Shopify Dawn Theme Review: Best Default Shopify Theme

Are you looking for a theme that can transform your Shopify store’s performance with its stunning design? You’re in the right place.

Shopify Dawn Theme is acclaimed for its sleek design and stellar performance. But does it truly live up to the hype of being the best default Shopify theme? In this article, we’ll take a closer look into its features, analyze its performance, and help you decide whether Dawn is the ideal starter theme for your Shopify store.

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Why Dawn is the best FREE Shopify theme?

Here are the key reasons why Dawn is the best FREE Shopify theme for now:

• Dawn is the fastest free Shopify theme: According to a Shopify theme speed test, Dawn has a loading time of 1.2 seconds, which is significantly faster than the average loading time of 3.0 seconds for free Shopify themes. This is important because a fast loading time can improve your store’s conversion rate.
• Dawn prioritizes conversions with on-page sales functionality: Dawn includes features like product recommendations, cross-selling, and upselling, which can help you increase your sales. For example, product recommendations can help customers discover new products that they might be interested in while cross-selling and upselling can encourage customers to buy more products. For instance, Dawn’s “Quick View” feature is a prime example of its conversion focus. It allows customers to view product details in a pop-up without leaving the current page, streamlining product discovery and encouraging impulse buys by reducing friction in the purchasing process.
• Dawn is highly customizable: Dawn includes a number of customization options, so you can make your store look and feel unique. For example, you can change the colors, fonts, and layout of your store.
• Dawn is the most mobile-friendly free theme option: Dawn is designed to look great on all devices, including smartphones and tablets. This is important because more and more people are shopping online using their mobile devices.
• Dawn is supported by Shopify: This means that you can get help from Shopify if you have any questions or problems with the theme.
• Dawn is a high-speed checkout solution: Dawn streamlines the checkout process with its built-in high-speed checkout features, reducing friction and increasing conversions. By minimizing the steps required to complete a purchase, Dawn helps customers checkout quickly and easily, leading to a more satisfying shopping experience. For example, with Dawn, customers can seamlessly switch between different payment options, like PayPal or Apple Pay, without leaving the checkout page.

What is the Shopify Dawn Theme?

Shopify Dawn theme is the default theme designed by the Shopify development theme. It offers a quick setup, an adaptable layout, and media-optimized product pages to enhance sales. The Dawn theme exudes the vibe of minimalism and elegance, purposefully crafted to assist Shopify store owners with a restricted budget in creating an exclusive and captivating website.

With its simple and modern design, the Shopify Dawn theme is ideal for businesses in a variety of industries, including fashion, beauty, and home goods. The best part is that it’s totally FREE in the Shopify Theme Store. So try it out today and see the results for yourself.

Theme Features 

As said, Dawn is Shopify’s reference theme. That means it has quite a decent number of good features for your ecommerce store.

The Shopify Dawn theme has advanced features of an online store 2.0, like an easy theme editor, free meta fields, app design block, sections, etc. It is packed with features that can help you create a professional and engaging website, facilitating the purchase process.

Here are the main features of the Dawn theme:

• Cross-selling and recommended products: This feature can entice customers to add more items to their cart, potentially increasing your average order value.

• Promotional banners: Highlight special offers and discounts, creating a sense of urgency and driving customers to complete a purchase.

• High-quality image galleries: Showcase your products in stunning detail, building customer confidence and reducing the likelihood of returns due to misunderstandings about the product's appearance.

• Ingredients or nutritional information: This is beneficial for health-conscious customers as you can provide transparent information about your products, fostering trust and encouraging sales.

• Lookbooks and product videos: Bring your products to life, giving customers a more immersive experience and showcasing their unique features and benefits.

• Enhanced search: This function helps your customers easily navigate your store and quickly find the products they're interested in, leading to a smoother shopping experience and higher conversion rates.

• Mega menu: A mega menu can be used to display categories and subcategories

• Product filtering and sorting: The function empowers customers to refine their search results based on their specific criteria, making it easier for them to find exactly what they want and increasing the chances of a purchase.

Besides the key features mentioned above, you can customize the Dawn theme with lots of other features like product grid, atomic components, native browser features, etc.

User Reviews and Testimonials

So, what do customers actually think of this Shopify theme? Well, according to the reviews, opinions are pretty mixed. Out of a total of 181 reviews, 59 were positive, 50 were neutral, and 72 were negative.

On the positive side, many users like the theme’s simple and clean design, especially when they’re on mobile-first theme devices. Several reviewers commented that their customers found the store easy to navigate and use. Additionally, the fact that the theme is free is a major selling point for many people, especially those just starting out with their online store.

On the negative side, there were a few recurring issues that users faced. Some users reported issues with the image banner, which would consistently appear blurry regardless of size. Some also found that the theme didn’t allow for certain features they wanted, like the ability for customers to create accounts or log out of their accounts.

All in all, it seems like the reviews about the Dawn theme are a bit of a mixed bag—while it offers a clean and simple design that many users appreciate, there are some technical issues and limitations that may frustrate some.

Here is an example of the latest reviews that users left for the Shopify Dawn theme:

Shopify Dawn Theme Customization

If you do not know where to start customizing the Dawn theme, let’s take a trip to our Shopify Dawn theme tutorial below:

First things first, head over to your "Online Store" section and click on "Themes." See that "Customize" button next to Dawn? Click that to open up the theme editor.

Now, let's spruce up that header. Add your logo to make it feel like your own, tweak those menu settings to make navigation a breeze, and play around with the colors to match your brand's vibe.

