New Category-Specific Requirements for Shopify's Built for Shopify Program Effective July 2025.

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights:
2. Introduction
3. Overview of the Built for Shopify Program
4. New Requirements by App Category
5. The Compliance Process
6. Implications for Developers
7. Benefits for Merchants
8. Conclusion
9. FAQ

Key Highlights:

• Starting July 1, 2025, Shopify will implement new category-specific requirements for marketing apps within its Built for Shopify (BFS) program.
• The requirements will vary by app category, with specific criteria outlined for ads, affiliate programs, analytics, email marketing, forms, SMS marketing, and subscription apps.
• Compliance will be enforced during manual app reviews upon submission and during annual evaluations.

Introduction

As e-commerce continues to evolve, platforms like Shopify are refining their standards to ensure that the tools they offer meet the dynamic needs of businesses. Starting July 1, 2025, Shopify will introduce new category-specific requirements for marketing applications in its Built for Shopify (BFS) program. These changes underscore Shopify’s commitment to quality, providing merchants with reliable tools that enhance their operational capabilities and customer engagement.

The BFS program has become a hallmark of trust for merchants, signaling that an app has met rigorous standards. As businesses increasingly rely on apps to implement marketing strategies, the new criteria aim to ensure that apps not only function effectively but also comply with best practices in user experience and data management. This article delves into the specific requirements for each app category and the implications for developers and merchants alike.

Overview of the Built for Shopify Program

The Built for Shopify program is designed to foster a trusted ecosystem of apps that support merchants in maximizing their e-commerce potential. By meeting the BFS standards, app developers gain access to a wider audience of Shopify merchants who are looking for reliable integrations that can enhance their stores.

The program encompasses a range of app categories, each with its own focus and functionality. As part of the ongoing evolution of e-commerce, Shopify recognizes the need for tailored requirements that reflect the unique challenges and opportunities within each category.

New Requirements by App Category

Ads Apps

For those developing ads apps, compliance with all criteria will be mandatory. This encompasses the need for robust tracking capabilities, performance analytics, and adherence to advertising guidelines that protect user data. Ads apps must demonstrate the effectiveness of their campaigns and provide clear metrics that enable merchants to assess return on investment.

Affiliate Program Apps

Similar to ads apps, affiliate program apps are required to meet all specified criteria. This includes establishing transparent referral tracking systems and ensuring that merchants can easily manage their affiliates. The emphasis on transparency and ease of use is crucial, as it fosters trust between merchants and their affiliate partners, ultimately driving sales.

Analytics Apps

Analytics apps play a pivotal role in helping merchants understand customer behavior and sales trends. All criteria set forth for these apps must be followed, ensuring that they deliver accurate and actionable insights. This includes integrating with Shopify’s robust data tools and providing comprehensive reporting features that are user-friendly and accessible.

Email Marketing Apps

Email marketing remains a cornerstone of digital marketing strategies for many businesses. However, for email marketing apps, some criteria will be selective based on the app's functionality. This allows for flexibility, enabling developers to innovate while still adhering to core standards of user experience and compliance with regulations such as GDPR.

Forms Apps

Forms apps will be held to the same rigorous standards as ads and affiliate program apps. This ensures that all necessary features are included for effective lead generation and customer feedback collection. Compliance with data protection laws is paramount, as these apps often handle sensitive customer information.

SMS Marketing Apps

Like email marketing apps, SMS marketing applications will have selective criteria based on their functionality. This recognizes the diverse approaches to SMS marketing while still enforcing essential compliance measures. Developers must ensure their apps can effectively engage customers while adhering to regulations surrounding consent and opt-in policies.

Subscription Apps

Subscription services have gained traction as a business model in e-commerce. For apps in this category, the introduction of Customer Account UI extensions is now a requirement. This addition aims to enhance the customer experience by providing a more seamless interaction when managing subscriptions, thereby increasing retention and customer satisfaction.

The Compliance Process

With these new requirements comes an important aspect of compliance through the app review process. The enforcement of these criteria will occur during manual reviews at the time of app submission and in annual evaluations thereafter. This dual-layered approach ensures that apps not only start strong but continue to meet the evolving standards set by Shopify.

Developers must prepare for these reviews by thoroughly understanding the requirements and ensuring their apps are fully compliant prior to submission. This preparation can save time and resources in the long run, as non-compliant apps may face delays or rejections during the review process.

Implications for Developers

The introduction of these new requirements presents both challenges and opportunities for app developers. On one hand, the need to comply with more stringent criteria may require additional resources and development time. On the other hand, adhering to these standards can enhance the overall quality of the apps offered on the Shopify platform, ultimately benefiting both developers and merchants.

Developers can take proactive steps to align their applications with the new requirements. This includes conducting thorough audits of existing apps, gathering user feedback, and investing in training and resources that enhance compliance with the latest standards. Additionally, developers who successfully meet these criteria can leverage their status as BFS-approved apps in their marketing efforts, potentially increasing their visibility and attractiveness to merchants.

Benefits for Merchants

For merchants, the new category-specific requirements are largely beneficial. The assurance that apps have undergone a rigorous review process increases confidence in the tools they choose to integrate into their Shopify stores. This can lead to improved marketing effectiveness, better customer engagement, and ultimately, higher sales.

Merchants should familiarize themselves with the new requirements to better understand the capabilities of the apps they are considering. By selecting apps that are compliant with BFS standards, they can ensure they are utilizing tools that not only meet their operational needs but also align with best practices in the industry.

Conclusion

As Shopify moves forward with the implementation of these new category-specific requirements, the focus remains on enhancing the quality and reliability of the apps available to merchants. The Built for Shopify program continues to evolve, reflecting the changing landscape of e-commerce and the increasing complexities of digital marketing.

By understanding and adapting to these new requirements, developers can position themselves for success while providing merchants with the tools they need to thrive in a competitive marketplace. The emphasis on quality, compliance, and user experience will foster a more robust ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders involved.

FAQ

What are the new requirements for marketing apps in the Built for Shopify program? Starting July 1, 2025, new category-specific requirements will apply to various marketing app categories, including ads, affiliate programs, analytics, email marketing, forms, SMS marketing, and subscription apps.

How will compliance with these requirements be enforced? Compliance will be enforced during manual reviews of apps upon submission and during annual evaluations.

What does it mean for an app to be BFS-approved? An app that is BFS-approved has met the rigorous standards set by Shopify, indicating that it is reliable and effective for merchants.

What are the implications for developers? Developers will need to ensure their apps meet the new requirements, which may require additional resources and development time. However, compliance can enhance the quality of their offerings and increase market visibility.

How will these changes benefit merchants? Merchants will gain access to higher-quality apps that have undergone thorough reviews, increasing their confidence in the tools they choose to integrate and ultimately improving their marketing effectiveness.