Whether you’re choosing your first Shopify theme or are in the market for a new one, there’s no question it can be an overwhelming process. With so many themes out there—both by Shopify and third-party developers—how do you know which will serve your business the best?
Today, we’re sharing what you need to know when hunting for your next Shopify theme, a roundup of the best Shopify themes, and more.
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Choosing a theme for your Shopify store is a big decision. It’s the basis on which you’ll build your entire online shopping experience.
You want to choose a theme that’ll set you up for success and grow with you—not one you’ll need to swap out in a few months due to a lack of support or features.
There are a ton of Shopify themes out there, and it can be overwhelming to determine which is right for you.
But we’ve done the research for you!
Below is a list of the most important factors to consider when choosing a Shopify theme:
Your checkout should be a top priority when searching for the right theme.
Selecting a theme with an intuitive, clear, and fast checkout not only makes for a better customer experience but can lead to more conversions.
In fact, an optimized checkout experience can lead to a whopping 35.26% increase in conversion rate—or $260 billion worth of lost orders.
The native Shopify checkout experience has become a sort of ecommerce standard over the years. If you choose a theme from a third-party developer, be sure to confirm the checkout experience is easy to customize and use and has reliable customer service.
With only a few seconds to make a lasting impression, you want to do everything you can to keep eyes on your site.
Even just a 0.1 second improvement in site speed can drastically increase your conversion rate. In other words, if your site is faster, more customers will reach checkout and convert.
However, the tricky thing about themes is that the more you add to one (be it widgets, images, etc.) the slower it can get unless optimized.
A common way to combat slow site speed without compromising on conversion-driving visuals is with lazy loading. Lazy loading is when images load fully only when a customer scrolls down and can see it.
Instead of every image on a page (including those above and below the fold) loading at once whenever a site visitor lands on that page, the images load staggered, which speeds up the experience.
Although it’s fairly easy to enable lazy loading on your Shopify store, it’s best to opt for a Shopify theme that lends itself to being fast and performant from the get-go.
Make sure you optimize those Shopify images!
Not all themes allow you to customize your store the way you envision. Some themes are more restrictive than others, especially free vs. paid in some cases.
Make sure to choose a theme that allows you to create the online store vision you want for your brand—like changing theme fonts, colors, images, and layouts.
Shopify Liquid, Shopify’s codebase, allows you to take your theme customization to the next level. However, that requires developer support and might not be the right approach to customization for all brands.
Alternatively, page builder tools like Shogun can help you customize your Shopify store beyond the limits of a theme (both paid and free!). With drag-and-drop functionality, pre-built page templates, and reusable custom code Snippets, you can ship faster without compromising on your brand's Shopify store vision.
Some themes are better suited for different verticals based on the features they have.
For example, if you’re a clothing brand and need a color swatch toggle on a product page or a blog, make sure your theme accommodates that functionality. Most themes support mobile optimization, but it doesn’t hurt to double-check that the theme you’re interested in also does.
On each theme listing in Shopify’s theme store, you’ll see a section that calls out important theme features, like if you have a brick-and-mortar store or rely on visuals to tell your brand story.
Not all themes can handle the same catalog size.
Some can accommodate smaller SKU numbers, while others are made for brands with larger inventories.
In the Shopify theme store, you can filter by catalog size in your search, which makes it easy to browse themes you know will work for your inventory.
Why does this matter? Themes that work for larger product catalogs may display products differently to accommodate a bigger number, and vice versa for smaller catalogs (yes, even one product stores!).
If you aren’t sure what might work for your store, it’s best to explore several themes and see how those products are displayed and what customization options are available.
If your brand is stepping into international waters, it’s important to have the language tools necessary to create a great experience for those audiences.
Even if your brand isn’t international now, but you want to get to that point eventually, you may want to consider this aspect before committing to a theme.
You can easily find themes that support language translations via the “EU translations” filter in the Shopify theme store.
Several themes in Shopify’s theme store are developed by third parties. So, how do those differ from the themes built by Shopify’s developers?
Put simply, native Shopify themes are those developed by Shopify. When you navigate to a theme page, you’ll see the name of the theme and “by Shopify” below, which indicates it’s a Shopify-created theme.
