How to see what Shopify Theme another store is using? The 3 sneaky ways to detect your competitor’s edge

You’re scrolling through a Shopify store for inspiration, and BAM – this one store is really crushing it. The layout, the vibe, the speed, and the design? – Everything just feels right. It’s like it was built by mind readers who know exactly what your customers crave. You lean in, squint at the screen, and whisper to yourself: “What Shopify theme is this? I need that magic on my site.”

You’re not alone. That’s a question countless store owners, designers, and competitors ask every single day. And today, you’re going to learn exactly how to answer it – no fluff, no mystery, just clean techniques and insight. Stop guessing at designs; instead, spy on winners. Today, we’re flipping that script. We’ll uncover every method to detect “what Shopify theme is this,” from quick hacks to deep dives. And by the end? You’ll have more ammunition than those basic “theme detector” blogs – and you’ll even see a theme I like (shameless plug ahead) that you might want to try.

What Shopify Theme is this? – 3 simple methods to findout!

Method 1: Online Detectors – Zero Install, Instant Gratification (Easy)

Laziest method? Paste and pray. These web tools scrape the URL for theme deets – no downloads, no fuss.

What are some online Shopify theme detector tools to use?

• Shopify theme detector by Ecomscout: This tool identifies the exact theme a Shopify store is using – within seconds. It’s perfect for store owners who want to replicate high-performing designs, find inspiration, or evaluate competitors’ storefront setups without manual checking.

• Shopthemedetector.com
• Meetanshi.com/shopify-theme-detector
• Pipiads.com/tools/shopify-theme-detector
• Shopscan.app
• Bonus: BuiltWith.com – Free tier scans tech stack, including themes.

To use those tools, just copy the URL of the store you want to detect and paste it into the search bar, hit enter, and you will have the information you want.

Method 2: Chrome Extensions – Your Pocket Sherlock Holmes (Medium)

Why sweat the source when extensions do the heavy lifting? These bad boys scan in seconds, spitting out theme names, IDs, and even store links. Over 90,000 users swear by ’em for daily recon.

Here are the top three built-in extensions that help you answer the question “What Shopify theme is this?” quickly:

1. EcomScout – free Chrome extension to spy on Shopify stores: EcomScout instantly reveals how any Shopify store operates: sales, traffic trends, best-selling products, installed apps, theme, and marketing insights. It helps entrepreneurs quickly understand what works in an online store so they can copy winning strategies, validate ideas, and spot new opportunities.
2. Koala Inspector (Our favorite tool): Install from Chrome Web Store, pin it, hit a store, click the icon. Popup magic: Theme name, price, demo. If it’s not “Custom,” one-click to Shopify’s store.
3. Shopify Theme Detector by Meetanshi: Free, 100% accurate in 5 seconds. Paste URL or browse – boom, theme + link. Handles third-party customs like a champ.
4. Shopify Theme Detector by BSS Commerce: Lightweight, easy to find.

Bonus: Wappalyzer – Broader tech stack detector, flags Shopify + theme as a side hustle.

These extensions can detect themes that are outside of the official channel (Shopify Theme Store). It’s also very simple to use these extensions. Every time you visit a Shopify store that you want to spy, just tap on the extension icon on the browser bar to activate it.

Method 3: Scan the Source Code – Manual Detective Work (Advanced)

This is the foundation. Every Shopify site you visit has underlying HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. And it’s universal – works on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari – and it’s dead accurate 90% of the time.

Step-by-Step Breakdown on How to see what Shopify Theme another store is using?

1. Visit the Target Store: Head to the Shopify site you’re eyeing. Make sure it’s live – no previews or staging URLs.
2. Open the Source: Right-click anywhere on the page and hit “View Page Source.” Or use the shortcut: Ctrl + U (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Option + U (Mac on Safari).
3. Hit Ctrl + F (Cmd + F on Mac) to open the find box. From here, you will have 2 ways to find:

• Option A: Search “Shopify.theme” – quick and straightforward
• • Type “Shopify.theme” and smash Enter. You’ll spot three hits usually.
  • Pay attention to the part after “schema_name“. That’s your theme name.

Note: Previously, the theme name was shown after the “name” part; some older versions might still list the theme at that location. Make sure you check that part as well.

• Option B: Search “theme_store_id” – for sneaky (modified name)? 
  • Back to find: Type in “theme_store_id.”
  • Grab that number (e.g., 887). This is the official ID if it’s from the Shopify Theme Store. Cross-reference it with the table below to find out what ID represents for which theme.

Note: Got an ID not listed here? Google “Shopify theme ID [number]” or check out this useful resource for more theme IDs.

• • If the Shopify theme store ID shows “null”? That means it’s a custom theme – unbuyable from Shopify’s store. However, you still can look at them for a great source of inspiration.

Why should you see what Shopify Theme another store is using?

Finding a store’s theme isn’t just geeky fun  – it’s market research on steroids.  Knowing what theme a Shopify store uses is like getting the blueprint to a competitor’s house. You can see structure, spacing, typography, features, and maybe copycats — but you can’t see the plumbing of their secret sauce (apps, custom code, special scripts). Still, seeing the bones is extremely powerful.

Use cases:

• You see a store doing well, and want the same feel.

• You’re studying design trends.

• You want to avoid a theme that looks gorgeous only after heavy customization.

• You want to vet whether a shop’s speed or look is due to theme or aftermarket hacks

A pro tip: Don’t stop at the theme name. Dig deeper: Check how they layer apps for upsells, optimize images for lightning speed, or tweak fonts for that “premium” feel. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can reveal if their secret is a featherweight theme or just smart compression. Remember, a theme’s just the skeleton – flesh it out with high-res product shots, snappy copy, and trust badges, and watch your cart abandonment plummet.

Why can’t I find the Shopify theme other store is using?

You have tried so many different methods, but cannot find the theme name. It is because the store owner takes a step ahead to hide themselves. Here’s how:

• Name obfuscation: Developer removes or alters Shopify.theme.name

• Null theme_store_id: Hides public mapping

• Heavy customizations: The theme’s visuals diverge heavily from its native form

• Private/custom themes: Built from scratch — no public version

• Minified/obfuscated code: Makes source scanning hard

So even when you see “custom,” that doesn’t mean it’s worthless. It just means a clean theme might help you replicate the look faster.

Beyond Detection: What to do next?

Got the theme? Don’t just install and pray. Audit it: Does it match your niche? (E.g., foodies need drool-worthy galleries.) Also, use the Trending products tool, which helps to discover trending products from Amazon and Google Trends. Analyze market opportunities, growth rates, search volumes, and find profitable niches for your dropshipping or ecommerce business.

Next, test responsiveness – Google’s mobile-first indexing doesn’t forgive slow loads. And checkout? If it’s clunky, 75% of visitors ghost you.

Watch for traps: Custom tweaks mean your install won’t be a clone – add your images, apps (but cap at 10 to dodge speed kills), and SEO juice. Legally? Identifying’s fine; straight-up copying logos? That might cause you a lawsuit. NULL ID? Custom theme – inspired by it, but build your own twist.

If you’re building a Shopify store and want a theme that gives you flexibility, speed, and future-proof architecture, I encourage you to check out the Eurus Theme (buy 1 get 5 presets: Eurus, Whiff, Swirl, Breath, Breeze) from Omni Themes. Over 5,000 stores already run on this theme because it bends, flexes, and performs like a champ.

FAQ: Questions around detecting your Shopify theme.