Shopify Horizon Theme

 

 

The Horizon Theme is new, modern, and flexible — and at first glance, it seems to deliver exactly what many brands are looking for: more design freedom without code, and more flexibility for storytelling. But how much of that promise holds up in practice? And is it really worth the switch?

 

We’ve tested Shopify’s new theme framework in depth — here’s what Horizon can actually do, where it delivers, and where it still falls short.

 

What is Shopify Horizon?

Shopify introduced Horizon as part of the latest Shopify Editions Summer 2025 – the biggest theme update since "Dawn". With it comes a breath of fresh air for Shopify’s design system. Horizon launches as a new free Shopify theme with a clear promise: more design flexibility, especially for non-dev teams. And yes — you notice that right away.

 

 

The key difference compared to previous themes? A modular architecture with deeply nestable blocks. Sections and groups can be nested up to eight levels deep, opening up entirely new layout options. This is supported by an AI-powered interface, enabling teams to generate new blocks via text input.

 

But how relevant is this in real-world setups?

 

What Horizon means for store managers

If you manage a Shopify store, you know the balancing act: expectations around design, speed, and flexibility are growing — while time and budgets are often tight.

 

Horizon addresses this tension:

• Faster setups through reusable modules: Once created, sections or groups can be saved as global blocks and reused across the store — essentially a copy/paste function. This can save hours, especially for brands running seasonal campaigns or working with multiple landing pages.

 

• More control without developers: Sections can be customized visually and structurally — from typography, spacing, alignment and color settings to media behavior. That allows non-technical teams to move faster.

 

•  A new level of design flexibility: Horizon comes with pre-built sections designed for strong storytelling — including hero sliders, feature grids, and testimonial modules.

 

•  Layouts without custom code: The deeply nestable structure lets you build groups inside of groups — ideal for modular design systems. You can also define background images or videos at each layer, and apply transparent overlays (like a 50% black layer) for added visual depth.

 

 

One standout detail: precise padding control. Every section allows detailed control over spacing — no CSS required.

 

Also helpful: the new color scheme system. Colors are grouped thematically (e.g. "Primary Accent", "Highlight Background") rather than manually assigned — a big win for larger teams or stores with multiple editors.

 

The flip side: where Horizon still falls short

As promising as Horizon is, there are still areas where the new theme doesn’t fully deliver.

• Limited responsive control: While width and height settings for images are highly flexible (great for custom grids), there’s no option to define separate layouts or assets for desktop and mobile. Want a different image on mobile? Not possible — a real drawback in our opinion.

 

• Lacking developer depth: The theme may be modular, but it’s neither “clean” nor well-documented. For custom logic or animation, dev teams will need to dig in and do a lot of extra work.

 

• No built-in design language: Horizon feels intentionally generic — designed to fit many use cases. That makes it flexible, but it also means you need to bring your own visual system and adapt it to Horizon’s structure.

 

• Missing basic features: Some UI standards are simply absent. For example, a sticky “Add to Cart” button — a proven conversion element — is not available out of the box. These types of features require custom development.

 

Design isn’t just visual – it’s also about accessibility. Why accessibility matters in e-commerce and how it shapes user experience, we explore on our blog.

 

Who should use the Horizon Theme?

Horizon is a good fit if...

• ...you want to launch flexible content with internal teams quickly.

• ...you need to spin up a new Shopify store or microsite fast and lean.

 

For leaner setups, Horizon can also make sense from a cost perspective – we break it down in our Deep Dive on Shopify’s Total Cost of Ownership.

 

 

But you should be cautious if...

• ...you need lots of custom or highly varied sections.

• ...you’re working from a fixed design (e.g. from Figma) that needs to be pixel-perfect.

 

Our Take: good foundation — but not enough for brands

Horizon is a clear signal: Shopify is moving in the right direction. More freedom, better storytelling, more modularity. For smaller projects or simple storefronts, Horizon is a solid and flexible starting point.

 

But: it’s not enough for brand-led eCommerce. Horizon lacks visual depth. No cohesive style. No strong design voice. Many of the built-in sections are functional — but feel generic.

 

Our bottom line: Horizon makes content creation easier — but it doesn’t replace strong design. For more complex stores and brand-centric experiences, Horizon alone isn’t enough. That said, it’s a great foundation — and a sign of where Shopify is headed. If you're building a more sophisticated store, Horizon can still be a useful starting point — but only if paired with your own system of visual and structural components.

 

Planning a custom theme or a modular store setup? Our Shopify UX & design services support you from concept to launch. Get in touch – we’re happy to help.