Are you paying $50 a month for features that take 10 lines of code? You're not alone. Many Shopify merchants fall into the trap of installing an app for every minor feature, unaware that these "free" or "cheap" apps are silently killing their site speed and bleeding their budget.

As a Shopify Developer, the first thing I do during a speed audit is check the App List. Often, I find 20+ apps doing jobs that could be handled natively by the theme.

Here are 5 common apps you should delete immediately—and exactly how I can help you replace them with lightweight, one-time code.

1. "Scroll to Top" Button Apps

It's just an arrow that takes the user to the top of the page. Why does this need a monthly subscription and an external JavaScript file request? It doesn't.

The Developer Fix: I add a simple HTML button and 5 lines of JavaScript to your theme. It loads instantly, costs $0/month, and matches your brand perfectly.

2. Basic "Wishlist" Apps

Unless you need complex email marketing integration for your wishlist, paying valid money for a "Save for Later" feature is overkill. Many wishlist apps load heavy scripts that block your main thread.

The Developer Fix: Using Local Storage and Shopify's new AJAX API, I can build a "Favorites" list that lives right in the customer's browser. It's lightning fast and requires no third-party server.

3. "Trust Badge" Apps

You've seen them: the generic "Secure Checkout" images under the Add to Cart button. These apps often inject the image via JavaScript after the page loads, causing the content to jump around (Cumulative Layout Shift)—a big Google SEO penalty.

The Developer Fix: I simply code the trust badges directly into your `product-template.liquid` file. The image loads with the page, zero layout shift, zero monthly fee.

4. Simple "Cookie Consent" Banners

While compliance is vital (GDPR/CCPA), many banner apps are bloated monsters that delay your page load until the user clicks "Accept".

The Developer Fix: Shopify now has a native Customer Privacy API. I can style a custom banner that uses Shopify's built-in tools to handle consent legally and efficiently, without an extra app.

5. "Right Click Protection" Apps

These apps try to stop people from stealing your images by disabling right-click. **Spoiler Alert:** They don't work. Anyone can take a screenshot or inspect the code.

The Developer Fix: Delete it. It annoys legitimate users and doesn't stop thieves. If you really want it, it's 3 lines of CSS/JS code, not a monthly subscription.

The Math: Why Custom Code Wins

Let's do a quick calculation:

• Scroll App: $4/mo
• Wishlist App: $15/mo
• Trust Badge App: $8/mo
• Cookie App: $8/mo
• Protection App: $5/mo

Total: $40/month ($480/year) just for basic features, plus a slower website that loses sales.

My Solution: You pay me a one-time fee to implement these features natively. You own the code forever. No monthly fees. No speed penalties.