How to Detect What Shopify Theme a Store Is Using [5 Free Methods]

TL;DR: Use a free theme detector like Store Inspector to find any Shopify theme in one click. Or view the page source and search for Shopify.theme. We looked at 191 top stores and found 69% use custom themes you can't buy.

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You found a Shopify store with a design you love. Now you want to know what theme they use.

Maybe you want to buy the same theme. Maybe you're checking out competitors. Maybe you're an agency scoping out a prospect.

Here's the thing: not every store uses a theme you can buy. And even when they do, finding the name takes some digging.

This guide shows you five free ways to find any Shopify theme. We'll also share data on what themes 191 top stores actually use. Spoiler: most of them use custom themes.

Why Bother Detecting Themes?

A store's theme choice tells you a lot. A $400 theme means they invest in their store. A custom theme means serious budget. A free theme with no changes? They might be just starting out.

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What 191 Top Stores Actually Use

Before we get to the methods, let's look at real data. We checked 191 Shopify stores in the StoreInspect database across 15 categories.

The Big Finding: 69% Use Custom Themes

This was a surprise. Nearly 7 in 10 top stores don't use a theme you can buy. They paid for custom work.

What this means:

• If you can't find a theme in the Theme Store, it's probably custom
• You can't copy a top store's look just by buying their theme
• Many stores start with a Theme Store theme, then go custom later

Most Popular Themes We Found

Dawn is everywhere. It's Shopify's best free theme, and it's actually good. Plenty of stores doing 6-7 figures run Dawn with some tweaks.

See all themes with speed scores →

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5 Ways to Detect Any Shopify Theme

Method 1: Use a Theme Detector Extension

The fastest way. Install an extension, visit a store, click the icon. Done.

Time: 5 seconds | Cost: Free

How to do it:

1. Install a theme detector extension
2. Go to any Shopify store
3. Click the extension icon
4. See the theme name and type

Best options:

Store Inspector is ours. It's free and shows more than just themes - you get apps, tracking pixels, and traffic estimates too.

Our take: This is the method we use. It's fast, accurate, and you get extra context. The only downside is you need Chrome.

Install Store Inspector free →

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Method 2: Check the Source Code

Don't want to install anything? You can find the theme yourself in the page source.

Time: 2-5 minutes | Cost: Free

How to do it:

1. Go to the Shopify store
2. Right-click anywhere on the page
3. Click "View Page Source" (or press Ctrl+U on PC, Cmd+Option+U on Mac)
4. Press Ctrl+F or Cmd+F to search
5. Type Shopify.theme and hit enter

What you'll see:

Shopify.theme = {
  "name": "Dawn",
  "id": 123456789,
  "theme_store_id": 887,
  "role": "main"
};

The name tells you the theme. The theme_store_id tells you if it's from the official Theme Store.

What the ID means:

Common theme IDs:

If you find an ID you don't know, Google "theme_store_id: [number]" to find the theme.

Our take: This works great and needs no install. It just takes a bit longer than an extension.

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Method 3: Look for Theme CSS Files

Sometimes Shopify.theme doesn't show up. Try this instead.

Time: 2-5 minutes | Cost: Free

How to do it:

1. Open the page source (same as Method 2)
2. Search for .css?v= or theme.css
3. Look at the file name

What you might find:

<link href="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0123/4567/8901/t/1/assets/dawn.css?v=..." rel="stylesheet">

See that dawn.css? That's your theme name.

Pro tip: Also search for layout/theme.liquid. Developers sometimes leave comments with the theme name.

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Method 4: Use Online Detector Tools

Web tools that check stores for you. No install needed.

Time: 1-2 minutes | Cost: Free (with limits)

Options:

How to use:

1. Go to the detector site
2. Paste the store URL
3. Click detect
4. See the result

Our take: These work okay for quick checks. But they're less accurate for custom themes, and some want you to sign up. Extensions are better for regular use.

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Method 5: Check URL Patterns

A quick way to confirm a site uses Shopify (then use other methods for the theme).

Time: 10 seconds | Cost: Free

How to do it:

1. Add /admin to any store URL (like store.com/admin)
2. If you see a Shopify login page, it's Shopify

You can also try /collections or /products - these URLs are Shopify-specific.

This doesn't tell you the theme directly. But it confirms you're looking at a Shopify store before you dig deeper.

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Free vs Paid vs Custom: What's the Difference?

Now you can find themes. Here's how to think about what you find.

