Editor's Note
On May 12, Shopify published a developer update about Shopify App Pricing, and Harley also called it out publicly because it touches a real pain point: merchants want pricing to be predictable and easy to understand.
This is not just a technical update.
It changes how merchants experience billing, and it changes how founders should think about pricing strategy going forward.
A lot of apps also use Mantle today for plans, billing UI, and upgrades, so I’ve included where Mantle fits in this new world and what changes (or doesn’t) if you use it.
Let’s get into it.
Shopify App Pricing
the next generation of app billing
Hello Founders,
Today’s issue is a founder-first breakdown of Shopify App Pricing and what it means for the ecosystem.
What we cover inside the full teardown:
What Shopify App Pricing actually is, and why Shopify is pushing it as the default moving forward
What changed with this announcement (usage-based billing, new subscription state and billing history APIs, and Billing API now being treated as legacy)
Why merchants should care (less confusion, fewer surprises, clearer breakdowns)
Why founders should care (less billing plumbing, more flexibility in packaging, fewer billing-related disputes)
Pricing strategy guidance:
when subscription is better
when usage billing makes sense
how to avoid bill shock
what meters to pick so merchants can predict costs
The gotchas founders will trip on (especially around usage events, monitoring, and subscription changes)
Where Mantle fits in the overall mix:
why many apps use Mantle for hosted billing pages and upgrade flows
what stays the same
when it makes sense to continue
when it makes sense to simplify and lean more into Shopify App Pricing
👉 Read the full issue here: Shopify App Pricing
App Founder Podcast update:
New Shopify App Founders Edition Podcast episode is live with Mat de Souza, founder of Wide Bundles:
Mat breaks down how he built and grew Wide Bundles, what worked, what didn’t, and the decisions that actually moved installs.
If you watch it, please support the episode:
like the video
subscribe to the channel
leave a thoughtful comment
Till next time,
Announcement : Starting a new segment Commerce Coffee Chats
A direct, unscripted, unedited, raw heart-to-heart conversation with app founders and agencies. If you want to be a part of this journey and be a thought leader in the ecosystem, then let’s connect. Only looking for 1 (2 slots filled) operators who want to co-create content and need accountability. Whatsapp for dm on linkedin.
Till next time,
Best- Yuvraj Kewate