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Shopify Admin API

The Shopify Admin API is the API apps and integrations use to read and write a store's back-office data: products, orders, customers, inventory, discounts, fulfilment and settings. It comes in two versions. The GraphQL Admin API is the current standard, and the REST Admin API is now legacy.

GraphQL vs REST Admin API

Shopify marks the REST Admin API as legacy. New public apps have had to use GraphQL since April 1, 2025, and new features ship to GraphQL first, often only to GraphQL. Existing private integrations on REST still run, but any new ERP, PIM or 3PL integration should be built on GraphQL. Shopify versions the API quarterly. The current stable version is 2026-10.

Shopify Admin API rate limits

The GraphQL Admin API limits by calculated query cost, not request count. Each field costs points, and a single query can cost at most 1,000 points. Restore rates by plan:

Standard Shopify: 100 points per second
Advanced Shopify: 200 points per second
Shopify Plus: 1,000 points per second
Shopify for enterprise (Commerce Components): 2,000 points per second

The legacy REST Admin API uses a leaky bucket of 40 requests per app per store, refilling at 2 requests per second. For large catalogue syncs, use bulk operations instead of paging through queries.

Admin API vs Storefront API

The Admin API is private and needs an access token with scopes, so it belongs on a server. The Storefront API is the public, customer-facing API used by headless storefronts. Most headless builds use both, plus webhooks to react to store events.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Shopify REST Admin API deprecated?

Shopify marks it as legacy. New public apps must use GraphQL since April 1, 2025, and new features ship to the GraphQL Admin API first.

What are the Shopify Admin API rate limits?

GraphQL restores 100 points per second on Standard, 200 on Advanced, 1,000 on Shopify Plus and 2,000 on Commerce Components. A single query can cost at most 1,000 points. REST allows 40 requests per app per store, refilling at 2 per second.

What is the difference between the Admin API and the Storefront API?

The Admin API manages back-office data and needs a private access token. The Storefront API is public and powers customer-facing headless storefronts.