How to Choose a WordPress Theme in 2024 (9 Key Factors)

Are you building a new website on WordPress with too many themes to choose from?

You might be feeling overwhelmed by the options and need help narrowing down your choices based on what’s important for your site. Check out this detailed guide on how to choose a WordPress theme in 2024 and learn how to pick one that’s perfect for your needs.

What are WordPress Themes?

WordPress themes are pre-designed templates that determine a WordPress website’s overall appearance, layout, and functionality. They serve as the visual and structural foundation for a website, allowing users to customize the look and feel of their site without needing to code from scratch. Themes act like outfits for your website. They are made up of files that work together to display your website content in a specific way.

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Types of WordPress Themes

There are thousands of free and paid themes available, so you can find one that matches the style and purpose of your website. You can also customize most themes to a certain degree, allowing you to add your personal touch. Here’s a breakdown of some popular free and paid WordPress themes, along with a few examples:

Paid Premium Themes

Paid WordPress themes are premium website templates available for purchase from developers or marketplaces. These themes offer advanced features, customization options, and professional design elements beyond what is typically found in free themes. They are perfect for established businesses looking for high-quality design, advanced functionality, and professional support. Freelancers and web design agencies will find premium themes ideal for their clients, as they are reliable and feature-rich. Here are some of their best examples:

1. Divi: Powerful drag-and-drop theme and page builder with a visual interface for easy customization.
2. Themify Ultra: Multipurpose theme with various pre-built layouts and a built-in page builder.
3. Avada: Popular multipurpose theme with many features and customization options.
4. GeneratePress: Lightweight and performance-focused theme with good customization options.
5. Theme X: Drag-and-drop page builder theme with a focus on creative layouts.

Free Themes

Free WordPress themes are pre-designed website templates available for use without cost. The developers distribute these themes freely through the WordPress theme directory or other sources. These themes are also suitable for budget-conscious users who need a simple website without advanced features. Additionally, non-profit organizations, charities, or small non-profits can benefit from free themes. They provide a way to establish an online presence without spending money. Here are some of their most popular examples:

1. Astra: Lightweight, fast, and highly customizable, making it a good general-purpose theme.
2. OceanWP: Multipurpose theme with a focus on e-commerce functionality.
3. Hestia: Simple and beginner-friendly theme, suitable for basic websites and blogs.
4. Neve: Lightweight and mobile-responsive theme with a focus on speed.
5. Blocksy: Lightweight theme with a focus on Gutenberg block editor integration. (These last two examples are relatively new but gaining popularity)

Classic Themes

Classic or traditional themes have been the center of attention for the longest time. They are built via PHP and aren’t easy to customize. Instead, these themes enable site owners and developers to customize design elements and layout configurations using the WordPress Customizer and widget zones. They are ideal for experienced WordPress users familiar with the traditional WordPress way of building and managing themes. Traditional businesses that prefer a stable, long-term solution will find classic themes suitable. Developers who enjoy coding and customizing themes using PHP, HTML, and CSS will also appreciate classic themes’ flexibility. However, classic themes are less common now with the addition of WordPress’ Block Editor.

Block Themes

Block themes came to the website development world after the Site Editor’s introduction in WordPress 6.1. These themes provide full-site editing capabilities that extend to templates, headers, footers, etc. You can use the Site Editor to build everything on your website via HTML-based templates made of blocks, expanding beyond traditional content like posts and pages. These themes are perfect for modern bloggers and content creators who enjoy using the block editor for a more visual and flexible content creation experience. They also suit marketers and content strategists who want to build engaging, interactive pages quickly.

