Today’s consumers are making purchases on the go, and researching across multiple screens – but mobile phone is still the most preferred device in their shopping journey: The number of mobile transactions continues to grow, while desktop usage declines.
Worldwide m-commerce sales total $2.07 trillion, making up 57% of all eCommerce sales worldwide – Statista
As shoppers are moving from desktop to mobile, it requires a mobile first approach to influence their buying decisions. For online retailers with ecommerce apps, the shift from website to app is a major trend among their customers.
With more consumers turning to their smartphones to shop anywhere, businesses of all sizes are improving their on-the-go experience with ecommerce apps. Let’s take a look at some examples of the most successful shopping apps that dominate their share of mobile commerce in 2025!
Ecommerce apps are revolutionizing the way people shop, blending convenience with tailored experiences to meet the demands of mobile-first consumers. With 72% of American adults using smartphones for in-store price comparisons, apps are no longer optional but essential for brands aiming to stay competitive.
The global increase in smartphone mobile network subscriptions from 3.57 billion in 2016 to a projected 7.74 billion by 2028 (by Statista)
Key Trends Driving the Rise of E-commerce Apps:
Enhanced User Experience: Built specifically for mobile screens, mobile apps for eCommerce offer smoother navigation and a more seamless shopping experience than mobile-optimized websites.
Push Notifications: Ecommerce apps drive customer engagement with timely alerts for exclusive offers or order updates, though balance is key as 74% of users dislike spammy notifications.
AR Integration: eCommerce Apps incorporating features like virtual fitting rooms, as seen with Allbirds, create immersive shopping experiences and reduce return rates by up to 5%.
Voice Search Adoption: By 2025, voice commerce is expected to grow to $164 billion, indicating a shift toward hands-free shopping experiences.
Rise of Mobile eCommerce store Apps: Retail apps are now preferred over websites for many consumers; ASOS reports that most of its sales come through its mobile app.
Personalization Through Zero-Party Data: Brands are increasingly using zero-party data to personalize offerings, with quizzes boosting average order values significantly.
7 Best eCommerce mobile apps examples for your Inspiration
1. Sephora
Sephora is the international cosmetics and beauty retailer with around 1,750 retail stores across 30 countries. The brand has built on tremendous success with their digital makeover, where the Sephora eCommerce app play the key role as a mobile tactic. Within the app, the beauty retailer has launched several new digital experiences that benefit their customers.
Sephora – eCommerce mobile app that inspires in 2025
Feature highlights:
Sephora eCommerce mobile app has more than 2 millions downloads and heavily features in-store digital experience: integrated loyalty card and gift card, product scan for rating and reviews, personalized alerts about offers available in store,.. The apps for eCommerce even allows app users to virtually try on different make up products from their mobile device with Sephora Virtual Artist. The augmented reality feature has driven more than 8.5 million visits and 200 millions shades of lips, lashes, foundation and more – tried on by Sephora customers.
ASOS is the UK-based global fashion retailer offering more than 85000 products online through mobile experiences. With more than 80% UK traffic comes from mobile devices, the brand has invested a large portion of its resources on ASOS mobile app to deliver 850+ brands at their customers’ finger tips. The eCommerce app have more than 10 millions downloads – with consumers spending 80 minutes per month on average in app.
ASOS ecommerce mobile app
Feature highlights:
With the implementation of Asos’ “Style Match” visual search tool, in-app sales is expected to grow by 30%- 35%. The key mobile app feature is incredible useful for shoppers to quickly find similar items to any desired outfit. They can do it by simply take or upload a reference photo, the style match will show the closet results among the brand’ stock of 85,000 items. By analysing the colour, pattern, texture from the image, the tool has been working really well to make convincing recommendations to their users.
Boxed is an American online wholesale retailer that offers direct delivery of groceries and household products in bulk. The brand provides an easy to use eCommerce mobile app that allows customers to shop wholesale products on-the-go and without paying wholesale club membership fees. App users can enjoy the convenience of bulk shopping from their mobile devices.
Boxed is a good e-commerce application example
Feature highlights:
Boxed eCommerce app also created curated shopping lists and ideas for specific occasions like vacation, party,.. to save time for app users in planning for what they’ll need to bring or serve. These lists are completely configurable so users can easily customize their own list by deleting existing terms that don’t apply or add new terms that are relevant to them.
Based on past purchases, the mobile ecommerce app applies machine learning to predict when their customers run low on a product. Its SMART Stockup will then send a reminder so they can easily re-order the products. To make shopping even more rewarding, Boxed app lets customers hunt for deals and offers in the Stuff on Sale section.
Warby Parker, a trailblazing American retailer, has revolutionized how people shop for prescription glasses and sunglasses. Starting as an online-only business, the brand introduced a unique “home try-on” model, letting customers order several pairs of glasses to test for free before making a purchase. This risk-free shopping experience, which allowed customers to try on products in the comfort of their homes, quickly captured attention. Within 48 hours of launching its website, Warby Parker had a waitlist of 20,000 eager customers.
