Hello Shopify Developers!
Welcome to the Built for Shopify board. This space is dedicated to supporting developers who are preparing their apps to apply for Built for Shopify (BFS) status, as well as those in the process of updating their apps to meet the program’s requirements. Whether you’re aiming to enhance your app’s quality, improve user experience, or navigate the application process, this board is here to support you.
Board overview
This board covers the following topics:
- Program overview: Discussions about the benefits and objectives of the Built for Shopify program
- Eligibility criteria: Guidance on meeting the technical and UX requirements for the program
- App development best practices: Tips for building high-quality apps that align with Shopify’s standards
Tags
To keep our discussions organized, we use the following tags on this board:
- built_for_shopify: Use this tag for general questions about the Built for Shopify program
- eligibility_criteria: Use this tag for topics related to meeting program requirements
- troubleshooting: Use this tag for issues encountered during development or submission
Helpful Resources
Check out our Built for Shopify Resources hub to help you prepare your app to successfully achieve status.
Frequently Asked Questions – General
1. What is the Built for Shopify program and what are its benefits?
The Built for Shopify (BFS) program recognizes apps that meet Shopify’s highest standards for quality, performance, and user experience. Apps that achieve Built for Shopify status unlock exclusive promotional benefits in the Shopify App Store, and are eligible for promotion across key merchant surfaces.
2. What are the eligibility criteria for the Built for Shopify program?
To be eligible, your app must:
- Meet Shopify App Store requirements.
- Provide an excellent user experience that aligns with Shopify’s App Design Guidelines.
- Meet our benchmarks for minimum number of installs, and reviews.
- Be embedded in the Shopify admin.
- Demonstrate high performance and reliability.
- Maintain high-quality support and customer service.
- Meet category specific achievement requirements.
- Detailed criteria can be found in the Built for Shopify achievement criteria documentation.
3. How do I apply for the Built for Shopify program?
To apply:
- Ensure your app meets all achievement criteria.
- Submit your app through the Partner Dashboard by following the application instructions provided.
- Your app will undergo a thorough review by Shopify’s App Review team.
- Refer to the application process for detailed steps.
4. What are some best practices for preparing my app for the program?
- User experience: Follow Shopify’s App Design Guidelines to create an intuitive and seamless user interface.
- Performance optimization: Optimize your apps performance to ensure your app runs efficiently on all surfaces it interacts with.
- API usage: Use the latest Shopify APIs and follow API best practices.
5. What are some common issues when preparing for the Built for Shopify program, and how do I troubleshoot them?
- App rejections: Carefully review the feedback provided by the App Review team and address all noted issues before resubmitting.
- Performance bottlenecks: Use profiling tools to identify and optimize slow operations within your app.
- Design inconsistencies: Ensure your app’s UI aligns with Shopify’s design guidelines, including branding, navigation, and accessibility standards.
- API limitations: Monitor your app’s API usage to avoid hitting rate limits and implement efficient data handling.
- Compliance gaps: Regularly review Shopify’s policies to ensure ongoing compliance.
For best practices related to common applications challenges, check out our Resources hub.
6. How long does the app review process take for the Built for Shopify program?
The review process can take several weeks, depending on the complexity of your app and the volume of submissions. Ensure your app is fully compliant before submitting to avoid delays.
7. How do I update my app to maintain compliance with the Built for Shopify program?
- Stay informed: Subscribe to Shopify’s developer updates and changelogs.
- Regular audits: Periodically review your app against the latest guidelines and requirements. Reference the Built for Shopify technical criteria checklist on the “Distribution” page of your Partner Dashboard to see if you are meeting all current and upcoming automatically assessed requirements.
- Testing: Implement continuous integration and testing to catch issues early.
- Merchant Feedback: Actively collect and respond to merchant feedback to improve your app.
8. I have feedback or need clarification on the program requirements. How can I get support?
- Resources: Utilize the resources available in the Resources Hub or the Merchant & Partner Support center.
- Community engagement: Post your questions on this board using the appropriate tags for assistance from the community and Shopify staff.
- Feedback submission: At the bottom of each developer documentation page, you’ll find a feedback prompt. Use it to submit your suggestions or report issues.
9. When can I expect my annual review to occur and what can I expect during it?
Starting January 2025, Built for Shopify apps will undergo annual reviews to ensure they are still meeting all requirements. We will generally review apps about one year from the date they initially achieved BFS status, however, apps are subject to be reviewed at any time and can be reviewed multiple times in a year. To best prepare for your annual review, ensure your app meets all requirements by their effective dates.
When your review starts, you’ll be notified via email and your Partner Dashboard, and the process usually takes a few days to a week. If issues are found, you’ll have 60 days to address them while keeping your status.
Please refer to our documentation for more details.
Community guidelines
To maintain a helpful and respectful community, please follow the Shopify Developer Forums Code of Conduct.
When posting, please ensure:
- Correct category and ags: Open posts in the appropriate category and apply the most accurate tags related to your question.
- Include relevant code: Share code snippets relevant to your question, removing any personal or sensitive information.
- Detailed issue description: Provide detailed steps to reproduce any issues, including the date and time when the issue appeared.
- Screenshots or videos: Include visuals to illustrate the problem, if applicable.
- API Version and rrror messages: Include the API version and any error messages you’re encountering.
This detailed approach helps peers and internal staff provide effective solutions quickly.
Thank you for being a part of our community! We look forward to your contributions and discussions.