Shopify Theme Store vs. ThemeForest: Which Is the Best Choice for Your Online Store?

If you’re questioning whether investing in a theme from the Shopify Theme Store is truly worth it when you can find cheaper options on ThemeForest, this blog is for you.

We’ll provide a detailed comparison between Shopify Theme Store and ThemeForest to help you understand the differences in pricing, features, support, and performance of themes from these two leading platforms. Read on to make an informed decision and ensure you get the best value for your online store!

What is a Shopify Theme?

A Shopify theme is a pre-designed template that shapes the look and layout of your online store. It plays a vital role in making a strong first impression on customers, effectively reflecting your brand's personality and values amidst the competition.

Each theme offers unique layouts tailored to different industries and styles. Think of it as your customers entering a vast digital showcase, capturing their attention from the get-go is essential for driving engagement and encouraging further exploration.

Shopify’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to set up your store without extensive technical knowledge. This flexibility allows you to customize your theme to align with your brand vision, enabling you to focus on growing your business.

So where you can buy a Shopify Theme?

You can buy Shopify themes from the official Shopify Theme Store or from third-party markets. One of the most reputable third-party options, besides the Shopify Theme Store, is ThemeForest from Envato Market. Here, you’ll find a wide variety of unique and diverse themes from independent developers, making it easy to find a design that suits your brand perfectly.

Overview of Shopify Theme Store and ThemeForest

Shopify Themes

The Shopify Theme Store is Shopify's official platform that specializes in providing themes for online stores. Currently, the store features over 200 themes, including both free and paid options, from Shopify itself and third-party developers. These themes are optimized to fully utilize Shopify’s features, enhancing user interface and improving the shopping experience. They support essential functions such as payment processing, product management, and integration with Shopify apps.

Themes typically offer a "plug-and-play" solution, allowing users to easily set up and operate their online store quickly and efficiently. Themes from third-party developers undergo a stringent quality and compatibility review process with Shopify. If they do not meet Shopify's requirements, their submission will be rejected, requiring them to make adjustments and resubmit for review. This process ensures that customers can have complete confidence in the quality of the themes released on the official platform.

Explore the available themes here: Shopify Theme Store.

ThemeForest

ThemeForest, part of the Envato Market, is one of the largest theme marketplaces in the world, offering a treasure trove of themes for various platforms, including Shopify, with over 2,200 free and premium Shopify themes from both small and professional theme developers worldwide.

This marketplace gathers themes from numerous independent developers, providing a diverse range of designs and features. From modern and creative designs to more traditional options, ThemeForest stands out for its richness and variety in choices. A Shopify theme wishing to be published on this marketplace must undergo a review process lasting from 5 to 7 days by Envato to ensure that the theme asset has the appropriate licenses and is free from malware or viruses.

ThemeForest's goal is to offer a vast selection of designs and functionalities for users. Themes available here can meet various requirements, from simple designs to complex customizations. However, this diversity comes with uneven quality and support, as themes come from various developers with different styles and standards. This may require users to carefully consider reviews, support information, and documentation before deciding on a theme.

Our recommendation is to choose themes from reputable developers recognized by Envato as Power Elite Authors.

Alternatively, you can also search for high-quality Shopify themes on ThemeForest by sorting them into "Best Selling" or "Highest Rated" categories.

Comparison of Key Aspects

Let’s first take a look at the pricing of Shopify themes across these two marketplaces.

Cost

Shopify Theme Store

You won’t find free themes on ThemeForest, but you can explore up to 13 free themes on the Shopify Theme Store. Themes like Dawn, Trade, and Spotlight are among the standout free options often chosen by Shopify merchants.

Free themes are a great starting point for new entrepreneurs, helping you familiarize yourself with setting up a theme. However, because they are free, they typically include standard features and may lack the design elements needed to make your website stand out. As your online business grows and your sales increase, you may need to install additional apps on your free theme to meet your needs, which can slow down your website and increase monthly costs.

Upgrading to a premium Shopify theme is a logical next step.

