Build an Online Shopping App Like Shein

January 3, 2025

Proliferating shopping channels affect customers’ behavior, developing a more diffused shopping experience. Mobile applications are at the center of this diffusion. Their ubiquity has opened umpteen opportunities for retailers, business enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs to market to and engage with customers.

While mobile has become a formidable commercial medium, shopping apps like Shein are an impetus for executing today’s business vision, triggering loyalty in an omnichannel context.

Shein reported annual revenue of $58.5bn (£48.6bn) in 2025. A China-based company launched the business and is now leading shopaholics’ minds. The prominent online shopping application for clothes has outsold popularity across Android and iOS platforms.

Let the app you own, like Shein, rise the charts in the app stores!

This post provides the ultimate guide to developing an app like Shein, delineating the features, benefits, and significance of owning such an app. Let’s dive in.

Top-notch Features of An Online Shopping App like Shein

Simply copying a top shopping app won’t guarantee success. To truly stand out, your app needs something fresh and unique. Focus on the right features to make your app lead rather than just adding to the clone parade. Inspired by Shein, here’s a list of essential features you should consider incorporating into your online shopping app.

• User-Friendly Interface

The app must feature a user-friendly interface, helping users navigate and browse products hassle-free.

• Product Catalog

Whether sellers or customers, the app features uploading and displaying high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and filtering options.

• User Profiles

This lets customers track orders, save favorites, and customize their shopping experience.

• Customer Support

Chatbot app development company integrates 24/7 support via bots, email, or phone for flawless communication.

• Secure Payment Options

The shopping portals must provide secure payment options, such as digital wallets, net banking, and COD.

• Shopping Cart

Customers can add, edit, and remove items with an easy checkout. Providing this option enhances CX.

• Reviews & Ratings

The app allows users to review and rate their shopping experience, impacting the brand’s reputation.

• Wishlist

Shopping apps boost customer engagement. Users who save products for later purchase often return to buy them.

• Push Notifications

Developing shopping apps like Shein features push notifications on priority so businesses share real-time updates on offers, discounts, and order status.

• Social Media Integration

The app’s sign-up process is easy. It enables businesses to register and users to log in via social media.

Advanced Features for an Online Shopping App

Here are some essential advanced features to enhance your shopping app:

• Recommendations

An AI app development company builds apps that suggest products based on user preferences, such as new items for users’ wishlists or personalized suggestions.

• Wishlist

 The app allows customers to save items they want to buy later, creating a personalized shopping experience.

• AR/VR Integration

Let users virtually try on clothes or makeup, offering an in-store experience from the comfort of their homes. A digital closet app development company integrates AR/VR facets for a better experience.

• iBeacon

iBeacons allow shopping retailers to target customers with personalized marketing based on their interests and habits. It helps businesses create more relevant campaigns, boosting conversion rates.

• Location Tracking

Shopping apps help users find nearby stores and track their deliveries from the warehouse to their doorstep.

• Chatbot

Chatbot app development experts provide real-time customer support through bots, answering queries and resolving issues without human intervention.

• Loyalty Programs  

Businesses use digital channels to reward customers with points for discounts. The app lets users track their points and learn about available rewards.

• Barcode Scanning

The app allows users to scan products in stores for more detailed information directly from the app.

• Abandoned Cart Recovery

This tech-driven feature enables users to easily recover their abandoned carts and continue shopping where they left off.

On-Demand Business Model of Shein

On-demand app development for Shein replica offers more choices, affordable prices, and less waste. Unlike traditional models, Shein’s on-demand system meets customer needs more accurately and efficiently.

The app uses a digital supply chain to match demand with supply. The brand launches new products in small batches of 100-200 items. Customer feedback helps it restock popular items, minimizing overproduction and waste and lowering customer prices.

Shein reacts quickly to customer preferences by measuring demand signals from app and website interactions. These insights guide product design, ensuring we make what customers want.

Its digital supply chain provides real-time demand and inventory data. Initially, small batches are ordered, and prices are kept low while quickly adjusting to demand changes or trends.

Shein has reimagined the supply chain to support small and medium-sized businesses. Suppliers get real-time insights to meet customer needs and grow with us. It builds long-term relationships with global partners, helping them improve working conditions.

