In this Shopify Shine theme review, you’ll learn you don’t need to pay for a premium theme to get premium features.
💡 We meticulously evaluate Shopify themes and apps based on our hands-on experience. Read more about our comprehensive review process and methodology.
The Shine theme is a newly launched theme that aims to provide a value-for-money solution for those looking to have premium features but don’t want to pay more than $300, or worse $400, for a single theme.
This theme is not just all about looks as it combines beauty and functionality that can help you create a stunning store that’s capable of handling all your needs without added costs from other apps.
So if that’s what you’re looking for in a Shopify theme, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started!
Shopify Shine theme overview: Who’s It For?
Shine is a premium Shopify theme that’s designed to be flexible to accommodate most online store niches. It is among the newly launched themes in the ever-expanding Shopify theme store.
And since you can avail it right from the theme store, you can rest assured that this theme is built solely for Shopify stores and with merchants in mind.
Developers Of The Shine Theme - SalesHunterThemes
As mentioned, the Shopify Shine theme is fairly new to the market. However, that does not mean that it cannot go toe-to-toe with other seasoned themes in the platform.
We’re not just talking about the design of the theme itself. Instead, we’re talking about Shine theme’s developers, SalesHunter Themes.
The Shine theme by SalesHunterThemes is not just the only one created by the company. There are three well-received themes under our belt:
- Blum theme
- Electro theme
- Shine theme
Before making Shopify themes, SalesHunter developers have also been dominating the landing page space in Shopify. That’s because SalesHunter is built by the same people behind PageFly.
In case you don’t know, PageFly is the most popular and highest-ranking landing page builder for Shopify.
And speaking of service, SalesHunterThemes provide theme customers with a 24/7 support team (in the very near future), beyond just a one-time purchase.
Suitable Niches for the Shine Theme
The Shine Shopify theme is crafted to be highly flexible and adaptable, making it a strong fit for a wide array of online store niches. Its design and features are purposefully built to cater to merchants who want premium capabilities without the premium price tag.
- Cosmetics & Beauty: The Shine style works well for showcasing beauty products with a luxurious yet relatable feel, making it suitable for both high-end and affordable cosmetic stores.
Fashion & Apparel: Particularly effective for both mid-range and upscale fashion brands, including those focusing on cosmetics, thanks to its elegant templates and visually rich styling.
Active Lifestyle & Outdoor Products: The Energetic style excels for brands selling sports equipment, adventure gear, or products for active, adrenaline-loving audiences.
Retailers Seeking Modern Visuals: Merchants who want a modern, image-focused store—regardless of their specific category—will benefit from Shine’s bold visual elements.
General Stores: Shine’s flexibility means it can also accommodate a range of other verticals, especially those where brand storytelling and product imagery play a key role.
Pricing
The Shine theme sits at the lower-middle part of the spectrum at only $210.
There are more than 200 themes in Shopify (including the free ones). The price range for paid Shopify themes starts for as low as $140 to the $450 mark.
As such, the Shopify Shine theme can be considered an affordable choice.
And later in this review, as you get to know its key features, you’ll find out why it isn’t just affordable, instead, it’s a bargain.
Shine Theme Presets: Let’s Take A Tour
Now that you know more about SalesHunter, let’s take a tour of the Shopify Shine theme page by page. But before that let’s talk about the two theme styles of the Shine theme.
The Shine Shopify theme has two templates or theme styles. These are:
- Shine (formerly Serene)
- Serene (formerly Sotisphicated
- Energetic
Shine preset
The Shine theme style/preset is the newest preset for Shine theme. Thí spreset can be described as calm, inviting, and perfectly balanced to build customer trust. While some Shopify themes lean too heavily into minimalism or stark visuals—potentially making stores feel cold or impersonal—Shine finds a middle ground with a design that feels both authentic and professional.
Shine’s color palette and layout focus and harmonious arrangements and trendy design, preventing the store from feeling either overly luxurious or too generic. This approachable design helps create a trendy, serene shopping environment that appeals to beauty customers looking for brands with genuine values.
As such, the Shine theme style is particularly well-suited for beauty brands. With thoughtful customization, it can also adapt beautifully to any beauty retailers.
In the demo store, the Shine style showcases naturally-inspired products, making it an excellent fit for businesses that want to highlight elegance.