For paid themes, prices on the Shopify Theme Store generally range from $140 to $450. This price typically includes advanced features from the outset and is optimized for fast performance. Additionally, it includes updates and support from the developer, ensuring you receive ongoing assistance and access to the latest features without time limitations.

Furthermore, you can try any paid theme on the Shopify Theme Store for FREE until you decide to publish your store.

ThemeForest

The pricing of Shopify themes on ThemeForest varies widely, usually ranging from $19 to $99, depending on the quality, features, and popularity of the theme. This price range is quite favorable for businesses on a budget who still want good customization features.

• Mid-range themes, typically priced between $29 and $79, offer a good number of features and helpful support.
• Premium themes priced over $80 are usually professionally designed, providing numerous customization options and better customer support.

However, while the initial purchase price is lower, over the long term, you may incur additional costs for extended support since the support period for a regular license usually lasts for 6 months. You will need to pay an additional fee when the support period ends if you wish to continue receiving support. Keep these extra costs in mind when considering a theme from ThemeForest.

Additionally, since ThemeForest does not offer a free trial for themes, you can preview themes before making a purchase decision. Our advice is to consider the top-selling themes listed on ThemeForest, as there’s a reason these themes are so popular among buyers!

Design and Customization

A theme’s design and customization play a crucial role in user experience.
In this section, we’ll compare the Design, Customization & Flexibility of themes from both platforms, ensuring you find the best fit for your brand.

Design

Shopify Theme Store

Browsing through the themes on the Shopify Theme Store, you will be impressed by the creative, unique, and modern designs. Similarly, your customers will be captivated by the attractive designs when they click on your website.

For example, you can view the demo of the "Soul" theme in the Shopify Theme Store. It combines a modern, futuristic look with clean and bold elements, utilizing striking color contrasts (dark backgrounds with bright, pastel accents). The minimalistic yet eye-catching visuals and ample white space help highlight featured products. This layout effectively draws attention to specific elements on the page, making it stand out from more traditional, grid-based designs.

The theme designs on Shopify are often specialized to suit different industries. One of the strengths of these themes is their easy customization, allowing users to adjust colors, fonts, and layouts without requiring extensive technical knowledge. However, a limitation of the themes on the Shopify Theme Store is the restriction on layouts. You will find that each theme sold here has a limited number of layout options.

ThemeForest

In contrast, ThemeForest offers a treasure trove of themes with a diverse range of styles and designs. A notable feature of the Shopify themes purchased on this platform is the absence of layout restrictions. While themes sold on the Shopify Theme Store typically offer a minimum number of layouts, usually no more than five. Let's highlight some impressive figures regarding the top 1 Best selling theme on ThemeForest - ELLA theme:

• 30+ homepage layouts available (with over 20 more homepages planned for future release)
• 08+ layouts for category pages
• 09 layouts for product pages
• 07 collection page layouts
• 06 blog page layouts, plus support for other custom pages like About Us, Lookbook, FAQs, Contact Us, etc.

Themes on ThemeForest come from various developers, offering you a wide array of options from classic to modern styles. However, this can lead to inconsistencies in quality. Some themes on ThemeForest provide deep customization features, allowing you to change layouts and styles as desired, but may also require technical knowledge to fully optimize all the features.

Our advice is to choose top-rated themes, carefully preview the details of each layout, and then make your purchasing decision.

Customization & Flexibility

Shopify Theme Store

There is a clear distinction in customization capabilities between free and paid themes.

Free themes typically offer basic customization options such as colors, fonts, and a limited number of layouts. However, these options can be restrictive, making it difficult for users to create a unique design that stands out.

Paid themes generally provide a broader range of customization options, allowing you to modify most elements of the interface, from layout to finer details that align with your brand. These themes often feature modern and rich designs that enhance your store's appeal to customers. Additionally, many paid themes come with advanced features like drag-and-drop builders, diverse layout options, and dynamic effects, making it easier to create a visually striking and engaging website. Therefore, if you seek flexibility and more robust features to build a distinctive store, paid themes are the better choice.