Next, let's make that homepage pop! The slideshow is your chance to showcase your best products, so choose some eye-catching images. Add featured collections to highlight your hottest items, and don't be afraid to sprinkle in some text blocks to tell your brand story. You can move things around, add new sections, or delete ones you don't need – it's your playground!

Your product/ collection page is where the magic happens, so make sure they shine. Play with the layout, add some high-quality product photos or videos, and make sure all the important details are easy to find.

Last but not least, let's give that footer some love. Add links to your social media pages, payment options, and any other important info. And don't forget to adjust the overall theme settings like fonts, colors, and buttons to give your store a cohesive look.

Who is the Theme Best For?

While the Dawn theme may not have all the features of premium themes, it offers a range of features that are essential for e-commerce websites. So, the theme is best for:

• Small to medium-sized businesses: Dawn's simplicity and ease of use make it ideal for businesses with limited resources or technical expertise.
• New Shopify store owners: Dawn provides a quick and straightforward setup process, allowing new store owners to launch their online businesses rapidly.
• Brands with visually appealing products: Dawn's minimalist aesthetic and emphasis on high-quality product images make it perfect for brands with visually appealing products, such as fashion, homeware, or art. 
• Merchants prioritizing fast loading times and mobile responsiveness: Dawn's mobile-first design and optimized theme code result in lightning-fast loading times, improving user experience and SEO rankings.

Overall, the Dawn Theme is a great option for businesses who want to create a visually appealing, easy-to-use, and functional e-commerce website without breaking the bank.

Where to Buy?

For now, you don't need to buy the Dawn theme. It's a free Shopify theme that is available to all Shopify users. It is automatically installed as the default theme for new stores created after June 29, 2021. If you have an older store or want to switch to Dawn, you can install it directly from the Shopify Theme Store.

You can find Dawn in the Shopify Theme Store by searching for "Dawn" or by going to the "Free themes" section. Once you find Dawn, click on the "Try theme" button to install it on your store. Or you can click on the below button to proceed with the Shopify Dawn theme demo first for service experience:

View theme demo

Examples of Websites Using the Theme

There are many real-world Shopify stores that have used the Dawn theme with great success, providing excellent examples of its versatility and functionality. Check out some of the most popular Shopify Dawn theme examples we have gathered here:

In-N-Out Burger Shop

Industry: Food & Beverage

In-N-Out Burger Shop is the official merchandise store for the famous fast food chain. They use the Dawn theme to create an easy-to-use online shop that features a range of branded apparel and accessories for their loyal customers.

Stride Rite

Industry: Footwear

Stride Rite is a popular children’s shoe brand offering high-quality footwear for kids of all ages. Their online store uses the Dawn theme to showcase their products in a clean and modern way, with a focus on ease of use and customer experience.

Sarasota Magazine Shop

Industry:Home Furnishings

Industry West is a furniture and decor e-commerce website. Their website features a modern and minimalistic design that showcases their products in a visually appealing manner. Overall, their use of the Dawn theme helps create a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience for their customers.

iLovePDF Store

Industry: Software & Technology

iLovePDF is a popular online tool for editing and manipulating PDF files. Their online store, which uses the Dawn theme, offers a range of premium features and plans to help users get the most out of their PDF editing experience.

iFit Summit Push

Industry: Fitness & Wellness

iFit Summit Push is a fitness brand that offers a range of workout programs and equipment. Their online store, powered by the Dawn theme, showcases their products and services in an easy-to-use and visually appealing way, with a focus on helping customers achieve their fitness goals.

3 Tips to Get the Most Out of the Theme 

The Dawn theme is an excellent option for your Shopify store, and it includes many features that can help you achieve the best practices.

Make your site esthetically pleasing

First impressions matter, and an excellent visual appeal is a must for your Shopify store. Some best practices to ensure your website is esthetically pleasing include:

• Display your product photography with a clean white background and include lifestyle photos of your products being used. It’s crucial to ensure your photography is crisp and looks great, as it can capture the customer’s attention in 50 milliseconds.

• Limit your website to two main colors and use them wisely. You don’t want to flood your website with different colors, and it’s best to use them wisely.
• Use typography that is easy to read and consistent throughout your website.

Ensure the basic functions

Creating a functional website is essential for a great user experience. Here are some best practices to achieve this:

• Your website must load fast. A slow-loading website can cause visitors to abandon it quickly.
• Use clear and concise language to describe your products so customers know exactly what they’re buying.

• Make sure your website is easy to navigate. Use clear and intuitive menus, and make sure it’s easy to find what customers are looking for.
• The Dawn theme allows you to customize your header and footer to fit your brand and design. Use this to add your logo, social media icons, and any other information you want to include.
• The Dawn theme includes several customizable homepage sections, including a slideshow, featured collections, and a featured product section. Use these sections to highlight your best products and promotions.

Make your site user-friendly

Your website must be user-friendly, which means it should be easy to use and navigate. Here are some best practices to help you achieve this:

• Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, as many customers shop using their smartphones.

• Make sure your website is accessible and can be used by everyone, including those with disabilities.
• Use high-quality images that are optimized for the web so they load quickly.

Using the Dawn theme can make the process even easier, and with these tips, you’ll be on your way to creating a fantastic online store.

FAQs

Final words

The Shopify Dawn theme is a great free choice for any Shopify store looking to establish a strong online presence. With its minimalist and clean design, customizable homepage sections, and mobile-friendly layout, the Dawn theme can help you create a unique and engaging website that showcases your products and brand.