Niche Themes

Niche themes are designed specifically for a particular industry or kind of website. They offer pre-built features and layouts tailored to the needs of that niche, making it easier and faster to set up a professional-looking website. They are best suited for industry-specific businesses that want a theme designed specifically for their sectors, such as medical practices, law firms, or real estate agencies. Professional photographers and artists who need a portfolio site with features tailored to showcase their work will find niche themes ideal. Here is a list of the most popular niche theme categories:

• Ecommerce: These themes are designed for online stores and prioritize product display, shopping carts, and secure checkout processes.
• Photography: Highlighting visuals, these themes offer clean layouts and galleries to showcase your photographic work.
• Blog: Optimized for content creation, blog themes prioritize readability and easy navigation for frequent updates.
• Portfolio: These themes are perfect for showcasing creative work and offer various gallery and layout options to display your skills.
• Podcast: Streamlines website creation for podcasters. It provides a professional platform to showcase your work, connect with listeners, and potentially grow your audience.
• Restaurant: Restaurant themes are often designed to attract customers and include menus, reservation forms, and mouthwatering food imagery.
• Real Estate: Focus on property presentation. They often include high-quality image and video galleries, interactive maps with property locations, search filters for specific features, and contact forms for inquiries.

Multipurpose Themes

Multipurpose themes are designed to be adaptable to various websites and industries. They offer broad features and functionalities, often achieved through drag-and-drop page builders or pre-built layouts. This flexibility allows you to customize the theme to fit your needs without requiring a niche-specific theme. Small to medium-sized businesses will find these themes suitable, as they can adapt to various needs without switching themes for different projects. Web developers and designers who work on multiple projects for different clients will appreciate multipurpose themes for their flexibility and extensive options.

Page Builder Themes

WordPress Page builders are powerful design tools that bring a new level of ease and customization to building WordPress sites without code. You can see your changes in real time on the front end of your website without switching between different screens or refreshing your browser. They are easy to use and often come with ready-made designs to help you get started faster. Graphic designers and creatives will find these themes ideal for creating highly customized and visually appealing designs with minimal coding. Intermediate users with WordPress experience who want to build unique, professional-looking layouts easily using page builder themes will also benefit.

Most page builders, like Elementor and Beaver Builder, are plugins that can integrate with WordPress themes (if compatible). Most premium WordPress will make sure they are compatible with popular page builders.

However, some themes, like Divi, offer a powerful theme and page builder in one complete package. Although you can use the Divi builder on other themes as a plugin, using the Divi theme gives you even more design control over your entire website. For example, Divi’s Theme Builder allows you to use the Divi builder to design dynamic page and category templates, headers, footers, and more.

So, if you plan on using a page builder with your theme, ensure your theme is compatible with the page builder you want. Better yet, get a popular theme and page builder all in one.

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Divi: The Most Popular WordPress Theme & Page Builder

Divi is a strong contender for the best multipurpose WordPress theme thanks to its feature-rich design and user-friendly approach. At its core, it is a versatile drag-and-drop builder that allows users to create custom layouts without coding knowledge. This visual editor is complemented by a vast library of pre-built templates and layout packs that cater to diverse design needs across various industries.

The real-time visual editor enables users to see changes instantly as they design. This makes customization efficient and straightforward, whether you’re adjusting layouts, fonts, or colors.

Here are some of the key features that make Divi a great theme and page builder:

• Divi AI: Generate entire layouts, images, text, and more Divi’s powerful AI assistant for web design.
• Drag-and-Drop Builder: Divi’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows for easy page creation using 200+ design elements without the need for coding skills.
• Real-Time Visual Editor: Make changes and see them instantly with Divi’s real-time visual editor.
• Pre-Built Templates and Layout Packs: Access a vast library of pre-built templates and layout packs to speed up your design process.
• Responsive Design Controls: Ensure your website looks great on all devices with Divi’s responsive editing features.
• Global Elements and Styles: Apply changes across your entire site with Divi’s global elements and styles, saving time and maintaining consistency.
• WooCommerce Compatibility: Seamlessly integrate WooCommerce to create beautiful and functional online stores.
• Powerful Theme Builder: Customize every part of your website, including headers, footers, and post templates, with the Divi Theme Builder.
• Dedicated Support and Community: Access dedicated support and join a vibrant community of users for additional resources and assistance.

Regular updates from Elegant Themes introduce new features and improvements. This keeps the theme at the forefront of WordPress design. The dedicated support and active community provide additional resources and assistance.

