Shopify Theme Store vs Themeforest: What’s the different?

Making a good impression is important for store developers in attracting customers. The right theme is the “skin” in which you wrap your Shopify site. With a plethora of Shopify themes available across different marketplaces, it can be really tough in deciding on the best one that fits your business.

In this blog, BSS Commerce Shopify will explore the advantages and disadvantages of Shopify themes from two leading platforms: Shopify theme store vs ThemeForest. This analysis will help you in determining which option would best suit your Shopify store.

Now, let’s begin!

Overview of Shopify Theme Store

Shopify theme store is a good market for merchants who look for developing their online stores with the best themes. Nowadays, it includes over 200 Shopify themes, whether free or premium-with a price range of $100 USD to $500 USD. This huge number has been contributed to by the many designers from across the globe.

However, along with all these numbers come the strict guidelines under which every theme has to function and be of high quality in order to be part of the Shopify Theme Store. If developers do not meet any of these criteria, their submission gets rejected. They would revise the theme and submit it again for testing. A theme that fails in such evaluation cannot be reviewed for proper modification until the changes are made.

This has ensured that every merchant can be assured of quality in what they find in the Shopify theme store, so they can rest easy knowing they are building their businesses online with quality themes.

Overview of ThemeForest

Envato ThemeForest is a home for thousands of Shopify themes- over 2400 themes made by both aspiring and professional creators all over the world.

Each Shopify theme that is uploaded to ThemeForest goes through a rigorous review process taking anywhere from 5 to 7 days before being approved for quality and safety. This appraisal checks for exact license as well as verifies that the theme is free of malware and other forms of security risks.

All these Shopify themes available on ThemeForest come with prices in between $7 USD and $119 USD but be informed that the cheaper versions are not those that offer the best quality or features.

For the best output, BSS Commerce Shopify recommends going for premium themes from power elite authors who have an impressive and prestigious title conferred to developers due to their high quality products and comprehension of user needs in Shopify. These authors have mastered the art of making lives easier for people while eliminating the hassle of handling most painful needs that put them on the verge of buying something. That offers greater value to the users for your online store.

In addition, you may find top-quality Shopify themes on ThemeForest by filtering the selections under the “Best Rated” categories:

Shopify Theme Store vs Themeforest: Key Differences

And now, BSS Commerce Shopify will assist you in comparing themes across these markets by examining the following criteria:

• Design and Customization
• Pricing and Payment
• Theme Quality
• Security
• Customer Support

You may view our concise comparison of themes available on the Shopify theme store vs ThemeForest in the table provided here:

1. Design and Customization

BSS Commerce Shopify understand that it is not just enough to have a good-looking store; it should also function well and meet the needs of your customers as smooth as possible when shopping.

1.1. About Theme Templates

Currently, Shopify theme store offer over 200 free and premium themes. These include a wide array of paid themes that offer diversity in design tailored to meet various aesthetic and branding needs.

These themes available here in the Shopify Theme Store are known and well appreciated for the quality designs done exclusively for the Shopify platform; they can also come with built-in features that improve user experience and are optimized for seamless integration with the functionalities of Shopify.

When browsing ThemeForest, you’ll find many demos based on how the different themes are applied well to build interfaces for stores of all kinds-from fashion to homewares, accessories, cosmetics, sports and digital gadgets for example. Imagine how your store would look and function beautifully. Well, you could even import demo steps into your store quickly for simple customization-thus quickly setting up an attractive site with minimum effort.

1.2. About Layout

The most apparent difference between the Shopify theme store vs ThemeForest is their diverse layouts. In contrast to the limited layout options and customization capabilities of the free themes from the Shopify Theme Store, those offered by ThemeForest for payment have numerous templates for the various sections of your store, including single product layouts and headers. These themes are equipped with the such features as:

• Custom Color Swatch Apply: Customizable color swatch use to individualize product choices by making one’s product selections more accessible for user interactivity.
• Quick View Mode: Instantly, one can understand the particulars of a specific item without having to bring the contents of this page to an abrupt stop just to scour for other items-improving navigability speed.
• 3D Video Thumbs & AR Models: An immersive shopping experience that prospective buyers can see through as to how products can possibly be perceived.
• Live Search: Rapid response to search as soon as users begin to enter a request, finds it immediately on the spot.

The Final Verdict: ThemeForest’s paid themes deliver significantly more design options compared to those available in the Shopify Theme Store. On free themes, customers usually have a definite structure on templates they offer, including a few fonts and color choices, which can fall short of the special feature that would make a store unique. In general, both premium themes from Shopify and ThemeForest allow deep customization of the final look and feel of the shopping journey for your customers.

