Build an App Like Shein From Scratch: A Step-by-Step Guide!

An Overview: Shein Business Model & Facts

Check the Shein's business model:

Now, let's take a look at Shein facts & statistics:

3 Reasons to Invest in Shopping Apps Like Shein 

Investing in apps akin to Shein offers compelling opportunities, supported by the following reasons:

1. Rapid Growth of Fast Fashion Industry

The global fast fashion market was valued at over $106.42 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. By 2027, it is projected to reach approximately $184.96 billion.

Everyone loves to keep up with the latest trends in budget-friendly clothing. And that’s the reason people prefer fast fashion: it's trendy, affordable, and quickly available. 

Developing a successful shopping app like Shein offers an opportunity to target a wider audience. With the rise of digital shopping and social media influence, fast fashion apps have become entrepreneurs' go-to destinations. 

2. Consumer Preferences Towards Online Shopping

In 2024, online buyers worldwide reached 2.71 billion, reflecting a 2.7% annual increase, with projections of 2.77 billion by 2025. 

Consumers prefer online shopping for convenience, variety, and affordability. Of course, it offers easy access to a wide range of products, a competitive process, and the comfort to shop from anywhere. 

In the U.S., online shoppers numbered 259.06 million in 2023, expected to rise to nearly 301.87 million by 2026.

With the growing popularity of online shopping, building an eCommerce shopping app offers a lucrative opportunity. 

As consumer demands rise, businesses can tap into a vast global market offering – seamless transactions, personalized shopping, and AI-driven recommendations. 

This will help boost sales and foster customer loyalty – making it a smart investment in eCommerce app development. 

3. Increased Sales & Revenue Opportunities

Mobile commerce sales are projected to hit $2.51 trillion by 2025.

Tapping into this profitable market surely presents a lucrative opportunity for businesses to boost sales and revenue. 

The shopping app market is expanding rapidly, with global revenue expected to reach $53.40 billion by 2029.

As more people prefer online shopping, developing an app like Shein provides a direct channel for seamless and convenient shopping experiences.

With the right features and strategies, businesses can drive higher engagement, conversions, and long-term growth.

Read More: eCommerce App Development in 2025: Steps, Cost, Tech Stack

Key Features to Incorporate into Shopping App Like Shein

To build a shopping app similar to Shein, it’s essential to incorporate user-friendly features that enhance customer experience while ensuring smooth operations for admins and vendors. 

Below, we’ve listed must-have features to add to your online shopping app like Shein. Let’s learn:

1. Easy Onboarding

The onboarding process serves as the gateway to your shopping app, making it essential to keep it quick, seamless, and user-friendly.

A complicated onboarding process will drive 74% of potential customers away. Moreover, mobile app onboarding shouldn’t take more than 60 seconds.

Make sure to offer seamless and user-friendly onboarding with multiple sign-up options like social login (Facebook, Apple ID, and Google) and email registration. 

A guest checkout option can also enhance user convenience, allowing shoppers to explore and purchase without mandatory registration.

 A well-designed onboarding flow with minimal steps, clear instructions, and an intuitive interface ensures a positive first impression, encouraging users to stay and engage with the app.

2. Personalized Recommendation

Integrating a personalized recommendation feature into a shopping app significantly boosts user engagement and drives sales. 

Notably, 84% of online shoppers report that personalization influences purchasing decisions.

Using AI-driven recommendation engines, shopping apps can make relevant product recommendations by analyzing user behavior, previous purchases, and browsing patterns. 

Furthermore, personalized product recommendations can boost eCommerce conversion rates by up to 288%. Additionally, 80% of consumers are more likely to purchase from companies that offer tailored experiences.

These statistics underscore the critical role of personalized recommendations in enhancing user satisfaction and increasing revenue in shopping applications.

3. Wishlist & Favorites

Interestingly, 40% of shoppers believe their experience would improve if retailers offered a wishlist option. 

Implementing a wishlist feature that allows users to save products they’re interested in for future consideration. This leads to increased engagement and potential sales. 

