Guides
Everything on Shopify themes & apps.
Practical, original guides for store owners — how to find a theme, choose one, read a competitor's stack, and understand what a detector is telling you.
What a Shopify theme detector does
How detection works, what it can see, and when the result says "custom."
How-to4 ways to find the theme a store uses
From a one-click tool to reading source by hand — with the trade-offs of each.
How-toHow to tell if a site is built on Shopify
The signals that give a Shopify store away, and why some hide them.
ChoosingDawn vs the other free Shopify themes
How the free themes compare, and a 15-minute way to decide.
BasicsWhat "custom theme" really means
Why the best stores return no theme name — and what that tells you.
TroubleshootingWhy a store shows no theme
Locked, headless, modified, or not Shopify — every empty result explained.
ResearchCheck a competitor's Shopify apps
A store's app stack reveals its whole growth strategy. How to read it.
LegalCan you copy a theme you found?
What you're actually allowed to do — and the smarter research move.
How-toChange your theme without losing content
A safe, step-by-step switch — nothing broken, no products lost.
How-toCheck your theme's name and version
Three ways to find exactly which theme and version your store runs.
How-toCustomise a Shopify theme (beginner)
Make a template feel like your brand — no coding required.
ExplainerOnline Store 2.0 themes explained
What "OS 2.0" means, why it matters, and how to tell if yours is one.
How-toSpeed up a slow Shopify theme
Practical fixes for a faster store — images, apps, themes, fonts.
Buyer's guideThe best free Shopify themes
How to choose among the free themes, matched to your store type.
Buyer's guideBest paid themes for conversion
What premium themes buy you, and when they're worth the cost.
ComparisonFree vs paid Shopify themes
What's the same, what paid adds, and the maths that decides.
Buyer's guideBest themes for dropshipping
What one-product and dropshipping stores need from a theme.
Buyer's guideBest themes for clothing & fashion
Big imagery, filtering, clean variants, an editorial feel.
FrameworkChoose a theme for your product type
A simple framework to match a theme to what you sell.
ResearchRun a competitor theme audit in 15 min
A fast, repeatable process to learn how top stores are built.
StrategyWhat a theme reveals about strategy
Read a storefront like a strategist — themes tell a story.
How-toShopify vs WooCommerce vs BigCommerce
The fingerprints that reveal which platform a store runs.
OptimisationTheme mistakes that hurt conversion
The avoidable errors quietly costing stores sales — and fixes.
Getting startedHow to name your Shopify store
A simple process and five tests for choosing a name you won't regret.
FinanceHow to calculate profit margins
The numbers that decide whether a product is worth selling.
How-toWhat platform is a website built on?
Identify Shopify, WordPress, Wix, Squarespace and more in seconds.
How-toFind the fonts & colors a site uses
Identify any website's typefaces and brand palette for inspiration.
Getting startedCheck if a domain is available
Find an available, memorable domain you'll be happy with for years.
How-toWhat Shopify theme is this store using?
The exact steps to identify the theme behind any Shopify store.
ExplainerAre theme detectors accurate?
What a detector can and can't tell you — and how to trust it.
GuideFree theme detector: what to look for
What separates an accurate detector from the rest.
BeginnerWhat is Shopify and how does it work?
A plain-English guide to the platform, for complete beginners.
ReferenceShopify theme glossary
Sections, blocks, presets, schema and more — decoded simply.
Getting startedHow much does a Shopify store cost?
Every cost category — essentials, extras, and what beginners forget.
How-toCompare two Shopify stores side by side
Put two stores next to each other — theme, apps, fonts, colours — and turn the differences into decisions.
How-toFind every app a Shopify store uses
What detection can see, what it can't, and how to read an app stack.
StrategyWhat a store's apps reveal about its business model
Read a stack like a strategist — the tools give away how a store makes money.
ResearchResearch a competitor's Shopify tech stack
A repeatable workflow from first scan to a shareable summary.
ExplainerCan you see a password-protected store's theme?
Usually yes — here's what's visible on a locked store, and what isn't.
ResearchHow to tell if a Shopify store is actually successful
You can't see revenue — but public signals give a lot away. How to read them.
ComparisonShopify vs Etsy: which should you sell on?
They solve different problems. A simple framework to decide which fits you.
How-toBuild a store like a competitor's — without copying
Reverse-engineer what makes a rival store work, legally and effectively.
GuideHow to check if a Shopify store is legit before you buy
A practical checklist to tell a real store from a scam — before you enter your card.
ResearchHow to find where a Shopify store gets its products
What you can and can't discover about a store's supplier and sourcing model.
How-toWhy is a Shopify store slow — and how to check
Find what's dragging a store down — apps, theme, images — and what fixes it.
ExplainerHow much do Shopify stores actually make?
The honest numbers — why most earn little, and what separates the winners.
Getting startedHow to start a Shopify store with no money
What's genuinely free, what you can't avoid paying for, and where not to waste.
Buyer's guideThe apps successful Shopify stores actually use
Not a generic list — the categories the winners consistently rely on.