Serene theme preset
The Serene preset (formerly Sophisticated theme style) can be described as neutral and elegant with just the right amount of sophistication. Some Shopify themes go overboard when creating luxurious-looking themes. However, this could scare away potential customers as they give the impression that the products are expensive.
On the other hand, Sophisticated is well-balanced. It has the right attributes of a premium Shopify theme while maintaining a “relatable” charisma through the proper combination of colors and fonts.
As such, it is suited for mid to upscale fashion brands. But with the right customization, it can also accommodate brands that target a younger audience.
Since it features cosmetics in the demo store, Sophisticated will work best with cosmetic brands - be it an upscale brand or a more affordable one.
Energetic theme preset
The Energetic theme style is more like the opposite of the Serene theme style.
Sophisticated exudes a relaxed persona through its neutral colors, elegant fonts, and overall appearance. And on the other hand, the Energetic kind of exudes a more active, fast-paced appeal. This is evident in its italicized fonts and animations.
As such, Energetic will be a great fit for brands that cater to outdoor-loving or adrenaline-loving audiences. Thus, Energetic is best suited for sports equipment, adventure, and workout gear retailers.
But of course, you can always customize it in the theme editor to fit your online store regardless of niche.
Now that we’re done discussing the two theme styles of the Shine Shopify theme, let’s take a side-by-side tour of their pages.
Key Features Of Shine Theme
Shine by SalesHunter has a bunch of theme features that will be useful for most kinds of Shopify stores.
Do note that the prices that Shopify themes command don’t just depend on their unique designs, but also on the features that they come with out of the box.
Although the Shopify themes are naturally well-designed, it can be expected that low-priced themes would have fewer usable features than higher-priced themes.
However, this can’t be said to be true with the Shine Shopify theme.
This theme has a lot of out-of-the-box features for its price when compared with other themes. Let’s take a look at its features updated up to 2025.
SalesHunter pre-loaded the Shine theme with useful features so that new Shopify store owners won’t have to be bothered paying for additional apps for small added features.
After all, SalesHunter knows that small expenses add up as time goes by. And for a new Shopify business, savings on operational expenses could go a long way.
Here are the premium features of the Shine theme.
- Slide-out and Sticky cart
- In-menu promos and Promo pop-ups
- Countdown timer
- Product badges
- Promo banners
- Store locator
- Stock counter
- Before/after image slider
- Image hotspot
- Color swatches
- Infinite scroll
- Breadcrumbs
With these many added features that can only be found on more premium themes, the Shine Shopify theme can compete toe-to-toe with high-tier themes.
Shine theme review: Page by Page
Let's take a look at Shine's main pages:
Homepage
The homepage of the Serene theme style went bold without going overboard. If you noticed, there are no white backgrounds here. Instead, the entire homepage is clad with pastel colors that are neutral enough so as not to steal focus from the large image tiles.
The carousel for product images is a great idea because Shopify stores can showcase their best-sellers in a thin short section.
The gradient hues on certain sections add a nice flair to the overall feel of the theme. Thus, creating a more impactful first impression to your online visitors.
Similar to the Serene theme style, Energetic did not make use of white background for their homepage – which is a common direction for other Shopify themes who want to add a touch of minimalism and modernity to their design.
Both these styles are neither minimalist because colors are everywhere and product tiles are attention-grabbing. However, they are both modern in design, which many online stores would appreciate when creating a store design.
Aside from the color palette and fonts, the biggest difference between the two theme styles is the appearance of their product tiles. Sophisticated uses rounded-square image blocks while Energetic image blocks are more square and edgy.
Main Menu
The Shopify Shine theme employs a different approach in its main menus for its theme styles. Thus, giving more options for designing Shopify stores.
Shine uses in-menu images for its product collections to give more context to online shoppers. But at the same time, the mega menu is also used on other menu items to give a more expansive selection to the audience. This works well in improving website navigation as everything is within reach in just a few clicks.
The Energetic theme preset also uses in-menu images for its collections from the menu bar. However, the mega menu was not used in designing other menu items, thus giving a simpler browsing experience.
Be that as it may, if you want to use the Energetic theme style, you can create a mega menu just like that of the Sophisticated template.
Product Page
Let’s now take a look at the unique iteration for the product pages of the Shopify Shine theme.
The Sophisticated theme style carries over the gradient background from the homepage to the product page.
The product page is very spacious, allowing you to add the story behind the efforts that go into your products. And as you may know, customers love a good story. Fortunately, the Sophisticated theme style is great for visual storytelling.
