More and more merchants join Shopify every day. They rely on apps to help them start, grow, and run their business effectively. We've developed a set of quality standards that help app developers to make high-quality apps for merchants: apps that are easy to use, safe, and performant, and help solve merchant problems. Each standard has an impact on the merchant and customer experience, and the success of a merchant’s store. To determine whether you meet our app quality standards, we evaluate your app using specific, actionable criteria. Apps that meet all of these criteria are eligible for Built for Shopify status. Along the way, you can qualify for smaller [achievements](#other-achievements) that grant you more limited benefits, such as indicators of high quality on your app listing, special merchandising, or opportunities for promotion on various Shopify surfaces. Most criteria for Built for Shopify and intermediate achievements are automatically evaluated, while others require you to apply for evaluation. Some achievements are automatically granted, while others require you to apply for inclusion. You can check whether your app meets the criteria for Built for Shopify on the **Distribution** page for the app in your Partner Dashboard.

Achievement criteria

Explore the criteria that you need to meet to earn Built for Shopify status and other achievements.
## Built for Shopify status Built for Shopify status is the highest level of recognition and achievement that an app can reach. Built for Shopify apps receive additional promotion in the Shopify App Store, and are eligible for promotion on other key merchant surfaces. > Note: > You need to [apply for Built for Shopify status](#apply-for-built-for-shopify-status). You can apply for Built for Shopify status anytime. When you achieve Built for Shopify status, your app receives the following promotional benefits: ### Built for Shopify highlight A highlight indicating your Built for Shopify status appears on the app listing page. The Built for Shopify highlight appears at the top of the highlights list. On your way to earning Built for Shopify status, your app might earn other [standalone highlights](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify#app-highlights), where applicable.
An image of the Built for Shopify highlight that appears on the app details page.
### Built for Shopify badge A **Built for Shopify** badge appears on your app card wherever it appears in the Shopify App Store. For example, the badge will be visible on your app listing, and on your app card in search results and category pages.
An image of the Built for Shopify badge that appears on the app details page.
### Search filter for Built for Shopify When merchants search for apps on the Shopify App Store, there is a search filter for Built for Shopify to help them filter for only apps that are Built for Shopify. ### Plan based targeting for Shopify App Store Ads Built with Shopify status are now able to [target their search ads on the Shopify App Store to specific merchant plans](/docs/apps/launch/marketing/advertising/create-ads). ### Search ranking boost Built for Shopify apps appear higher in Shopify App Store search rankings. Built for Shopify apps are ranked higher than other apps with search ranking boosts. This benefit isn’t exclusive to Built for Shopify apps. ### Eligible for promotion on the App Store homepage Your app is eligible to be recommended to merchants in the first collection that they see on the App Store homepage. This collection is personalized for each merchant, so your app isn't guaranteed to appear. This benefit isn’t exclusive to Built for Shopify apps.
An image of an app in the first section of the Shopify App Store homepage.
### Eligible for discovery through the Shopify admin You'll be eligible to be recommended to merchants in the **Picked for you** modal in the Shopify admin. This collection is personalized for each merchant, so your app isn't guaranteed to appear. This benefit isn’t exclusive to Built for Shopify apps. ### Eligible to be featured in story pages Apps can be featured in story pages across various surfaces in the Shopify App Store, including the homepage, and in search, navigation, app categories, and the app’s listing. Story pages from Shopify help to educate merchants about how your app can help their business, inspire merchants by showing what’s possible with apps, and build trust by showing how real merchants succeed with apps. Being featured in a story page makes your app more visible, and more likely to be installed by merchants. ### Apply for Built for Shopify status To achieve Built for Shopify status, you need to apply for your app to be evaluated by Shopify. You can't apply for Built for Shopify status until you meet all of the [prerequisite achievement criteria](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/achievement-criteria). These criteria are automatically evaluated on a regular basis. After the prerequisite criteria are met, you can apply from the Partner Dashboard: 1. From the Partner Dashboard, go to **Apps** and then select your app from the list. 2. From your app's overview page, click **Distribution**. 3. In the **Apply for Built for Shopify status** section, click **Apply now**. Only team members with the Manage apps permission can submit applications for Built for Shopify status. The Shopify app review team will review your application, and will let you know if you need to address any issues before your application can be approved. You must fix each issue as it's raised by the app review team. If you fail the same criterion three times in a row, then your application is suspended and you won't be able to apply again for three months. ### Maintaining Built for Shopify status Apps are reviewed annually to ensure they continue to adhere to the Built for Shopify standards. Apps found to no longer adhere to Built for Shopify standards will be notified by email, and will have 60 days to rectify any failures that arise. ### Losing Built for Shopify status You can lose Built for Shopify status after it's granted if you fail to meet certain criteria on an ongoing basis. [Learn more about why you might lose Built for Shopify status](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/regain-lost-status). ## Other achievements While you work toward Built for Shopify status, you can earn smaller achievements that grant you unique benefits: - [App highlights](#app-highlights) - [In the spotlight](#in-the-spotlight) - [Story pages](#story-pages) - [Increased visibility on key merchant surfaces](#increased-visibility-on-key-merchant-surfaces) ### App highlights When your app meets the relevant criteria, we display a highlight on your app listing. These highlights make it easier for merchants to identify high-quality apps. Depending on your app’s functionality, it might qualify for the following app highlights: - **Built for your business: Works with the latest themes**. This highlight tells users that your app is compatible with Online Store 2.0 themes. These apps are easy to install and enable, offer app block functionality where applicable, and uninstall cleanly. > Mandatory: > Requirements for the "Works with the latest themes" app highlight > > - (Storefront apps only) [Uninstalls cleanly: uses theme app extensions](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#provide-a-clean-uninstall-including-all-theme-app-extensions) > - [Minimizes impact on checkout speed](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#minimize-the-impact-on-checkout-speed) - **Built for your business: Use directly in the Shopify admin**. This highlight tells users that your app is embedded and offers a streamlined workflow. > Mandatory: > Requirements for the "Use directly in the Shopify admin" app highlight > > - [The app is embedded in the Shopify admin](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#embed-the-app-in-the-shopify-admin) All apps are automatically assessed to determine whether they meet the criteria for the highlight on a regular basis. If you meet the criteria, then the highlight is automatically added to your app listing. You can check whether your app meets these criteria on the **Distribution** page of your Partner Dashboard. > Note: > It might take a few days for the highlight to appear on your app listing after the criteria are met.
