Why Merchant-Owned Apps Are Retail’s Fastest-Growing Sales Channel
Retailer apps are outpacing websites in sales growth by offering smoother checkout experiences and better integration for consumer financing.
Curated by Financing Your Way from original reporting by PYMNTS. Summary is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed — see our editorial standards.
Mobile apps are no longer just for big-box retailers; they are becoming the primary driver for sales growth and customer retention. Recent data shows that merchant-owned apps outperform traditional websites in nearly every checkout category. For business owners, this means your mobile app is now your most important storefront. It is where you can best control the customer experience and reduce friction at the point of sale. The research highlights that apps excel at streamlining the checkout process. This is particularly important for consumer financing. Integrating 'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL) or revolving credit options directly into your app allows customers to see their buying power instantly. Features like saved payment methods and one-click financing applications are much more effective on mobile than on desktop. If your business relies on high-ticket items, an app serves as a permanent bridge to your customer. You can send push notifications about financing promotions or low monthly payment offers directly to their pockets. Merchants who ignore the shift toward app-based shopping risk losing customers to competitors who offer a more seamless, integrated mobile financing journey. Focus on making your app the central hub for loyalty rewards and flexible payment options.
Source: PYMNTS
Related coverage from across the industry
- Where platforms are losing (and winning) merchants: Inside switching triggersPayments Dive · Oct 12, 2026Read our summary →
- How brands can capitalize on post-Fall Prime Day momentumModern Retail · Oct 10, 2026Read our summary →
- CFOs Risk Losing Control of Working Capital One Sales Contract at a TimePYMNTS · Oct 8, 2026Read our summary →
- 5 Ways Missing Payment Options Send Shoppers ElsewherePYMNTS · Oct 7, 2026Read our summary →
- At Home gives its customers a voice in its loyalty program evolutionRetail Dive · Sep 23, 2026Read our summary →
- Gen Z Hands Merchants a Checkout UltimatumPYMNTS · Sep 23, 2026Read our summary →
