Magento Themes in a Nutshell - how to choose the right template?

Table of Contents:

• What is a Magento theme?
• Where to find Magento 2 themes?
• Is it worth using free Magento themes?
• Types and examples of Magento themes
• How much do Magento themes cost? Prices and hidden expenses
• A checklist to help you choose

According to Porto Theme's, data, in 2025, over 26,000 online stores used this template. However, there are many more ready-made designs for the Magento platform – from default themes to more advanced alternatives. In this article, we delve into what Magento themes are and the features they offer.

Simply put, a Magento 2 theme is a ready-made website layout that defines not only its aesthetics but also the arrangement of elements and how they function. After the initial installation, Magento is based on a default theme, but beyond that, a wide range of other designs is available, which can be modified by designers and developers.

Typically, a theme comes with various built-in modules offering new functionalities (e.g., pop-ups, sliders, quick views). It may also have varying degrees of compatibility with Magento extensions, such as Multi-Vendor (an advanced marketplace system). Another example is One Step Checkout, which simplifies the order process by reducing the number of steps needed to complete a transaction.

Importantly, Magento themes are generally fully responsive, which is crucial in light of the "E-commerce in Poland 2024" report. According to the report, smartphones dominate over laptops and are the primary tool for online shopping, covering 89% of users in the youngest surveyed group.

Currently, Magento themes are provided by:

• Adobe – the company directly responsible for Magento's development. All available designs can be found on the Adobe Commerce Marketplace.
• Certified Adobe Partners – eCommerce agencies participating in Adobe’s partner program that create themes meeting Magento’s requirements.
• Independent development studios and eCommerce agencies – they create Magento themes with various levels of complexity.
• The Magento community – open-source enthusiasts and developers who share free solutions.
• Marketplaces – large platforms (e.g., ThemeForest) where you can find many ready-made themes at different price ranges.

The selection is vast, so if you need help choosing, feel free to reach out. Our team includes certified specialists who know Magento inside out.

Although free Magento themes seem like an attractive option, in reality, they are often niche frontend projects. They may be incompatible with the platform, lack continuous technical support, and often require numerous fixes. These modifications generate additional implementation costs, making them not entirely "free" in practice. On the other hand, a paid theme that is actively maintained usually ensures full compatibility with the platform.

We have distinguished several main categories of Magento themes:

• Default themes – a base for further customization, e.g., Luma, Blank.
• Commercial themes – ready to deploy, often with extensive features and technical support, e.g., Hyvä, Porto.
• Industry-specific themes – designed for particular industries, e.g., Supro (furniture, fashion, decor), Milano (fashion).
• PWA themes (Progressive Web Apps) – optimized for mobile devices, combining the characteristics of apps and websites, e.g., Scandi PWA.
• Custom Magento themes – created on demand, ideal for unique eCommerce projects.

Luma and Blank

Luma is Magento’s default theme, introduced in 2015, and has since remained largely unchanged. It can be described in three words: simple, light, clear. It includes a homepage banner and basic SEO optimization.

Blank, on the other hand, is a clean base for building custom designs. If your store requires extensive visual modifications, Blank is a better choice than Luma, as it provides simplified code and minimal styling.

However, direct modifications of default theme files are not recommended. Magento’s theme inheritance system allows the creation of child themes, enabling safe customization without altering the core code.

Hyvä

The Hyvä Magento 2 Theme is often considered the most efficient solution for this platform. Thanks to its lightweight code structure (eliminating heavy JavaScript libraries in favor of Alpine.js) and modular design, stores load faster and provide a better user experience.

The license costs €1,000 (plus development costs!), but since fewer additional modules are required, implementation can be cheaper and faster compared to other advanced themes. It is also actively developed by its creators.

Porto

Porto is one of the most popular Magento themes. It stands out with its attractive design and extensive features. It offers over 25 ready-made layouts, advanced product search, and social media integration. However, it is not particularly fast and can cause difficulties with extensive modifications.

Supro

Based on the default Magento theme but enhanced with advanced editing tools, such as Front-end CMS Page Builder. The package includes various extensions valued at over $799, making it a cost-effective choice for those looking for a comprehensive solution. However, its updates have become less frequent in recent years.

Milano

Milano is responsive, easy to configure, and offers several sales-enhancing features, such as highlighting bestsellers and promotions with countdown timers or dynamic homepage layouts. It also has an intuitive admin panel.

Scandi PWA

An independent headless application using the popular ReactJS framework. Unlike traditional Magento themes that render pages on the server, Scandi PWA performs this action on the client side (Client-Side Rendering – CSR). This allows for faster data retrieval and smoother page transitions.

Moreover, since Scandi PWA is open-source, no license purchase is required. However, its implementation demands a significant amount of work and proper configuration, leading to high development costs.

When planning to buy a Magento theme, you must consider not only the license cost but also additional expenses related to customization. The price varies depending on the functionalities offered. Therefore, you should factor in costs associated with: personalizing the layout, integrating with other systems (e.g., payment providers), SEO optimization to tailor the theme to your preferences.

Many Magento themes include PSD design files, facilitating collaboration with a designer. However, before making modifications, consider their scope—the more changes, the higher the cost and longer the implementation time. In some cases, a custom layout designed by an agency following Magento best practices may be a better option.

A professional software house starts with a thorough pre-implementation analysis of your eCommerce store. This allows them to estimate the development time and cost upfront, considering future scalability and potential upgrades.

Finally, here’s a list of key questions to ask before making a decision:

• Does your store need a simple or advanced Magento theme?
• Do you have resources for theme customization, or do you need a ready-to-use option?
• What are user reviews of the theme?
• Does the theme perform well in speed and performance tests?
• Is the theme compatible with the latest Magento version?
• Does the developer offer technical support and regular updates?
• Are there any additional costs, such as licensing or support fees?

You can go through this list yourself or take the easier route and find answers with us. At Advox, we have been working with Magento for over a decade – we’ll help you select a theme perfectly suited to your business. Contact us, and we’ll handle the rest!