What’s New in Shopify Summer ’25: Smarter, Faster, and Ready to Scale

Shopify’s Summer ’25 Edition isn’t just an update. It’s a bold leap toward what eCommerce is becoming: faster, more flexible, and powered by AI. Over 150 new features just dropped and if you're selling online (or planning to), this is your chance to get ahead.

Imagine building an entire storefront by describing it in plain language. Running a global store with multiple brands – all from one dashboard. Or having an AI assistant that spots what’s slowing down your sales and helps you fix it in seconds.

That’s not the future. That’s Shopify.

Whether you’re a DTC brand ready to scale, a wholesale seller tired of workarounds, or simply exploring your next eCommerce platform, this release is packed with tools that could change how you work, sell, and grow.

Let’s break down the biggest updates, why they matter, and how you can use them to build smarter, not harder.

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1. Design, Your Way: Horizon Themes and AI-Generated Storefronts

Shopify just made storefront design faster, easier, and a whole lot smarter with the launch of Horizon – a new theme foundation built for flexibility and speed.

With Horizon, you can choose from 10 new free theme presets that are optimized for conversion right out of the box. But the real power lies in how customizable everything is. It’s all block-based and modular, meaning you can move things around, change layouts, and test new ideas without touching a line of code.

Even better? Shopify now lets you generate entire sections or full theme designs using AI. Just type something like “clean layout for eco-friendly skincare with earthy tones,” and Shopify will build it for you –  instantly. No need for developers or expensive design sprints.

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You also get a much-improved theme editor:

• Hover to preview blocks before placing them
• Easily copy, paste, or rename sections
• Edit text in one click, no code hunting required

Why it matters:

For growing brands, agility is everything. Need a seasonal landing page? Testing a new layout? With Horizon and AI, you can make design changes in minutes instead of weeks, and without blowing your budget. One Shopify merchant estimated they could’ve saved up to £7,000 in design costs if Horizon had launched earlier.

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2. Meet Sidekick: AI That Actually Helps You Run Your Store

Shopify’s new AI assistant, Sidekick, is more than a chatbot. It's like having a smart teammate who knows your store inside out.

With Sidekick, you can run your store using plain English (or 20+ other languages). Want to create a discount, build a new collection, or figure out why your sales dipped last week? Just ask.

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Here’s what’s new with Sidekick in the Summer ’25 Edition:

• Smart analytics: Ask Sidekick questions like “Why are my sales down this week?” and it’ll analyze your data, spot the issue (maybe it’s traffic or out-of-stock items), and even suggest what to do next.
• Voice & text commands: Say “Create a 10% discount for first-time buyers,” and it’s done. No clicks, no menus, no stress.
• Image generation: Need a quick product photo or banner idea? Sidekick can create visuals for you using generative AI.
• AI-powered FAQ/chatbots: Upload your own product info and Sidekick can power shopping assistants that answer customer questions, with accurate, brand-approved responses.

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Why it matters:

For mid-sized businesses, Sidekick is a game-changer. You don’t need a big analytics team or a developer on speed dial. You can diagnose problems, take action, and update your store, all by talking to your admin like you would to a team member.

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3. Checkout & POS Just Got a Major Upgrade

A faster checkout. More ways to pay. And even the ability to sell in Roblox. Shopify’s Summer ’25 Edition takes both online and in-person selling to the next level.

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Here’s what’s new and why it matters:

Online Checkout: Now 2 Seconds Faster

Shopify made its already fast checkout even quicker. And while two seconds may not sound like much, it can make a big difference in reducing cart abandonment, especially on mobile.

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Other new perks include:

• Flat-rate shipping for split shipments – no more confusing multi-shipping costs
• Flexible fulfillment – customers can choose another fulfillment option right in the cart if an item is out of stock

New Payment Options & Sales Channels

• Shop Pay Installments (Buy Now, Pay Later) is now available in more regions, including Canada
• Apple Pay is now a standard option in checkout, not just an express button
• Checkout comes to Roblox – yes, really. You can now sell physical products directly in the Roblox universe, giving brands a creative way to reach younger audiences

POS Gets a Makeover

Shopify POS Version 10 brings a cleaner, more intuitive experience for in-person sellers:

• Customize the customer-facing screen with your logo and brand colors
• Mixed-cart checkout – let customers buy some items in-store and ship the rest in one seamless transaction
• Faster product search and typo-tolerant navigation for sales staff
• Tap-to-Pay now works directly from your phone (no extra hardware needed, currently US only)

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Why it matters:

Every second at checkout counts. Faster loading, clearer shipping options, and flexible payment methods can mean higher conversions and happier customers. Whether you’re online-only, testing a pop-up, or running a chain of retail stores, these updates make it easier to sell across every channel without friction.

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4. Going Global Just Got Easier

Shopify is making international selling smoother than ever, even for mid-sized brands without giant teams. With the Summer ’25 updates, expanding into new regions (and managing them) doesn’t have to be a logistical nightmare.

