Shopify billing for connector app?

Built for Shopify
1

Hello together!

We’re currently developing a connector app, that’s sole purpose is to connect Shopify to our platform to integrate shop data.

Inside our application we use Stripe and we also support other shop systems.

Now I struggle to understand Shopify’s TOS and the Shopify support just answers with AI-generated text, that are not helpful. Do we have to use Shopify billing for all our clients if we publish the app?

I mean, I would be completely fine to use Shopify billing for clients coming to us via the Shopify App Store, but moving all existing clients over seems weird.

Does anyone of you have any info on this? Is there any way to discuss this with Shopify?

Thanks!

2

Hi Florian,

Correct - if you’re billing merchants inside your Shopify app, you’d need to use the Billing API to process these payments, and not a third-party payment processor.

3

Hey @Liam-Shopify,

thanks for your answer!

Even if your main business is outside of Shopify and the Shopify App is only a connector?

If so, how do apps like Klaviyo do it? They charge via third-parties.

Also, what is with our existing customer base? What if we’re onboarding someone from outside the Shopify App Store, and then later he wants to connect to Shopify via the app, do we then suddenly have to switch billing?

Thanks!
Florian

4

Hi Florian,

I can’t speak to specific apps - but the requirement is to use the Billing API. If a merchant moved from using a custom version of your app to a public app store version, they would switch to using the Billing API too.

5

Hey Liam,

Thanks for your answer!

Also, from the Shopify support we get very generic answers that are not really helpful. Is there any way to get the following questions answered in detail from someone inside Shopify? We happily pay for it, if necessary.

  • Are connected apps required to use Shopify Billing even if they are not classic Shopify apps that provide storefront or merchant-facing functionality?

  • Does this requirement apply to connector apps used only to transfer data (e.g., to or from Shopify) for analysis or similar backend purposes?

  • If connector apps are required to use Shopify Billing, why are apps like Klaviyo exempt?

  • What criteria does Shopify use to determine whether an app is subject to billing requirements or exempt?

  • What happens if a user first uses our software with a third-party shop and later switches to Shopify?Do we then need to switch the billing method to Shopify Billing? This seems operationally unrealistic.

  • Would it comply with Shopify’s terms of service to:

    • Use Shopify Billing only for users who onboard through the Shopify App Store ,
    • But not for users who came through other acquisition channels (e.g., direct signups, integrations with other platforms)?

  • Is it possible to have a non-listed app (i.e., not publicly available in the App Store) that is exempt from Shopify Billing requirements?

  • We don’t necessarily want to be listed on the App Store, but we want users to have an easy way to connect their Shopify store. Is there a compliant path for this?

6

I’m having the same Issue. I don’t understand how shopify can govern and perceive a percentage of the sales of all my customer base when all we want to do is sync some information between the platforms, like contacts.

7

Hello guys,

I’m in exactly the same situation as Florian.

We have many existing customers that we need to assist on our SaaS. Of course, new customers will be onboarded using the Shopify App.

Florian, any solutions here?

Thanks!

8

Hey folks,

What devs commonly do where services are billed outside of Shopify is to process these off-platform fees themselves, and then set up usage-based subscriptions to charge merchants for these fees. Would this model work for you?

9

Just got this from Shopify Support. Can someone clarify if this information is accurate?

There would be no problems if:

  • You list the app as Free on the App Store.
  • The user installs it.
  • The app says: “To use this connector, you need a {website} account. Please login or subscribe at {website}”
  • The user leaves Shopify, goes to your website , enters their credit card there, and comes back.
  • Verdict: This is a Connector . You are billing for the Platform , not the App . This is fully compliant.
10

@SRCB If that is true, it would be a good way to handle it. Can somebody official confirm this?

It’s, however, not how apps like Klaviyo do it. They announce prices on the marketplace and don’t use the Billing API.

@paulg We’re going back and forth with Shopify support ever since. It is extremely frustrating: they stopped support via email, so you need to talk to level 1 chat operators every time. They have no idea of the topic and need to file a request for every little step/question/appeal.

We’re also considering taking legal action because, in our opinion, forcing you on the marketplace is illegal in the EU under the DMCA.

11

Just spoke to different support agent. They told me that you only qualify for “Connector” apps, if you don’t control the entity that you are connecting to. So me building an app to connect Shopify to your service, would qualify, as I don’t control the billing of your service, (as long as I don’t charge money for this connection), but me building an app for my service, would not qualify, as I control the billing for my own service.

12

Okay, that’s not an option then.

That topic is so frustrating. I would pay 500 USD hourly just to talk to somebody at Shopify about this. All you get is nonsense and contradicting answers..

1 Like
13

Hey @floriandotorg have you found an answer by any chance?

Trying to find a solution to the same problem but there is literally nothing available out there that explains this.

All I found is that many other saas tools seem to use this model of having a free app and separate billing for the actual platform, but it’s not confirmed anywhere.