Additionally, the wishlist provides retailers with valuable insights into product interest beyond immediate sales. This helps to reduce shopping cart abandonment and encourages future purchases. 

4. Multiple Payment Options

85% of consumers expect multiple payment methods at checkout. Offering a variety of payment methods caters to diverse customer preferences, enhancing convenience and reducing cart abandonment rates. 

Offering a variety of payment methods caters to diverse customer preferences, enhancing convenience and reducing cart abandonment rates. 

While specific statistics vary, providing multiple payment options is essential for a secure, reliable, and user-friendly payment experience optimized for conversion.

Monitoring payment method usage and customer feedback can help businesses promote the most popular options and phase out less-used ones. 

5. Order Tracking & Notifications

Providing real-time order tracking and timely notifications keeps customers informed about their purchases, enhancing trust and satisfaction. 

Implementing effective order-tracking solutions can boost customer satisfaction and loyalty, though specific statistics on the impact are not provided.

6. Live Chat Support

Integrating live chat support offers immediate assistance, resolving customer queries promptly and enhancing the shopping experience. 

While specific statistics on live chat support's impact are not provided, measuring customer satisfaction through post-chat surveys can help businesses improve their chat support services. 

7. Review and Rating System

Incorporating a review and rating system builds trust and influences purchasing decisions. 

A high online review score or rating is more important to 32.1% of B2C consumers than discounts (22.1%), loyalty points (6.5%), and free shipping (24.2%).

Additionally, 68% of consumers are willing to pay more for products and services from a brand that offers good customer service experiences.

8. In-App Chat Support

Providing real-time assistance within the app improves customer satisfaction and retention. 

79% of consumers prefer live chat because it offers instant responses, and businesses that use chat solutions see a 48% increase in revenue per chat hour.

AI-powered chatbots can handle common queries 24/7, reducing support costs while ensuring seamless shopping experiences. Integrating human-assisted chat for complex issues further boosts credibility and trust.

9. Engaging Push Notifications

Push notifications inform users about new arrivals, exclusive discounts, and abandoned cart reminders. 

Statistics show that push notifications can increase app engagement by 88%, and personalized notifications improve conversion rates by 4X.

Smart segmentation ensures users receive relevant updates based on their preferences, previous purchases, and browsing behavior—driving more sales.

10. AR-Based Virtual Try-On

Augmented Reality (AR) lets users visualize clothing, accessories, and cosmetics before purchasing, reducing return rates and improving customer satisfaction. 

71% of shoppers say they would shop more often if AR were available, and brands using AR see 40% fewer returns.

This feature enhances the online shopping experience by bridging the gap between digital and physical stores.

11. AI-Powered Visual Search

Allowing users to upload images and search for similar products improves discovery and convenience. 

62% of Gen Z and Millennials want visual search over traditional text-based searches.

By leveraging AI-powered image recognition, shopping apps can streamline product searches and enhance user experience.

12. Social Media Integration

Integrating social sharing options lets users showcase their favorite products, write reviews, and refer friends directly from the app. 

30% of online shoppers say they purchase products they discover on social media.

User-generated content and influencer collaborations further drive engagement and brand visibility.

13. Loyalty & Rewards Program

A well-structured loyalty program encourages repeat purchases. 83% of consumers say being part of a loyalty program influences their shopping decisions.

Offering cashback, exclusive discounts, and redeemable points keeps users engaged and returning for more.

14.Multi-Language & Currency Support

For global expansion, supporting multiple languages and currencies is essential. 

75% of shoppers prefer buying in their native language, and localized pricing boosts conversions by 30%.

This feature enhances accessibility and trust, making shopping seamless for international customers.

15. Subscription & Exclusive Memberships

A subscription model, like Amazon Prime or Shein VIP, gives users exclusive discounts, early access to sales, and free shipping. Subscription-based eCommerce has grown 3X faster than traditional retail.

Providing value-driven memberships can significantly boost revenue and customer retention.

16. Gamification

According to statistics, gamification can boost user activity by 47%. 

