One of the biggest advantages of Shopify is how flexible its themes can be.
Most modern Shopify themes come with a good selection of sections and features straight out of the box. However, as your business grows, you might find that the standard options don't quite offer the functionality or flexibility you need.
That's where custom Shopify sections come in.
Rather than installing another app or completely rebuilding your website, a custom section can add exactly the functionality you need while keeping everything manageable through Shopify's theme editor.
Here are 10 custom Shopify sections I think are worth considering, based on the types of improvements I regularly work on.
1. Featured Product Sliders
Most Shopify themes offer featured collections, but they don't always provide the flexibility you need when it comes to displaying products.
A custom product slider can give you greater control over:
- The number of products visible on desktop and mobile
- Navigation arrows and pagination
- Product card layouts
- Which products or collections are featured
- Spacing and responsive behaviour
They're particularly useful for showcasing best sellers, new arrivals and related products without taking up too much space.
My recommendation: Make sure sliders are easy to use on mobile and don't hide important products unnecessarily. Sometimes a simple product grid is the better option.
2. Sticky Add-to-Cart Bars
On longer product pages, the main add-to-cart button can quickly disappear as customers scroll through product information, images and reviews.
A sticky add-to-cart bar keeps the purchasing action accessible without requiring visitors to scroll back to the top.
Depending on the product, a custom sticky bar might include:
- Product name and image
- Current price
- Selected variant
- Quantity
- Add-to-cart button
It's important that the sticky bar works properly with the existing product form, particularly when products have multiple variants or complex purchasing options.
This is one of several improvements I look at when reviewing what makes a great Shopify product page.
3. Custom FAQ Sections
FAQs are one of the simplest ways to answer customer questions without making them contact your support team.
However, not every product or collection needs the same information.
A custom Shopify FAQ section can support:
- Global FAQs used across multiple pages
- Product-specific questions
- Collection-specific information
- Accordion layouts
- Optional images and supporting content
Using Shopify metafields and metaobjects, FAQs can be managed centrally while still allowing individual products to display their own information.
This makes them particularly useful for stores with large product catalogues.
4. Collection Navigation Sliders
Some stores have dozens of collections and subcollections, making navigation difficult.
A collection navigation slider can display related categories visually, usually with an image and title linking to each collection.
For example, a fitness equipment store might use one to help visitors navigate between dumbbells, kettlebells, weight plates and benches.
These sections can make browsing more intuitive, particularly on mobile devices where traditional navigation menus can become cumbersome.
My recommendation: Keep collection names clear and use consistent imagery so customers can quickly identify the category they're looking for.
5. Custom USP Sections
Unique selling points (USPs) help communicate why customers should choose your store.
These might include:
- Free delivery thresholds
- Fast dispatch
- Extended returns
- Product guarantees
- Customer support
A custom USP section allows you to display this information using icons, headings and short descriptions.
You can also create responsive layouts that display multiple USPs on desktop and switch to a slider on mobile.
These sections work particularly well near the top of a homepage, on product pages or around important purchasing actions.
6. Product Comparison Sections
When customers are choosing between similar products, making the differences clear can help them make a more confident decision.
A custom comparison section might show:
- Product images
- Key features
- Sizes or specifications
- Prices
- Suitable uses
- Links to individual products
These can be especially useful for technical products, electronics, supplements or products available in multiple configurations.
Rather than expecting customers to open several product pages and compare them manually, you can present the important information in one place.
7. Custom Promotional Sections
Promotional banners don't have to be limited to the homepage.
Custom promotional sections can be used throughout a Shopify store to highlight offers, product bundles or related collections.
For example, a customer viewing a single product might see a promotional section encouraging them to explore a bundle containing that product.
A well-designed section could include:
- Promotional imagery
- Headline and description
- Product pricing
- Discount messaging
- Call-to-action button
The important thing is to make the promotion relevant to the page rather than distracting customers from their original purchase.
8. Custom Review and Testimonial Sections
Customer reviews help build confidence, particularly for visitors who haven't purchased from your business before.
While review apps can handle collecting and displaying product reviews, custom testimonial sections give you more control over how selected feedback is presented.
These might include:
- Customer quotes
- Star ratings
- Customer images
- Product references
- Carousel layouts
They can be particularly effective on homepages, landing pages and pages promoting specific products or services.
Always use genuine customer feedback and make sure any claims are accurate.
9. Custom Content and Image Sections
Sometimes the most useful custom Shopify sections are also the simplest.
Standard image-with-text sections can be restrictive when you need more control over layouts.
A custom content section might offer:
- Image positioning on desktop
- Separate desktop and mobile imagery
- Adjustable content widths
- Custom colour schemes
- Optional buttons
- Flexible spacing controls
These settings make it much easier to create consistent layouts without needing a developer every time you want to update a page.
One of my priorities when building custom Shopify sections is making sure they're genuinely easy for store owners to manage.
10. Cart Upsell and Recommendation Sections
The cart is another area where custom functionality can improve the shopping experience.
A custom cart recommendation section can display relevant products based on what's already in the customer's basket.
For example, someone buying a diffuser might see a selection of compatible fragrance oils.
Other useful features include:
- Complementary product recommendations
- Free delivery progress indicators
- Relevant product add-ons
- Quick-add functionality
- Free gift messaging
These features should feel helpful rather than intrusive.
The goal is to make relevant products easier to discover, not overwhelm customers with additional purchasing decisions.
Why Build Custom Shopify Sections Instead of Using Apps?
Apps are incredibly useful, and there are plenty of situations where installing an established app is the right decision.
However, for relatively straightforward presentation features, custom development can sometimes be a better long-term solution.
Some of the benefits include:
- Greater control over design and functionality
- Better integration with your existing theme
- Fewer unnecessary third-party dependencies
- No additional monthly app subscription for the custom section itself
- More flexibility through the Shopify theme editor
That doesn't mean custom development is always cheaper or faster. More complex features may require ongoing maintenance, and established apps can offer functionality that's difficult to justify rebuilding.
I've explored this further in my article about Shopify apps vs custom development.
What Makes a Good Custom Shopify Section?
For me, a good custom section isn't just about how it looks on the front end.
It also needs to be practical for the person managing the store.
When developing Shopify sections, I try to focus on three things:
- Flexibility: Store owners should be able to update content, images and relevant settings without editing code.
- Performance: Sections should avoid unnecessary scripts, excessive loading and functionality that isn't being used.
- Consistency: Custom functionality should feel like a natural part of the existing website rather than something bolted on afterwards.
Shopify's Online Store 2.0 architecture, metafields and metaobjects make it possible to build flexible sections that work across different templates and products.
Final Thoughts
Custom Shopify sections can be a great way to improve your store without committing to a complete redesign.
Whether it's a better product slider, clearer navigation, product-specific FAQs or a more useful cart experience, the right functionality can make a noticeable difference to how customers interact with your website.
The key is choosing improvements that solve genuine problems rather than adding features simply because you can.
Need Custom Shopify Development?
If you're looking to add new functionality to your Shopify store or improve your existing theme, I can help.
As a freelance Shopify developer, I specialise in custom Shopify theme development, UX improvements, performance and conversion-focused functionality.
Whether you need a single custom section or more extensive changes, get in touch to discuss your project.
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