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Hyvä Theme vs. Hyvä Commerce: Understanding the Difference

Mar 26th, 2025 14 min to read

Running a Magento store for years, you must be aware of the word “Hyvä Theme” (just assuming).

We’ve also witnessed how it has quickly become the popular choice for merchants who want a fast, modern, and cost-effective alternative to Magento’s default Luma theme.

But now, there’s a new name circulating in the Magento ecosystem: Hyvä Commerce.

And it comes with a fair share of questions, assumptions, and misconceptions:

Is Hyvä Commerce just an upgraded version of Hyvä Theme?
Do I need to switch from Hyvä Theme to Hyvä Commerce?
Can they work together, or are they competing solutions?
What problem does Hyvä Commerce solve that Hyvä Theme doesn’t?

With Hyvä Commerce’s recent release, you might be uncertain about its purpose and how it fits into their existing setup.

Don’t worry, you’re at the right place!

This blog will break down the differences, clear up common misconceptions, and help you decide whether you need Hyvä Theme, Hyvä Commerce, or both for your Magento store.

Let’s get started.

What is Hyvä Theme?

Hyvä Theme is a modern front-end solution for Magento 2 that redefines how online stores deliver speed, performance, and developer efficiency. Built as a lightweight, streamlined alternative to Magento’s default Luma theme, Hyvä removes unnecessary complexity.

Thus, it makes it easier and faster for merchants to build high-performing storefronts.

Check out the Hyva theme demo!

Why Was Hyvä Theme Created?

Hyvä Theme was created as a radical rethinking of Magento’s front-end architecture.

Traditional Magento themes, especially Luma, rely on heavy, outdated JavaScript libraries like Knockout.js and RequireJS, which slow down performance and complicate development.

Hyvä Theme was developed to solve these problems at the core—not by patching issues but by rebuilding the front end from the ground up. They took a clean slate approach, stripping away unnecessary dependencies and rebuilding the front-end with modern, lightweight technologies.

As a result,

Page load speeds improve dramatically
Developers spend less time fixing performance issues
Smoother interactions, faster page transitions, and a more engaging storefront
SEO benefits—better rankings and higher organic traffic

Here’s the complete guide on Hyvä Theme, in case you want to know more!

Magento eCommerce businesses who already use Hyvä Theme see huge improvements in front-end performance.

But what happens behind the scenes—in the backend where orders are processed, carts are updated, and customer data is managed—can still slow things down.

This is where Hyvä Commerce comes in. Now shed some more light on “Hyvä Commerce”.

What is Hyvä Commerce?

Hyvä Commerce is a complete suite of Magento improvements designed to optimize the platform’s overall efficiency, usability, performance, and the entire e-commerce experience.

It focuses on refining backend operations, checkout processes, and third-party integrations, making Magento faster, leaner, and more adaptable to modern e-commerce needs.

Hyvä Commerce is built to help Magento merchants run their stores more efficiently, especially the backend management, without the excessive complexity that Magento’s default system often brings. Here are the key components of Hyvä Commerce:

Hyvä CMS
Admin dashboard
Media optimization
Image editor
Enhanced admin interface
Category merchandising tools
Customer segmentation
Enhanced layered navigation and menu builder
Email template framework
Social & simplified login

To know more about it, check out our detailed guide on Hyvä Commerce features.

Why Hyvä Commerce?

For years, Adobe has been shifting its focus toward large Enterprise merchants and Adobe Experience Manager (AEM). This leaves a gap for small to mid-sized Magento merchants who still need a powerful, flexible, and easy-to-use solution.

Hyvä Commerce fills this gap by providing:

Faster Time to Market – Pre-configured optimizations and streamlined workflows reduce development time and speed up store launches.
Merchant-Friendly Admin Panel – New tools and UI improvements in the backend increase productivity and reduce frustration for merchant teams.
Future-Ready Magento Experience – Support real-world business growth rather than just technical refinements

In fact, Hyva themes is a subset (part) of Hyva commerce, same as Hyva CMS, Image Editor, Hyva Checkout, etc.

