Theme Upgrade Buddy vs ThemeMerge
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, Nov 11, 2026 for ThemeMerge.
The short answer
- Only ThemeMerge lists a free plan.
Head to head
Free plan
ThemeMerge PRO
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.
When you build a redesign on a copy of your theme, edits made to the live theme in the meantime are lost on publish. ThemeMerge compares both themes against a baseline you record when the copy is made, so it knows what each side changed. Theme editor JSON merges key by key, keeping sections added on either side. Liquid, CSS and JavaScript merge line by line.
- 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
- Three-way compare of live theme and working copy against a recorded baseline
- Theme editor JSON merged key by key, so sections added on both sides are kept
- Section and block order merged so both sides' additions stay in place
- Resolve conflicts one at a time, per file, or by editing the result directly
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Detected stores | Not published | Not published |
| Net store change, 28 days | 0 | Not enough data |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Not listed | Yes |
| Lowest paid monthly plan | No monthly plan listed | $15/month |
| Longest free trial | Not listed | Not listed |
| Plans listed | Not published | 2 |
Listing
| Measure | Theme Upgrade Buddy | |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify category rank | #159 | Not enough data |
| Shopify App Charts | Not on this week’s charts | Not on this week’s charts |
| Built for Shopify | No | No |
| Launched | Jan 1, 2026 | Nov 11, 2026 |
| Languages | 1 | 1 |
| Developer | HASAN ARMSTRONG LLC | LazyDay Labs |
FAQ
Theme Upgrade Buddy and ThemeMerge: common questions
- Is Theme Upgrade Buddy or ThemeMerge cheaper?
- Only ThemeMerge 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, Nov 11, 2026 for ThemeMerge; 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, Nov 11, 2026 for ThemeMerge. 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.