5 Shopify Premium Themes Reviews For Online Stores
Premium Shopify themes are e-commerce platform themes that not only focus on the website’s aesthetics but, also on the user experience, which plays one of the biggest roles in your store's conversion rates, sales, and customer satisfaction.
In the last post, I talked about how I formed the business and started working on my Shopify store. I've been wearing different hats, and every step forward comes with the usual steep learning curve, which can take me days, weeks, or months, depending on my level of understanding of the required skill
You can find themes developed by Shopify, like the Dawn Theme, which is great if you know web development. There are also a bunch of third-party developed themes available on the Shopify Theme Store, which are premium themes, and also on other websites like ThemeForest. ThemeForest offers many options, but I don’t think they are reliable, and they work with a license system. With Shopify premium themes, you have the guarantee that these themes will work, and you only pay once for them. Shopify has higher standards than ThemeForest when it comes to third-party-developed themes. Premium themes are equipped with a lot of code, making them functional and tailored to e-commerce needs.
For over a month I've been working on 8 Shopify Premium Themes, but I only found 5 of them worth mentioning in my list. I knew it would take time, but it's taking me a little longer. Why? Because I don't know much about HTML, CSS, JS, etc. That knowledge would be helpful.
I learned how to navigate the Theme Settings tabs in the theme editor, which gave me access to much more customization. I've been using LLMs (Large Language Models) to assist me with code snippets to add or modify features in my Dawn theme, which is the one I've been using to show people my mock store.
I also need to be careful when picking the right theme because the good ones are over $300 each. It's a big decision that will determine the aesthetics, functionality, and vibe of my store, in other words, the user experience. And yeah, it's basically what I've been working on with no prior experience in UX/UI, using the Shopify Console to edit the website's theme.
Shopify has a really good free theme called Dawn. It's super customizable if you at least know the basics of web development languages. It's been very frustrating; I wish I knew web design, but hey, “your business will teach you the skills.”
I almost passed on a couple of themes because I didn't know how to use them.
I need to mention that I've only been working on Shopify Premium themes and not other websites such as Themeforest because their themes work with licenses and their customer support is unreliable. They can be hit or miss and, most times, a money waste. Compared to Shopify Premium themes, you have peace of mind from the guarantee that Shopify offers to their customers with customer support and constant updates on their themes, which is great. Also, with Shopify premium themes, you buy them only once and get to try their trials before going live.
I also want to make clear that neither Shopify nor their theme developers sponsor me in any way. I’m just sharing what I’ve been learning with my store and I’d love to hear what you think. Anyway, this is only a draft for this post, and below is the list of the Shopify Premium themes I've been working on. Click on their name to go to their website and see their features and reviews. OK, onward with the review.
Shopify Premium Themes: Review and Ranking
5. Motion ($360) - Not Worth the Motion
Motion falls short of expectations, especially considering its price tag.
- Limited customization options
- Lack of padding control
- Restrictive layout options
- Basic features comparable to free themes
Insight: Motion seems to prioritize its animation features over essential customization options. While the animations are smooth, they don't compensate for the lack of basic controls that store owners need for creating a unique brand identity.
Bottom Line: For $360, you'd expect more. Motion feels like an overpriced version of the free Dawn theme, but with fewer options.
4. Impulse ($380) - An Impulsive Skip
Impulse, despite its hefty price, doesn't offer much to justify the cost.
- Lacks essential layout customization options
- Very basic slideshow features
- Missing spacer sections
- Limited rich text options
Insight: Impulse appears to be designed for simplicity, but it overshoots the mark and ends up being too restrictive. Its lack of essential features suggests it might be better suited for very specific, minimalist store designs rather than versatile e-commerce needs.
Bottom Line: Impulse feels incomplete and overpriced. It's hard to recommend when free themes offer similar, if not better, functionality.
3. Be Yours ($320) - Almost, But Not Quite
Be Yours shows promise but falls short in a few key areas.
Pros:
- Decent header customization
- Good cart drawer options
- Includes an Empty Space section
Cons:
- Underwhelming collection list and featured product sections
- Basic blog section
- Email signup/newsletter section needs improvement
Insight: Be Yours seems to excel in certain areas while neglecting others. Its strong header and cart features suggest a focus on user navigation and checkout experience, but the weaknesses in product presentation could hinder overall sales performance.
Bottom Line: While Be Yours has some good features, it's outshined by other options in crucial areas.
2. Stiletto ($340) - Sleek and Stylish
Stiletto impresses with its clean, minimalist design and solid feature set.
Pros:
- Excellent password page design
- Great search functionality
- Good product information page
- Impressive contact us page with built-in FAQ
Cons:
- Limited announcement bar options
- Lack of padding control
- No page width customization
Insight: Stiletto's design philosophy seems to prioritize aesthetics and user experience over extensive customization. This approach works well for stores that align with its sleek, modern style but might frustrate those seeking more control over layout details.
Bottom Line: Stiletto is a strong contender with its sleek design and functionality, but a few limitations hold it back from the top spot.
1. Aurora ($340) - The Shining Star!!
Aurora takes the crown as the most impressive Shopify premium theme in this roundup.
Pros:
- Highly customizable with 32 rich feature sections
- Excellent password page and announcement bar options
- Superior header and mega menu customization
- Impressive collection list and featured product sections
- Spacer section included
- Great newsletter/email signup functionality
Cons:
- Slight learning curve due to extensive options
Insight: Aurora stands out by offering a balance between extensive customization and user-friendly design. Its wide range of features caters to both beginners and advanced users, making it a versatile choice for various e-commerce niches.
Bottom Line: Aurora offers the most bang for your buck with its extensive customization options and well-thought-out features.
Honorable Mention: Symmetry ($380)
While not in the top rankings, Symmetry deserves a mention for its solid offering.
Pros:
- Good password page customization
- Includes maximum page width feature
- Decent announcement bar options
Cons:
- Search functionality issues
- Limited newsletter section
- Basic slideshow options
Insight: Symmetry seems to be a jack-of-all-trades but master of none. It offers a broad range of features but doesn't excel in any particular area. This could make it a good choice for store owners who want a little bit of everything without needing to push any specific feature to its limits.
Bottom Line: Symmetry has potential but needs some improvements to compete with the top contenders.
In conclusion, while all these premium Shopify themes have their strengths, Aurora stands out as the clear winner, offering the best balance of customization, features, and value for money. Remember, the best theme for you ultimately depends on your specific needs and the nature of your online store.
During this journey, I have greatly polished my web development skills by familiarizing myself with Shopify's programming language (Liquid), CSS, and HTML. It's been a challenging but rewarding experience that has equipped me with valuable skills for my e-commerce venture.
This review took me over two months to create, and I hope that my insights and hard work in the process help other individuals like me who are also seeking easily understandable information and education in the process of self-launching an online store through Shopify.
As someone with no prior experience or formal education in this field, I want to encourage anyone else who, like me, is trying to change careers, become their own boss, and embark on an entrepreneurial journey. If I could learn and test these themes, so can you! Don't let the lack of experience hold you back from pursuing your e-commerce goals
Some related topics to this post that I need to talk about in the next one: Stock image licensing, stock image websites, Canva Pro, AI image generation
Happy theme hunting, and here's to your e-commerce success!