The Energetic theme style is more straightforward. Product images are laid out within the page, making it more immersive to shop.
Both theme styles can be used for effective storytelling in product pages as you can add more sections to effectively convey your brand message on your product pages. And considering the large default image blocks, you get to wow your customers with high-quality product images.
Collections
The Shopify Shine theme takes an unconventional approach in terms of presenting the collections to potential shoppers.
There is no collection page by default. Instead, collections are integrated directly in the menu bar so that in just one click, the shoppers can access the collections without going to another page. This approach is applicable on both Sophisticated and energetic theme styles.
Let’s Do A Speed Test
A beautifully designed theme would be no use if it’s sluggish, no matter how many features it has.
According to Akamai UK, almost half or 40% of customers would leave an online store if it takes more than three seconds to load.
Thus, page speed is of utmost importance when choosing a theme. And we’re proud to share that the Shine Shopify theme nailed it in terms of speed optimization.
To best show what we’re talking about, let’s take a look at the test results using Google’s PageSpeed Insights.
Note: Google uses some specific parameters to measure the overall performance of a website. To know more about these parameters, check out their explanation of core web vitals.
Desktop version
The desktop version of the Shine theme’s demo store passed all six of Google’s core web vitals. This means that customers who are browsing a store that uses this theme won’t experience any delay visual and time delay.
And as you can see, the Shine theme did not merely pass the test. It passed the test with a lot more space to spare.
Mobile version
The mobile version of the Shine theme’s demo store also passes the test. Although it isn’t as lightning-fast as that of the mobile version, the mobile version would still be as snappy and users won’t see a noticeable difference.
Why is speed testing important?
Speed testing a Shopify theme before committing to it is extremely important as this affects the entire user experience. Additionally, by using PageSpeed Insight’s core web vitals, you’ll see how themes perform in a multidimensional facet.
The speed test results also speak volumes as regards a theme’s code architecture. And as you witnessed, the Shopify Shine theme is well-designed not just in terms of looks, but in terms of back-end architecture.
What merchants say about Shine theme?
The Shine theme by SalesHunter is truly a unique theme that does not conform to the usual routes of other Shopify themes.
For example, most themes use a solid color for the background, whereas Sophisticated makes use of a gradient background.
For a more seamless browsing experience, the Shine theme also integrated the collections within the menu. Whereas other themes would redirect customers to a different page.
All these contribute to creating a Shopify store that’s optimized to convert visitors into customers.
Overall, the Shine theme exudes a modern overall feel. It’s snappy, the images are crisp, and the design itself is unique.
Shopify store owners have shared a range of feedback after using the Shine theme. The majority mention standout support and customizable design, while there are a few notes of criticism as well.
Highlights from Real User Reviews in the official Shopify Theme Store:
Exceptional Support:
“This theme is great but their support is even better. I've been chatting with them for a couple hours today as I solve a few issues on my site. The support rep has tackled every problem with 100% success and the chat replies are near instant. I am so impressed and thankful. I do recommend you try this theme.”
Another store owner added:
“Amazing! Extremely reliable service with lightning-fast response. This is the best theme provider I've seen so far. They solved my problem perfectly. I'm sure they will continue to get better and better.”
Smooth Customization Experience:
“Thank you so much for your generous review. I am glad that you found Shine's beautiful and customizable design, this is a motivation for us to improve our theme and service to serve you better. If you need any help, please do let us know!”
Continued Care from the Developer:
“Amazing theme & top-notch support! … Thank you so much for your amazing feedback — it truly means the world to us! 🌟 If you ever need assistance or have any feedback, we’re always here for you.”
Constructive Criticism
While having many positive reviews, Shine still received constructive criticism review for its image quality, yet the theme provider is willing to optimize further via custom service if you need:
“I definitely don't recommend it. I couldn't find a solution for the photos. The first photo quality is very bad for some reason.”
Developer response: “We’re truly sorry for the frustration and negative experience you’ve had with our theme. We’d greatly appreciate it if you could check your email and we can work together to address this.”
These reviews reflect that Shine theme users value responsive and knowledgeable support, as well as the theme’s flexible and attractive design. While most feedback is strongly positive, some users have encountered specific challenges, such as image quality, which the development team appears committed to resolving.
Store Examples Using the Shine Theme
Here are three Shopify stores built with the Shine theme, highlighting their niches, design approaches, and how they leverage the theme’s unique features:
Hector Director
Niche: Premium Cat Products & Accessories
Key Shine Features:
Calm, trustworthy design with a serene color palette and elegant type.
