Shopify Requirements & Prerequisites

Before installing Commerce Apps, ensure your Shopify store meets these requirements.

Shopify Store Requirements

Shopify Plan

Any Shopify plan works:

• ✅ Shopify Basic
• ✅ Shopify (standard plan)
• ✅ Shopify Advanced
• ✅ Shopify Plus
• ✅ Shopify Partners (development stores)

No upgrade required - Most Commerce Apps features work on all plans.

Plan-Specific Features

Some advanced features depend on your Shopify plan:

Check specific app documentation for plan requirements.

Admin Access Requirements

Permissions Needed

You must have:

• Full admin access to your Shopify store
• Permission to install apps
• Ability to manage themes
• Access to settings

Shopify Staff Accounts

If you’re using staff accounts:

• Owner or full admin permission level
• Apps permission enabled
• Themes permission enabled

Collaborator Accounts

Limited collaborator accounts may not have sufficient permissions. Contact your store owner to:

• Grant app installation permission
• Provide theme management access

Theme Compatibility

Supported Themes

✅ Fully Compatible:

• All Online Store 2.0 themes (Dawn, Refresh, Sense, etc.)
• Modern Shopify themes from the Theme Store
• Custom Online Store 2.0 themes

⚠️ Limited Support:

• Vintage (pre-2.0) themes - Some features may require manual setup
• Heavily customized themes - May need developer assistance

❌ Not Compatible:

• Headless storefronts using Storefront API (coming soon)
• Non-Shopify platforms

Theme Requirements

For full functionality:

• Online Store 2.0 architecture (recommended)
• App embeds enabled in theme settings
• JavaScript enabled (standard for all modern themes)

Checking Your Theme Version

1. Go to Online Store → Themes in Shopify admin
2. Click the three dots (•••) on your active theme
3. Select Edit code
4. Look for sections/*.json files

If you see JSON section files, you have an Online Store 2.0 theme ✅

Technical Requirements

Browser Compatibility

Shopify admin and Commerce Apps work best with:

• ✅ Google Chrome (latest)
• ✅ Safari (latest)
• ✅ Firefox (latest)
• ✅ Edge (latest)

Mobile browsers:

• iOS Safari
• Android Chrome

JavaScript

• Must be enabled in browser
• Required for app functionality
• Standard for all Shopify stores

Cookies

• Browser cookies must be enabled
• Required for Shopify authentication
• Used for customer session management

Data Requirements

Customer Data

For rule-based apps like Rulebase:

Customer Tags:

• Set up customer segments using tags
• Examples: Wholesale, VIP, Retail
• Can be added manually or via CSV import

Customer Metafields (optional):

• Advanced targeting capabilities
• Requires Shopify plan with metafield support
• Can be managed via admin or API

Product Data

Product Tags:

• Tag products for easy targeting
• Examples: Wholesale, Premium, Clearance
• Consistent tagging recommended

Collections:

• Organize products into collections
• Used for bulk rule application
• Can be automated or manual

Payment Gateway Requirements

Supported Gateways

Most payment gateways work with Commerce Apps:

• ✅ Shopify Payments
• ✅ PayPal
• ✅ Stripe
• ✅ Third-party gateways (varies by app)

Payment Customizations

For apps that filter payment methods:

• Available on all Shopify plans
• Works with Shopify Payments and most third-party gateways
• Some gateways may have limitations

Regional Restrictions

Be aware of:

• Payment gateway availability by country
• Local payment method requirements
• Currency support limitations

App-Specific Requirements

Rulebase

Minimum Requirements:

• Shopify store (any plan)
• Admin access
• Online Store 2.0 theme (recommended)

Recommended Setup:

• Customer tags configured
• Products organized in collections
• Clear tagging strategy

View Rulebase Requirements →

Optional Enhancements

Recommended But Not Required

Customer Segmentation:

• Use Shopify’s customer segments feature
• Automate tagging with Shopify Flow
• Integrate with CRM systems

Product Organization:

• Smart collections for automatic categorization
• Consistent taxonomy across products
• Regular tag maintenance

Analytics:

• Google Analytics 4 integration
• Shopify analytics review
• Conversion tracking setup

Pre-Installation Checklist

Before installing any Commerce App:

• Verify you have admin access
• Check your Shopify plan
• Confirm theme compatibility (Online Store 2.0 recommended)
• Set up customer tags if needed
• Organize products with tags/collections
• Review payment gateway compatibility
• Back up theme (just in case)
• Note current store settings

Common Issues & Solutions

”Insufficient Permissions”

Problem: Can’t install the app

Solutions:

• Request owner/admin access from store owner
• Check staff account permissions
• Verify collaborator has app installation rights

”Theme Not Compatible”

Problem: App embed not available

Solutions:

• Upgrade to Online Store 2.0 theme
• Contact app support for vintage theme assistance
• Consider migrating to modern theme

”Payment Customization Unavailable”

Problem: Can’t filter payment methods

Solutions:

• Verify Shopify plan supports payment customizations (all plans)
• Check payment gateway compatibility
• Review app-specific requirements

”Customer Tags Not Working”

Problem: Rules not applying to customers

Solutions:

• Verify tags are correctly applied in Shopify admin
• Check tag spelling (case-sensitive)
• Ensure customer is logged in (for logged-in rules)
• Test with actual customer account, not preview mode

Regional Considerations

Country Availability

Commerce Apps work in all countries where Shopify operates:

• 175+ countries supported
• Multi-currency capabilities
• International payment methods

Language Support

• App admin interfaces in English
• Storefront works with all Shopify languages
• Customer-facing content uses store’s language

Compliance

Apps comply with:

• GDPR (Europe)
• CCPA (California)
• Privacy regulations worldwide
• PCI DSS for payment data

Migration Requirements

Moving from Another Platform

If migrating to Shopify:

1. Export Data:

   • Customer lists with tags
   • Product catalogs with metadata
   • Historical order data

2. Set Up Shopify:

   • Import customers (maintain tags)
   • Create products with matching tags
   • Configure payment gateways

3. Install Apps:

   • Set up Commerce Apps
   • Recreate rules/configurations
   • Test thoroughly before go-live

Switching from Other Apps

If replacing similar apps:

1. Document Current Setup:

   • Export rules/configurations if possible
   • Note customer segments and tags
   • List all current functionality

2. Plan Migration:

   • Map old rules to new app features
   • Identify feature gaps
   • Create migration timeline

3. Test in Parallel:

   • Run both apps temporarily if possible
   • Verify identical behavior
   • Switch over when confident

Next Steps

Once requirements are met:

1. View Integration Guide →
2. Explore Shopify Apps →
3. Get Support →

Questions about requirements? Contact support before installing.