Buy a theme or work with page builder

Shopify Discussion
1

Hi everyone! I am using Debut theme. I want to have a decent looking blog on my shop. Considering clean code, page load speed, SEO and performance, should I opt for buying a professional theme with a good-looking blog or build my own blog and blog posts with a page builder app?

Thanks!

2

Hi @sarizona ,

This is Kate from PageFly - Shopify Landing Page Builder app.

With an honest assessment from the POV of both theme developer and page builder, I will point out some critical points. I hope that these insights can help you make a great choice based on your needs.

PROs & CONs

While themes offer a structured design framework, page builders modify template coding, enabling users to have more control over the design elements of their storefront.

1. Shopify Theme

Pros:

  • Easier to use: Many premium Shopify themes are designed with SEO and performance in mind. They might come with built-in features like image optimization and schema markup.
  • Cost-effective: Free themes are available, and paid themes offer a one-time cost compared to a monthly subscription for a page builder.

Cons:

  • Limited control: You have less control over the underlying code structure compared to a page builder. This makes it harder to implement specific SEO optimizations such as alt attributes, do/no follow tags, semantic HTML tags, indentations, and closing tags correctly.
  • Inconsistent quality: Free themes or lower-quality paid themes might have bloated code with negative SEO and performance consequences.

2. Page Builders

Pros:

  • Greater control: You have more control over the HTML structure and code used to build your blog posts. This allows for targeted SEO optimizations and performance improvements.
  • Flexibility for customization: Many page builders offer features like drag and drop elements, custom CSS editing, giving you control over how your blog posts look like.

Cons:

  • Learning curve: Landing page builders can have a steeper learning curve compared to themes.
  • Cost: Most landing page builders require a monthly subscription fee.

MY SUGGESTIONS

From an honest perspectives, below are my recommendations based on your top priority:

**:backhand_index_pointing_right:t3: Budget.**If budget is your main concern, then a Shopify theme is a great option. You can also consider using a free plan with a page builder to test its features. The good news is that most Shopify 2.0 themes offer fast performance, along with a variety of features and functionalities.

:backhand_index_pointing_right:t3: SEO advanced strategies. If you’re interested in pursuing more advanced SEO tactics that require significant customization, then a page builder might be a better choice.

Hope my opinions can help you in your journey.

Best regards,

Kate | PageFly

3

Hi PageFly-Kate! That was a very in depth and helpful answer! Do I understand correctly, that if I build a page with a page builder I have to keep on paying the monthly subscription fee for as long as I am using this page? When I create a blog post I can apply a certain template to it. Is there an app where I just can create a standalone template which I pay for once and then I own it?

4

I hope I was able to address your concern promptly. It has been a pleasure assisting you!

Like most apps, the pricing model for the page builder, such as PageFly, is based on monthly subscriptions. So, you’ll need to pay an ongoing fee to keep your pages published. On the other hand, themes are typically purchased with a one-time payment.

Please feel free to ask if you have any questions

Best regards,

Kate | PageFly

5

Thanks a lot for your help!

6

it depends:

  • Shogun - Great for Shopify, flexible, lots of direct integrations.

  • EComposer - Easy to use, cheaper, lots of features, decent customization.

  • PageFly - Solid balance between ease and performance.

  • Custom Theme (with dev) - Best for speed/SEO, worst for iteration speed.

If you’re testing offers and need agility, go page builder. Once your store matures and you know your funnels, invest in a clean custom theme so you’re not fighting load times forever.