Strong storytelling focus, emphasizing quality, ethical sourcing, and local craftsmanship.
Product presentation combines detailed features with authentic customer testimonials, building buyer confidence.
Homepage and product pages blend lifestyle imagery with clear calls-to-action, echoing Shine’s adaptable sections and trust-building layouts.
Why Shine Works Well:
The store’s emphasis on artisan quality, style, and ethical manufacturing is amplified by a layout that feels bespoke yet approachable—a signature of Shine. The theme’s sections support both visual storytelling and product education, encouraging shoppers to connect emotionally with the brand.
HOUSE by Jack of All Trades
Niche: Fashion & Apparel, Multi-Brand Boutique
Key Shine Features:
Modular homepage structure allows brands and products to be spotlighted with editorial style.
Visual focus on brand imagery, product gallery sliders, and collections, using Shine’s flexible content sections.
Store info, new arrivals, and shop news are seamlessly integrated for quick, effective communication.
Cart and product pages designed for clarity, enhancing user experience and supporting higher conversions.
Why Shine Works Well:
The store uses Shine’s customizable sections to feature multiple brands and SKUs, maintaining a high-end boutique feel without overwhelm. Navigational and newsletter modules also utilize Shine’s theme blocks for announcements and sales banners, making the experience both functional and fresh.
Hello Period Bloody Good Workplace
Niche: Health & Sustainable Period Products
Key Shine Features:
Warm, inclusive design with gentle icons and rounded galleries, in line with Shine’s “relatable sophistication.”
Homepage built for trust with award highlights, ethical manufacturing notes, and direct customer voices.
Product pages include strong educational content, FAQs, and quick-access to subscription offers.
User testimonial and review sections reinforce the brand’s positive reputation, supported by Shine’s built-in trust elements.
Why Shine Works Well:
Shine’s emphasis on trust, flexibility, and visual clarity supports the brand’s educational and community-driven approach. Custom content blocks showcase sustainability metrics and customer stories, while product details and add-to-cart actions are always clear and accessible
Shine Theme Vs. Other Themes
It’s true, Shine has a bunch of theme features that can be compared with a more expensive theme from the Shopify theme store.
Let’s take the Prestige theme as an example.
Priced at $380, it has very few advantages when compared to the Shine theme in terms of features.
The Prestige theme, which is almost double the price of the Shine theme only has these additional features:
- Promo tiles
- Right-to-left
- Recently viewed
- Animation
- Ingredients/nutritional information
- Usage information
- Collection page navigation
These added features may not be considered major ones as these can be optional when designing a store. For example, not all Shopify stores need animation in their websites. In fact, we’ve only seen a few Shopify stores with animations as it can be taxing to the load speed – which can be detrimental to user experience.
Additionally, nutritional and usage information is a case-to-case application as these can only be useful for food and beverage businesses. Be that as it may, you can always design a section out of any theme if you want to add these.
Lastly, the Shine theme does not have collection page navigation as it takes an unconventional approach by integrating collections right at the mega menu for faster access. As such, it’s a matter of preference on which one you would choose.
Wrapping It Up… What We Think About The Shine Theme
After exploring the Shine Shopify theme, you might have formed your own opinion of it. And truth be told, people would have varying appreciation for this theme.
There are more than 200 theme choices in the Shopify theme store, over 800+ presets updated in July 2025. But at the end of the day, you can only choose one for your online store. As such, choosing a theme is one of the most important decisions you’ll make early on in your ecommerce journey.
Not all themes are the same. And as we’ve proven in this article, the price is not the main criterion that defines whether a theme would be good or not,
It all boils down to the features, architecture, and speed. And although the Shopify Shine theme is not perfect, it has successfully proved itself worthy of consideration.
To recap, here are our key takeaways from this review:
- Price - for only $210, the Shine Shopify theme is amongst the most affordable ones in the Shopify theme stores.
- Speed - the Shine theme has a clean code architecture, resulting in highly responsive performance for both mobile and desktop users.
- Design - this theme takes a different approach in terms of design. It’s not intimidating, but at the same time, it isn’t lackluster.
- Premium features - in our comparison with the Prestige theme, which is way more expensive than the Shine theme, we saw that their features are almost identical.
With all these in mind, the Shopify Shine theme is definitely a bargain, isn’t it?
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