Shopify Canvas is the company’s new AI-powered website builder, unveiled on October 1. It lets merchants create and edit online stores simply by describing what they want to the company’s Sidekick assistant.
The tool is aimed at removing the need for code editing or hiring a developer. Shopify’s earlier no-code tools allowed merchants to rearrange themes and blocks, but deeper changes usually required technical help. Canvas is designed to close that gap with natural-language instructions.
The store renders in real time
As Sidekick works, Canvas displays the actual store as it is being built. Shopify says this is not a static preview. The tool shows the real code behind the storefront, so merchants can test animations, interactions and layouts exactly as they would appear on the live site.
Users can also switch between screen sizes to check how the store will look on different devices. Sidekick captures screenshots of the interface while it works, so it sees the same version of the store as the merchant.
Manual editing still available
Merchants are not limited to chat commands. Canvas allows users to click individual elements and change them directly, with zoom and pan controls for navigating the full storefront.
Sidekick itself is not new. Shopify already used the assistant for writing code, building apps, customising themes and other store changes. Canvas pulls those capabilities into a single dedicated site-building environment, with Sidekick acting as an AI agent across the theme’s files.
A simpler theme architecture underneath
To make Canvas possible, Shopify gave Sidekick direct access to theme files and simplified the underlying theme architecture. The company says this makes a store’s structure, logic and design easier for the AI to understand and modify.
Shopify Canvas: early days, with limits
Canvas is still in an early stage and works only on desktop for now. At launch it does not support third-party themes, app blocks and extensions, Markets, translations, rollouts or theme updates. Shopify says support for those areas will arrive over time.
Canvas joins a crowded field of AI site builders from Wix, Squarespace, Webflow and Framer, alongside newer platforms such as Lovable and Replit.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shopify Canvas?
Canvas is Shopify’s new AI-powered website builder. Merchants describe what they want in plain language to the Sidekick assistant, and Canvas builds or edits their online store in real time.
Does Canvas show a live version of the store?
Yes. It renders the actual storefront with real code rather than a mock-up, so merchants can test animations, interactions and layouts as they will appear live.
What are Canvas’s current limitations?
It works only on desktop at launch and does not yet support third-party themes, app blocks and extensions, Markets, translations, rollouts or theme updates. Shopify plans to add these over time.