If the byline lists a different name, like Maestrooo or Clean Canvas, those are themes created by third parties.
Third-party themes are compatible with Online Store 2.0 and have varying features and price points.
But not every theme makes it into the theme store. Developers must meet a lengthy list of requirements for each theme they submit to be admitted—from theme store exclusivity to support requirements.
But that’s what makes Shopify-approved themes top-tier.
So, which is best—a Shopify-built theme or a third-party theme?
Themes from reputable third-party Shopify developers can be great, but you should do your homework before buying one. A quick Reddit search brings up several threads of merchants working with third-party theme developers sharing stressful experiences.
Because Shopify’s support team can only help so much with a third-party theme, choosing a theme from a trusted Shopify partner is critical.
Partners like Maestrooo, Archetype Themes, and Clean Canvas are leaders in the third-party Shopify theme development space. You can also check out Shopify’s list of custom theme experts to fuel your search.
Here are a few questions to consider as you research third-party Shopify theme developers:
From a support and growth perspective, it makes sense for a lot of brands to stay within the native Shopify theme ecosystem.
That said, there are several reliable Shopify developers out there that build stunning themes (some of which we include in this roundup).
If you find a theme from a trusted third-party developer with excellent support, update rollout protection, and features to fit your business needs, we say go for it!
Plus, you can always use a page builder tool like Shogun to take your theme—Shopify or third-party—further.
There are so many Shopify themes to choose from, so we’ve round up the best picks on the market.
Below are 12 free Shopify themes that will inspire you to start building.
The Dawn theme is a Shopify theme classic and for a good reason.
Its minimalist design allows your brand to shine. Plus, advanced customization options and features like quick view, mega-menu, and sticky header make it ideal for various brands.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, beauty, jewelry
Pricing: Free
Ride is a free ecommerce website template from Shopify designed for the sports industry. It has a sleek, sports-centric design and features a darker vibe and bold typography.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel
Pricing: Free
Build a strong brand identity with bold titles and a balanced color scheme that highlights your products and brand with Refresh.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, beauty, jewelry, food and beverage
Pricing: Free
Sense is a clean, minimally-designed theme packed with features to help merchants create an engaging shopping experience.
Sense has a wide range of customizable options and features including header image options, customizable page layouts, a live search bar, advanced navigation, and more.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, beauty, jewelry
Pricing: Free
For ecommerce brands looking for an easy way to stand out, consider the Origin theme. Packed with images and big, bold fonts, Origin will help you convey quality and your brand ethos.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, beauty, jewelry, home goods
Pricing: Free
Studio is a light, elegant theme perfect for artistic brands looking to stand out.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, jewelry, home goods
Pricing: Free
For vivacious brands looking for an equally eye-catching Shopify theme, look no further than Crave.
This bold, balanced theme features fun colors and shadows to create a can’t-look-away ecommerce experience.
Highlights:
Best for: Food and beverage, jewelry
Pricing: Free
For Shopify merchants with specialty products, look no further than the Taste theme. This clean, bright theme is perfect for brands looking to make an instant impression.
Highlights:
Best for: Food and beverage, jewelry, home goods, beauty
Pricing: Free
Another great theme for brands with specialty products, the Craft theme blends elegance and craftsmanship.
Highlights:
Best for: Jewelry, home goods
Pricing: Free
For the innovators out there, Publisher is an excellent theme choice with its moody design and streamlined navigation.
Highlights:
Best for: Jewelry, home goods, apparel, beauty
Pricing: Free
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The Colorblock theme from Shopify is a modern and minimalistic template that meets the needs of any online store.
Highlights:
Best for: Jewelry, home goods, apparel, beauty, food and beverage
Pricing: Free
Spotlight is a modern, professional theme from Shopify’s theme store. With its modern design, it’s perfect for any online store looking to make a powerful statement.
Highlights:
Best for: Jewelry, home goods, apparel, beauty, food and beverage
Pricing: Free
Here’s a collection of the most impactful, stunning paid themes from reputable third-party Shopify developers.
Impulse is a modern and stylish Shopify theme designed to help ecommerce businesses create an impressive store.