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Here’s what’s new:

Multiple Business Entities in One Store

You can now manage multiple legal entities – each with its own tax rules, invoicing, and fulfillment – all under one Shopify Plus store. This is huge for brands that:

• Operate in several countries
• Run multiple sub-brands or business units
• Want to streamline operations without juggling multiple stores

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Shopify Markets 2.0

The redesigned Markets dashboard makes it easier to localize pricing, currency, and language, all from a single view. Now you can also:

• Create sub-markets (e.g. EU vs non-EU, or B2B vs B2C in the same region)
• Maintain customer preferences, like currency or location, across visits and logins

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Payments + Local Methods in 16 New Countries

Shopify Payments is now available in places like Mexico, Poland, Greece, and more. Plus, you can now accept popular local payment methods (like BLIK, Swish, and TWINT) that build trust with shoppers in those regions.

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Built-In VAT ID Validation

For merchants selling B2B in Europe or the UK, Shopify now automatically validates VAT IDs and removes taxes where eligible, no third-party apps required.

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Why it matters:

Shopify is removing the complexity of global ecommerce. You no longer need separate stores or workarounds to serve multiple countries, tax systems, and customer types. Now, a single Shopify Plus setup can power your entire global presence, with fewer headaches and better customer experiences.

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5. Big News for B2B Sellers on Shopify

If you sell wholesale or work with distributors, Shopify’s Summer ’25 updates might be the best news you’ve heard all year. The B2B toolkit is now much more powerful and finally feels built for real business needs, not just small-scale workarounds.

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Here’s what’s changed:

Multiple B2B Storefronts with Custom Catalogs

You can now set up different B2B storefronts within one Shopify Plus store. Each storefront can have its own:

• Product catalog
• Pricing rules
• Currency
• Visual theme

This is perfect if you sell to different industries or buyer types. For example, you can give retailers one portal, distributors another, and show each group exactly what they need.

Order Rules That Make Sense for Wholesale

Shopify now lets you set minimum and maximum order values directly in checkout. That means you can automatically:

• Enforce minimum order quantities (MOQs)
• Prevent large unauthorized purchases

These controls help protect your margins and keep B2B sales running smoothly.

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Gift Cards and Credit Support

B2B customers can now use gift cards or store credit, and it’s all tracked properly in the system. This makes it easier to offer rewards or flexible terms without messy manual tracking.

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ERP Integration with NetSuite

If you use NetSuite to manage your inventory or finances, this one’s big. Shopify now syncs customer data, orders, and payment terms directly with NetSuite. No more double entry or messy spreadsheets.

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Shopify Collective Gets Easier to Join

Shopify Collective – the marketplace where merchants can partner and sell each other’s products – has removed the minimum sales requirements. That means more brands can now expand their offerings by working together, all within Shopify.

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Why it matters:

B2B on Shopify used to require a lot of creative workarounds. Now it’s a fully integrated part of the platform. Whether you’re adding wholesale as a new revenue stream or optimizing an existing one, these tools make it easier to manage customers, pricing, payments, and operations – all in one place.

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Work Smarter, Not Harder: Operational Updates That Save Time

While the flashy features grab headlines, Shopify’s Summer ’25 Edition is also packed with updates that make day-to-day work faster, simpler, and more efficient. These changes may seem small on their own, but together they can save hours each week.

Here’s what’s new behind the scenes:

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Faster Fulfillment and Smarter Shipping

• The Order Printer app now supports pick lists with product images to speed up packing
• Shopify can auto-split orders between warehouses based on stock availability
• You can now bulk print up to 250 shipping labels at once
• Flat-rate shipping for multi-location orders helps reduce customer confusion
• New carrier integrations (like SEUR, Purolator, and more) expand global options

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Returns and Refunds That Work for You

• You can now offer store credit refunds instead of cash, even for regular purchases
• This helps keep revenue within your ecosystem and often leads to repeat purchases
• Subscription sellers can now edit upcoming orders before they ship, preventing costly mistakes

A Faster, Cleaner Admin Experience

• Shopify admin now loads up to 30% faster
• Easier navigation with smarter back buttons, breadcrumbs, and a searchable settings menu
• These quality-of-life improvements reduce frustration and make training new team members easier

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Built-In Performance Monitoring and Analytics

• Shopify now tracks Core Web Vitals like LCP, CLS, and INP directly in your admin
• You’ll also see a quick performance score for each theme
• New customer cohort analysis helps you understand repeat behavior and segment your audience
• You can also benchmark your store’s performance against others in your industry

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Better Automation and Easier Migrations

• Shopify Flow now supports nested loops and logs executions for easier debugging
• Migrating from platforms like WooCommerce, Amazon, or Etsy is smoother with bulk CSV imports

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Why it matters:

These updates may not grab attention at first glance, but they make a real difference. Faster fulfillment, smarter returns, and better data mean you can serve more customers, make smarter decisions, and keep your team focused on what actually drives growth.

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