Incorporating game-like features such as spin-the-wheel discounts, daily check-in rewards, and referral bonuses increases engagement. 

Interactive elements encourage users to return, explore more, and make repeat purchases.

Step-by-Step Process to Build a Shopping App Like Shein

Following, we’ve listed a steps to develop an e-commerce platform like Shein. Let’s discuss:

Step 1: Market Research & Planning

Research shows that 72% of new mobile applications fail primarily due to inadequate market research.

Market research is a crucial component that will determine the success of your shopping app business. This involves comprehensive research that covers the following –

• Industry trends
• Understanding consumer behavior
• Identifying competitors
• Gathering & structuring information
• Performing SWOT analysis
• Researching competitors
• Pitching ideas & collecting feedback
• Understanding customer pain points and expectations
• Analyzing social media and online shopping behavior
• Researching legal and compliance requirements for eCommerce businesses

Once the research is complete, the planning phase begins, where you outline app objectives, key functionalities, monetization strategies, and the development timeline.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Business Model

According to CB Insights, around 42% of startups fail due to a lack of market need, often resulting from an ineffective business model. 

Choosing a suitable business model is crucial for your shopping business's long-term success and profitability. The business model will directly impact revenue generation, customer acquisition, and operational efficiency.

Shein operates on a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model, eliminating middlemen to offer trendy fashion at affordable prices. 

our shopping app can adopt a similar approach or explore other models such as a marketplace model (where multiple vendors sell their products), subscription-based shopping, or a hybrid model. 

The chosen business model should align with your target audience, revenue generation strategy, and supply chain capabilities. 

This step also includes determining logistics, return policies, supplier partnerships, and pricing strategies to differentiate your app from competitors.

Read More: How to Build a Shopping App Like Temu: A Detailed Guide!

Step 3: UI/UX Design & Prototyping

A recent study revealed that a well-designed UI can boost conversion rates by nearly 200%, while a seamless UX can drive an even greater increase of up to 400%.

First impression is important to attract and engage your customers. You must implement a visually appealing, accessible, and user-friendly interface. 

The UI/UX design process starts with wireframing, where your app’s structure and layout are mapped out. 

Shein’s success is largely driven by its smooth navigation, visually rich product displays, and AI-powered recommendations. Your design should prioritize a seamless shopping experience with intuitive menus, high-quality product images, an easy checkout, and engaging features like wishlists and flash sales.

Once the wireframes are approved, prototypes are created to test user interactions and make improvements based on feedback before moving to full-scale development.

Step 4: Tech Stack Selection

Choosing the right technology stack ensures your app is scalable, secure, and efficient. A shopping app like Shein requires a robust front-end and back-end architecture. Common technologies for development include:

• Front-end: React Native, Flutter, or Swift/Kotlin for platform-specific development.
• Back-end: Node.js, Python (Django), or Ruby on Rails for handling server-side logic.
• Database: MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or Firebase for data management.
• Payment Gateways: Stripe, PayPal, or Razorpay for seamless transactions.
• Cloud Storage & Hosting: AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure for reliability and scalability.
• AI/ML Integration: TensorFlow, OpenAI API, or Google AI for personalized recommendations and smart search features.

The tech stack should be selected based on your budget, project requirements, and future scalability needs.

Step 5: App Development Process

Once the planning and tech stack are finalized, the development process begins. This phase includes both front-end and back-end development. 

The front-end development focuses on building an interactive user interface, ensuring smooth navigation and responsiveness across devices. 

The back-end development involves setting up the database, server infrastructure, and APIs to support features like user authentication, product catalog management, and payment processing. 

Integrating AI-driven recommendation engines and real-time inventory tracking enhances the shopping experience. 

The development process follows an agile methodology, ensuring iterative improvements and quick adaptations to changing requirements.

Step 6: Testing & Quality Assurance

Before launching the app, rigorous testing is necessary to identify and fix bugs. This includes functional testing to ensure all features work as expected, usability testing to check for user-friendliness, performance testing to assess loading speeds, and security testing to safeguard user data. 

