does anyone know if there’s an option to let users login to my native app with shopify account?
i tried creating a custom app but couldn’t make it, also tried public app but im not sure thisi s the right thing to do.
Shopify’s OAuth isn’t quite like other social apps like Facebook/X/etc.
You cannot just create a custom app and initiate OAuth for any merchant. The custom apps must be created by the merchant that is using them.
Public apps can be installed by any merchant, they’re public. However to publish, you must undergo the App Review process, which increasingly is requiring apps to be embedded into the Shopify admin (there are exceptions to the rule, but this is in general).
Public apps can be installed from the app store directly, but to initate the OAuth flow from your native app’s frontend, you’ll need to know the merchant’s *.myshopify.com domain to initiate the OAuth flow.
So long story short, it just depends on how you would like to distribute your app.
If you want self serve installs, subscriptions, access to the app store - then public is the way to go.
if you have less frequent but larger merchants that can set up a custom app for you, and your sales channels are outside of Shopify, then custom apps might be the way to go.
I just wonder how long Shopify will allow custom apps for 3rd parties. Seems like it bypasses all of the quality controls and their revenue commission.
thank you dylan!
so for example, if i have an app that is creating ai videos, and i want my user to sign-up with shopify so i can access his store and generate videos automatically and he can just login later with his shopify account, the best way to go is just submit a public app? or is there any other way ?
You have to make a choice between public distribution between the Shopify store, or privately on a one on one basis with custom app per merchant as I mentioned in my comment above:
If you want self serve installs, subscriptions, access to the app store - then public is the way to go.
if you have less frequent but larger merchants that can set up a custom app for you, and your sales channels are outside of Shopify, then custom apps might be the way to go.