How to improve your Shopify store Speed & Performance

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

The discussion centers on optimizing Shopify store performance, sparked by a comparison showing traditional Shopify stores struggle to achieve high Google Lighthouse scores due to CDN calls and core JavaScript overhead.

Key Approaches Presented:

  • Headless Commerce: The original poster demonstrates a Gridsome-powered headless Shopify store achieving near-perfect scores (99-100/100) by bypassing Shopify’s core JavaScript and using the Store API directly. This approach offers maximum performance but sacrifices native Shopify features like app integrations and built-in analytics.

  • Optimized Traditional Themes: One developer showcases a custom theme achieving 92/100 (mobile) and 97/100 (desktop) while maintaining full Shopify functionality, including third-party apps and tracking capabilities.

  • Speed Enhancement Apps: Contributors recommend Shopify apps with image optimization, site acceleration, and AMP features as cost-effective alternatives to custom development.

  • Backend Optimization: Suggestions include compressing images, using WebP formats, removing unused apps, and considering environmental impact.

Central Debate:

Whether headless architecture’s performance gains justify losing native Shopify features remains contentious. Critics argue headless solutions are impractical for stores requiring extensive app ecosystems and analytics, while proponents emphasize superior speed and development flexibility. The discussion remains open regarding the best balance between performance and functionality.

Summarized with AI on October 26. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
15

I am very exited to see that you were able to dev this cool theme. I tested it and indeed the score is just kill all other themes even premium on shopify store.

@herve76 Headless theme is a ■■■■■■■■■ You came to the world of Shopify to get all the features and not develop them yourself, such as the admin panel, analytics, payment gateway, the ability to install additional applications. etc. And now, for the sake of 7 points of mobile speed, you deprive your client of installing applications and tracking the success of advertising campaigns. To me this is a stupid decision.

I will never advices to my clients to build headless websites, i think this technic will die like AMP.

@davidkean

I recommended to my client your theme and he bought it.

But he drive crazy to use your blocks with 100+ custom settings for styles.

He has need 15+ blocks and there is no way to duplicate blocks with the same styles and only change styles…

well i know we can do it with json, but … this is not Client’s way.

btw, why you dont add your theme to shopify store?