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Where to Find WordPress Themes

Finding the perfect WordPress theme can feel overwhelming with so many options available. There are several platforms to explore when searching for your ideal WordPress theme. Let’s delve into the most popular sources:

Official WordPress Theme Directory

A fantastic place to start your journey is the official WordPress theme directory. This free resource boasts a vast collection of themes, all vetted and ensured to be compatible with the latest WordPress versions. Here, you can filter themes by features, popularity, and functionalities like eCommerce compatibility. You can also find WordPress themes directly within the WordPress dashboard by navigating to the “Appearance” section. Once you find a theme, install and activate it to apply to your website.

Themes in the Official Directory are regularly tested for compatibility with the latest WordPress software updates. This helps ensure they integrate smoothly with your WordPress installation and any plugins you use, reducing compatibility issues. Community support is robust within the Official Directory ecosystem. Users can access documentation, forums, and community groups dedicated to helping with theme-related issues. This support network can be invaluable for troubleshooting and getting advice on using themes effectively.

One significant advantage of using themes from the Official Directory is that they are entirely free of charge. This makes them ideal for individuals and small businesses operating on a tight budget. Developers who submit themes to the Official Directory are encouraged to keep them updated. But this isn’t always the case. That’s why it is important to make sure to check that your theme is well supported, recently updated,  This means you can expect regular updates for bug fixes, security patches, and improvements, ensuring your theme remains stable and secure over time.

Commercial Theme Shops and Developer Websites

Commercial theme shops offer premium themes, often boasting advanced features and unique design aesthetics. These themes typically come with dedicated customer support and regular updates. Here are some of the popular marketplaces to consider:

• Themify
• ThemeForest
• StudioPress
• TemplateMonster
• CreativeMarket

Many independent theme developers have their websites where they showcase and sell their premium themes. Here are some of the most popular developer sites to consider:

• Elegant Themes (Divi)
• Astra
• OceanWP
• GeneratePress
• Kadence
• Avada

Purchasing a premium theme usually includes access to dedicated support from the theme developer or company, which can be invaluable for resolving issues quickly and getting assistance with customization. Premium themes often boast unique designs that are less likely to be used widely across the web, giving your website a more distinctive look. They also receive regular updates to fix bugs, introduce new features, and ensure compatibility with WordPress updates.

Top Factors For Choosing a WordPress Theme

Choosing the right WordPress theme can feel like diving into a big ocean of options. However, you don’t need to worry; there are important things to consider that can help you find the perfect fit for your website. Let’s explore together and find out what makes a WordPress theme awesome.

1. Fits Your Website’s Purpose and Audience

Choosing a WordPress theme isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a website that resonates with your target audience and effectively achieves your website’s goals. This alignment ensures that your site looks good and serves its intended function effectively. Firstly, you need to ask yourself, What is the main objective of your site? For example, if your primary goal is to share articles, stories, or personal insights, you’ll need a theme emphasizing readability. Look for themes with clean layouts, legible typography, and features that support various post formats.

Similarly, the theme for a business website should reflect your brand’s professionalism. It should include sections for showcasing services, client testimonials, and a portfolio.

Once you understand your website’s purpose, the next step is to consider your audience. Knowing who your visitors are will help you select a theme that appeals to them and meets their needs. Consider the following aspects:

• Demographics: The age, gender, location, and interests of your target audience can influence your theme choice. For instance, a theme with a modern, trendy design may appeal to a younger audience, while a more conservative design might be better suited for an older demographic.
• User Behavior: Consider how your audience will likely interact with your site. A responsive theme that looks great on smartphones and tablets is essential if they are mostly mobile users. If they prefer in-depth content, a theme that supports long-form articles and easy navigation will be beneficial.
• Preferences and Expectations: Your audience may have specific expectations based on your industry. For example, a tech-savvy audience might appreciate innovative design and advanced features, while a health and wellness audience might prefer calming colors and a straightforward layout.

