Shopify has become a popular eCommerce platform in part thanks to its easy setup and affordable pricing. Shopify makes it easy to quickly create an online store for as little as $29 a month.
Using Shopify’s free two-week trial, store owners can quickly get started and choose between different subscription packages ranging from $29 to $299 a month. According to Shopify, over one million businesses use the platform today, accounting for $319 billion in transactions.
However, Shopify’s strength can also be viewed as a weakness. Shopify is an easy and affordable eCommerce platform. Like most website builders, Shopify offers templates or themes to reduce the time and skill necessary to build an online store from scratch.
However, first, this makes it hard for an online store to stand out and build its brand. Second, not every theme is a good match for every store. Third, some themes are heavy and can create website performance issues while others might be light but lack the necessary functionality. Fourth, once you choose a theme, as your shop grows, it will be hard to make changes to it.
Therefore, choosing a theme for a Shopify store may be more complicated than simply selecting one from the Shopify Theme Store. To simplify the process, below are 7 of our favorite themes and the reasons why we like them.
Wokiee is an extremely flexible theme with 16 different skins that can be suitable for a variety of different niches. It’s very versatile and can be customized to your visual brand language easily.
Top features:
16 different layouts for shop and product pages
Built-in Google-rich snippets
Compatible with Oberlo (making it a great theme for dropshipping)
Supports multiple languages
Over 20 unique skins
Pros:
Wide range of features covering what most shops will every need
Versatile design and layout options
Fast loading speeds (great for user experience and search engine optimization)
Cons:
This isn’t a “simple” theme. The many features and design options it includes mean that setting it up can take longer than usual. If you’re looking for something to set up quickly, and don’t want to spend time on design and customization, this may not be the theme for you.
Another versatile theme, Lezeda offers over two hundred different demo options to choose from for your homepage, which can shorten setup time if you find something you love off the bat.
We like it for shops with smaller product lines but, in general, it’s very versatile.
Top features:
Over 220 homepage demos to choose from
Over 40 drag-and-drop sections
Multiple banners, headers, and slider styles
Choose different image displays (grid, masonry, etc.)
Social media integration
Pros:
Easy to use and quick to install
Updated regularly
Advanced customization options
Great price
Cons:
This is not an ideal theme for anyone looking to get something up quickly unless one of the available demos is a perfect fit with little customization needed. Even then, reviewing all of the 200+ demos available will take time. Other than that, the theme doesn’t have any bad reviews and is rated 5 stars on ThemeForest.
Ella is a great option for business owners that want to get through the theme and design phase quickly. You can choose from multiple ready-made layouts and designs, and thanks to their one-click install and image resizing feature, have your shop ready in no time. While there are multiple design options available, it’s not as overwhelming as other themes.
Top features:
Smart search suggestions for faster results when customers search your shop
One-click install
Multiple demos and design options for a variety of different niches (jewelry, clothes, glasses, beauty, etc.)
One-click checkout
Automatic image resizing
Pros:
Multiple features to help shop owners get up and running quickly
Raving 5-star reviews for their great design quality
Updated regularly
Cons:
The theme has a 5-star rating on ThemeForest. However, some of the one-star reviews complain about bugs and bad customer support. That being said, most of the 5-star reviews are about the great customer support provided for the theme, and the low reviews are very few.
Gecko is a popular theme, with many of the reviews raving about the excellent design quality, theme flexibility, and customer support. Like all of the other themes we’re recommending, there are multiple layouts and design options to choose from, though Gecko’s design options vary greatly from one another, giving you more to choose from and increasing the chances you’ll find something you love.
Top features:
One-click to import a demo (for faster setup)
Email marketing support
Fully responsive retina support
Compatible with Shopify 2.0
Translation-ready
Pros:
Great for shops targeting multilingual audiences
Beautiful modern designs
Easy to install, customize, and use
Cons:
The lowest rating for this theme on ThemeForest is 4 stars, with some stating that this theme has a steep learning curve.
Price: $69
5. Pacific
This professional theme comes highly recommended for anyone who wants a no-fuss theme with quick setup and easy customization. Design options are limited here compared to other themes we mentioned, but that’s kind of the point in this case.