When to Use Each

Go with Free (Dawn) if:

• You're just starting
• Budget is tight
• Speed matters most
• You'll add features with apps

Go with Paid ($180-$400) if:

• You need specific features (mega menu, better filtering)
• You want real support
• Your niche matches the theme's focus
• You're past $10k/month

Go with Custom ($5k+) if:

• You need to look different from competitors
• You need features no theme has
• You're past $100k/month
• Speed and conversion are critical

The data: 69% of top stores use custom themes. But most started with Dawn or a paid theme and switched later.

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Which Themes Work in Which Niches

From our data:

Browse top stores by category →

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Theme Speed Comparison

If you're picking a theme, speed matters. Here's what we measured:

Hot take: Free themes are often faster than paid ones. Shopify puts a lot of work into Dawn. Paid themes add features, but features add code, and code slows things down.

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Why Do 69% of Top Stores Use Custom Themes?

This is the question. Here's what we think:

1. They Need to Stand Out

If you and your competitor both use Impulse, you look the same. Custom themes let you build something nobody else has.

2. They Have Specific Needs

Theme Store themes work for everyone. That's the problem. Big stores need things like:

• Custom checkout flows
• Product builders
• Unusual integrations
• Multi-language setups

3. They Want Speed

Custom themes only include what the store needs. Less code, faster pages. When you're spending $100k/month on ads, a 0.5 second speed boost pays for itself.

4. They're Testing Constantly

7-figure stores test everything. With a custom theme, they can try new layouts, move buttons, and make quick changes. Theme Store themes are harder to modify deeply.

What Custom Themes Cost

Real examples:

• Glossier - Custom theme, built in-house
• Gymshark - Custom for high traffic
• Allbirds - Custom for brand storytelling

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What to Do After You Find the Theme

If It's a Theme Store Theme

1. Check the theme page - Go to themes.shopify.com and look at features and pricing
2. Try the demo - Every theme has a preview you can click through
3. Read reviews - See what other store owners say
4. Look at similar options - Browse our themes page before you decide

If It's Custom

1. Don't try to copy it - You can't buy a custom theme
2. Note what you like - Is it minimal? Bold? Editorial? Find Theme Store themes with a similar vibe
3. List the features - What does it do that you want?
4. Budget for it - Custom means $10k+ minimum

If You're Looking for Leads

Theme choice is a good signal:

For agencies: Theme data is just the start. StoreInspect lets you filter stores by tech stack, traffic, and category - then export with verified emails.

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FAQ

Can you copy someone's Shopify theme?

You can buy the same Theme Store theme. But you can't copy a custom theme - it's theirs. And copying exact colors, fonts, and images from any theme might break copyright. Get inspired, don't clone.

What does theme_store_id: null mean?

It means the theme isn't from Shopify's Theme Store. It's either custom-built or from somewhere else. Most top stores show null because they paid for custom work.

Why do big brands use custom themes?

Three reasons: they want to look different, they need features regular themes don't have, and they want pages to load faster. When you're doing millions in sales, the $25k+ cost is worth it.

Is a $400 theme worth it over free Dawn?

Depends. Dawn is actually great for most stores. Pay for a theme when you need features Dawn doesn't have - like mega menus, advanced filtering, or special product layouts. If Dawn works, keep the $400.

How accurate are theme detectors?

Very accurate for Theme Store themes. Extensions like Store Inspector read the actual theme data from the page. For heavily tweaked or headless stores, detectors might just say "Custom."

Can you detect themes on headless stores?

Usually no. Headless stores use Shopify for data but show a custom frontend (often React or Next.js). There's no Shopify theme to detect.

How often do stores change themes?

Rarely. Switching themes is painful - you have to redo content, apps, and customizations. Most stores change every 2-4 years, usually during a rebrand or big growth push.

What's the best free Shopify theme?

Dawn. It's Shopify's flagship theme. Fast (88/98 speed scores), supports all new features, and works for most stores. Start with Dawn unless you have a specific reason not to.

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Quick Summary

Key findings from 191 stores:

• 69% use custom themes
• 16% use paid themes
• 15% use free themes (Dawn wins)
• Top stores invest in custom as they grow

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Ready to find Shopify themes?

For checking individual stores: Get the free Store Inspector extension. One click shows you themes, apps, pixels, and traffic.

For finding leads at scale: StoreInspect lets you search stores by theme, apps, traffic, and niche. Export with verified emails for outreach.

Get Store Inspector Free → | Find Qualified Leads →

Or start browsing: Themes with speed data → | Top stores by category →