CSS framework

Retired Boards Appdev Store Design

Topic summary

Main issue: Whether Online Store 2.0 themes rely on a CSS framework after Shopify removed SASS, and if they use native CSS features like CSS Grid and variables instead.

Key updates:

  • Free Shopify-made 2.0 themes (e.g., Dawn) use pure CSS (no framework, no SASS).
  • Paid and third‑party themes vary; developers can choose any approach. Tailwind CSS is noted as increasingly common in Shopify themes.
  • Theme demos can be checked to identify the CSS approach used.

Outcomes/decisions:

  • The original poster is customizing a free theme and finds pure CSS simpler; they plan to explore Tailwind as well.

Status: Question largely answered (framework usage depends on theme; Shopify free themes use pure CSS). Specific confirmation about consistent use of CSS Grid and CSS variables was not directly addressed.

Summarized with AI on February 11. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hello,

Does anyone know wether 2.0 themes use a CSS framework or not or is it all custom CSS? I know shopify removed SASS from its stack so does that mean most of these new themes use basic CSS Grid for its grid system and variables to in place of SASS?

Many thanks in advance!

2

It depends on the theme. Dawn and any free Shopify-made theme for 2.0 use pure CSS. However for the paid themes on the Theme Store and third party sites the developers can use whatever they want (especially the third parties). You should be able to check this quite easy on the theme demos as well. Tailwind seems to keep creeping up usefulness for Shopify Themes!

3

Thanks Brandon, makes sense, i’m customising a free theme and find using pure css a lot less confusing than using a framework, but will also check out tailwind.