Shopify Horizon Theme – the new free default theme of Shopify, has gained popularity with more than 8000 active stores in just 3 weeks after the public release (according to Storeleads)! And, for newly opened Shopify stores since now, Horizon now become the default theme, replacing Dawn.
Is this the end for Dawn?
Opening a Shopify store in 2025, which free theme should you choose? Horizon or Dawn.
Should we try the new technology, despite its buggy aspects, or continue with something that is already established and stable, even though it may be outdated?
Let’s find your answer in this blog, where Omni Themes compiles from various sources, listens to customers, and tests by ourselves to come up with the best comparison between Horizon vs Dawn.
1. Complete Feature Comparison: Dawn vs Horizon
| Feature | Horizon | Dawn |
|---|---|---|
| Framework | Horizon Framework | Online Store 2.0 |
| Customization | Nested theme blocks, drag-and-drop | Section-based, drag-and-drop |
| AI Tools | AI block generator (Shopify Magic) | None |
| Page Flexibility | Page-wide sections + nested blocks | Sections on all pages |
| Design | Gradient, clean layout with modern typeface, focus on products to convert. | Minimalism with large imagery, crisp lines, and simplified dense fonts, focus on storytelling. |
| Performance | Fast on desktop but heavy on mobile:
(Tested with Horizon demo store on | Fast for both mobile & desktop:
(Tested with Dawn demo store on |
| Mobile Optimization | Mobile-first, enhanced UX, cart drawer on mobile | Mobile-first |
| Accessibility | Advanced, modern standards | Basic compliance |
| App Integration | Reduced app dependency, built-in features | Theme app extensions |
| Learning Curve | Moderate, steeper for advanced features | Easy for beginners |
| Language support | Multi-language supported | Need translation app |
| Best for | Beauty, fashion, lifestyle store hope for quick launch | All stores with low customization demands, dropshipping, B2B |
| Updates | Active, frequent feature additions (updated weekly) | Minimal, focus on bug fixes (several months per update) |
Key Takeaways: Horizon offers more advanced customization and built-in features, reducing the need for apps. Dawn remains simpler but lacks AI tools and the modular flexibility of Horizon’s theme blocks. Horizon is a bit slower than Dawn.
2. What is the Horizon Theme?
Horizon, launched in May 2025 as part of Shopify’s Summer Editions, is Shopify’s next-generation free theme designed to replace Dawn as the default for new stores. Built on the innovative Horizon Framework, it is described as a “Effortlessly minimal—launch fast with product-focused designs” theme.
The Shopify Horizon Theme emphasizes flexibility, speed, and modern design, catering to merchants who want a future-proof storefront without heavy reliance on third-party apps.
2.1. What’s New in Horizon: Key Features of Shopify Horizon Themes
- Theme Blocks: Horizon introduces modular, nested theme blocks, allowing merchants to create reusable content sections across all pages (homepage, product, collections, etc.). This drag-and-drop system simplifies complex layouts without coding.
Plus, the blocks are now global, meaning they can be put anywhere in your storefront.
- AI Block Generator: Powered by Shopify Magic, Horizon’s AI-assisted visual editor suggests intelligent layouts and generates custom blocks on demand. For example, you can request a “seasonal banner block” tailored to your brand’s style, saving hours of design work.
- Shopify Plus exclusive feature: The “Combined listing” can work on the Horizon Theme, which is a big move for the Shopify Free Themes.
2.2. What is the Horizon Framework?
The 10 new free themes released by Shopify Summer Edition 2025 all follow the Horizon Framework. This system puts a focus on:
- Performance: Optimized for fast load times, enhancing SEO and user experience.
- Modular design & AI-assisted customization: Using AI to generate the whole or a part of the storefront, easily move across due to a block-based system.
- Mobile-First Design: Giving a responsive look and creating seamless browsing on all devices.
- Accessibility: Meets modern web standards out of the box.
- Full Layout Flexibility & Scalability: Allows page-wide sections and nested blocks, so the merchants can create the most suitable website for their online store.
Unlike Online Store 2.0 (Dawn’s foundation), the Horizon Framework reduces technical friction and empowers merchants with more control over design.
3. What is the Dawn Theme?
Introduced in 2021 alongside Online Store 2.0, Dawn became Shopify’s flagship free theme, replacing Debut. Known for its minimalist design and speed (35% faster than Debut), Dawn is a lightweight, user-friendly option ideal for startups and small businesses. It’s open-source, highly customizable, and powers nearly 950,000 active stores in 2025 (BuiltWith, 2025).
3.1. Key Features of Shopify Dawn Theme:
Dawn is well-known as a theme with flexible design and customization settings to achieve your desired vision without having to touch any code:
- Section-Based customization: Supports dynamic sections on any page, allowing merchants to rearrange content blocks like collages, lookbooks, or product carousels.
