The 8 Best WordPress Themes of 2023

The 8 Best WordPress Themes of 2024

Trying to pick a list of “best WordPress themes” is kind of like trying to pick a list of “best cars.” Variations abound, and these variations in needs make it really tough to decide on a definitive list. Criteria such as cost, flexibility, platform compatibility, support, design and more are all factors that should be considered.

Based on our experience running a digital marketing agency, we have identified a handful of areas that may affect your experience using a specific theme. Regardless of the differences, we believe that any theme worthy of being “best” should, at very least, include the below features:

 

1. 1. Modern Theme Design

       

      1. 1. Today’s best WordPress themes should be designed to look like they are in line with the general design aesthetic for 2023 and beyond.

1. 1. SEO-Optimized Architecture and Performance

       

      1. 1. With the growing importance of site speed in Google’s eyes, old-school “bloated” themes that come packed with a ton of site-speed-killing features that never get used just won’t cut it.

1. 1. Page Builder Support

       

      1. 1. Any top-tier theme in 2023 should most likely have support for (IE be built on) at least one page builder like Elementor, Divi or Gutenberg. For more on page builders, check out out article here!

1. 1. Ease Of Use

       

      1. 1. Some themes are just plain hard to figure out how to use! Modern “best” themes should be intuitive out of the box and easy for even the most basic WordPress users to customize.

1. 1. Solid Customer Support

       

      1. 1. This is an absolute non-negotiable. In our experience, you almost always run into “weird theme issues.” There has to be a responsive support team in place to help.

1. 1. Compatibility

       

      1. 1. Beyond page builders, today’s best WordPress themes should be generally compatible with things like form builders, SEO plugins and other common tools you’ll want to use on your WordPress website.

As our WP Venture team tested each of the below themes, we discovered pros and cons for each. But each WordPress site builder is different – from WordPress newbies to experienced agencies. Take our below summaries as basic info, but always take the time to test out the themes for yourself to see if they are the right fit for you.

TLDR: Here is the Summary of the best WordPress themes

 

1. 1. Astra – the most popular theme on our list, and best for WooCommerce

1. 1. Divi – powerful builder ecosystem but takes time to learn

1. 1. Hello by Elementor – clean theme to build in Elementor from scratch

1. 1. KadenceWP – one of the best Gutenberg/block builder options

1. 1. Avada – huge feature package you pay once for on Themeforest

1. 1. Blocksy – another great Gutenberg option that still works with other page builders

1. 1. Neve – classic, well-supported theme

1. 1. GeneratePress – if site speed is your thing – start here

Astra: One of the Best WordPress Themes?

Astra is one of the most popular WordPress themes of all time for a reason, with over 2,369,964 sites using it as of this writing. Created by the team at Brainstorm Force (also known for Ultimate Addons for Elementor, Convert Pro, Schema Pro and WP Portfolio), Astra packs a punch right out of the box.

The Astra theme ticks so many of the core important features above right off the bat with these major pros and standout features:

 

1. 1. Tons of high-quality pre-built templates to get you started quickly

1. 1. An awesome (and easy!) onboarding and setup experience

1. 1. Page Builder Compatibility – it most likely works with your favorite {WordPress Page Builder}

1. 1. Speedy SEO performance

1. 1. WooCommerce compatible

If you are an advanced user and you want to go above and beyond the free out-of-the-box offerings, there is a paid Astra Pro option that adds features like Nav Menu, Additional Blog and Site Layouts, Sticky Header, Better Typography and more. There are also direct integrations with tools like LifterLMS and LearnDash (for Learning Management or Course users) and Toolset.

Astra is great for you if you:

 

1. 1. Want to get started quickly without a huge learning curve

1. 1. Plan to use a pre-built design and not heavily customize it in order to get things launched faster

1. 1. Use a popular page builder like Elementor

1. 1. Care about things like theme file size and SEO optimization 

Choose a different theme if you:

 

1. 1. Don’t want to have to worry about doing heavy customization to make your site unique on the web.