Building on its online success, the company expanded into mobile commerce with an award-winning iOS app, now considered one of the best mobile commerce apps in the market. Warby Parker’s approach serves as a standout e-commerce application example, showcasing how innovative technology and customer-centric solutions drive growth in today’s competitive landscape.
Glasses by Warby Parker eCommerce mobile apps
Feature highlights:
Warby Parker app for eCommerce store was featured in the Apple Store immediately after launch. The app is named one of Apple’s 10 best apps of 2016 and have over 500 five-star reviews. Its digital try-on offers a fun and convenient experience for app users. With Warby Parker app, customers can try to place a virtual glass style on their photos to see how it looks on them.
Nike’s digital transformation is driven by the evolving customer behaviors and preferences. The brand took a step to remove friction and personalize experiences through the intersection of digital and physical environments. With the aim to blend physical shopping and smartphone technology into one, the sportwear giant introduced its Nike app – as a part of their customer-focused digital strategy.
Nike e-Commerce app
Feature highlights:
Nike eCommerce app aims at enhancing the customer experience in several ways. It enables customers to check any item’s in store availability, allowing for same-day reservations. After a reservation is made, a push message will be sent to notify customers when their items are ready to be picked up. NikePlus members can access special Nike products, exclusive discounts, and partner rewards for their in-app shopping. Its barcode scanner allows users to quickly and easily check product details, discover available options, and see real-time inventory online and in-store.
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, the US’s largest fabric and craft retailer with locations in 49 states, was founded in 1943 as a single retail store. Today, Jo-Ann is running 850 stores providing fabrics and craft supplies across the country. In summer 2017, the digital-influenced business rolled out its JOANN app to enhance the omnichannel experience for customers.
JOANN eCommerce application
Feature highlights:
With the app, JOANN Fabrics customers can shop for supplies, find project ideas and take advantage of mobile coupon offers. The app makes it easy for their customers to browse weekly sales, get personalized deals, custom shopping lists,.. JOANN app is described as the industry-first tool that enable users to publish their own projects with photos, videos and even music. In this way, they can confidently share their finished projects with friends, family and one another. By creating a unique connection with their customers, the app has millions of active users, and downloads continue to increase at a rapid pace.
The American ecommerce company offers a selection of more than 10 million items across home furnishings, décor, home improvement, housewares and more. As one of the world’s largest online destination for home goods, Wayfair continually developing innovative technology features within its mobile app that completely transform the way people shop for their homes.
Wayfair mobile e-Commerce app
Feature highlights:
Leveraged by augmented reality technology, the app is capable of virtually turning every home into a furniture showroom. The “View in Room 3D” feature makes shopping from home not just quick and easy – but incredibly inspiring. With the ability to arrange virtual life-size products in their own space, home shoppers can visualize furniture and decor in the real home with a mobile device. As a result, the eCommerce app enables users to make online purchases with the confidence that they will look great and fit in their space. The innovative feature has played a critical part in the online shopping experience for millions of Wayfair app users.
Some popular software options for ecommerce include:
Shopify: Easy-to-use platform with powerful features and extensive integrations
WooCommerce: WordPress plugin ideal for content-rich websites
BigCommerce: Scalable for larger stores with advanced SEO tools
Magento: Feature-rich but requires technical expertise (best for large enterprises)
Squarespace: Great for small businesses prioritizing design
Wix eCommerce: Simplified drag-and-drop builder for beginners
How do I create an ecommerce mobile app?
Steps to create a mobile app for ecommerce:
Choose a Platform: Use app builders (e.g., Flutter, React Native) or app development platforms like BuildFire, Appy Pie,…
Design UI/UX: Ensure the app is visually appealing, responsive, and user-friendly.
Integrate Backend: Connect to your ecommerce backend (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce).
Add Features: Include search, secure payments, push notifications, and tracking.
Test and Deploy: Test the app for bugs and publish it on iOS and Android app stores.
Can I create mobile app using Shopify?
Yes! Shopify allows you to create mobile apps in several ways:
Shopify Mobile SDK: Build custom apps by integrating Shopify APIs with tools like React Native.
Third-Party Tools: Use platforms like Tapcart or Vajro to quickly convert your Shopify store into a mobile app.
Shopify App Builder Apps: Apps like Plobal, MageNative, orSimicart no-code app builder directly through Shopify.
It’s your turn
According to Criteo‘s Global Commerce Review, in-app transactions grow 22% year over year. In most world regions, mobile now accounts for more than 50% of online transactions, and in-app sales dominate. The rise of app adoption comes down to the superior experience it offers. Mobile-first interface, fast loading, secured checkout and easy access from the home screen are among the reasons why shoppers prefer mobile apps.
