Is Built For Shopify Worth It?

When I finally hit 50 merchants and 5 reviews with ezInvoices in April 2025, the first thing I did was apply for Built for Shopify status. Three months later, we were approved. Was it worth the effort? Let me show you the data.

The Built for Shopify Promise

Shopify positions Built for Shopify as a quality badge that helps merchants identify apps that meet their highest standards. The promise is simple:

Increased visibility in the App Store
Merchant trust through official endorsement
Access to exclusive Shopify resources

But does it actually move the needle for installs? Here's what happened to ezInvoices.

My BFS Journey: The Timeline and Reality

The Requirements

To even apply, you need:

50+ merchants using your app
5+ reviews
Meet Shopify's quality standards

I hit these numbers in April 2025 after months of grinding through forum posts and providing lightning-fast support.

The Application Process

April 2025: Applied for BFS
April-June 2025: Received feedback, procrastinated on fixes
June 2025: Finally implemented changes and got approved

The truth? The process took 2-3 months, but mainly because I was juggling work on my other app, Sagify, and kept putting the feedback aside. The actual work could have been done in a week.

The Feedback That Actually Improved My App

The BFS team's feedback was minimal but specific:

Implement Contextual Save Bar: This forces you to follow Shopify's UX patterns, making your app feel native to the platform.
Visual Settings Editor: They didn't like that my settings page was just form fields. Adding a visual editor made the app more user-friendly.
Fix Translation Issues: Small details that improve the international merchant experience.

None of these felt like arbitrary requirements - each one genuinely improved the app.

The Data: What Really Happened After BFS

Looking at my growth chart, you can see the BFS approval in June 2025 created a noticeable uptick in installs.

ezInvoices Growth Timeline

The impact was immediate and sustained:

Merchants can filter by "Built for Shopify" in the app store
The badge appears prominently on your listing
There's an implicit trust that comes with Shopify's endorsement

The Numbers:

Week before BFS: ~8 installs
Week after BFS: ~19 installs
Sustained increase: +35%

The Hidden Benefits Nobody Talks About

1. Forced Best Practices

The BFS requirements pushed me to implement features I'd been putting off. The Contextual Save Bar, for example, wasn't just a checkbox - it made my app feel more professional.

2. The Psychological Win

After months of grinding, getting that approval email felt like official validation. It's a morale boost that shouldn't be underestimated when you're building alone.

3. Enterprise Credibility

Larger merchants often filter apps by the BFS badge. It's a quick way for them to reduce risk when choosing apps for their business.

The Real Cost-Benefit Analysis

Time Investment

Implementing requirements: ~20 hours of actual coding
Back-and-forth with review team: ~5 hours
Waiting time: 2-3 months (my fault for procrastinating)

The Payoff

Immediate boost in installs post-approval
Higher quality merchants (they trust the badge)
Better app quality from implementing requirements

Would I do it again? Absolutely. In fact, if I built another Shopify app, I'd design with BFS requirements in mind from day one.

Tips for BFS Application Success

1. Don't Wait - Apply as Soon as You're Eligible

I waited until April even though I probably could have applied earlier. The sooner you get the badge, the sooner you benefit from increased visibility.

2. Implement Feedback Quickly

My 2-3 month timeline was unnecessary. The actual fixes took less than a week. Don't be like me - implement feedback immediately.

3. Think of Requirements as Features, Not Obstacles

Every BFS requirement made ezInvoices better. The Contextual Save Bar improved UX. The visual editor made settings more intuitive. These aren't hoops to jump through - they're improvements to embrace.

4. Use the Badge Everywhere

Once approved, make sure the badge is visible:

On your website
In your documentation
In marketing materials
Anywhere merchants might evaluate your app

The Verdict: Is BFS Worth It?

Looking at my data, the answer is clear: yes. The uptick in installs alone justified the effort. But beyond the numbers:

It forced me to improve the app
It provides ongoing credibility
It separates you from the thousands of apps without the badge

If you're serious about building a Shopify app, Built for Shopify isn't optional - it's essential. The earlier you get it, the more you'll benefit from the compound effects of increased visibility and trust.

My Advice: Design for BFS from Day One

If I could do it over, I'd build with BFS requirements in mind from the start:

Use Shopify Polaris: Build your entire UI with Shopify's design system ↗ from the beginning. It's not just about looking good - it's about feeling native to the Shopify admin.
Implement Contextual Save Bar immediately: Don't wait for the BFS review to add this. Your merchants will appreciate it from day one.
Design settings pages to be visual and intuitive: Think beyond form fields. Use toggles, previews, and clear groupings.
Follow Shopify's design patterns religiously: Study the official BFS requirements ↗ and build to exceed them.
Plan to hit 50 merchants and 5 reviews ASAP: These aren't just numbers - they're validation that you're building something merchants want.

The badge isn't just about meeting requirements - it's about building an app that feels like it belongs in the Shopify ecosystem. And that's what merchants want.

This is part 3 of my series on building ezInvoices. Want to see the BFS badge in action? Check out ezInvoices on the Shopify App Store ↗.

Read the full series: