TL;DR: How to Pick The Right WordPress Theme for Your Business (Quick Takeaways)
This guide cuts through the noise to help you choose the best WordPress themes for your website, focusing on real-world performance, ease of use, and how well they support your business goals. I’ve tested them all, so you don’t have to.
Here are the three big things to know if you're in a hurry:
- Your "Best" Theme Depends on Your Goal: There's no single perfect theme. If you're building a business where conversions matter, I've found a theme like Thrive Theme Builder to be a game-changer. If speed is your obsession, I'd look at GeneratePress. If you're an Elementor user wanting a blank canvas, Hello Elementor is your friend.
- Free vs. Premium is About Commitment: Free themes are great for starting, but I've noticed premium themes offer better support, more features, and crucial updates that protect your investment as your site grows. Think about what you need long-term.
- WordPress is Changing (FSE): Full Site Editing (FSE) is the future, but traditional themes and visual builders are still excellent choices. I'd pick what feels most intuitive for you right now, knowing you have options for how much control you want.
Ready for the details? Keep reading for my full breakdown, including a comparison table and deep dives into each theme.
Every year, I dive headfirst into the world of WordPress themes, and every year, the same truth smacks me in the face: most people aren't looking for "the best theme in the world."
They want a theme they can actually live with. Something that won't overwhelm them, won't break their site every other Tuesday, and won't turn every tiny design decision into an existential crisis.
And that makes sense to me.
Your theme sets the entire tone for your online presence. It dictates how your work feels, how people move through your pages, and how confidently you show up online. It's more than just pretty pixels; it's the foundation of your online business.
So, this guide isn't about chasing fleeting trends or hyping up the latest shiny object. It's about the themes that genuinely work. I'm talking about the ones that feel intuitive, stay fast, and truly support the kind of website you're trying to build. After putting them through their paces, some stood out for their simplicity, some for their raw power, and one in particular for its unwavering focus on helping your business grow.
Let's cut through the noise and get you straight to the theme that fits how you build, create, and show up online.
It's super important to understand the differences between all these tools, so if you're curious about how themes, theme builders, and page builders stack up, we've got you covered.
Free vs. Premium WordPress Themes: What I Looked For
Before we jump into my top picks for the best WordPress themes, it's worth taking a moment to talk about the elephant in the room: free versus premium. Let's talk about what you're actually getting and what kind of commitment you're making to your website.
I've used both extensively, and I've seen the frustration that comes from picking the wrong one.
The Real Deal with Free Themes
Free themes are fantastic for getting started. They let you dip your toes in, experiment, and launch a basic site without spending a dime. Many of them are incredibly well-coded and offer a surprising amount of functionality.
Pros
Cons
Why Premium Themes Earn Their Keep
Premium themes, on the other hand, are an investment. You're paying for more than just code; you're paying for ongoing development, dedicated support, and often a suite of features designed to help your site grow.
Pros
Cons
Speaking of foundations, you might be asking yourself, do I even need a WordPress theme? It's a great question, and the answer might surprise you.
My Criteria for Choosing the Best Themes
When I evaluate themes, whether they're free or premium, I'm looking for a few specific things that really matter in the long run. These aren't just technical specs; they're about how a theme supports you and your business.
- Speed & Performance: This is non-negotiable for me. A slow site frustrates visitors and hurts your search rankings. I look for themes with clean code that load quickly, even before you add all your content and plugins.
- Ease of Use & Intuition: Can you actually build with this thing without wanting to throw your computer out the window? I value themes that make customization straightforward, whether through the WordPress Customizer, a visual builder, or the block editor.
- Design Flexibility & Control: How much can you change without needing to write custom code? I want themes that give you creative freedom for your brand, but also offer solid starter designs so you don't have to begin from scratch every time.
- FSE (Full Site Editing) Support: WordPress is moving towards FSE, so I consider how well a theme embraces this future, or if it offers a compelling alternative for traditional builders.
- Stability & Reliability: Does the theme break with every WordPress update? Is it actively maintained? A theme needs to be a stable foundation, not a house of cards.
- Long-Term Value: This isn't just about the initial price. It's about whether the theme helps you grow, offers good support, and remains a relevant tool as your business evolves.
- AI Features (New Consideration): With AI becoming more prevalent, I'm starting to look at how themes are integrating AI for content generation or layout suggestions, making the building process even faster. (If you're curious about how to leverage this technology, we've got a great guide on using AI on WordPress the smart way to get real results.)
I use these criteria to cut through the marketing fluff and find the themes that genuinely make a difference.
The Best WordPress Themes for 2026: My Top Picks
If you just need the quick answer, here it is: I think Thrive Theme Builder is the best WordPress theme for 2026 for anyone building a business, personal brand, or any website where conversions matter.
It gives you full visual control over your entire site and pairs beautifully with the landing pages, funnels, quizzes, and list-building tools inside Thrive Suite. I've found it to be truly the most complete, beginner-friendly system for turning traffic into customers.
If you're wondering if Thrive Theme Builder is the right fit for your specific WordPress site, we've got a deep dive just for you.
But, depending on your skill level, design needs, or whether you lean towards Full Site Editing (FSE) or traditional page builders, another theme might be a better fit. Here’s a quick overview to get you started:
Best WordPress Themes at a Glance (2026 Quick Picks)
Category | Best Theme | Why It’s the Best | Ideal For | Notable Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Thrive Theme Builder | Full site control + marketing tools built in | Businesses, Creators, Marketers | Complete visual theme builder, conversion tools |
Best for Beginners (Free) | Hello Elementor | Easiest blank starter theme for Elementor users | Elementor Users, Simplicity | Clean blank canvas, massive ecosystem |
Best for Speed | GeneratePress | Ultra-lightweight core and developer-friendly structure | Developers, Performance Pros | One of the fastest themes available |
Best for Agencies | Astra | Broadest template library + fast client workflows | Agencies, Multipurpose Sites | 240+ starter templates, extremely flexible |
Best for Design Flexibility | Divi | Visual editor + Divi AI for layouts and content | Designers, Creatives | Full design control + large layout library |
Best WooCommerce Theme (Free) | Botiga | Clean, modern storefront performance-optimized | Online Stores, eCommerce | Gorgeous product layouts, great free version |
Best Free FSE Theme | Twenty Twenty-Five | The purest Full Site Editing experience in WordPress | Bloggers, FSE Enthusiasts | Best introduction to WordPress’s future |
Best Beginner-Friendly FSE Theme | Ollie / Spectra One | Guided onboarding + modern block-based designs | FSE Newcomers, Modern Layouts |
🏆 Top 3 Best-Selling WordPress Themes (Marketplace Data)
While my rigorous testing identifies the true performance winners, I also recognize the power of community choice. Here are the themes that consistently rank as best-sellers on leading marketplaces (like ThemeForest, WordPress.org ,etc.) proving their popularity and widespread adoption:
*(Note: While these themes might not be in my top 10, I wanted to be fair and acknowledge what other communities prefer. Check them out and see if any of these three meet your needs.)*
🔑 Key Takeaways (Read Before You Choose)
- I think Thrive Theme Builder is the best all-around theme if your priority is growth, conversion, or building a real online business — not just a pretty website.
- I've found Hello Elementor and Astra remain incredibly easy choices for most beginners, especially if you love visual builders and want quick setup with a huge design library. (This also brings up the classic debate of Gutenberg vs. page builders, and which one is truly right for your workflow.)
- GeneratePress and Neve dominate the speed category, and I'd recommend them for developers, performance-focused creators, and anyone obsessed with SEO.
Looking for a quick comparison? Jump straight to my Detailed Theme Comparison Table for a side-by-side look at features and performance.
If you want the long version — including speed scores, FSE vs. Traditional comparisons, and deeper theme breakdowns — keep reading.
How I Tested These Themes (My Straightforward Methodology)
Theme reviews only matter when you know how the testing was done. So, here’s the straightforward version. Nothing complicated — just a consistent setup and the same expectations for every theme. I wanted to see how these themes perform in the real world, not in some lab.
Hosting Setup
I installed all themes on the same WordPress site, using a standard shared hosting plan (I use Hostinger). This reflects what most people actually use. No premium servers, no performance boosters — just a realistic environment so the results mean something for you.
Speed Testing (PageSpeed Insights + GTmetrix)
I tested each theme with:
I took scores on a clean install to see how the theme performs before plugins, page builders, or marketing tools even enter the picture. This gives us a baseline.
Demo Content
To keep things fair, every theme got the same simple setup:
Just enough content to mirror a real starter site, without stacking the deck for any particular theme.
Evaluation Criteria
I judged each theme against the factors that actually matter in day-to-day use:
- Speed: How quickly pages load on mobile and desktop. This is non-negotiable.
- Ease of Use: How intuitive the setup and customization felt. Did I have to fight it?
- Design Flexibility: How far you can go without the theme pushing back.
- FSE Support: How well it works with WordPress’s newer block-based editing.
- Value: What you get for the price — whether it’s free or paid.
This keeps my rankings grounded in real-world experience, not marketing promises.
FSE vs. Traditional Themes (A Quick Guide)
WordPress has shifted dramatically in the past few years. Traditional themes still work beautifully, but Full Site Editing (FSE) is clearly the platform’s long-term direction. The good news: you don’t have to pick a "right" side — you just need the one that matches how you like to build.