2. Cost

Understanding the key differences between the free and the premium WordPress themes plays a big role in your selection. It would be best to balance the most cost-effective solution and one that delivers the most advanced features. Free themes are an accessible starting point, particularly for those with limited budgets.

Free themes can be invaluable resources, providing a solid foundation for many users. They offer basic design layouts and essential functionalities without requiring any financial investment. However, free themes often come with limitations. They may lack customization and additional features found in premium counterparts. Furthermore, support for free themes might be community-driven rather than dedicated, leading to slower response times for resolving issues or providing assistance.

On the other hand, premium themes come with a price tag but offer many benefits that justify the investment for many website owners. As mentioned earlier, these themes typically provide a deeper level of customization, allowing users to tailor their websites to specific needs and preferences. They often come bundled with premium plugins, advanced design options, and extensive documentation. Additionally, premium themes offer regular updates and dedicated support from the theme developers, ensuring that issues are promptly addressed and that the theme remains compatible with the latest WordPress updates.

Here are a few top premium plugins to consider:

3. Design and Layout

The visual presentation of your website is key to capturing attention and keeping visitors engaged. Your chosen theme should be visually appealing and align with your brand’s overall style. As the website owner, you must prioritize the message you want to convey. A clean and minimalist theme might be perfect for a photography portfolio, while a bold and colorful theme could work well for a children’s clothing store.

In addition to aesthetics, ensure your theme supports responsive design, especially in today’s mobile-centric landscape. Responsive design ensures that your website adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes and devices, providing an optimal viewing experience for all visitors, regardless of their preferred device. With most internet traffic originating from mobile devices, responsive design is non-negotiable for ensuring accessibility and user satisfaction.

Sometimes you can find the right niche theme that has the perfect design and layout you are looking for out of the box. But this is rare. That’s why it is important to choose a theme with flexible design and layout options. You need the tools to make adjustments on the fly to fit your brand.

Divi stands out as a theme, making it incredibly easy to find the right design and layout for your website. The theme comes with 250+ website packs designed for various industries you can use to jumpstart your website design.

4. Theme Performance

A website’s visual appeal is important, but performance is another crucial factor. A good theme shouldn’t just look good but also perform well. Themes with bloated code or excessive features can significantly slow your website’s loading speed, hurting user experience and search engine ranking.

Visitors expect websites to load quickly. Studies show that even a few seconds of delay can increase bounce rates (visitors leaving your site) and lost conversions (potential customers abandoning their purchases). A slow website can also hurt your SEO (search engine optimization) ranking, making it harder for potential customers to find you online.

To evaluate a theme’s performance, it’s essential to use speed test tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. These tools analyze your website’s loading speed and provide insights into areas for improvement. Look for themes prioritizing performance optimization, such as efficient coding practices, image optimization, and minification of CSS and JavaScript files. By choosing the fastest WordPress themes, you ensure that your website loads quickly and provides a seamless browsing experience for your visitors.

Several WordPress themes are optimized for performance. Here are a few examples to get started:

• Neve: Super performance-optimized, lightweight WordPress theme consistently ranks high in performance tests. It boasts a perfect 100 score on Google PageSpeed Insights for both mobile and desktop.
• Astra: Another popular theme known for its speed and usability. It offers a lightweight codebase, along with customization options and pre-built templates. Astra integrates with popular page builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder, making it versatile for different website needs.

5. SEO Readiness

An SEO-friendly theme can give your website a significant advantage when ranking higher in search results. While content is king, the underlying theme can also play a role. An SEO-friendly theme is built with best practices in mind, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your website’s content. This can ultimately lead to increased organic traffic and improved online visibility.

When evaluating themes for SEO readiness, it’s important to consider SEO plugin compatibility, particularly with popular options like Yoast SEO and Rank Math. These plugins provide a comprehensive suite of SEO tools to optimize further your website’s content, titles, meta descriptions, and more. Yoast and Rank Math offer features like on-page SEO analysis, keyword optimization suggestions, and technical SEO recommendations. A compatible theme ensures these plugins function and integrate smoothly with its features.