1. 1. Are building your site strictly for SEO and ranking purposes and need a very unique site architecture

Astra Pricing:

 

1. 1. Base Theme and Basic Features: FREE

1. 1. Astra Pro: $47 – $187 Annual, or $227 – $937 Lifetime

Overall, Astra is one of the highest recommendations we can give for a free theme that looks great, is easy to use, and easy to get your site launched quickly. If you choose to use Astra, you’ll be up and running in no time with a fantastic-looking new WordPress theme.

Divi

If you’re in the market for a great theme to get started building your new website, the Divi theme is hard to ignore. Built on the Divi page builder, which is one of the most powerful WordPress page builders and one of the best WordPress themes out there, the Divi theme finds its core strength in its ability to allow you to very easily customize every aspect of your new site. Divi comes jam-packed with a ton of amazing features to allow you to build a professional-looking WordPress website quickly.

Some of the main stand-out features of the Divi theme are:

 

1. 1. Comes with over 2,000 pre-made designs as a part of 200+ full website packs

1. 1. Fantastic customer support

1. 1. A very advanced drag and drop builder

1. 1. A 30 day money back guarantee

1. 1. Pricing includes a lifetime option to pay once for life (no recurring payments!)

Divi is great for you if you:

 

1. 1. Are ok with investing time to learn a new page builder

1. 1. Are ok with learning a new system and using the templates and ecosystem available to you (as opposed to jumping around to other themes and builders)

1. 1. Want to add your own CSS and easily use it throughout your website building 

Choose a different theme if you:

 

1. 1. Want to use templates and builders from different ecosystems

1. 1. Are overwhelmed by learning a whole new system

1. 1. Want everything for free and don’t want to pay anything to build your website (outside of {WordPress web hosting})

One other great aspect of the Divi ecosystem is that there are tens of thousands of users using it, creating a fantastic network of supportive site builders ready to help for free. There are also plenty of paid and free training materials available online to help you on your Divi building journey. Below are several helpful resources for building with Divi. You can do this!

 

1. 1. Official Divi YouTube Channel

1. 1. Facebook Groups

       

      1. 1. Divi Theme Users
      1. 1. Divi Web Designers

1. 1. Divi Courses

Divi Pricing:

 

1. 1. Annual Payment: $89/month

1. 1. Lifetime Access: $249 one time

When conversations around the best WordPress theme arises, Divi is often a part of the exchange, and for good reason. It is by far one of the most prolific and flexible WordPress themes available that you can use to build your WordPress website. If you are building a WordPress website, you should at least give Divi a look.

Hello by Elementor

If you’re familiar with Elementor (and most people are), then Hello is Elementor’s base free theme to accompany the page builder. As opposed to some of the other themes mentioned in this article, Hello takes a different approach and provides a blank canvas for Elementor users to begin creating from scratch. It’s forever free, and acts as a fantastic starting point for creating your new website built with Elementor. Elementor is one of the best WordPress themes for building custom designs!

Some of the main stand-out features of the Hello theme are:

 

3. 3. Comes with over 100 pre-made, free website kits to choose from if you don’t want to start from scratch with your own design

3. 3. Lightweight and SEO-optimized out of the box

3. 3. Setup and installation is extremely easy and fast

3. 3. WooCommerce builder comes built in, with free e-commerce kits to install quickly if so desired

3. 3. Comes out of the box with an extensive list of basic Elementor modules and can be expanded further with {Elementor Pro}

Hello is great for you if you:

 

1. 1. Want to start with a minimalist setup and build from scratch

1. 1. Have your own custom design that you want to build in Elementor

1. 1. Are concerned about site speed and SEO and want your theme as lightweight as possible

Choose a different theme if you:

 

1. 1. Want to start with pre-made designs built in from the start and then just customize from there (as opposed to starting fresh)

1. 1. Are more concerned about design than site speed and a lightweight theme

1. 1. Aren’t committed to Elementor for the foreseeable future

Elementor provides a great balance between user-friendliness for non-techies, and technical chops (seo, site speed, etc). There is a vast and ever-growing group of site builders using Elementor, and starting that journey with the Hello theme. Check out the below list of free groups and resources that you might find helpful if you choose to build with Elementor and the Hello theme:

 

1. 1. Official Elementor YouTube Channel

1. 1. Facebook Groups

       

      1. 1. Elementor Page Builder Expert Community
      1. 1. Elementor Resources

1. 1. FREE Elementor Courses

Hello Pricing:

 

1. 1. Elementor Basic & the Hello Theme: FREE

1. 1. {Elementor Pro}: $59 – $399 per year

Elementor is one of the best WordPress themes available for you as you look to build your WordPress website. With a balance of user-friendliness and technical soundness, it fits the needs of many looking to build a website using Elementor. If you are looking to get started and you creatively like to start with a fresh canvas, Hello may be the theme to go with for your website build.

Kadence WP

If you want to build WordPress websites using WordPress’ built-in Gutenberg editor, Kadence WP could be one of the best WordPress themes for you. Kadence makes building Gutenberg-powered designs and layouts a breeze, and comes packed with truck loads of great features that make it easier to get your site up and running quickly and easily.

Some of the main stand-out features of the Kadence theme are:

 

1. 1. Uses the default WordPress page builder (Gutenberg) without any separate ecosystems like Elementor or Beaver Builder

1. 1. Available starter templates are a shortcut to building quickly

1. 1. Kadence Blocks included – powerful blocks for Gutenberg

1. 1. Shop Kit – a WooCommerce extension that lets you create e-commerce experiences easily

1. 1. Conversions add on lets you easily add popups, banners and slide-ins to your site.

1. 1. Basic version is free forever

Kadence is great for you if you:

 

1. 1. Want to use Gutenberg (default WordPress) to build your website

1. 1. Are already using tools like iThemes, LearnDash, The Events Calendar, GiveWP or Restrict Content Pro (these are all owned by the same parent company: StellarWP)

1. 1. Lean toward simplicity and minimalism in your website design as opposed to fancier website actions and/or designs (for example, you are a blogger, and your text-based content is paramount to your site)

Choose a different theme if you:

 

1. 1. Are not tech-savvy at all and need the easiest page builder experience available

1. 1. Want everything to be free and don’t want to pay any money for add-ons

Kadence is a genius solution to a big existing problem in WordPress world right now: how do we actually build something easily using Gutenberg? It will let you use Gutenberg to build (and thus keep things 100% native to WordPress without using another page builder), but still have a lot of design flexibility at the same time. Just like the other major themes summarized in this article, the Kadence theme is well-supported by not only a paid team of employees, but also a great community of users across the world. Here are some free supportive Kadence resources:

 

4. 4. Official Kadence YouTube Channel

4. 4. Facebook Groups

       

      1. 1. Official Kadence WP Facebook Group

4. 4. FREE Elementor Courses

Kadence Pricing:

 

7. 7. KadenceWP Base Theme & Starter Templates: FREE

7. 7. {Paid Bundles}: $129 – $199 per year (30 Day Money Back Guarantee)

For Gutenberg users and enthusiasts, KadenceWP is the way to go. From basic WordPress websites built with Starter Templates, to complex e-commerce solutions built on WooCommerce, Kadence can handle it all. Try Kadence risk-free today to see if it will work for your building style and level of competence when it comes to building your site.

Avada

Avada is the top-selling WordPress theme on Themeforest in the history of the marketplace. With over 845,000 sales in 10 years, it’s obviously a popular theme that is loved by thousands across the globe. Avada comes packed with many of the features that you might expect in one of the best WordPress themes, but it also comes with a few awesome features that you may not expect.

Some of the main stand-out features of the Avada theme are:

 

1. 1. 83 pre-built full website templates to let you hit the ground running with your site including templates like Corporate, Food, Health & Beauty and Portfolio.