Various testing tools like Selenium, Appium, and JUnit can be used to automate and streamline this process. Beta testing is also conducted by releasing the app to a limited audience to gather real-world feedback and make refinements before the final launch.

Step 7: Deployment & Launch

Once testing is complete, the app is deployed on platforms like the App Store and Google Play. This involves complying with store guidelines, optimizing app descriptions, and preparing promotional materials. 

To generate hype, a strategic launch plan should include pre-launch marketing campaigns, social media promotions, and influencer collaborations. Post-launch, monitoring app performance, user feedback, and analytics is crucial for updating and improving. 

Regular feature enhancements, security patches, and personalized marketing strategies will help maintain user engagement and drive long-term success.

How Much Does It Cost to Create an App Like Shein?

The cost of developing an app like Shein depends on several factors, including the app's complexity, features, design, platform (iOS, Android, or both), and development team's location. 

On average, the cost can range from $5,000 to $250,000 or more, depending on the level of customization and advanced functionalities required.

Key Cost Factors Impacting the Development Cost of Shopping App Like Shein:

1. App Features & Complexity – Basic features like product catalogs, user authentication, and payment integration cost less, whereas advanced AI-powered recommendations, AR try-on, and real-time inventory tracking increase development expenses.
2. UI/UX Design – A high-end, visually appealing design with smooth navigation and animations requires more investment.
3. Technology Stack – The choice of programming languages, frameworks, and third-party integrations affects overall costs.
4. Development Team Location – Hiring developers from North America or Western Europe is more expensive ($100–$200/hr), while teams from Asia(India) offer more affordable rates ($20–$80/hr).
5. Backend Development & Infrastructure – A scalable and secure backend with cloud hosting (AWS, Google Cloud) and database management adds to the cost.
6. Testing & Maintenance – Ongoing app testing, bug fixes, and updates require continuous investment.

MVP Approach: A Cost-Effective App Development Solution

For an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), the cost can range between $5,000 and $100,000, while a feature-rich, scalable app can exceed $250,000. Partnering with an experienced development team ensures cost-effective solutions tailored to your business needs.

Monetization Strategies to Consider for Shopping App Like Shein

Now, let’s discuss the most important question: “How to make money from a shopping app like Shein?” 

Having solid monetization strategies can help you generate revenue effectively. Let’s get into details:

1. Commission-based Sales

A commission-based revenue model is one of the most effective income-generating techniques. 

Here, your shopping app acts as a marketplace, allowing third-party sellers or brands to list their products while paying a commission on each sale. 

Marketplaces such as Shein, Etsy, and Amazon implement this model. They implement commission rates varying on factors such as product category, promotional offer, or seller level.

For instance, depending on product type, Amazon charges sellers a commission ranging from 8% to 15% per sale. 

Apps can maximize profits by offering tiered compensation models. Commission rates fall as sales volume rises, encouraging more sellers to sign up. 

2.In-App Advertising

This is another powerful revenue stream for your shopping app. Here, brands and sellers promote their products through various ad formats.

Retail media advertising is expected to hit $141.7 billion by 2024, with major platforms like Shein, Amazon, and Walmart using it to drive sales.

Shopping apps can integrate multiple ad formats, including:

• Sponsored Listings – Sellers pay to feature their products at the top of search results, increasing visibility and conversions.
• Banner Ads & Pop-Ups – Display ads strategically placed within the app for brand promotions and deals.
• Video Ads – Engaging video content showcasing new arrivals, fashion trends, or exclusive discounts.
• Retargeting Ads – Personalized ads based on user behavior, encouraging them to complete purchases.

According to surveys, 72% of consumers prefer viewing ads relevant to their purchasing preferences, making AI-driven ad placements highly effective. 

Shopping applications can create a win-win strategy by offering ad space, boosting vendor visibility, and generating additional revenue.

3. Subscription Model

The subscription model is a lucrative revenue strategy for shopping apps. Here, your shopping app will offer exclusive perks to users in exchange for recurring fee. 

Leading platforms like Shein VIP, Amazon Prime, and Walmart+ successfully leverage this model to enhance customer loyalty and boost revenue. 

