Many stores pay every month for apps nobody uses anymore, or that Shopify can now do on its own. Every one of them costs money, loads code into your store and slows it down. An app diet saves fees, makes your store faster and often boosts revenue along the way. Five steps and you’re done.
What apps really cost
Money. Most apps charge monthly, often in dollars. Ten apps at 20 to 50 dollars each quickly add up to more than your Shopify plan. On top of that come revenue-based fees that grow as you grow.
Speed. Many apps load their own JavaScript on every page, even where they aren’t needed at all. Each one is small. Together, they make the store noticeably sluggish, especially on mobile.
Dependence. Every app is an outside company inside your store. It can raise prices, cut features or shut down the service. The more apps, the more can break from the outside.
The app diet in 5 steps
- Make a list. Put all installed apps with price and purpose into a spreadsheet. You’ll find the bills in the admin under Settings, Billing.
- Ask: what does it bring in? For every app, one number or one sentence. “Drives 8% of orders” is an answer. “We had it for a promo once” isn’t.
- Cut duplicates. Two apps for reviews, three for pop-ups. One stays.
- Replace with Shopify. A lot of what used to need apps, Shopify can now do on its own. The list is in the next section.
- Uninstall cleanly. After removal, code often stays behind in the theme. Have it checked and deleted, or it keeps loading.
Afterwards, measure load time and compare it with before. Repeat the diet once a quarter.
What Shopify can do on its own today
| What you might have an app for | What Shopify offers natively |
|---|---|
| Filters, search, product recommendations | Search & Discovery |
| Sets and bundles | Shopify Bundles |
| Subscriptions | Shopify Subscriptions |
| Newsletter sign-up and pop-up | Shopify Forms |
| Email marketing and flows | Shopify Email |
| Translations | Translate & Adapt |
| Automations | Shopify Flow |
| Live chat | Shopify Inbox |
| Product tabs, size charts, extra info | Metafields in the theme |
| Wholesale prices | B2B, on all plans since April 2026 |
All of these features come straight from Shopify, are mostly free (Shopify Email only up to a free allowance) and load leaner than most third-party apps. Not every one replaces every app one-to-one, but for many stores it’s enough.
FAQ
How many apps are normal? There’s no fixed number. What matters is that each one has a clear purpose. A store with five apps it actually uses is better off than one with fifteen half-used ones.
Can something break when uninstalling? Yes, if the theme relied on the app, for example for review stars or filters. So replace first, then remove, and click through the store afterwards.
How do I tell if an app is slowing down my store? Measure load time, deactivate the app, measure again. Shopify also shows a speed score in the admin under Online Store.
Will you do the app diet for us? Yes, as part of our audit. You get a list of what stays, what goes and what it saves.