1. 1. Innovative Avada page builder that doesn’t upsell you on additional module purchases

1. 1. Awesome setup wizard that makes getting started easy

1. 1. Fantastic support from the author

Avada is great for you if you:

 

1. 1. Want to buy “once and done” and not pay recurring fees for premium features

1. 1. Want to use a theme and builder setup that is very well documented and widely used

Choose a different theme if you:

 

1. 1. Would rather use one of the more “popular” page builders like Elementor or Beaver Builder

1. 1. Want a lightweight, minimalist theme

For years, Avada has been one of the leading WordPress themes that site builders have used from Themeforest. It’s well-reviewed, which provides confidence in its quality and community of support. Speaking of community of support, here are the places where you can find more info and help building with the Avada theme, 100% free:

 

1. 1. Official Avada YouTube Channel

1. 1. Facebook Groups

       

      1. 1. Avada Facebook Users Group

1. 1. Paid Avada Course

Avada Pricing:

 

1. 1. No Free Plan

1. 1. One-Time Paid Theme Purchase: $69

Whether you are a beginner trying to launch your first website, a marketer (for yourself or clients) who is trying to generate more leads and conversions, or a pro website builder trying to take your projects to the next level, Avada provides a solid starting point to build a beautiful website.

Blocksy

In the grand scheme of things, Blocksy is a newer theme to the WordPress ecosystem. It’s powerful, but can be overwhelming for some beginners due to the sheer amount of options provided. Blocksy has gained ground as one of the more popular Gutenberg-compatible themes as well. The free version is enough to get most users started, and the premium features offer a lot more to extend it from there.

Some of the main stand-out features of the Blocksy theme are:

 

1. 1. Compatibility with all of the major page builders including Gutenberg, Elementor, Brizy and Beaver Builder

1. 1. Free version has more features than some competing theme free versions

1. 1. Feels more native to WordPress during setup and installation than some other free theme offerings

1. 1. Unlimited licenses for just $99/year ($299 lifetime)

Blocksy is one of the best WordPress themes if you:

 

1. 1. Want to use Gutenberg as your preferred page builder

1. 1. Want very good site speed and theme performance scores for your site

1. 1. Are ok with a smaller offering of starter site designs 

Choose a different theme if you:

 

1. 1. Want a vast array of starter themes to choose from

1. 1. Want a large variety of starter theme styles

1. 1. Want to start with a super lightweight and minimalist theme

Blocksy has many great features to get you started building your website. One of the features that Blocksy has focused on heavily is the Header Builder. They have a ton of great options for creating and customizing your site’s header. As with many of the most popular WordPress themes, Blocksy has developed a supportive community of users that are able to help if you get stuck or don’t know where to start:

 

1. 1. Facebook Groups

       

      1. 1. Blocksy Community Group

1. 1. Free Blocksy Video Tutorials

Blocksy Pricing:

 

1. 1. Free Theme Download: $0

1. 1. Pro Pricing:

       

      1. 1. $49 – $99 per year
      1. 1. $149 – $299 lifetime

Even though it’s newer to the scene, Blocksy has quickly become one of the most popular and feature-packed themes available for WordPress site builders. It’s popular with users and also with professional reviewers and site builders in the community. It’s easy to install and set up, and has some features that developers will love as well like code splitting. Blocksy is e-commerce ready, translation ready, has clean code and is fully responsive.

Neve

Neve was created by the team at Themeisle, who are vets in the WordPress industry. It has been tried, tested and updated many times over the years of its existence. Compared to other popular WordPress themes, Neve stands our for its simplicity and speed, which are important features for any WordPress theme. It tends to lean more toward the minimalistic side, so if you value simple over feature-packed, it may just be the theme for you. If you are searching for a minimalist theme, Neve may be one of the best WordPress themes for your business’s needs. For more on the importance of site speed, check out our full article here.

Some of the main stand-out features of the Neve theme are:

 

1. 1. Neve has been developed with a mobile-first approach, so if your website visitors are often coming from mobile devices, that’s a plus.

1. 1. Comes with AMP compatibility out of the box

1. 1. The Themeisle team focused on building a very lightweight theme so it loads in less than 1 second, which is fast.

1. 1. Comes with over 100 starter sites ready to go out of the box

Neve is great for you if you:

 

1. 1. Don’t value a ton of features in the free version, but are good to just get a basic website up quickly

1. 1. Value minimalism and page loading speed over other features like fancy designs and other heavier theme features. 