Develop An App Like Shein: An Ultimate Guide

For a long time, high costs and lengthy development times discouraged people from creating their apps. Building an app from scratch requires months of work by skilled professionals or agencies. However, app development experts are proficient in saving time and money with a no-code platform, allowing businesses like yours to get an app like Shein easily. There are whitelabel app development companies that provide relevant solutions promptly. Read on the steps to develop an app like Shein-

• Market Research & Competitor Analysis

Before starting development, research the market and analyze competitors. Identify your target audience and understand what makes your app unique: personality recommendations, a large product catalog, or a niche focus.

• Defining Your App’s Unique App’sng Point (USP)

Developing an app like Shein is no easy feat, as the original app is already winning the market. To stand out in the competitive fashion app market, identify what sets your app apart, such as personalized features, a seamless experience, or exclusive collaborations.

• Wireframing and Prototyping

Create wireframes and prototypes to visualize your app’s functionality before eCommerce app development. These tools help in planning the design and user experience. Be cognizant of what your outcomes could be like so you get a result-oriented app.

• Designing the User Interface (UI)

Effective UI design is crucial for user retention. Focus on aesthetics, navigation, and responsive layouts, especially for product displays and ease of use. Hiring professional app developers is helpful as they ensure maintaining high’s high usability.

• Implementing Features & Functionality

To make your app functional and compelling, include key features such as a product catalog, advanced search filters, secure payments, etc. The app’s backend manages data, user authentication, and server operations. Choose a wise app development company to ensure data safety.

• Testing & Ensuring Quality

Conduct thorough functional, usability, performance, and security testing to ensure a seamless, bug-free experience. Testing experts analyze the app’s operations so everything works flawlessly from pre-launch to post-launch.

• Deploying & Launching the App  

Once ready, submit your app to app stores and implement effective marketing strategies to reach your target audience. If necessary, seek professional assistance to share and approve your app on app stores. This will save you time and effort.

• Maintenance & Updates

The app continuously improves based on user feedback through in-app surveys and analytics to ensure ongoing relevance and user engagement. Many shopping app development companies provide post-launch support.

Development Cost of Shein-like App

Developing a Shein-like app relies on the features, design, platform, backend, etc.—the more sophisticated the app, the higher the cost. Several key factors impact development costs. Here’s a breakdown:

• Feature Set

Shein’s app offers personalized recommendations, social sharing, secure payments, order tracking, and smooth navigation. However, more features increase development costs.

• Design & UI/UX

Shein’s sleek design and easy interface are key to its success. A polished design boosts user experience but also adds to the price tag.

• Platform Compatibility

Shein’s app works on Android and iOS. A cross-platform app cuts costs by reaching both platforms at once. Hiring iOS and Android app developers is helpful to get the app quickly.

• Backend Infrastructure

A strong backend is required to manage inventory, process orders, and run AI algorithms for recommendations, which adds complexity and cost.

• Third-party Integrations

Payment gateways, social media, and logistics services make the app function smoothly and can drive up costs.

• Security & Compliance

Data protection, privacy laws (like GDPR), and cybersecurity measures are essential but also increase development expenses.

Embrace Your Shopping App as The Fashion Statement: 5 Benefits

Get benefits with Shein, like app development, and enter the eCommerce market. Here’s what they are-

• Fashion is Always in Demand

With constantly changing trends, there’s a strong market for fashion apps that keep users updated with the latest collections. This makes developing a fashion app a smart move.

• Revenue Generation

E-commerce apps like Shein offer multiple ways to generate revenue. Selecting effective monetization strategies helps you turn your app into a profitable venture and the investment you made in building it.

• User Engagement

An app creates better user engagement than a website. With features that attract and retain users, an app helps you gather valuable data on their preferences, leading to increased traffic and higher engagement.

• Business Expansion

A mobile app helps expand your business by reaching a broader audience. It directly connects with potential customers, making growing your brand in untapped regions easier.

• Increased Visibility

Apps are always visible on users’ smartphones, so they stay top-of-mind. Because smartphone usage is high, your app will stand out and keep your brand in front of users longer than other marketing channels.

• Better Personalization

Apps allow for more personalized experiences, catering to users’ specific needs. This helps build customer loyalty and engagement, improve marketing strategies, and give you deeper insights into your customer base.

Summing Up!

Building an app like Shein is a powerful way to tap the fashion industry. It begins with understanding your target audience and consistently delivering value. With the right eCommerce app development company, you can unlock new opportunities for your business vision and stay ahead of the curve.

Ready to Embrace Shein-like App Development to Launch Your Business Promptly? Reach Us Now!

Our app development geeks have helped shopping businesses of all sizes streamline their operations and amplify their revenue graph. Contact us today to learn more.