Top features:
Designed for stores with large inventories
Four styles to choose from: Bold, Warm, Bright, Cool
Shopify users can try the theme first
Free theme updates
Clean and modern design
Pros:
Pre-added color palettes and styles make choosing your design fast and easy
Social media integration
You can try it before you buy it
Cons:
The price is much higher than other themes (though you can try it first)
The limited design and customization options mean it’s not for everyone
As the name suggests, this theme is ideal for business owners who like minimalistic designs that still look professional and sophisticated. This theme is free and ideal for shops selling fashion or beauty-related products.
Top features:
Simple and clean design
3 styles available: Fashion, Vintage, Modern
Homepage YouTube or Vimeo video
Product filtering options for customers searching your shop
Showcase product recommendations on product pages
Pros:
Free
Perfect for fashion and beauty shops
Simple and easy to use
Cons:
Limited features and design capabilities (for example, you can’t add a blog)
Not for every niche
Some reviews complain that it isn’t truly mobile friendly
Star is a great theme with plenty of great features, and a sleek, modern design suitable for most niches.
Top features:
Slide-out cart
Two styles available: Polaris and Sirius
Color swatches for quick design
Parallax sections
Product reviews
Pros:
Easy to use (great for Shopify beginners)
Quick installation
Cons:
Limited design and layout options
Price: $59
To summarize…
Shopify is a great platform to quickly launch your online shop without complicated development and coding. Choosing a great theme can save you a lot of time and money on design and development, and it’s a critical step in the Shopify setup process. Take the time to understand your needs, features, budget, and time limitations so that you can easily pick a theme that checks all of your boxes.
After you are done customizing your online store, you might want to extend the store capabilities and have a presence on voice assistants, such as Alexa and Google Assistant. Schedule a free demo today with Rep to unlock the power of Voice!
Quick Answers and Applications
How can customizable Shopify themes improve the responsiveness and compatibility of your online store?
Customizable Shopify themes enhance store responsiveness through adaptive design that automatically adjusts to any device. Unlike rigid templates, these themes offer flexible layouts with touch-friendly elements and optimized performance across all screen sizes. Mobile-responsive themes deliver seamless shopping experiences that convert browsers into buyers regardless of their device choice.
Strategic Application
When implementing customizable themes for optimal responsiveness:
Prioritize Mobile-First Design Principles
Select themes with responsive frameworks that adapt dynamically to different screen dimensions
Ensure touch-friendly navigation elements with appropriate sizing for finger tapping
Verify loading speed optimization specifically for mobile networks through image compression
Leverage Flexible Layout Capabilities
Customize section arrangements to create intuitive mobile user journeys
Implement collapsible menus and accordion sections to maximize limited screen space
Adjust product grid displays to maintain visual appeal across devices
Ensure Cross-Device Compatibility
Test theme functionality across multiple browsers and operating systems
Verify payment gateway integration works seamlessly on all devices
Maintain consistent branding elements regardless of viewing platform
Optimize Performance Metrics
Implement lazy loading techniques to prioritize visible content delivery
Utilize adaptive image serving to match device capabilities
Monitor and adjust mobile page speed scores to prevent abandonment
What design elements should you consider, such as brand colors and CTA buttons, when selecting a premium Shopify theme?
Premium Shopify themes require strategic design choices centered around brand colors and CTA buttons to create a cohesive customer experience. While free themes offer limited customization, premium options provide advanced color palette management, button styling flexibility, and visual storytelling capabilities that directly impact conversion rates and brand perception.
Strategic Application
When selecting a premium Shopify theme, focus on these design elements:
Brand Color Integration
Choose themes with custom color palette options that allow precise HEX/RGB value implementation
Look for themes that apply color consistency across all store elements including headers, footers and product pages
Prioritize themes with color contrast controls to ensure accessibility standards while maintaining brand identity
CTA Button Optimization
Select themes with multiple button style options including shape, size and animation effects
Ensure the theme allows strategic button placement throughout the customer journey
Verify the theme enables different button treatments for primary vs. secondary actions
Visual Storytelling Capabilities
Evaluate themes with full-width image sections and video integration options
Prioritize themes offering parallax scrolling and dynamic content display
Select themes with lookbook or gallery features that showcase products in lifestyle contexts
Layout and Typography Flexibility
Choose themes with multiple homepage and product page layout options
Verify font customization capabilities including size, weight and spacing controls
Look for themes with responsive design that maintains visual integrity across all devices