What is Shopify 2.0?

Shopify 2.0 was officially announced and deployed on June 29th, 2021. Although its official name is ‘Online Store 2.0,’ it has become widely known as Shopify 2.0.

The company unveiled the update as ‘one of our biggest updates to date,’ which was a significant overhaul to the platform. The theme architecture, which is the inner working of your store, was entirely revamped to focus on improved modularity and page load speeds. In addition, it added plenty of other behind-the-scenes features that allow developers to create themes in an entirely new and more flexible way.

Shopify 2.0 might be the future, but older themes will keep working and are now known as ‘Vintage Themes.’ In addition, the company made it clear that Online Store 2.0 was an optional upgrade and will not be done automatically.

What are the Benefits of Shopify 2.0?

What are the meaningful benefits of migrating to Shopify 2.0? Some of the notable benefits are:

Revised UI: Shopify has always been known for its ease of use, and Shopify 2.0 makes it even easier. You’ll be treated to a new UI after migrating to the new platform.
Modular App Blocks: Online Store 2.0 dramatically improves your ability to customize how apps are integrated with your store. Depending on your theme, you’ll see new ways to install, manage, and deploy apps throughout your online store.
More Developer Tools: Theme and app developers now have more tools at their disposal to create, distribute, debug, and develop their products. What does that mean for you, the store owner? Developers can innovate entirely new apps and themes for you to explore and reduce the development timeframe for updates to products you already use.
Faster Load Times: The new architecture that underlays Shopify 2.0 is based on the universal JSON format rather than the previous Liquid-based architecture. The JSON-based architecture loads much faster. Additionally, the Shopify-developed Dawn theme embraces a JavaScript-as-needed philosophy that further enhances load speeds.

Is Shopify 2.0 the Same as Shopify Plus?

No, Shopify 2.0 is the second incarnation of the Shopify platform. Meanwhile, Shopify Plus is an extended version of the first incarnation designed for high-volume stores.

A significant difference between the two options is pricing. Shopify 2.0 has transparent pricing based on a tiered structure that’s stated on its website, while Shopify Plus starts at US$2,000 per month and only goes up from there. Some brands might be interested in the added features and dedicated account manager that accompany Shopify Plus, but it’s essential to understand that it is a different service than Shopify 2.0

What’s Faster: Shopify 2.0 or Shopify Vintage?

Generally speaking, Shopify 2.0 is much faster than Shopify Vintage. However, it’s worth noting that a minimal Shopify Vintage theme may still load faster than a bloated Shopify 2.0 theme. But the new JSON-based architecture that underlays Shopify 2.0 is designed to load faster, along with the new JavaScript-as-needed philosophy it wants developers to adopt.

Additionally, the new Shopify development tools give theme developers more ways to analyze and correct issues with their themes that may be harming load speeds. For example, a new tool called Theme Check automatically analyzes a theme so that developers can uncover any issues that might harm load speeds or cause other problems.

How Do I Migrate to Shopify 2.0?

There are three ways to migrate to Shopify 2.0:

Download and install a new Shopify 2.0 theme
Update your existing theme to the Shopify 2.0 version, if available
Manually migrate to the new theme architecture (will require coding knowledge)

Take note that you don’t have to migrate and that some of the Shopify apps you rely on may not be compatible with Shopify 2.0. Examine the documentation for every theme you use to ensure it will keep working.

‍Related Content: Read our Shopify 2.0 migration guide to learn more.

Does Shopify 2.0 Cost More than Shopify Vintage?

No, Shopify 2.0 is an update to the platform and has the same base price as a Shopify Vintage store. However, you may pay more if you need to buy a new theme or your theme’s developer charges for the update. But the subscription fee to use Shopify is the same regardless of which version you use.

What Shopify Apps Work with Shopify 2.0?

Some Shopify Apps may not work with Shopify 2.0. You will need to review them to determine if they are compatible with Shopify 2.0. If you discover that an app does not work with Shopify 2.0, there may be an alternative. Take the time to review the documentation of every app you use before migrating.

Shopify 2.0 is the Future of Shopify

Even though it’s an optional update, Shopify 2.0 is the future of Shopify. Review app compatibility before upgrading, but it’s likely worth migrating to the new version if everything looks good. You’ll be poised to immediately adopt future updates and benefit from the faster load times and improved modularity of Shopify 2.0

Have you considered embracing a direct-to-consumer model for your online store? Parkfield Commerce specializes in helping you increase sales and profits by helping ecommerce brands move to a D2C business model.

Get in touch with us today to speak to one of our ecommerce experts, and discover how we can help you accelerate growth.

Richard Emanuel

Rich, the CEO of Parkfield, is a direct marketing pro with a decade of experience helping companies build, grow, and re-imagine their businesses. Rich focuses on using data and technology to create marketing solutions that capitalize on business opportunities and drive growth.

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