The highlights section on the app listing page.
### In the spotlight **In the spotlight** is a curated collection of notable, high-quality apps that appears on the Shopify App Store homepage. Being featured in this section makes your app more visible, and more likely to be installed by merchants. When you meet the criteria for this achievement, your app becomes eligible to be promoted in the **In the spotlight** section. Our app review team selects eligible apps to be featured every week. > Note: > Meeting the achievement criteria makes you eligible to be featured in the **In the Spotlight** section. Your app isn’t guaranteed to be selected.
> Mandatory: > > - [Good Partner standing](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#have-a-good-partner-standing) > - [Meets App Store requirements](/docs/apps/launch/app-requirements-checklist) > - (Storefront apps only) [Uninstalls cleanly: uses theme app extensions](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#provide-a-clean-uninstall-including-all-theme-app-extensions)
An example of an In the spotlight section.
### Story pages Apps can be featured in story pages across various surfaces in the Shopify App Store, including the homepage, and in search, navigation, app categories, and the app’s listing. Story pages from Shopify help to educate merchants about how your app can help their business, inspire merchants by showing what’s possible with apps, and build trust by showing how real merchants succeed with apps. Being featured in a story page makes your app more visible, and more likely to be installed by merchants. Only apps that meet the following criteria are eligible to be featured in story pages. If your app meets all of the criteria for this achievement, then you can [submit your app for consideration](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFWH8fuzkscLqSzjJ4dXtJlObH1wROLg17AmSygL2iK94h-A/viewform?usp=sf_link) to be featured in editorial content. > Note: > Meeting the achievement criteria makes your app eligible to be featured in story pages. Your app isn’t guaranteed to be selected after it’s submitted.
> Mandatory: > > - (Storefront apps only) [Uninstalls cleanly: uses theme app extensions](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#provide-a-clean-uninstall-including-all-theme-app-extensions) > - [Minimum number of installs](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#have-a-minimum-number-of-installs) > - [Minimum number of reviews](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#have-a-minimum-number-of-reviews) > - [Minimum app rating](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#have-a-minimum-app-rating)
An example of a story page on the Shopify App Store.
### Increased visibility on key merchant surfaces Shopify surfaces apps to merchants in many ways. Increased visibility makes your app more visible, and more likely to be installed by merchants. When you earn this achievement, you’ll get a search ranking boost, and become eligible for promotion on key merchant surfaces, including: - The first collection in the App Store homepage - The Shopify admin **Picked for you** modal These surfaces are personalized for each merchant, so your app isn't guaranteed to appear. > Mandatory: > > - [Good Partner standing](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#have-a-good-partner-standing) > - [Meets App Store requirements](/docs/apps/launch/app-requirements-checklist) > - (Storefront apps only) [Uninstalls cleanly: uses theme app extensions](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#provide-a-clean-uninstall-including-all-theme-app-extensions) > - [Minimizes impact on checkout speed](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#minimize-the-impact-on-checkout-speed) > - [Minimum number of installs](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#have-a-minimum-number-of-installs) > - [Minimum number of reviews](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#have-a-minimum-number-of-reviews) > - [Minimum app rating](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/requirements#have-a-minimum-app-rating) ## Quality standards We use the following standards to determine whether your app is high quality. Each standard has an impact on the merchant and customer experience, and the success of a merchant’s store. Shopify offers specific, actionable criteria to meet these quality standards. When you meet certain criteria, your app becomes eligible for Built for Shopify status, and other achievements. [Learn about the criteria that you need to meet to earn achievements](/docs/apps/launch/built-for-shopify/achievement-criteria). ### Safety, security, and reliability Merchants want to know that their apps are handling store data responsibly. Apps need to use certain APIs and extensions to ensure that they install and uninstall cleanly. Apps also need to meet all [App Store requirements](/docs/apps/launch/app-requirements-checklist) on an ongoing basis and uphold the [Shopify API License and Terms of Use](https://www.shopify.com/legal/api-terms). There should be no outstanding infractions against the [Partner Program Agreement](https://www.shopify.com/partners/terms). ### Performance Apps should perform quickly and at scale for merchants and their customers. We measure how embedded apps impact the performance of the Shopify admin. For a subset of apps, we also measure how your app impacts storefront and checkout performance. ### Ease of use Apps should be intuitive, seamless, and well-integrated into the Shopify admin. ### Proven usefulness We observe your app’s usefulness to merchants on a regular basis, using a rolling time window. We automatically gauge usefulness based on how many merchants installed your app, the number of reviews, and your app’s average rating. ### App info and benefits The app listing is your first point of contact with a merchant, and it's where they'll go to determine whether your app is right for them. Your [app listing](/docs/apps/launch/app-requirements-checklist#5-app-listing) should be as complete as possible, and reflect your app's current functionality.