- Mobile-first design: Optimized for mobile shoppers, ensuring fast load times and responsive layouts.
- Enhanced product discovery: Features quick view, large menus, and metafields for better navigation and content flexibility.
- Checkout optimization: Includes native support for cart notes, in-store pickup, and quick-buy options.
4. Real User Feedback about Shopify Horizon Theme vs Dawn Theme
4.1. What Do Other Merchants Say About the Horizon Theme and Dawn Theme?
- Pros: Merchants praise Horizon’s flexibility and some features, such as color swatches, AI blocks, etc.
- Cons: Some find the learning curve steep in Horizon. And A LOT OF MERCHANTS are unhappy with too many little bugs. In comparison with Dawn, the Shopify Horizon Theme is still missing many features and has a slow speed.
4.2. What Developers Say About the Horizon Theme and Dawn Theme?
Horizon:
- The AI block generator excites developers, but early bugs have sparked criticism.
- The AI creation is predicted to bring more work for developers, not less, as said by Ed Codes: ”The AI-generated blocks are a great starting point, but it’s hard to get exactly what you want. It will generate a block that’s 80% done, but it needs edits to make it perfect.”
Dawn:
- Developers appreciate Dawn’s clean, minimal JavaScript and modular CSS/JS files per section. However, a Reddit thread revealed frustration: “Dawn’s GitHub commits stopped at translations and fixes by September 2024. It’s clear Shopify’s focus is on Horizon.”
- Dawn’s simplicity makes it easier for quick tweaks, but less suited for complex, scalable designs compared to Horizon.
5. Our Verdict on Horizon vs. Dawn: A SWOT analysis
Shopify’s Horizon theme is here, replacing the long-standing Dawn as the new default. But how much easier is it to actually build with?
To find out, let’s break it down using the SWOT model – to help you decide whether to stay with Dawn or make the move to Horizon.
| Horizon Theme | Dawn Theme | |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ Strengths | – Section support on all pages – AI block generator – Nested blocks | – Clean, minimalist design – Lightweight & fast – Widely adopted, stable |
| ⚠️ Weaknesses | – Heavier in performance than Dawn – Newer, less field-tested – May overwhelm new users – Too many bugs in the early adopter version | – Design is getting outdated – Customization requires code – Limited visual flexibility – Need outside help for slightly advanced features |
| 🔍 Opportunities | – No-code design freedom – AI-powered potential – More user-friendly Theme Editor – Great base for scaling brands | – Good for simple catalogs – Developer-heavy customization – Familiarity across the ecosystem – Popular with lots of online Q&A |
| 🛑 Threats | – Risk of looking “template-y” if not customized – Still evolving – Learning curve for sections | – Deprecated as default – May become outdated – Support & upgrades might stop soon |
6. Shopify Horizon Theme vs Dawn: Which to Choose?
We have gone through much information, so the important part to consider is: Choosing the Shopify Horizon theme or the Shopify Dawn theme to open your store in 2025?
The short answer is: Horizon is potential, but it still needs time to be more stable and have bug fixes. Dawn can be a safer solution for now. In the long run, the design and AI technology of Horizon can be a good choice.
Dawn Wins If:
- You’re a beginner or need a store to live fast (e.g., for a pop-up store, small catalog, or dropshipping).
- You prefer stability and minimal setup (ideal for service businesses or simple product lines).
- Budget constraints limit app usage, and Dawn’s native features suffice.
Horizon Wins If:
- You’re planning for growth, frequent design updates, or unique layouts (e.g., fashion, lifestyle, or large catalogs).
- You want to leverage AI tools and modular blocks to save time long term.
- You’re comfortable with a learning curve for greater creative control.
7. How to migrate from Dawn to Shopify Horizon Theme?
Should you update from Dawn to Horizon?
To be honest, it’s better to wait for the Shopify Horizon Theme to get more mature. That said, if Dawn is working well for your store, there’s no rush to migrate.
How can you migrate from Dawn to Horizon with all your custom code?
Sadly, there is no straightforward way to migrate it. Since the frameworks of the two themes are completely different. You might need to rebuild from scratch.
If you want a quick and easy migration due to several advanced features of the Shopify Horizon Themes, another method is to consider a premium theme from the Best Shopify premium themes list. For example, if you choose Eurus Theme from Omni Themes, you can get the developers from the theme provider to do the hard stuff for you fast and easy.
8. The bottom line
What’s your pick? And how do you feel about the Shopify Horizon Theme and the whole Shopify Summer Edition 2025 release in general?
Both themes are free, mobile-optimized, and built by Shopify, so you can’t go wrong. Test Horizon’s demo in the Shopify Theme Store to see if its flexibility fits your vision.
For more information and knowledge on Shopify with tips and tricks to run your eCommerce business, follow our blogs on OmniThemes.com./
