Template and app inventory
Every template, snippet, and app on your vintage theme listed, with a keep, convert, or remove decision.
The Problem
Every Small Change Waits on a Developer and a Liquid File
Vintage themes put sections on the homepage only. Everything else lives in Liquid templates, so product pages, apps, and metafields all need code to change.
01 · Fixed layouts
Product pages share one template that only code can change.
Templates become JSON files with sections your team adds and reorders in the editor.
02 · App snippets
Apps ask for code pasted into your theme files.
App code moves to app blocks and embeds that uninstall cleanly.
03 · Leftover code
Removed apps still load scripts on every page.
We remove leftover snippets during the template inventory, before anything is rebuilt.
04 · Hidden data
Metafields hold specs your theme can't display.
Metafields connect to section settings through dynamic sources, with no code per product.
Your store runs a theme bought in 2019. The homepage has sections, but every product page uses one Liquid template, so a size chart for one collection means a developer edits code. Your apps ask you to paste snippets into theme files, and two apps you removed last year still load their scripts. Product specs sit in metafields your theme can't show. Each small change waits in a developer's queue, and a new banner costs three hours.
We start by mapping what your vintage theme does: each template, custom snippet, and app embed. Then you choose to switch to a free Online Store 2.0 theme or keep your design and convert it. Either way, templates become JSON with sections, app code moves to app blocks, and metafields connect in the theme editor. Your team edits pages itself, without a developer for every banner.
Sections on every page
Product, collection, and page templates built from sections your team can add, move, and remove.
Apps without code edits
App blocks and embeds replace pasted snippets, so uninstalling an app removes its code too.
Metafields in the editor
Specs, size guides, and care notes connected to sections through dynamic sources.
Our Shopify 2.0 Migration Process
From Theme Audit to Editable Pages in Five Clear Steps
You approve the keep-or-switch decision and the template plan, then review the new theme in preview before it replaces your vintage one.
We open your theme code and list every template, custom snippet, and app that touches the storefront. You get a keep-or-switch recommendation, a template list, and a fixed quote for the migration.
What's Included
What You Get With Shopify 2.0 Theme Development
Every migration covers the inventory, JSON templates, sections, app blocks, metafields, and a launch with a rollback theme, whether you switch themes or keep your design.
Compare Options
DeveloperLook vs DIY Theme Switch vs Freelancer
Switching to a free theme yourself costs nothing, and a freelancer can be cheaper. Here's where each route works and where vintage customizations get lost.
| Feature | DeveloperLookBest fit | DIY theme switch | Freelancer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning | Template and app inventory first | Install and see what breaks | Varies by freelancer |
| Design | Kept or restyled, your choice | The new theme's look | Usually kept |
| Custom code | Each snippet moved or removed | Left in the old theme | Moved if asked |
| App code | Blocks and embeds, leftovers removed | Reinstalled app by app | Often left in place |
| Metafields | Connected through dynamic sources | Set up yourself | Depends on skills |
| Speed to start | Audit in 2 to 3 days | Same day | Often within a week |
| Rollback | Vintage theme kept unpublished | Old theme stays in library | Usually kept |
| Cost | From $1,250, fixed scope | Free theme, your time | Lower hourly rate |
DeveloperLook
DIY theme switch
- Planning
- DeveloperLook: Template and app inventory firstDIY theme switch: Install and see what breaks
- Design
- DeveloperLook: Kept or restyled, your choiceDIY theme switch: The new theme's look
- Custom code
- DeveloperLook: Each snippet moved or removedDIY theme switch: Left in the old theme
- App code
- DeveloperLook: Blocks and embeds, leftovers removedDIY theme switch: Reinstalled app by app
- Metafields
- DeveloperLook: Connected through dynamic sourcesDIY theme switch: Set up yourself
- Speed to start
- DeveloperLook: Audit in 2 to 3 daysDIY theme switch: Same day
- Rollback
- DeveloperLook: Vintage theme kept unpublishedDIY theme switch: Old theme stays in library
- Cost
- DeveloperLook: From $1,250, fixed scopeDIY theme switch: Free theme, your time
Projects We've Built
Ecommerce Storefront Projects We Have Built
Fashion, beauty, and furniture storefronts our team designed and built, with the kind of product and collection templates a 2.0 theme makes editable.
Modeverse Ecommerce Web Design & Development
- Fashion
- Retail
- E-commerce
Fuison Fashion Ecommerce Website and Dashboard
- Fashion
- Dashboard
- E-commerce
Havenly Furniture Ecommerce Website
- Furniture
- E-commerce
- Dashboard
Xinomin Fashion Ecommerce Website and Admin Dashboard
- Fashion
- E-commerce
- Dashboard
What Our Clients Say
What Clients Say After Launch
Feedback from teams we have built online stores and store features for.
We had a pretty specific idea of what we wanted our website to become, but I wasn’t sure how easily we could explain all of it to a development team. There were quite a few moving parts, and we were working toward a deadline, so I expected a few things to get lost along the way. That never really happened. They understood what we were trying to achieve, kept us updated throughout the process, and got everything ready within the agreed timeline. The final site feels much easier to navigate, works beautifully on mobile, and is noticeably smoother for our customers. It was a huge relief seeing the original idea actually turn into the website we had in mind.
