: Terms and Conditions Box

The terms and Conditions (TnC) app is an incredible app. Shopify store owners can gain a simple yet powerful solution to integrate checkboxes for policies and agreements across their websites seamlessly.

Key Features

• Versatile Checkbox Functionality: The checkbox can be customized to cover various policies and agreements, including terms of use, shipping policies, GDPR consent, EULA, RGPD, LGPD, and more.
• Tracking Customer Consent: Store owners can monitor customer interactions by tracking when the checkbox is ticked, providing transparency and accountability in compliance management.
• Compatibility with Payment Gateways: The app supports express checkout payment gateways such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Glowroad, and Kopy, ensuring a smooth checkout experience for customers while maintaining compliance.
• Targeted Display Options: Store owners can show the checkbox selectively, tailoring its display based on specific products or visitor locations, optimizing user experience and compliance efforts.

Pros & Cons

 Price

• Free
• Basic: $2.99/month

Rating

5/5 (597 reviews)

5. Hulk Age Verification

The Hulk Age Verification App offers a comprehensive solution for Shopify store owners seeking to ensure legal compliance with age restrictions. This app provides a secure environment for selling age-restricted products by implementing robust age verification measures.

Key Features

• Boost Legal Compliance: The app helps boost legal compliance by facilitating age verification for customers accessing age-restricted products, thereby preventing unauthorized online sales.
• Customization Options: Store owners can personalize verification screens using pre-made templates or their brand logo, allowing for a tailored user experience that aligns with their brand identity.
• Responsive Age Verification: The age verification process seamlessly adapts to all devices.
• Geo-Based Restrictions: The app utilizes geo-location technology to enable store owners to limit access to sensitive products based on the user's country, effectively preventing underage buyers from accessing restricted items.
• Popup Features: The app offers various pop-up types, including age verification pop-ups, along with a suite of management tools such as analytics, an editor tool, geo-location settings, localization options, targeting capabilities, templates, and triggers and rules for customized pop-up experiences.

Pros & Cons

 Price

• Free
• Pro: $10/month

Rating

4.7/5 (141 reviews)

6. Talon ‑ Login to View Price

The Login to View Price app offers a straightforward solution for Shopify store owners to hide product prices and add-to-cart buttons until customers log in. This private app simplifies managing price visibility while enhancing security and customer engagement with customizable features and no coding required.

Key Features

• Price and Add-to-Cart Button Hiding: The app enables store owners to hide product prices and add-to-cart buttons until customers log in, providing greater control over pricing visibility and encouraging user engagement.
• Selective Price Hiding: Store owners can selectively hide prices for specific products or collections, allowing for targeted pricing strategies tailored to their business needs.
• Customizable Message Editor: With an easy-to-use message editor, store owners can customize the message displayed to customers, ensuring clarity and consistency regarding price visibility.
• Search Engine Optimization: The app removes prices from metadata, preventing search engines from picking up prices and preserving the integrity of pricing strategies.
• Optional Customer Tag Requirement: Store owners can implement customer tag requirements to control price access further.

Pros & Cons

 Price

• All Features:  $19/month

Rating

4.8/5 (55 reviews)

What To Look For in A Private App For Your Shopify Store?

Integration

Ensure that the app integrates smoothly with your Shopify store and other essential tools you use, such as accounting software, CRM systems, or email marketing platforms. This integration capability streamlines your operations and prevents data silos.

Security

Security is crucial when handling sensitive customer and business data. You should choose apps that follow industry-standard security protocols. Ensure the app provides features like encryption, secure authentication, and regular security updates. These measures protect your data from breaches and cyber threats.

Customization

It is essential to customize the app according to your unique requirements. Shopify owners should consider apps that offer customizable features, such as branding, user interface, user age, and functionality.

FAQs

What is the difference between public and private apps in Shopify?

Public apps in Shopify are third-party applications that are available for installation directly from the Shopify App Store. Developed by various vendors, they address common challenges merchants face, such as marketing, sales, inventory management, and customer support. Before being listed, these apps undergo Shopify's review process to ensure quality and security standards.

On the other hand, a Shopify private app is custom-built for a specific merchant and offers tailored features for the Shopify store. It provides direct access to store data via Shopify's APIs and can extend the shop's functionality to other platforms using the Storefront API.

What Is The Cost Of A Custom Shopify App?

The price of developing a custom Shopify app depends on its complexity and functionality. It can range from tens of thousands of dollars or even more.

Can I use Shopify if I'm under 18?

Shopify's Terms of Service require users to be at least 18 years old to sign up for an account and use their platform. This restriction is in place due to legal and contractual reasons.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Shopify private apps offer an invaluable opportunity for merchants to tailor their ecommerce experience to their unique needs and secure their stores.

For anyone wanting to set up an age verification system to meet legal requirements and maintain a private online shopping experience, consider integrating Ecomposer for regulatory compliance and protect your brand reputation

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