ThemeForest offers a vast collection of themes from various developers, allowing for deeper customization.

Many themes on ThemeForest include drag-and-drop builders that enable users to design their layouts without needing coding skills. This opens up a wide range of creative possibilities and often provide more customization options, allowing you to change not just colors and fonts but also layouts, effects, and many other elements.

However, this flexibility comes with a certain level of complexity. Some themes may require technical knowledge to fully utilize their customization features.

Quality and Features

When it comes to building an online store, the quality and features of your chosen Shopify theme play a critical role in shaping the user experience and functionality of your site. Both the Shopify Theme Store and ThemeForest offer a range of themes, but they differ in terms of quality and the features available.

Shopify Theme Store

Themes on the Shopify Theme Store are curated and reviewed by Shopify itself. This means that the quality is generally high and consistent across the board. Each theme undergoes a rigorous approval process to ensure it meets specific standards for performance, responsiveness, and design. As a result, users can expect themes that are well-coded and optimized for speed, which is crucial for maintaining a smooth shopping experience.

The themes also come with essential features that cater to a variety of industries. Many themes are designed with specific functionalities in mind, such as built-in SEO optimization, mobile responsiveness, and compatibility with various Shopify apps.

Furthermore, the customization options, while user-friendly, are often more limited compared to those found on ThemeForest. Users can typically adjust colors, fonts, and layouts, but the overall structure of the theme remains intact.

ThemeForest

Themeforest offers a vast selection of themes, each developed by independent creators. This diversity leads to a wide range of quality, as not all developers adhere to the same standards.

While many themes on ThemeForest are of high quality, others may not be as well-coded or optimized. Therefore, potential buyers should thoroughly review the ratings and customer feedback before making a purchase.

In terms of features, ThemeForest themes often provide extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor their sites to their specific needs.

For example, many themes come with drag-and-drop builders, numerous layout variations, and advanced functionalities like product sliders, custom widgets, and built-in marketing tools. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for users who want a unique look for their store or need specific features to enhance their business operations.

However, with greater customization options often comes increased complexity. Users may need a certain level of technical knowledge to fully leverage the features available in some ThemeForest themes. The abundance of choices can also be overwhelming, making it essential to carefully consider what features are truly necessary for your online store.

Support and Customer Service

When it comes to customer support for themes purchased from the Shopify Theme Store versus those from ThemeForest, there are some key differences to consider:

Shopify Theme Store

Support for Free Themes: If you use a free theme from Shopify, you can receive support from Shopify Support for minor changes. Additionally, if you’re on the Basic Shopify plan or higher, you can access up to 60 minutes of free design support.

Support for Paid Themes: For paid themes developed by trusted third-party designers, you can expect dedicated support. These developers typically provide timely assistance related directly to the theme.

Most themes come with detailed documentation that includes setup guides, FAQs, and troubleshooting tips, designed to help users get started quickly and resolve common issues independently.

Additionally, Shopify has a vibrant user community and forums where you can ask questions and seek advice from other merchants. 

If you encounter issues that require more in-depth assistance, you can often contact the theme developer directly through the Shopify interface, ensuring you’re speaking with someone who understands the specifics of the theme you’re using.

In contrast, ThemeForest offers a different support structure, primarily influenced by its marketplace nature. As a platform for selling Shopify themes, you will need to seek assistance from two sources: Shopify and the theme developer.

Since ThemeForest hosts themes from various independent developers, the level of support can vary significantly. Some developers provide comprehensive support, while others may only offer limited assistance. The ThemeForest community allows users to leave reviews and ratings for themes, which helps you assess the reliability and quality of support before making a purchase.

Our advice is to choose themes that have numerous 5-star reviews for “Customer Support”. This is the clearest indication of a theme's support and customer service quality.