The mobile experience is probably my favourite part of the new site. We had spent a lot of time making sure the desktop version looked right, and the team kept pushing us to think about how everything would actually feel on a phone too. They were right. The navigation is clean, the interactions feel natural, and everything we’ve tested so far works exactly as it should. They also went through the links, forms, integrations, and other details more than once before launch, which I really appreciated. And even after going live, we could still reach out when something came up. The whole process felt friendly, organised, and surprisingly straightforward.
What I appreciate most is that the website is actually easy for us to manage now. We can update content ourselves instead of sending a developer a message every time we need to change something small. They also paid attention to the technical SEO side, which mattered to us because we didn’t want a new website to create problems for the traffic we already had. I’ve probably asked more questions than I should have since launch, but every question has been handled patiently and without any fuss. The team is easy to work with, they explain things clearly, and when we need something changed, they focus on getting it done rather than making the process complicated.
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
Want results like these?
Tell us what you are building. You get a reply within 24 hours on business days, then a written estimate.
Work Culture
Why Store Owners Trust Us With Their Theme Migration
A theme migration touches every page your customers see. These habits keep your store selling during the work and your team in control afterward.
Switch or convert, honestly
If a free 2.0 theme covers what your vintage theme does, we'll say so before quoting a conversion. Keeping a design only pays when customers know it and it sells.
Work on a copy, not live
Every change happens on a duplicate of your live theme. Customers keep shopping on the current theme until you approve the preview and pick the launch hour.
A rollback kept ready
Your vintage theme stays unpublished after launch. If something goes wrong, republishing it takes one click while we fix the new theme.
Speed checked, not assumed
We test key templates before and after the migration. A 2.0 theme isn't faster by default, so we check what each section and app adds to the page.
An editor guide for your team
You get a short guide to sections, blocks, and dynamic sources. Your team changes pages on its own instead of filing a ticket for each banner.
Theme code you own
The new theme and every custom section belong to your store. Nothing sits behind a page builder or a subscription you'd have to keep paying.
Overview
How does a Shopify 2.0 migration work for a vintage theme?
DeveloperLook handles Shopify 2.0 migration for stores still on vintage themes. We map what your theme does, rebuild templates as JSON with sections, swap app code for app blocks, and connect metafields in the theme editor. Projects start at $1,250, take 1 to 8 weeks, and your old theme stays ready as a rollback.
DEVELOPERLOOK
Project facts · Shopify 2.0 Migration for Vintage Themes
- Service
- Shopify 2.0 Migration for Vintage Themes (JSON templates, sections, app blocks)
- Typical timeline
- 1 to 2 weeks for a theme switch, 3 to 8 weeks for a conversion
- Platforms
- Shopify and Shopify Plus, vintage themes to Online Store 2.0
- Built with
- Liquid, JSON templates, Shopify CLI, theme app extensions, metafields
- Experience
- 10+ years of development experience and 1,250+ shipped projects
- Post-launch support
- 14 to 45 days, depending on plan
- Communication
- Calls in US, UK, and AU business hours
- Starting price
- From $1,250 USD, fixed scope after a free theme audit
Reviewed 7 Oct 2026 by Saimul Islam
Good fit
Stores on a vintage Shopify theme
Your product page has no Add section button in the theme editor, so every layout change means a developer editing Liquid files.
Brands with heavily customized themes
You've paid for years of custom code in a vintage theme and want the 2.0 editor without losing the design customers know.
Stores whose apps need code edits
Your apps still ask you to paste snippets into theme files, and you've read that app script tags stop loading on storefronts in 2027.
Teams with data in metafields
You keep specs, ingredients, or size charts in metafields, but your vintage theme can't show them without custom code on each template.
Agencies with legacy client stores
Your agency inherited client stores on vintage themes and needs a plan to migrate to Shopify 2.0 delivered under your brand.
Not a fit
Already on a 2.0 theme
Your product page already shows Add section, so you're on Online Store 2.0. Our Shopify Metafields and Metaobjects Setup service is likely the next step.
Want a full redesign
You want a new design from scratch, not a migration. Our Custom Shopify Theme Development service designs and builds a theme around your brand.
Budget under $1,250
Your budget is under $1,250 and a free theme suits you. Installing Horizon or Dawn yourself and following Shopify's setup guide costs less.
Only campaign pages
You only need a few campaign pages, not a theme upgrade. Our Shopify Page Builder Setup service covers that with a builder your team controls.
Not sure we're the right fit?
Book a free call or message us. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right team.
Pricing
Transparent Starting Prices for Shopify 2.0 Migration for Vintage Themes
These are starting points in USD. Your final price depends on your template count, custom code, and apps, and you get a fixed proposal after a free theme audit.
For stores happy to move to a free Online Store 2.0 theme such as Horizon or Dawn.