Highlights:
Best for: Jewelry, home goods, apparel, beauty, food and beverage
Pricing: $350 USD
The Prestige theme is a sleek, modern theme designed to provide a sophisticated online shopping experience. This theme comes in three styles: Allure, Couture, and Vogue.
Styles: Allure, Couture, and Vogue
Highlights:
Best for: Jewelry, home goods, apparel, beauty,
Pricing: $350 USD
Make a—dare we say—impact with the Impact theme created by Maestrooo.
Styles: Sound, Home, and Shape.
Highlights:
Best for: Jewelry, home goods, apparel, beauty, food and beverage
Pricing: $350 USD
Symmetry is a minimal, modern Shopify theme designed to help businesses create beautiful online stores.
Styles: Salt Yard, Beatnik, Chantilly, and Duke.
Highlights:
Best for: Jewelry, home goods, apparel
Pricing: $320 USD
The Warehouse theme is the perfect choice for any ecommerce store looking to make a bold statement.
Styles: Wood, Fabric, and Metal.
Highlights:
Best for: Home goods, apparel
Pricing: $320 USD
Be Yours is a contemporary and minimal Shopify theme designed to help small businesses create a modern online store.
Styles: Sweet, Peace, Dark, Beauty, and Trendy.
Highlights:
Best for: Home goods, apparel, jewelry, beauty, food and beverage
Pricing: $280 USD
Pipeline is a modern, minimalist Shopify theme designed to help merchants create a unique online store.
Styles: Bright, Dark, Light, and Clean.
Highlights:
Best for: Home goods, apparel, jewelry, beauty, food and beverage
Pricing: $320 USD
Stiletto is a modern theme designed to bring out the best in your brand.
Styles: Chic, Vogue, Organic, and Craft.
Highlights:
Best for: Home goods, apparel, jewelry, beauty, food and beverage
Pricing: $300 USD
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Focal is a modern, clean, and responsive Shopify theme designed to boost your conversion rate.
Styles: Carbon, Ivory, Quartz, and Sapphire.
Highlights:
Best for: Home goods, apparel, jewelry, beauty
Pricing: $320 USD
Palo Alto is a stylish and modern Shopify theme created to help ecomm brands stand out and attract customers.
Styles: Palo Alto, Stanford, and Vibrant.
Highlights:
Best for: Home goods, apparel, jewelry, beauty
Pricing: $300 USD
The Expanse theme from Shopify’s theme store is a modern, bright theme designed to help businesses create an impactful online shopping experience.
Styles: Classic, Modern, and Contemporary.
Highlights:
Best for: Home goods, apparel, jewelry, beauty, food and beverage
Pricing: $350 USD
Broadcast is a modern, multi-purpose theme.
Styles: Modern, Clean, Bold, and Bright.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, jewelry, beauty
Pricing: $300 USD
Showcase is a sleek and modern theme designed to give an elegant look to any store.
Styles: Native, Betty, Beard, Luna, and Mila.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, jewelry, beauty
Pricing: $300 USD
The Reformation theme is a sleek, modern ecommerce theme designed to help store owners create a beautiful and engaging shopping experience.
Styles: Default, Sunshine, Mono, Reinvent, and Glamour.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, jewelry, beauty, home decor, lifestyle
Pricing: $300 USD
Venue is a modern, stylish theme designed to help ecommerce brands create a unique online store.
Styles: Morning, Evening, Weekend, and Twilight.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, home decor, lifestyle
Pricing: $320 USD
Canopy is a bright, elegant Shopify theme designed to leave a lasting impression on shoppers.
Styles: Natural, Light, Fresh, Elegant, and Glow.
Highlights:
Best for: Beauty, food and beverage, lifestyle
Pricing: $300 USD
The Local theme store is a modern, responsive theme that balances minimalistic design with a touch of whimsy.
Styles: Lively and Light.
Highlights:
Best for: Food and beverage, lifestyle, home decor
Pricing: $300 USD
Flow is a modern and versatile theme perfect for ecommerce brands looking to double down on visual storytelling.
Styles: Byron, Queenstown, and Cannes.
Highlights:
Best for: Home decor, apparel, lifestyle
Pricing: $350 USD
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The Shapes theme offers an retro yet elegant design with a focus on product photography.