Choose a different theme if you:

 

1. 1. Don’t want to pay for premium features and just need to build everything for free

1. 1. Are wanting to launch a WooCommerce store (Woo support is there but not as great as with other WordPress themes)

Neve is a tried and true WordPress theme that is popular for a reason. It has over 300,000 active installs and is one of the most popular WordPress themes available for free in the WordPress.org repository. Since it has been around for so long, there is a thriving community of other WordPress users using Neve and other Themeisle products. Here’s how you can join the party:

 

1. 1. Facebook Groups

       

      1. 1. Neve Community Group

1. 1. Getting Started & Setup Tutorial

Neve Pricing:

 

1. 1. Free Theme Download: $0

1. 1. Pro Pricing: $69 – $259 per year

If you value simplicity and ease of use, then Neve is a great choice for you! It’s well-supported by the Themeisle team, and it’s backed by a company who is focused on constantly improving the feature set and usability of the theme, so you won’t get caught with an old outdated theme after just a few years. While it lacks features in the free version compared to other popular themes, it’s still a solid choice for many personal and business website builders.

GeneratePress

To many who are building SEO-focused and “authority” website in the affiliate world, GeneratePress is the go-to solution for a bare-bones approach to building your WordPress website. Internet gurus like Authority Hackers hail it as the fastest and cleanest theme to use if you want your site to be as “clean” as possible. Even the theme creators tout it as the “perfect foundation for your WordPress website.” This focus reveals the creator’s spotlight on GeneratePress being a blazingly-fast approach to building a WordPress site.

Some of the main stand-out features of the GeneratePress theme are:

 

1. 1. Cleanest WordPress theme available for enhanced speed. 100% speed scores are attainable.

1. 1. One of the most accessible WordPress themes out of the box

1. 1. Excellent theme support, especially for users who pay for Premium

GeneratePress is great for you if you:

 

1. 1. Are a slightly more advanced user of WordPress (not great for beginners)

1. 1. Are an SEO or agency focused on building super clean sites for clients at top speed scores

1. 1. Want to use Gutenberg as your page builder of choice to build your site

Choose a different theme if you:

 

1. 1. Are a beginner to WordPress or aren’t especially skilled with building websites

1. 1. Value design and fancy LOOKING features and designs that may take longer to load, but look amazing

In our opinion using and building with the GeneratePress theme, it is the hands-down winner for a bare-bones WordPress theme that stops short of making you write actual code to build your website. It’s extremely fast, and great for starting from scratch with WordPress and a clean theme. As you get into the site building project, you may often run into times where you wish you had used a theme that is a little easier to build with. But in the end, when you get those 100% page speed scores, it instills confidence in your ability to get attention from Google. Because of its popularity, GeneratePress offers a supportive community:

 

1. 1. Facebook Groups

       

      1. 1. GeneratePress Community Group

1. 1. Starter Sites: https://generatepress.com/site-library/

1. 1. YouTube Resources

GeneratePress Pricing:

 

1. 1. Free Theme Download: $0

1. 1. Pro Pricing:

       

      1. 1. $59/year
      1. 1. $249 for lifetime (best deal here for sure)

While it’s a Gutenberg-focused WordPress theme and builder ecosystem, GeneratePress can also be used with any of the popular WordPress page builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder. This opens it up to even more users being able to use it to build their sites. The starter site library is somewhat limited compared to other themes on this list, and that’s mainly because GeneratePress is more focused on users who build from scratch. That said, there are several great-looking sites to choose from. If you are looking for the MOST bare-bones theme setup and 100% speed scores are something that interest you, look no further than GeneratePress.

Closing

When selecting the “best WordPress themes” the needs of your individual business should supersede the rankings of any list. Variables such as cost, flexibility, platform compatibility, support, design and more can factor into which theme is actually one of the best WordPress themes for you!

Despite the differences, we believe that any of the best WordPress themes should include the following features:

 

1. 1. Modern Theme Design

1. 1. SEO-Optimized Architecture and Performance

1. 1. Page Builder Support

1. 1. Ease Of Use

1. 1. Solid Customer Support

1. 1. Compatibility