$1,250one-time, USD
- Vintage theme audit and app list
- Free 2.0 theme set up and styled to your brand
- Up to 8 templates rebuilt with sections
- Apps reconnected as app blocks or embeds
- Vintage theme kept unpublished as a rollback
- 14 days of post-launch support
Recommended
For stores that want their current design rebuilt on the Online Store 2.0 architecture.
$3,200one-time, USD
- Everything in Theme Switch
- Your vintage theme converted to JSON templates
- Hard-coded content moved into editable sections
- Up to 15 templates and alternate templates
- Metafields connected through dynamic sources
- 30 days of post-launch support
For larger catalogs that need custom sections, metaobjects, and templates per product type.
$5,900one-time, USD
- Everything in Design-Kept Conversion
- Up to 12 custom sections built for your team
- Metaobjects for size guides, specs, and FAQs
- Alternate templates for each product type
- Before-and-after speed check on key pages
- 45 days of post-launch support
For Agencies
White-Label Vintage Theme Upgrades for Agencies and Studios
You own the client relationship. We supply the theme engineering for your clients' vintage Shopify stores: audits, JSON templates, sections, and app blocks. It's delivered under your brand, with the old theme kept as a rollback.
How the partnership works
White label: your client only ever sees your brand
- Your client
- You, the agency
- DeveloperLook
Share the store
Send the client's store, theme access, and the apps they rely on.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
We audit and quote
You get the template list, a keep-or-switch call, and a fixed price.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
Build and hand off
Templates converted on a copy, tested, and launched with a rollback ready.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
Partner with DeveloperLookDelivered under your brand
Stay client-facing
Audits and editor guides go out under your agency's name.
Liquid depth on call
Engineers fluent in vintage Liquid and Online Store 2.0 sections.
Fixed quotes
A price set by templates, apps, and custom sections to build.
Extra hands for backlogs
Capacity when several client migrations land in the same quarter.
The Right Technology for Your Project
Technology Stack
We work in Shopify's own theme tools and keep every change in version control, so your theme stays readable after handover.
Shopify- Liquid
- JSON templates
- Shopify CLI
- GitHub
JavaScript
CSS3
HTML5
Figma
- Theme app extensions
- Metafields
- Metaobjects
- Search and Discovery
Lighthouse
PageSpeed Insights
Chrome DevTools- Theme Check
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on Online Store 2.0, checking your theme, upgrade paths, metafields, cost, and timelines.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
Migrating a vintage theme with DeveloperLook starts at $1,250 for a switch to a free Online Store 2.0 theme, styled to your brand. Keeping your current design and converting it to JSON templates starts at $3,200. Conversions with custom sections and metaobjects start at $5,900. A paid theme from the Theme Store costs extra and goes to its developer.
Moving a vintage theme to 2.0 takes 1 to 2 weeks when you switch to a free 2.0 theme. Converting your own vintage theme takes 3 to 5 weeks for up to 15 templates, and 5 to 8 weeks with custom sections and metaobjects. Most of that time goes into moving hard-coded content and testing apps.
Shopify Online Store 2.0 is the theme architecture Shopify announced at Unite in June 2021. It brought JSON templates, sections on every page, app blocks, and dynamic sources for metafields. When people compare Shopify 1.0 vs 2.0, they mean vintage themes, which keep sections on the homepage only, against these newer ones.
A 2.0 theme is any Shopify theme built on Online Store 2.0, with JSON templates instead of Liquid templates for its pages. Every page is made of sections and blocks your team can add or reorder. Vintage themes aren't sold in the Theme Store any more, so the themes listed there today are 2.0 or newer.
The main Shopify 2.0 benefits are sections on every page, apps that skip theme code edits, and metafields shown without custom Liquid. Shopify also lists collection filtering and predictive search. For your team, it means changing a product page layout in the editor instead of waiting for a developer.
You can upgrade a Shopify theme to 2.0 in 3 ways: a new 2.0 theme, your theme developer's 2.0 version, or a manual conversion. Manual conversion turns each Liquid template into a JSON template with sections, which needs Liquid, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills. Customizations and app code don't carry over on their own.
Your store doesn't need a plan change, because Online Store 2.0 comes from the theme and every Shopify plan can run a 2.0 theme. Upgrading the store means publishing a 2.0 theme, then moving your content, apps, and settings into its sections. Keep the vintage theme unpublished until every template has been tested.
To check your Shopify store, open the theme editor and choose Products, then Default product. An Add section button under the section list means your live theme is Online Store 2.0 or newer. If sections only appear on the homepage, it's a vintage theme, and the rest of your pages are still fixed Liquid templates.
Look in the theme's templates folder: a 2.0 theme uses .json files such as product.json, while a vintage theme uses .liquid files. For a theme you haven't installed, check where it's sold. Vintage themes aren't in the Theme Store, so third-party themes are the ones to question before buying.
You use metafields in Online Store 2.0 by connecting them to section settings in the theme editor. First create a definition under Settings, then Custom data, and fill it in on each product. Then pick it with the dynamic source button on a section setting, with no template code. A JSON template can hold up to 100 dynamic sources.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
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