Additionally, consider themes prioritizing mobile responsiveness and providing options for optimizing image sizes and alt text. These features improve user experience and signal to search engines that your website is well-optimized for mobile devices, which is increasingly important for SEO.

Several WordPress themes have built-in SEO features that have helped websites increase their search engine visibility. Here are some of the best SEO WordPress themes that are also known for their excellent compatibility with SEO plugins:

• Schema: This theme prioritizes SEO best practices with features like built-in schema markup and clean, optimized code.
• GeneratePress: Known for its flexibility with Gutenberg, the WordPress block editor, this lightweight theme will not slow down your site.
• Astra: A highly popular theme with over 1 million users, it offers a great balance of features, ease of use, and SEO optimization. It provides schema markup options and seamless integration with popular SEO plugins.

6. Customization Options

A website’s theme is like its foundation, setting the groundwork for visual appeal and functionality. But what if that foundation doesn’t quite match your vision? This is where customization options come in. A good theme should provide various customization options to tailor your website to your requirements. Whether it’s adjusting colors, fonts, and layouts or adding custom widgets and sidebars, the ability to customize your theme ensures that your website reflects your brand identity and meets your unique objectives. The more customizable the theme, the easier it is to create a website that stands out and effectively communicates your message to your audience.

Most modern WordPress themes you’ll find in the WordPress repository will have customization options similar to the default block editor, as seen below.

If you want to take the design process to a whole new level, you can use a premium theme or page builder to enhance the block editor. For example, Divi replaces the standard WordPress editor with a visual builder that allows you to design your site in real-time. You can drag and drop pre-made modules like text boxes, images, buttons, and more to create page layouts.

Choosing a theme with this level of customization may not be necessary for simple sites, but for those looking for an easy solution for making design changes, a premium theme or page builder like Divi is the way to go.

7. Security and Support

When selecting a WordPress theme, it’s crucial to prioritize security and support to ensure a smooth and secure experience for your website and its visitors.  Your website is a valuable asset, potentially containing sensitive information. Choosing regularly updated themes and reliable support helps ensure your website stays secure and you have a resource to turn to if you encounter any issues. Ratings are also a good indicator of the quality of a plugin. A large number of 4-5 star ratings usually means the plugin is backed by a team dedicated to its security and support.

To prioritize security and support, check the theme’s update log to ensure updates are released frequently. Themes that receive regular updates are more likely to stay secure and compatible with the latest WordPress environment. Additionally, look for themes with positive reviews regarding support quality. User testimonials can provide valuable insights into the responsiveness and effectiveness of the theme’s support team in addressing user concerns and resolving issues promptly.

8. Compatibility With Other Plugins

Plugins are powerful tools that allow you to add features like contact forms, galleries, online stores, and more. Choosing a theme compatible with the plugins you plan to use is essential for creating a website that meets your specific needs.

It is crucial that your theme is compatible with all the must-have plugins that a typical WordPress site needs, plus more. For example, an online store would need to be compatible with plugins for eCommerce, SEO, and contact form plugins.

Here is a list of some top plugins you’ll want to make sure your theme is compatible with:

Some themes may not fully support certain plugins, leading to compatibility issues or limited functionality. By ensuring compatibility upfront, you can avoid potential headaches and ensure the smooth operation of your website.

There isn’t a foolproof way to guarantee absolute compatibility between any theme and all plugins, but here are some methods to increase your chances of a smooth ride. Firstly, most reputable theme developers will have documentation outlining compatible plugins. This might be a specific list or mention general categories (e.g., popular contact form plugins). Don’t hesitate to reach out to the theme developer’s support channel. They can clarify compatibility with specific plugins you’re interested in.

9. Documentation and Community Support

When choosing a WordPress theme, it’s crucial to consider the documentation and community support available. Good documentation helps you set up and customize your theme quickly, while strong community support can solve problems you might encounter. Look for themes that offer detailed documentation. These should include clear steps on how to install and configure the theme. Customization guides are also important; they offer tips for modifying the theme to fit your needs. Additionally, troubleshooting tips can be invaluable, providing solutions to common issues.

