Modular is Presidio’s theme for brands that want personality and polish at the same time. Its tagline promises “fun, lively design and elegant animations to entice your customers”. If you were searching for a “Modular Shopify theme free download”, this guide shows how to build with Modular free, how to install it and how to set it up so the animations support sales rather than distract from them.
This article is part of our complete guide: How to Start a Shopify Store: The Complete Guide (2026).
What is the Modular Shopify theme?
Modular is an Online Store 2.0 theme with five presets: Modular, Companion, Pattern, Sparkling and Kiln. The presets range from pet and home brands to jewellery and ceramics, all sharing a section-based, modular design system. Elegant animations bring pages to life as shoppers scroll, while quick view, filtering and back-in-stock alerts handle the practical side.
Key features of Modular
- Elegant scroll animations
- Colour swatches and quick view
- Back-in-stock alerts
- Product filtering and sorting
- Slide-out cart and sticky header
- Image zoom and product videos
- Mega menu and enhanced search
- Promo popups and stock counter
Who is Modular best for?
Modular suits lifestyle, homeware, ceramics, jewellery, pet and gift brands that want a joyful, design-led store. It works best with small to medium catalogues and good photography. Brands that need dense, retail-style navigation should look at Empire or Expanse.
Modular Shopify theme free download: what you can get legally
Modular is a paid theme on the official Shopify Theme Store, so there is no legitimate free ZIP download. What you can do is better: add Modular to your store from the official Modular listing, open it in the theme editor and build your whole store free of charge. Shopify only asks you to buy the theme when you want to publish it. Your licence then includes updates from Presidio and access to their support team.
Websites that offer a “Modular free download” are distributing unlicensed copies. Those files never receive updates and can contain hidden code. Our guide to nulled Shopify theme risks explains why they are not worth it.
Before you choose Modular: five questions
Before committing to Modular, take ten minutes to check that it fits your store. These questions save a lot of rework later:
- Does the demo match your catalogue size? Count your products and collections and compare them with what the Modular demo shows.
- Do your images suit the layout? Check whether Modular expects portrait, square or landscape product images, and whether you have enough lifestyle photography.
- Which apps must it work with? Reviews, subscriptions, bundles or delivery-date apps should be tested on Modular before launch.
- Who will update the store? Open the theme editor and make sure your team can change banners and sections confidently.
- Is the developer still updating it? Check the release notes on the official listing to confirm Modular is actively maintained.
How to install Modular on Shopify: step by step
- Open the official Modular page on the Shopify Theme Store and pick the style you prefer.
- Click Try theme. Modular is added to Online Store › Themes in your admin as an unpublished theme.
- Click Customize to set your logo, colours, typography and homepage sections.
- Assign templates to products, collections and pages, and connect the apps you need.
- Preview on mobile and desktop, then buy the theme and click Publish.
Because you work on an unpublished copy, your current store stays live until you are ready to switch.
Setting up Modular the right way
- Use animation with restraint. Keep motion for hero and feature sections, not every block.
- Choose a preset close to your product, such as Kiln for ceramics or Sparkling for jewellery.
- Test on mid-range phones to make sure animations stay smooth.
- Enable back-in-stock alerts for handmade or limited items.
- Write warm, characterful copy that matches the lively design.
Common mistakes when setting up Modular
- Keeping demo content. Placeholder text, demo brands and stock photos left in Modular make a store look unfinished and hurt trust.
- Turning on every feature. Popups, timers and badges all at once overwhelm shoppers; enable only what supports your offer.
- Ignoring mobile. Most visitors will see Modular on a phone, so review every section on a small screen before launch.
- Editing theme code without a backup. Duplicate the theme before custom changes so you can roll back.
- Skipping legal pages. Shipping, returns, privacy and terms pages should be complete and linked in the footer.
Modular vs similar Shopify themes
Broadcast, also by Presidio, is more editorial and upsell-focused; Motion centres on video; Prestige is quieter and more luxurious. Modular is the most playful of the group.
Modular pros and cons
What we like
- Charming animations
- Five diverse presets
- Practical commerce features
- Experienced developer
What to consider
- Animations need careful use
- Less suited to large catalogues
- Premium price
Our verdict: Modular is ideal for brands that want their store to feel joyful and crafted. Try it free and see how your products look in motion.
Modular launch checklist: speed and SEO
A beautiful theme only pays off if customers can find the store and pages load quickly. Before you launch Modular, work through this short checklist:
- Compress and resize images before uploading; Modular looks best with consistent image ratios across products.
- Write a unique title tag and meta description for your homepage, key collections and best-selling products.
- Add descriptive alt text to product and banner images.
- Remove apps you no longer use; leftover scripts slow down every theme.
- Test the Modular product and collection templates in Google PageSpeed Insights on mobile.
- Submit your sitemap in Google Search Console; see our guide to submitting a sitemap.
- If you are replacing an older theme, keep URLs the same and follow our redesign checklist to protect rankings.
Modular installation and setup service
Want Modular set up without the trial and error? Our team installs and customises Modular for you: theme upload or trial setup, branding, homepage and product page design, collections and menus, apps, payments, shipping and SEO basics. We work on an unpublished copy, so your live store is never disrupted, and we quote a fixed price before we start. See our Shopify theme installation service for the full scope.
- WhatsApp: message us about Modular for the quickest reply.
- Email: hello@mivaq.com
- Form: send your store details and the Modular style you like.
Next steps
Start by exploring the Modular free trial with your own products in mind. Make a shortlist of the sections and pages you need, compare Modular with one or two of the alternatives above and check the official listing for the latest version. When you are ready, add the theme to your store and buy it when you publish, and if you would rather have experts handle the setup, send us a message. We usually reply the same day with a plan and a fixed price.
Related Shopify theme guides
- Broadcast Shopify theme: free download and installation guide
- Motion Shopify theme: free download and installation guide
- Prestige Shopify theme: free download and installation guide
- Our premium Shopify Theme Store themes guide
- All 98 Shopify themes: free download guide A to Z
- Official free Shopify themes
Frequently asked questions
Does Modular slow down a store?
Its animations are designed to be elegant, but test speed on mobile and avoid heavy media.
Is Modular good for ceramics and homeware?
Yes. The Kiln and Companion presets suit handmade and home brands.
Is the Modular Shopify theme free?
You can try Modular free in your Shopify admin for as long as you need. You pay the one-time price only when you publish it.
Can MIVAQ install Modular for me?
Yes. We install, brand and set up Modular on your store for a fixed price. Message us on WhatsApp or use our contact form to get a quote.