Optimizing both the front end (Hyvä Theme) and backend (Hyvä Commerce) creates a seamless, high-performance Magento experience— the best version of Magento yet!

Hyvä Theme vs. Hyvä Commerce

Both Hyvä Theme and Hyvä Commerce aim to enhance Magento’s performance, but they do so in different ways.

Below is a direct comparison to help you understand how they differ and where they complement each other:

Feature	Hyvä Theme	Hyvä Commerce
Primary Purpose	Optimizes storefront for a faster, more engaging shopping experience	Enhances backend performance for better business operations
Technologies Used	Tailwind CSS, Alpine.js, streamlined Magento templating	Backend optimizations, API integrations, improved database performance
Customization Scope	Focused on UI/UX design flexibility, theme modifications, and front-end performance	Extends Magento’s overall capabilities, improving backend operations, checkout speed, and admin performance
Performance Benefits	Faster page load times, reduced JavaScript bloat, improved Core Web Vitals	Optimized database queries, reduced server load, improved checkout and cart functionality
Ideal Use Cases	Businesses needing a high-performance storefront with modern UI/UX	Stores looking for a full-stack solution to enhance speed, efficiency, and scalability
Pricing	€1,000 One-time license	€3,000 Subscription-based model with Hyvä Theme + Hyvä UI + Hyvä Checkout
Dependency on Each Other?	Works independently but integrates well with Hyvä Commerce	Can be used with or without Hyvä Theme, benefiting all Magento stores

Let’s explore the key differences in more detail.

Primary Purpose

Hyvä Theme is designed to revolutionize the front end of Magento stores by replacing the traditional Luma theme with a much faster, modern framework. Its two main goals are:

boost storefront speed and performance
simplicity in design and development

The Hyvä theme makes your Magento store lightweight, which offers a smoother shopping experience for customers—crucial for improving conversion rates and reducing bounce rates.

Hyvä Commerce, however, takes a broader approach.

It doesn’t just enhance the frontend—it also optimizes the backend performance to improve business operations. It includes advanced tools like a customizable admin dashboard, media optimization features, and an integrated CMS that are not part of Hyvä Theme to help merchants:

streamline workflows,
reduce inefficiencies, and
scale their business effectively.

Technologies Used

Hyvä Theme leverages Tailwind CSS and Alpine.js, two lightweight and modern technologies that strip away the heavy JavaScript dependencies of Magento’s default theme. This makes pages load faster, improves Core Web Vitals, and provides a highly customizable design system.

Combined with Hyvä’s streamlined Magento templating, this approach eliminates the excessive dependencies of Magento’s default Luma stack. This results in faster page rendering and improved developer efficiency.

Meanwhile, Hyvä Commerce is all about backend efficiency.

Hyvä Commerce introduces backend enhancements that make Magento more scalable and efficient. It optimizes database queries, reduces redundant processing, and integrates seamlessly with external APIs to enhance data flow and performance.

This ensures that large catalogs, high-traffic stores, and complex B2B setups run smoothly without the common performance bottlenecks of traditional Magento installations.

Hyvä Commerce also integrates with industry-leading solutions. Mollie, an official partner, provides seamless payment solutions that align with Hyvä’s focus on speed, efficiency, and improved checkout experiences.

Customization Scope

For businesses that prioritize front-end design flexibility, Hyvä Theme is the ideal solution. It offers a lean, efficient, and customizable UI, making it easy for developers to create unique storefront designs that perform exceptionally well.

Hyvä Commerce, however, extends Magento’s overall capabilities beyond just UI improvements. It enhances backend performance, streamlines checkout processes, optimizes admin operations, and ensures that integrations with third-party tools function efficiently.

Essentially, while Hyvä Theme is about creating a beautiful, high-speed storefront, Hyvä Commerce is about enhancing the entire Magento ecosystem behind the scenes.