Styles: Muted, Pastel, and Neon.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, beauty, home decor, lifestyle, food and beverage
Pricing: $320 USD
The Icon theme is a modern and stylish ecommerce theme designed to help ecommerce brands create an attractive and easy-to-navigate online store.
Styles: Dolce, Yves, Christian, and Vera.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, beauty, home decor, lifestyle, food and beverage
Pricing: $260 USD
Baseline is a modern, typography-focused theme for bold and vibrant ecommerce brands.
Styles: Modern, Minimal, and Bold.
Highlights:
Best for: Apparel, beauty, jewelry, home decor, lifestyle
Pricing: $320 USD
No matter the theme you choose, you can use Shogun Page Builder to expand on it. Shogun is compatible with essentially all Shopify themes, so you can get building ASAP!
Here’s how ⤵️
Shogun’s no-code builder allows you to spin up pages quickly without needing to touch any code.
With Shogun elements, adding columns, images from Unsplash, videos, countdowns, product collections, and more is as easy as dragging and dropping onto your page.
To take your Shopify theme customization even further, you can save styles like font, color, spacing, etc. This not only ensures your store is consistent at every touchpoint, but it saves you time when building.
Shipping net-new pages in Shogun is easy, too.
Our pre-built page templates give you a strong starting point to which you can customize to your vision.
You can also use Snippets to easily reuse an element, section, or an entire page across your Shogun pages.
Simply select what you’d like to turn into a Snippet, and select the “Create Snippet” button.
With Page Builder Sections for Shopify, you can create custom content once and reuse that content across multiple pages of your Shopify store automatically.
Here’s how:
Then, in the Shopify Theme Editor, you can add the new section you created in Page Builder to any page template!
For more information on how to use this feature, check out Page Builder Sections for Shopify.
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A Shopify theme is a template that can be used to create a store on the Shopify ecommerce platform.
Themes are available in the Shopify Theme Store and can be customized to meet the needs of the store.
The main difference between free and paid Shopify themes is the level of customization and features available.
Free themes typically have limited design options and features, while paid themes usually come with more customization options, such as color and font choices, as well as additional features like ecommerce-specific widgets and page layouts.
The highest-converting Shopify themes depend on the needs of your store. It’s important to consider factors like speed, customization, and catalog size when choosing a theme.
Additionally, look for themes with features like product filtering and product comparison, as these can help to increase conversions.
There isn’t just *one* fast-loading theme in the Shopify Theme Store. But some are definitely primed for speed over others, like Dawn.
Look for a theme that’s designed to load quickly and has a minimal number of scripts. If you rely heavily on images to tell your brand story, make sure you compress those images.
Dawn is the most popular Shopify theme.
The average cost of a paid Shopify theme is between $99 and $299, depending on the features and complexity of the theme.
This depends on your brand’s particular needs.
Generally speaking, if you plan to buy a theme, it’s best to purchase a theme from the Shopify Theme Store because they are compatible with Shopify’s features and design guidelines.
Unlicensed themes aren’t eligible for support or updates when new features are released. To learn more about licensing and themes, see Shopify’s Terms of Service.
Yes! Swapping out your Shopify theme without losing content is possible.
You can also edit your theme’s files to build a truly custom ecommerce experience.
It depends on your specific needs. A custom Shopify theme can be beneficial if you need more unique design features or functionality.
Using a tool like Shogun Page Builder can help you customize your Shopify theme even further. Ultimately, it depends on your budget and how much customization you need.
Yes, Shopify themes can impact your SEO. Your theme will affect how quickly your site loads, how it’s structured, and how it’s optimized.
Additionally, certain themes may include features that can help you improve your SEO, such as built-in meta tags and custom page titles.
Reviewing the features of each theme to determine which one is best for your SEO needs is highly recommended.
The Shopify theme store has hundreds of stellar options for ecommerce businesses. But sometimes, you need a little extra flexibility to fully realize your store’s vision.
Page builder tools like Shogun can help take your Shopify theme to the next level.
Our drag-and-drop editor, custom elements, Snippets, pre-built templates, and more help your team work smarter without compromising consistency or innovation.
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