Buying A Shopify Theme On Etsy? Here’s Why That’s A Mistake

I get it – you want a an eCommerce website that looks good and doesn’t take a million hours (and two dozen YouTube videos) to set up. So you hop on Etsy, thinking, a gorgeous theme for half the price of a Shopify store?

STOP. Do not pass go. 

I’ve been there, searching for a website theme that fits my brand without turning setup into a full-time job. But after years of working with Shopify stores, let me save you some time and headaches. 

Buying your Shopify theme on Etsy is a mistake. A costly, frustrating, ‘why-did-I-do-this’ kind of mistake. 

And no, this isn’t about gatekeeping or me trying to convince you to drop more cash. It’s about setting your business up for success instead of fighting with a clunky, unsupported, SEO-nightmare of a theme that looks great but doesn’t function the way you need. 

So, before you hit ‘Add To Cart’ on that Etsy theme, let’s go over why it’s not as good of a deal as it seems. 

Shopify Theme Store Requirements: The Built-In Quality Check Etsy Doesn’t Have

Not all Shopify themes are created equal – and that’s exactly why Shopify has strict requirements for all the themes in its official theme store. When you buy a theme from the Shopify Theme Store, you’re getting a product that’s been tested, optimized, and built to work with Shopify’s platform. This means your ecommerce website will be built for success from the get go.

Etsy themes? Not so much. 

Shopify-approved themes must meet a set of specific technical, usability, and performance requirements before they can be sold. That means they’re designed to:

• Support essential eCommerce and premium features, like:
  • Automatic discount calculations
  • Accelerated checkout buttons
  • Advanced search and filtering
  • Multi-level menus
  • Smart product recommendations
  • Variant images
• Prioritize SEO & site speed
• Pass design & website accessibility standards
• Minimalist designs built from designers who understand user experience
• Mobile responsiveness

Now, let’s compare this to Shopify themes sold on Etsy. 

Many themes on Etsy look beautiful in demo but are loaded with oversized images, massive banners, and bloated code that slow down your website speed and put you in Google’s bad book. 

And if that wasn’t enough? Many Etsy themes aren’t accessible, meaning screen readers can’t interpret text in images or banners. If your site isn’t accessible, you’re not just losing potential customers – you could be setting yourself up for major legal troubles. 

At the end of the day, Shopify’s strict theme requirements aren’t for show—they exist to make sure your store runs smoothly, ranks well on Google, and gives customers the best experience possible.

Etsy themes? No rules, no oversight, and no guarantee they’ll work for your eCommerce website.

Who Do You Call When Your Shopify Theme Has Issues?

A Shopify theme isn’t just about looking good – it needs to work. And when something goes wrong (because it’s tech, it will at some point), who’s got your back?

If you buy a premium Shopify theme, you’re covered. Shopify requires all theme developers to provide ongoing technical support and respond to support requests within two business days. That means if something breaks, you’re not left losing sales or hoping some random internet forum knows how to fix it.

As for Etsy…there’s no guarantee the seller will provide support when you hit a hiccup. And unless you’re a developer yourself, that means spending hours troubleshooting, paying someone to fix it, or worst-case scenario, starting over with a new theme.

So, if you’re investing in a Shopify premium theme, ask yourself: Do I want real support, or do I want to cross my fingers and hope nothing breaks?

What Happens When Your Shopify Theme Needs an Update?

Your Shopify store isn’t static – the platform updates, new features roll out, and security patches happen. Your theme needs to keep up.

If you buy a theme from the Shopify Theme Store, you get ongoing updates that keep your store running smoothly. Plus, developers routinely scan for bugs, improve functionality, and ensure compatibility with Shopify’s latest changes. 

Etsy themes? Once you download it, that’s it. No updates, no bug fixes, no improvements. And if Shopify makes a big update to its platform, your theme could break overnight. 

A theme isn’t a one-and-done purchase. And if it can’t evolve, your business will outgrow it. 

Who Tests Your Shopify Theme Before You Buy It?

When a developer submits a theme to Shopify’s store, Shopify doesn’t just glance at it and throw it in the store. They put it through its paces. Shopify’s team tests for:

• Technical performance – ensuring it meets Shopify’s strict theme requirements
• Online Store 2.0 compatibility – so it works with Shopify’s latest features
• Lighthouse performance & accessibility – making sure it’s fast, SEO-friendly, and usable for all customers
• Design & UX standards – so it’s functional, intuitive, and built to sell
• Responsive images – meaning your site looks great on mobile and desktop
• Documentation & support – ensuring developers provide instructions and help when needed
• Demo stores – so you can actually preview how the theme looks in action

Now, let’s compare this to Etsy themes.

As far as I know, there’s zero quality control for themes sold on Etsy. No testing, no review process, no performance checks. In fact, many developers whose themes get rejected by Shopify turn around and list them on Etsy instead.

So, when you buy a theme from the Shopify Theme Store, you know it’s been vetted, tested, and built to last.

How Much Will an Etsy Shopify Theme Actually Cost You?

Ok hear me out.

A Shopify Theme Store theme costs $200–$400 USD, and yeah, that might seem expensive upfront. But I’d bet good money that you’ll end up spending more if you go with an Etsy Shopify theme store. Here’s where that cheaper price tag starts costing you more:

1. Spending time fixing things yourself instead of building your ecommerce website
2. Paying a developer to fix bugs and improve functionality
3. Buying a second, third, or fourth theme whenever there’s an update
4. Losing customers to a broken or slow website

So, is an Etsy Shopify theme really cheaper? Or are you just paying less upfront and more later?

What Are Some Of The Best Shopify Themes?

The Shopify store offers a number of versatile themes with powerful features. While I’ve used many over the years, I keep coming back to Shopify designer Maestrooo’s Shopify themes. In fact, I normally recommend their themes to any of our clients who are building a new site or need to re-theme.

Now, I could bore you with a massive list of themes, but here’s what really matters: these themes come packed with dynamic features that usually cost big bucks to custom-build.

Quick story: I was recently working with a client on the Prestige theme and discovered it includes variant product linking right out of the box. Translation? If you’re selling a product in multiple colors, you can display them separately on collection pages but merge them into one seamless product page. Trust me – this is HUGE. We’ve charged hundreds to build this exact feature for clients in the past, and here it is, included for free.

Why else do I love their themes?

• They’re built to convert (aka make you money)
• They look absolutely stunning
• Excellent performance and loading times
• Their support team actually responds (and knows their stuff)

The Right Shopify Theme Saves You Time, Money, and Frustration

Let me be clear: I don’t have an issue with people selling themes on Etsy. As a small business owner, you have to start somewhere, and getting approved for the Shopify Theme Store isn’t easy if you’re not super tech-savvy. 

But I’ve heard countless horror stories from clients who bought a theme from Etsy, only to find themselves in a nightmare of broken layouts, missing features, and zero support. And when you’re running a business, you don’t have time for all that. 

A Shopify-backed, tested, and proven theme will save you hours of frustration, unexpected costs, and the headache of fixing something that never should have been broken in the first place.

So do yourself and customers a favor – spend the money once, get a proper Shopify theme, and focus on running your business instead of fixing your eCommerce website.

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Hi! If we haven’t already met, I’m Laura! Founder of Dolgify and author of this little blog. I help small to mid-sized sustainable merchants build eco-friendly stores and ethical stories their conscious customers deserve. If you liked this post and want to learn more, here are a few ways you can connect with me:

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