Ecommerce Ops Kit

Shopify Apps Optimization

App audit, performance impact analysis, conflict resolution, and app consolidation. Too many apps slow you down and cost money.

The Problem

App bloat is real. Too many apps cause:

Slow page load times
App conflicts breaking functionality
High monthly costs from unused apps
Security vulnerabilities from outdated apps
Complexity making troubleshooting impossible

You're paying for apps that hurt performance and don't add value.

How to Audit Your Apps

Run this audit quarterly. Create a spreadsheet with:

For Each App, Document:

App name and monthly cost
What it does (one sentence)
When it was last used
Performance impact (check Shopify's performance reports)
Alternative apps that could replace it
Can you build this functionality natively?

Red Flags to Remove:

Haven't used in 30+ days
High cost with low value
Significant performance impact
Overlapping functionality with other apps
Outdated or unsupported

Measuring App Performance Impact

Before Installing a New App

Measure your baseline performance first:

Run Google PageSpeed Insights
Check Core Web Vitals in Chrome DevTools
Note your current page load time
Install the app
Measure again and compare
If performance drops significantly, find an alternative

Identifying Problem Apps

Use Chrome DevTools to see which apps are slow:

Open Chrome DevTools → Network tab
Reload your store
Look for JavaScript files from apps
Check file sizes and load times
Apps with large JS files (>100KB) are likely culprits
Test by temporarily disabling apps one by one

Common App Conflicts

Multiple Discount Apps

Having 2+ discount/promo code apps often causes conflicts. Choose one comprehensive solution.

Review Apps Competing

Multiple review apps can conflict. Pick one (like Judge.me or Stamped.io) and stick with it.

Cart Drawer Modifications

Apps that modify the cart drawer often conflict. Use theme app extensions when possible.

Analytics Overload

Multiple analytics/tracking apps slow down pages. Consolidate to essential ones only.

Prevention Checklist

☐Quarterly app audit and review
☐Measure performance impact before installing new apps
☐Document what each app does and why you need it
☐Test app compatibility before installation
☐Keep apps updated to latest versions
☐Remove unused or redundant apps immediately

App Removal Process

Don't just uninstall. Do it safely:

1.Export any data you need from the app before uninstalling
2.Check if the app modified your theme (look for app blocks or code)
3.Remove app blocks from theme customizer
4.Uninstall the app from Shopify admin
5.Test your store thoroughly (checkout, product pages, cart)
6.Measure performance improvement

Quick Wins

Audit your apps (Do This First)

List all installed apps, their costs, and what they do. You'll find redundant apps you can remove immediately. Most stores can remove 20-30% of apps without losing functionality.

Measure performance impact

Use Shopify's performance tools and Chrome DevTools to see which apps slow down your store. Remove the worst offenders first. You'll see immediate improvements.

Consolidate functionality

Find apps that do multiple things well instead of installing separate apps for each feature. Fewer apps = faster store + lower costs.

Use native Shopify features

Before installing an app, check if Shopify has built-in functionality. Native features are faster, free, and don't require maintenance.