2. Pricing and Payment

Let us now turn our attention to the pricing of the Shopify themes available in the Shopify theme store vs Themeforest:
The Shopify Theme Store exclusively offers free themes, with notable options like Spotlight, Trade and Dawn being popular choices among many Shopify merchants. Now there are 13 free themes made available in the store.

On the other hand, paid themes on the Shopify Theme Store are way more expensive, often double or triple the price of premium themes on ThemeForest. So which one is better for your business?

Free themes come with standard features but no unique elements to make your store stand out. If you want to add special features to a free theme, you’ll need to install extra apps which will slow down your site and increase your monthly bills. In contrast, premium themes come with advanced features built-in and are performance optimized so you don’t need extra apps to access the basic features.

You might be wondering if you can try a premium Shopify theme before buying. Unfortunately, there’s no free trial for themes on ThemeForest. But you can test any paid theme from the Shopify Theme Store for free until you publish your store.

When it comes to payment, both platforms have one time payment for their paid themes.

The Final Verdict: Both platforms have prioritized secure payment for purchasing themes. While ThemeForest gives several budget choices, Shopify themes provide more robust guarantees and continuous support that can be invaluable for the success of your online store.

3. Theme Quality – Loading Speed

Besides design, the quality of a Shopify theme is important for merchants. There is one main factor to measure the quality of a Shopify theme: Loading Speed. The speed of a theme loads can affect user experience and conversion rates. A fast loading theme makes customer happy and encourages visitors to stay longer on your site.

Free Shopify themes developed and optimized by Shopify loads fast because they have less features. But if merchants want to add features like translation, marketing, SEO, upselling and cross-selling or product reviews, they often need to install third-party apps. Unfortunately, these apps not always compatible with their chosen theme and adding more apps can slow down their site.

This is not to say that paid themes are slow. Paid themes from Shopify and ThemeForest promises faster loading time. Many premium Shopify themes on ThemeForest claims loading time under 3 seconds which is important to retain visitors. Developers of these themes know that customers value fast loading site and design their product accordingly.

The Final Verdict: Both Shopify Theme Store vs ThemeForest has options for different needs. Free themes are without doubt lighter than any paid themes, but most have few advanced features, necessitating the addition of third-party apps as a workaround, which ends up adding to the slowing of performance. Paid themes on either platform will offer more features while still loading adequately speedily.

4. Security

4.1. Shopify Theme Store

• SSL Certification: SSL certificates are offered for all stores automatically by Shopify. Encryption is guaranteed for any data exchange between customers and the store. Therefore, protection for login credentials and other sensitive payment information becomes important.
• PCI Compliance: Level 1 PCI DSS compliance, which Shopify has, is the highest available for credit card processing; because it means being able to guarantee the most secure practices with using credit cards within a store, this compliance also protects customers’ payment information against fraud.
• Two Factor Authentication (2FA): Two-factor authentication is implemented by Shopify as an additional precaution on the merchant account during the login process.

4.2. ThemeForest

• Responsibility of the Developer: Security of themes purchased from ThemeForest depends largely on the developer themselves. Most developers provide updates and support. However, this frequency and quality vary. Merchants have to pick which theme suits their needs well based on the reputation of the developer regarding security.
• Security Practice Documentation: Many themes on ThemeForest provide documentation that explains how to secure the theme using well-defined best practices like customizations through child themes to keep it secure from vulnerabilities.

5. Customer Support

5.1. Shopify Theme Store

Free Shopify theme support

All free themes at Shopify Theme Store come with its own documentation and 24/7 support from Shopify. However, this support is somewhat limited at times.

For example, assume you are using the page editor of a free Shopify theme and encounter an issue; you would not receive an immediate response to such inquiry but rather be directed to a help centre that answers frequently asked questions (FAQs), which makes it a little difficult to find a specific solution to your problem.

Premium Shopify theme support

With Shopify paid themes, theme providers include their documentation and a link to their support system in the theme store description. Some themes, such as Eurus Theme Shopify, require you to purchase the theme before you can submit any questions. However, there are limitations on the types of inquiries you can make to the support teams for these themes. You are permitted to ask about:

• Fixing bugs
• Questions regarding theme settings or existing features

Support does not cover:

• Integrating third-party apps
• Development of new features
• Adding new theme settings
• Resolving issues caused by apps or third-party developers

5.2. ThemeForest

When you buy a Shopify theme from ThemeForest you get access to support from the theme authors. Each theme includes documentation and a link to the support portal in the description so you have all the resources you need to use the theme.