For instance, consider the customer reviews for the Ella theme:

Performance and Speed

When selecting a theme for your online store, performance and speed are two crucial factors that cannot be overlooked. Here's a comparison between themes from the Shopify Theme Store and those from ThemeForest:

Shopify Theme Store

All themes available in the Shopify Theme Store are optimized for performance and usability. This means they are designed to load quickly and provide a seamless user experience. Additionally, if you encounter performance issues with a free theme from Shopify, you can receive direct support from Shopify’s customer service team. This built-in support can be invaluable for troubleshooting and ensuring your store runs smoothly.

ThemeForest

On the other hand, themes from ThemeForest can vary significantly in terms of performance. The quality of optimization largely depends on the design and coding practices of individual developers. While some themes are well-optimized and offer great speed, others may have issues that affect loading times. Therefore, when choosing a theme from ThemeForest, it’s essential to consider the reputation of the developers and look for products that are highly rated and widely used.

Compatibility and Updates

Compatibility

Shopify Theme Store:

• Compatibility with Online Store 2.0: One of the biggest advantages of purchasing a theme from the Shopify Theme Store is its compatibility with the Online Store 2.0 structure. All themes here are designed to fully leverage new features like sections and blocks, allowing you to customize your pages easily. This ensures that the theme you choose will work seamlessly with the latest Shopify features.
• Specific Feature Requirements: If you plan to use special features like product subscriptions or bundled listings, your theme must meet additional compatibility requirements. With themes from the Shopify Theme Store, you can be confident that they will support these features as long as you choose the right theme.

ThemeForest:

• ThemeForest does not require themes to be compatible with Online Store 2.0, so you’ll need to check whether a theme supports this version by looking at the information provided by the developer in the theme description.

Updates

Shopify Theme Store:

• Frequent Updates: Themes from the Shopify Theme Store are regularly updated to maintain compatibility with new Shopify releases and the latest web technologies. This ensures that your store remains stable and secure.
• Automatic Updates: One of the significant benefits of purchasing a theme from the Shopify Theme Store is that you receive automatic updates at no additional cost. Shopify frequently releases new versions for themes, including new features, design improvements, and bug fixes. When an update is available, you’ll receive a notification in your Shopify admin, making it easy to manage your theme versions.
• Easy Operations: Checking and updating your theme is straightforward. Simply go to "Online Store > Themes" to check your theme’s version. If it’s up to date, you’ll see a message indicating so. During updates, any customizations you made in the theme editor will automatically carry over to the new version, saving you time.
• Manual Updates: In addition to automatic updates, you can manually add new versions of a theme to your theme library. However, be sure to review the release notes carefully to ensure your customizations remain compatible with the new version.
• Code Changes: If you or an app have made any code changes to your theme, you will need to copy those changes to the new version. This requires careful checking to ensure all customizations function correctly after the update.

ThemeForest:

• Updates for themes on ThemeForest can be inconsistent. Some popular themes receive regular updates and support for new versions, while those with lower sales may be neglected and not well-maintained. ThemeForest provides detailed theme descriptions, which include information about the last update date and the latest version.

Example: Ella Theme

For instance, the Ella theme’s latest version is 6.6.2, with the most recent update on July 11, 2024. This information is typically provided in the theme description, helping users stay informed.

Conclusion

Choosing the right theme for your online store is crucial, and both the Shopify Theme Store and ThemeForest have distinct advantages based on your specific needs.

Shopify Theme Store is an excellent choice for those who prioritize reliability and straightforward support. If you want themes that are specifically designed for Shopify's ecosystem, come with built-in features, and offer seamless updates, then this platform is perfect for you. It's especially suitable for new store owners who may not have extensive technical skills and need a hassle-free setup.

Conversely, ThemeForest stands out when it comes to pricing and variety. If you're on a budget, you’ll find that ThemeForest offers a wider range of affordable themes, often at lower price points compared to the Shopify Theme Store. This makes it an attractive option for small businesses or entrepreneurs looking to maximize their investment while still getting high-quality designs.

When selecting a theme from ThemeForest, it’s crucial to choose best-selling options and thoroughly read user reviews to ensure you’re getting a quality product. This will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your brand’s goals and enhances your online store’s performance.