Quick verdict
Pixel Union is worth investigating for the use cases below, but this is not a scored or final recommendation. BestStorefront has researched its public documentation; hands-on workflow, support, billing, and reliability testing are still pending.
Fit
Best for
- Shopify merchants wanting a premium theme rather than a free one.
- Large-catalog stores (Empire is positioned for them).
Limits
Who should skip it or consider alternatives
- Merchants who need a custom-built storefront.
- Stores content with Shopify's free themes.
Product role
What it does
Pixel Union is a developer of premium Shopify themes and apps. In 2020 it joined forces with Out of the Sandbox, per its About page. Its themes include Empire (built for large catalogs), Tailor and Grid. This overview covers the company's theme and app catalog, not a single product.
Premium themes
Themes including Empire, Tailor and Grid.
Apps
Pixel Union and Out of the Sandbox also offer Shopify apps.
Jobs to be done
Ecommerce use cases
- Launching a store design.
- Redesigning a large-catalog store.
Implementation
Setup complexity
Low to moderate. Install a theme and configure sections; migrations from another theme take longer.
Connections
Integrations and ecosystem
Shopify only.
Commercial terms
Pricing: verify the current offer
Themes and apps are priced individually. Check each theme's price on Pixel Union's site or the Shopify Theme Store.
Last verified: Sep 30, 2026 against first-party pages.
Check current official pricingPros and tradeoffs
Research observations
Strength: long Shopify focus
More than a decade of Shopify themes, per the company.
Limitation: design ceiling
Themes constrain layout versus custom builds.
Shortlist
Alternatives to investigate
Free Shopify themes
No cost; fewer features.
POWR
Adds store widgets rather than full themes. See the POWR overview.
Evidence status
Our evidence
This page is based on first-party sources. BestStorefront has not yet created an account or run hands-on tests for this product.
| Evidence | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Official documentation reviewed | Verified | First-party product, pricing and help pages linked below. |
| Pricing independently verified | Source-checked | Compared with the official pricing page (Sep 30, 2026). |
| Account created | Not tested | No BestStorefront test account yet. |
| Core workflows tested | Not tested | Category protocol tasks. |
| Support contacted | Not tested | Vendor support response. |
| Billing tested | Not tested | Invoice reconciled against published pricing. |
| Cancellation / export tested | Not tested | Exit path and data portability. |
Hands-on agenda
What we still need to test
- Page speed.
- Theme editor flexibility.
- Update and support process.
No score or final verdict will be added until this work is complete.
Where it fits
Editorial assessment
Pixel Union is a credible source of premium Shopify themes. Test a theme's speed and editor with your own catalog before paying for it.
This assessment is based on public first-party documentation, not hands-on testing, and carries no score.
Documentation
Sources and official product
This overview is based on the vendor's public documentation. Feature availability and commercial terms can change; verify details with the vendor.
Decision support
Frequently asked questions
Is Pixel Union the same as Out of the Sandbox?
They joined forces in 2020 and are presented together by Pixel Union.
Has BestStorefront tested Pixel Union?
No. This is an editorial overview based on first-party sources. Hands-on testing is pending.