Theme Upgrade Buddy vs ThemeGuard
Two Shopify apps, side by side: detected stores, momentum, reviews, plans, listed features and who runs each. Store counts as of Feb 19, 2026 for Theme Upgrade Buddy, Oct 14, 2026 for ThemeGuard.
The short answer
- Only ThemeGuard lists a free plan.
Head to head
Free
- · 1 comparison / month
- · 3 snapshots
Starter
- · 20 snapshots
- · Manual backups
- · Unlimited comparisons
Pro
- · Approval workflow
- · Manual backups
- · Multiple themes management
- · Published theme watcher
- · Scheduled backups
- · Unlimited comparisons
Coverage counts what each App Store listing names. Every feature, checked off app by app, is in Shoplist.
See every featureWhen you upgrade your Shopify theme version, custom code and styles may differ between versions. This app compares your current theme with a new version and shows every difference. Works with ANY theme, not just specific vendors. Files are grouped by risk level so you know what needs attention first. Review changes in a side-by-side diff viewer, copy custom code with one click, and download a report.
ThemeGuard helps merchants manage Shopify theme changes with greater visibility and control. It lets you compare theme versions, take and manage snapshots, and track modifications before publishing. You can assign approval statuses, schedule automated backups, and restore previous versions when needed.
- Compare any two themes and instantly see every difference between them
- Side-by-side code viewer highlights exactly what changed in each file
- Files sorted by risk level so you tackle critical changes first
- Download a full report to track progress and share with your team
- Compare theme versions and review code differences
- Take and manage snapshots of any theme
- Schedule automated backups for published themes
- Assign approval statuses before releasing updates
All the numbers
Every figure, side by side
A green dot marks the app ahead on a measured figure. Estimates, gaps and apps that leave no storefront trace never take the lead.
Adoption
| Measure |  Theme Upgrade Buddy |  ThemeGuard |
|---|---|---|
| Detected stores | Not published | Not published |
| Net store change, 28 days | 0 | 0 |
| Stores added, 28 days | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Big-brand share | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Top store categories | Not published | Not published |
| Top store countries | Not published | Not published |
Reviews
| Measure | Theme Upgrade Buddy | ThemeGuard |
|---|---|---|
| App Store rating | Not published | Not published |
| App Store reviews | Not published | Not published |
| New reviews, 28 days | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Reviewers a year or more in | Not enough data | Not enough data |
Pricing
| Measure | Theme Upgrade Buddy | ThemeGuard |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Not listed | Yes |
| Lowest paid monthly plan | No monthly plan listed | $19/month |
| Longest free trial | Not listed | Not listed |
| Plans listed | Not published | 3 |
Listing
| Measure | Theme Upgrade Buddy | ThemeGuard |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify category rank | #120(ahead) | #279 |
| Shopify App Charts | Not on this week’s charts | Not on this week’s charts |
| Built for Shopify | No | No |
| Launched | Jan 1, 2026 | Apr 13, 2026 |
| Languages | 1 | 1 |
| Developer | HASAN ARMSTRONG LLC | MM |
FAQ
Theme Upgrade Buddy and ThemeGuard: common questions
- Is Theme Upgrade Buddy or ThemeGuard cheaper?
- Only ThemeGuard lists a free plan. Shoplist compares base prices only between monthly plans in the same currency; usage charges and annual plans vary, so check each plan’s limits.
- Where does this comparison’s data come from?
- Shoplist crawls Shopify storefronts to detect which apps each store runs, and reads each app’s Shopify App Store listing for reviews, pricing, features and integrations. Store counts are as of Feb 19, 2026 for Theme Upgrade Buddy, Oct 14, 2026 for ThemeGuard; estimated figures are labeled.
How Shoplist compares apps
Store counts come from Shoplist’s crawl of Shopify storefronts, which detects the apps each store runs; they are as of Feb 19, 2026 for Theme Upgrade Buddy, Oct 14, 2026 for ThemeGuard. Reviews, ratings, plans, features and integrations come from each app’s Shopify App Store listing. 28-day figures are labeled when estimated, and a figure that is missing or estimated never decides who leads. Read the methodology.