Shopify themes have gotten really pricey lately, and their prices keep going up. A simple Shopify theme can now cost around $400. What’s even crazier is that prices have almost doubled over the last three years. Many of you have asked if there’s a way to get these premium themes for free. If that’s you, stick around—I’ll explain everything.
First off, there are mainly three types of Shopify themes you should know about:
- Themes from the Shopify Theme Store:
The store offers 12 free themes and hundreds of paid ones. The problem? These paid themes are really expensive, and honestly, they don’t offer much more than the free ones. I’ve used many of these themes for clients, and to be honest, the difference between the paid and free themes is hardly noticeable. In my opinion, these paid themes don’t justify their price tags. - Third-Party Themes:
These are themes sold outside the Shopify store. They’re usually more affordable, easy to use, and come packed with premium templates and customization features. Plus, they often include built-in tools that save you money down the line. Between the two, third-party themes are by far the better choice.
Within third-party options, you’ll find some that require a monthly subscription and others that come with a one-time payment and a premium license.
Now, you might be wondering if there’s a legal way to get these premium themes for free. The short answer: yes, but with important cautions.
Here’s something important—some people download pirated themes from shady websites or Telegram groups, hoping to save money. But this is both illegal and risky. Using pirated themes can open your store to hackers. A $400 theme for free sounds too good to be true for a reason—these themes can be corrupted and may compromise your store’s security. I’ve seen this happen before: a client lost access to his whole website because he was using a pirated theme. Imagine your store becoming popular and earning thousands a day, only to lose it all because of a stolen theme. Not worth the risk.
So, instead of using shady sources, here are three legit ways to get premium Shopify themes, even if you’re tight on budget:
1. Use Premium Themes That Offer Free Plans
Some premium themes offer a free plan with limited features but still much better than the free Shopify store themes. For example, Debutify is a popular theme with a free plan and subscription options ranging from $29 to $150 monthly. It’s user-friendly, responsive, and fast. Another example is Ecomi, which offers a “light” version of their premium theme for free. When choosing these, always check user reviews and tutorials to make sure they’re trustworthy.
2. Explore Premium Theme Marketplaces
There are websites that sell third-party premium Shopify themes at reasonable prices, often between $20 to $90. These marketplaces sometimes let you download multiple themes for a monthly fee. What’s cool is that when you cancel, you still keep access to the themes you downloaded, but you won’t get updates anymore. This is perfect for freelancers or developers designing multiple client stores on a budget.
Plus, these sites often offer free resources every month, including some premium themes that you can download legally at no cost—so keep an eye out for those monthly freebies!
3. Clone Website Designs with AI Page Builders
There’s a clever way to get the look of premium themes without buying them. Tools like GemPages let you copy any Shopify store’s design in under 3 minutes using AI. You don’t have to pay hundreds for a theme. Instead, you can use their free page builder along with any free Shopify theme to build a professional-looking store. GemPages also offers many premade templates that follow the latest design trends.
Bonus:
If you want to skip the hassle, I’m also offering a collection of over 200 premium Shopify themes for free. This way, you can explore tons of options and find the perfect look for your store without worrying about cost or legality.
To sum up:
Buying premium Shopify themes can be expensive, but you don’t have to break the bank or risk your store’s safety. Stick to legit options like free plans from premium themes, trusted marketplaces, or AI-powered design tools. And remember, I’ve got 200+ premium themes ready for you to use—completely free and safe.