Performance Benefits

One of the most significant benefits of Hyvä Theme is its ability to drastically improve page speed by reducing unnecessary code and scripts. By eliminating Magento’s outdated JavaScript-heavy structure, it ensures faster load times, better Core Web Vitals, and an overall smoother browsing experience—all of which contribute to higher conversion rates.

Hyvä Commerce, on the other hand, takes a holistic approach to performance optimization. By improving database efficiency, reducing server stress, and optimizing Magento’s transactional operations, it ensures that not just the storefront, but also checkout, cart, and admin panel functionalities work seamlessly.

This makes a significant impact on large-scale stores that handle high traffic and complex operations.

Ideal Use Cases

If you’re a merchant who wants to improve your store’s front-end experience—making it visually appealing, lightning-fast, and user-friendly—Hyvä Theme is the solution you need. It’s particularly beneficial for stores that rely heavily on customer engagement and user experience to drive sales.

However, if you’re looking for a full-stack e-commerce solution that goes beyond UI improvements and enhances both front-end and backend performance, Hyvä Commerce is the better choice.

It’s ideal for stores that need scalability, faster backend processing, improved checkout experiences, and an overall more efficient Magento setup.

Pricing

Hyvä Theme follows a straightforward one-time license fee of €1,000, meaning you pay once and own the license indefinitely. This pricing model makes it an attractive option for businesses looking for a cost-effective way to improve their storefront’s speed, performance, and user experience without recurring fees.

What’s included in the €1,000 Hyvä Theme license?

A complete front-end framework built with Tailwind CSS and Alpine.js
Hyvä UI – A library of ready-made UI components to speed up development
Regular updates & improvements to ensure your store remains fast and optimized
Access to community support and documentation for implementation guidance

However, while the license itself is a one-time fee, you should account for developer costs if they need customizations or integrations. Unlike Magento’s default front end, Hyvä’s simplified structure makes development easier, but expertise is still required for tailoring the theme to your brand.

Learn more: Hyvä Theme development cost

Hyvä Commerce follows a subscription-based model at €3,000 per year, but it’s more than just a standalone product—it provides access to the entire Hyvä ecosystem, including:

Hyvä Theme (worth €1,000) – So you don’t have to purchase it separately
Hyvä UI – A library of ready-made UI components to speed up development
Hyvä Checkout (worth €1,000) – A performance-optimized checkout system that enhances conversions

Currently, the Hyvä Commerce is available at a discounted price of €2,500 as an “Early Access Special” offer. Early Access includes Hyvä CMS and Image Editor, with other features following soon. Check our roadmap to stay in the loop.

This bundled pricing structure means that instead of paying separately for these components, you get an all-in-one solution that covers both front-end and backend performance optimizations.

Merchants will also receive continuous value from regular updates, feature enhancements, and improved integrations.

How Do They Work Together?

One common misconception is that you must choose between Hyvä Theme and Hyvä Commerce. In reality, they work best together. Hyvä Theme can function independently, but it integrates seamlessly with Hyvä Commerce, creating a powerful combination that maximizes performance across the board.

Likewise, Hyvä Commerce can be used without Hyvä Theme, as it enhances Magento’s backend functionalities regardless of the theme in use.

However, for merchants who want to create a truly optimized Magento store, combining both Hyvä Theme and Hyvä Commerce is the best approach. Together, they ensure that your store not only looks great and loads quickly but also operates efficiently at every level—from storefront to checkout and backend management.

So, Hyvä Commerce isn’t a replacement for Hyvä Theme—it’s an entirely new layer of optimization that goes beyond just making your store look and feel faster.

We shall discuss more misconceptions in the next section.

FAQs about Hyvä Theme and Hyvä Commerce

When new technologies emerge, confusion is inevitable—especially when they sound similar but serve different purposes. Many Magento merchants assume Hyvä Commerce is just an upgraded version of Hyvä Theme, or that they must use both together.