Common Subscription benefits include:

• Free or faster shipping
• Exclusive discounts and early access to sales
• Members-only products or collections
• Personalized shopping experiences

Shopping apps can serve various client categories and increase engagement and profitability by incorporating a tiered subscription model. 

4. Influencer & Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate and influencer marketing have emerged as key tactics for making money with shopping applications. Through reliable recommendations, it aids brands in boosting conversion, traffic, and visibility.  

Influencer Partnerships: Apps like Shein, Amazon, and Temu collaborate with fashion influencers to promote their latest collections through social media.

Affiliate Programs: Platforms offer commission-based incentives to bloggers, YouTubers, and content creators for every sale generated via their referral links.

With the global influencer marketing industry projected to reach $22.2 billion by 2025, shopping apps that integrate this strategy can significantly enhance their market presence and revenue.

5. Sponsorships

Sponsorships allow brands to feature their products prominently within the app, increasing visibility and sales. 

Shopping apps like Shein collaborate with influencers and brands for sponsored listings, exclusive collections, and homepage promotions. Sponsored product placements can drive up to 30% more conversions than organic listings.

By partnering with relevant brands, shopping apps generate additional revenue while offering users curated and trending products.

6. Freemium Model

A freemium model provides users with free access to essential features while offering premium benefits through a subscription or one-time payment. This can include early access to sales, free shipping, or exclusive discounts in shopping apps.

Research shows that freemium users are 5X more likely to convert into paying customers if the premium features add value. A tiered membership model, like Shein VIP, helps retain customers and boosts revenue.

Why Choose Apptunix to Build an App Like Shein?

Apptunix, a leading eCommerce app development company, is your ultimate partner in building a high-performing shopping app like Shein. 

Our top-tier eCommerce app developers, UI/UX designers, AI specialists, and business strategists will guide you through every stage of the development process—from ideation and planning to a fully functional, market-ready shopping app.

Here’s what we offer: 

1. Expertise in eCommerce & AI-powered solutions

Apptunix specializes in AI-driven eCommerce development, ensuring your app offers personalized shopping experiences just like Shein. 

Our team integrates AI-powered recommendation engines, dynamic pricing strategies, and predictive analytics to maximize user engagement and conversions.

2. Scalable & High-Performance Architecture

Handling millions of users and transactions requires a robust backend architecture. Apptunix develops scalable solutions using AWS, Google Cloud, and cutting-edge databases to ensure lightning-fast performance and zero downtime, even during peak shopping events.

3. Stunning UI/UX for Maximum Conversions

A visually appealing and seamless UI/UX can increase conversion rates by up to 400%. 

Apptunix designs intuitive, mobile-friendly interfaces with smooth navigation, interactive product displays, and a hassle-free checkout process—ensuring a premium shopping experience that keeps users returning.

4. End-to-End Development & Customization

Unlike generic solutions, Apptunix provides tailor-made shopping apps based on your unique business model. Whether you prefer a direct-to-consumer, marketplace, or subscription-based model, we develop custom features like:

• AI-driven product recommendations
• AR/VR virtual try-ons
• Multi-vendor marketplace integration
• Real-time inventory & order tracking
• Seamless payment gateway integrations

5. Cost-Effective & Faster Time-to-Market

With pre-built eCommerce modules and agile development methodologies, Apptunix ensures faster deployment without compromising quality. 

Our cost-effective development approach helps businesses launch their Shein-like shopping app without exceeding their budget.

6. Ongoing Support & Growth Strategy

Success doesn’t stop at launch. Apptunix offers 24/7 technical support, app maintenance, and marketing assistance to help scale your shopping app. Our data-driven insights help optimize performance, boost customer retention, and maximize revenue.

Shein’s success didn’t happen overnight—it’s built on cutting-edge technology, AI-driven personalization, and seamless user experience. If you want to create a shopping app that rivals Shein and dominates the fashion eCommerce industry, Apptunix is your perfect partner.

Let’s turn your vision into a reality—get in touch with us today!