Community support is another key factor, and users should look for active forums to ask questions and share solutions. These forums can be a great resource when you’re stuck on a problem. Video and written tutorials created by the community can also help you get the most out of your theme. These communities often share recommendations for plugins that work well with the theme.

Free theme support often offers limited assistance, relying heavily on community forums. Response times can be slower, and the resources available might be fewer. On the other hand, premium theme support typically includes access to a dedicated support team, faster response times, and more detailed documentation. Premium users often benefit from exclusive tutorials and updates, providing a more comprehensive support experience.

For example, the Divi theme offers extensive documentation and a strong support community. Premium users of Divi get access to a dedicated support team and exclusive resources, making it easier to troubleshoot and customize the theme. This level of support can be a significant advantage when working on a complex project.

The community believes Divi seems to connect all the dots by providing good documentation and support, which can save you time and frustration.

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How to Install a WordPress Theme?

Setting Up Your Hosting Plan

Before we install WordPress themes, we must emphasize the importance of selecting a good hosting provider. Ideally, you want a speedy, reliable host that can grow with your needs while prioritizing security. It should also fit your budget. There are many fantastic WordPress hosting options available. We’ll even recommend a great choice to get you started.

SiteGround offers affordable plans for both WordPress beginners and experts. With prices from $18 to $45 per month, it’s a budget-friendly option for many users. You’ll get access to useful features like free email hosting, SSL certificates, content delivery networks (CDNs), and website migration assistance.

The company also prioritizes security, with advanced protection measures to safeguard against malicious hackers and other threats. This includes a web application firewall that helps prevent attacks and keeps your website safe. While SiteGround is an excellent choice for many users, other providers offer similar benefits, such as Hostinger, Pressable, Cloudways, and Flywheel. These options are worth considering if you’re looking for an alternative.

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Install the WordPress Theme

Once you’ve found the perfect WordPress theme to elevate your website, installing it is a breeze. You can use the built-in WordPress theme directory to install your theme. Log in to your WordPress website by entering your username and password. You’ll be directed to the WordPress dashboard, your site’s administrative hub, upon successful login. Hover over the “Appearance” tab in the WordPress dashboard to reveal a dropdown menu, then click “Themes.”

Once in the “Themes” section, your active theme is displayed at the top. Below your active theme, you’ll find a variety of other available themes categorized by “Featured,” “Popular,” “Latest,” and “Favorites.” To install a new theme, click on the “Add New” button at the top of the page.

You’ll be directed to the “Add Themes” page, where you can browse thousands of free and premium themes in the WordPress repository. Use the search bar to find specific themes or filter by features, layout, etc. Once you’ve found a theme, hover over it and click the “Install” button. WordPress will install and download the theme files to your website’s server.

After the installation, the “Install” button will change to “Activate.” Click the “Activate” button to activate your website’s newly installed theme. WordPress will apply the selected theme to your site, changing its appearance according to the theme’s design and settings.

Once your theme is activated, you may want to customize its appearance and functionality. To access the WordPress Theme Customizer, navigate to the “Customize” option under the “Appearance” tab. Here, you can modify various aspects of your theme, such as colors, fonts, header and footer layouts, widgets, and more. Experiment with customization options until you achieve your website’s desired look and feel.

Conclusion

Choosing the right WordPress theme is crucial in building a successful website. The meticulous consideration of design, performance, SEO capabilities, security, and support is crucial. These elements shape your website’s functionality and influence its visibility, usability, and overall user experience. Remember, the best theme for you will depend on your specific website’s goals and target audience. Take your time, explore your options, and don’t be afraid to experiment to find the theme that perfectly complements your online presence.

Looking for more? Check out our list of the best WordPress themes. You can also check the table below for the pricing details and links to the themes mentioned in this post.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before we wrap up, let’s tackle some frequently asked questions about picking the right WordPress theme. Anything else on your mind? Drop your question below, and we’ll give you an answer!