• Documentation: Detailed manuals to help you with installation, customization and troubleshooting.
• Support Portal: After you buy a theme you can submit support tickets. Response time is 24 hours on weekdays and 24-48 hours on weekends depending on the volume of tickets and time zone differences.

Key Factors to Choose a Perfect Shopify Theme for Your Store

1. Choose Premium Shopify Theme if

If you’re serious about selling on Shopify, investing in a premium Shopify theme is undoubtedly the best choice. While there is an upfront cost, it pales in comparison to the value these themes provide. Free themes can be a good starting point, but most merchants will find it necessary to upgrade to a paid theme eventually.

A poorly designed website can lead customers to assume that your products and customer service are equally subpar. In contrast, a clean, professional, and well-designed site enhances your credibility and encourages customer trust.

Premium Shopify themes also offer greater control over your site’s appearance and functionality. You can choose a theme that perfectly aligns with your specific needs, and if you require something, the developer will support you at any time.

While premium themes on the Shopify Theme Store may have some limitations in features, ThemeForest offers a wide range of Shopify themes packed with tools and layouts to meet your customization needs at reasonable prices.

2. Choose Free Shopify Theme if

Here are some scenarios where using a free Shopify theme might be appropriate:

• You Have Very Limited Budgets: A free theme is the best starting plan when you are on a tight budget. Just don’t spend a lot of time customizing if at all you will make changes later.
• You Have No Brand Direction Yet: It would be foolish at this point to go the route of a paid theme when you have not settled really well on your brand identity. You may end up picking one that does not really suit your really fluid style.
• Want to Explore Shopify a Bit More: With so many eCommerce platforms available today, a smart thing would be to explore them cost-free. You can do just that with Shopify.
• All That You Have Is Simple eCommerce Needs: Lastly, if you have very simple eCommerce needs such as for selling some event goods or clearing out small items, a free theme is usually sufficient.
• You Are Not Sure About eCommerce: And stick with a free theme until you have completely decided to go full on eCommerce before you start spending on it.

Wrapping Up – Which One is Better?

As shown above, the Shopify theme store vs ThemeForest comparison shows pros and cons for each. Shopify themes are known for being high quality, strict approval process and seamless integration with Shopify so it’s a good choice for merchants looking for stability and ongoing support. ThemeForest has more themes at a lower price, good for those with limited budget or specific design needs. The variety of options allows for more customization and unique designs from different developers.

Therefore, careful consideration of these factors will help you choose a theme that not only enhances your store’s aesthetics but also contributes to its overall functionality. Thanks for reading!

FAQs – Shopify Theme Store vs Themeforest

1. Why are ThemeForest Shopify themes cheaper than official Shopify themes?

As ThemeForest Shopify themes generally come at lower prices than the rigorous approval processes of the Shopify Theme Store, they are much easier to get in. While the Shopify themes pass through a strict process of evaluation as far as quality, functionality and security before being published, ThemeForest, on the other hand, has a very lax review. Difference of such would have developers offering their themes at lower prices.

2. What are the main disadvantages of using ThemeForest themes over Shopify themes?

The main disadvantages of using ThemeForest themes include inconsistent quality and support. Since the themes are created by various independent developers, the level of support and updates can vary significantly. Additionally, some ThemeForest themes may not meet Shopify’s strict compatibility requirements, which can lead to potential issues with functionality and reliability on the platform.

3. How do the update policies differ between Shopify themes and ThemeForest themes?

Shopify themes offer continuous updates and support straight from Shopify, which means they will be able to work with all these platform upgrades and security patches. ThemeForest themes, on the other hand, have limited-time support periods and, after that, users often have to pay for additional support or updates.

4. Are there any exclusive features in Shopify themes that aren’t available on ThemeForest?

Yes, Shopify themes have unique features which are designed exclusively for e-commerce use on the platform. Examples include built-in integrations with payment processing and inventory management systems of Shopify. Moreover, they are the only themes that can be installed under “theme trial” mode allowing preview before purchasing.

5. How do the loading speeds of Shopify themes compare to those on ThemeForest?

Usually, Shopify themes are geared to speed and performance as a critical part of the approval process maintaining fast load times to deliver better user experience. Many ThemeForest themes also perform excellently, but loading speeds vary from one developer to the other based on code quality and design. Consequently, some ThemeForest themes are not as optimized as their counterparts in the official store of Shopify.