Let’s clear up these misconceptions and help you make the right choice for your business.

1. Is Hyvä Commerce just an upgrade to Hyvä Theme?

No, Hyvä Commerce is not an upgrade—it’s an entirely separate solution.

Hyvä Theme revolutionized the front-end experience for Magento. But it does not touch backend performance, checkout speed, or database optimizations—and that’s where Hyvä Commerce steps in.

Hyvä Commerce is a full-stack solution that improves Magento’s backend operations, checkout flow, and scalability. It works independently of Hyvä Theme but can complement it for a more powerful overall e-commerce experience.

2. Do I need both solutions for my Magento store?

It depends on your store’s challenges and goals.

Here’s a simple way to decide:

Your Goal	Best Choice
I want a faster, more modern-looking storefront	Hyvä Theme
My checkout is slow, and backend performance is lagging	Hyvä Commerce
I want both a fast front-end and a high-performing backend	Use both together
I’m using a custom Magento theme, but I need backend improvements	Hyvä Commerce works with any theme

Talk to the experts for better decisions!

If front-end speed and UI design flexibility are your priority, Hyvä Theme is a great standalone choice. But if your store struggles with admin inefficiencies or backend performance, Hyvä Commerce is the better investment.

3. Will adopting Hyvä Commerce affect my existing setup with Hyvä Theme?

No, Hyvä Commerce is built to work seamlessly with or without Hyvä Theme.

If you’re already using Hyvä Theme, adding Hyvä Commerce will enhance your store’s backend without disrupting your front end. If you’re using Magento’s default Luma theme or another custom theme, Hyvä Commerce will still improve checkout speed, database efficiency, and backend performance.

The two solutions are complementary, not dependent on each other—you can mix and match based on what your store needs most.

4. Can I use Hyvä Commerce without Hyvä Theme?

Yes, Hyvä Commerce works with any Magento store, regardless of the front-end theme.

Even if you’re still using Magento’s default Luma theme, Hyvä Commerce will optimize your Magento backend and store efficiency—without requiring a switch to Hyvä Theme.

However, if you’re looking for both front-end and backend improvements, using them together offers the best overall performance.

5. If I buy Hyvä Commerce, do I still need to purchase Hyvä Theme separately?

No, Hyvä Commerce includes Hyvä Theme as part of its subscription. When you purchase Hyvä Commerce (€3,000/year), you get Hyvä Theme, Hyvä UI, and Hyvä Checkout included.

If you only need Hyvä Theme, you can purchase it separately for €1,000 (one-time fee).

6. Will implementing Hyvä Commerce require a complete Magento rework?

No, Hyvä Commerce is designed for smooth integration.

Unlike some Magento performance solutions that require extensive code refactoring or migration, Hyvä Commerce can be gradually implemented into your store. Your developers can integrate specific modules as needed, making adoption flexible and low-risk.

What’s Next?

By now, you should have a clear understanding of Hyvä Theme and Hyvä Commerce—their differences, how they complement each other, and which one (or both) might be the right fit for your Magento store.

Before making a decision, ask yourself:

Do I primarily need a faster storefront with a better user experience?
→ Hyvä Theme is your answer.

Can’t handle the outdated Magento admin? Do I need an optimized dashboard, CMS, image editor, etc.?
→ Hyvä Commerce will solve these challenges.

Do I want the best of both worlds?
→ Combine Hyvä Theme + Hyvä Commerce for an unmatched performance boost.

Get Expert Guidance Here!!

Migrating to Hyvä Theme or Hyvä Commerce doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Our Magento + Hyvä team can help you strategize, implement, and optimize the right solution for your business.

As a Hyvä Gold Partner, we can help you achieve the true benefits of both Hyvä theme (we’ve built 15+ storefronts with the Hyvä theme) and Hyvä Commerce (guess what, we’ve been privileged to experience how Hyvä Commerce actually works).

So, if you’re genuinely excited to try the new admin experience, you can connect with us and make the move!