FSE vs. Traditional Themes Explained
In simple terms:
FSE vs Traditional Themes: Quick Comparison
Feature | Traditional Themes | FSE (Block Themes) |
|---|---|---|
Ease of Use | Very beginner-friendly | Moderate learning curve |
Design Flexibility | Guided templates | Full-site customization |
Performance | Good, varies by theme | Often excellent (lighter structure) |
Tools Needed | May require a page builder | Works natively in WordPress |
Best For | Users who want simplicity | Users who want control & modern design |
Future-Proofing | Still supported, widely used | Growing fast — WordPress’s long-term path |
So… what should you choose?
If you want the quickest path to a beautiful, functional website, I'd say a traditional theme or a visual theme builder (like Thrive Theme Builder) will feel more natural. You'll get up and running with less fuss. (But be warned, there are some things they don't tell you about no-code website building that you should definitely know.)
If you enjoy modern layouts, minimal plugins, and the idea of shaping every part of your site visually, an FSE theme like Twenty Twenty-Five or Ollie will feel exciting and future-ready. It's a different way to build, and it offers a lot of creative freedom.
If you’re somewhere between the two, don’t overthink it. Pick the theme that lets you build without friction. The goal is momentum, not complexity.
If you're wondering if it's time to switch to WordPress FSE, we've got a detailed breakdown to help you decide.
The 10 Best WordPress Themes for 2026
Before we dive into the specifics, here’s one thing worth naming upfront: there isn’t a single “perfect” WordPress theme. There’s only the theme that fits the way you build, write, sell, or show up online. Some people want simplicity. Others want speed. Some want full creative control, while others just want a site that looks good without too much effort.
What matters is choosing a theme that doesn’t slow you down — one that feels intuitive, stays fast, and gives you room to grow.
Each theme in this list earned its place through real testing and real-world use. No hype, no filler. Just the options that consistently perform well, stay reliable over time, and make the process of building a website feel a little lighter.
Let’s start at the top.
Before diving into the detailed reviews, here’s a high-level comparison of all 10 themes in this guide. This table exists for one reason: to help you quickly understand how each theme differs — in price, speed, compatibility, and intended use — so you can immediately narrow your shortlist.
It’s not the full story (the breakdowns that follow will give you context and nuance), but this gives you a clear, at-a-glance starting point.
Top 10 WordPress Themes Compared
Theme | Starting Price | Free Version | Speed Score | Best For | Notable Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thrive Theme Builder | $149/year (Thrive Suite) | No | ★★★★☆ | Businesses, creators, marketers | Complete visual theme builder, conversion tools |
SeedProd Theme Builder | $39.50/year | No | ★★★☆☆ | Landing pages, funnels, simple sites | Fastest landing page workflow, easy drag-and-drop |
Hello Elementor | Free | Yes | ★★★★☆ | Beginners & Elementor users | Clean blank canvas, massive ecosystem |
Astra | $59/year | Yes | ★★★★☆ | Agencies, multipurpose sites | 240+ starter templates, extremely flexible |
Divi | $89/year or $249 lifetime | No | ★★★☆☆ | Designers, creatives | Full design control + large layout library |
GeneratePress | $59/year | Yes | ★★★★★ | Developers, performance pros | One of the fastest themes available |
Neve | $69/year | Yes | ★★★★☆ | Beginners & small businesses | Lightweight, modern, very affordable |
Twenty Twenty-Five | Free | Yes | ★★★★☆ | Bloggers, block-first creators | Best introduction to WordPress’s future |
Ollie | Free (paid add-ons) | Yes | ★★★★☆ | FSE design flexibility | Beautiful patterns, best-designed FSE theme |
Botiga | $69/year | Yes | ★★★★☆ | WooCommerce stores | Gorgeous product layouts, great free version |
Speed Score Note:
This table uses a general performance profile based on theme weight, code structure, and independent test averages. Your results may shift depending on hosting, plugins, and page builder choices.
My Take
This comparison table gives you a quick sense of where each theme naturally fits — but the deeper reviews that follow will help you understand why each theme shines in its category and how to choose the one that matches your style, your goals, and your technical comfort level. Consider this the overview; the sections ahead will give you the nuance you need to make a confident decision.
4A. The Conversion Themes (Ranked First)
Most people don’t build a website just to have one. They build it to do something — attract clients, sell offers, grow an audience, or turn casual readers into subscribers and customers. That’s why the conversion-focused themes sit at the top of this list. I've found they’re designed for people who want their website to work as part of their business, not sit quietly in the background.
These themes give you structure, flexibility, and the kind of marketing-focused tools that shorten the distance between a visitor landing on your site and taking meaningful action.
Let’s start with what I consider the strongest option in this category.
Thrive Theme Builder: 45-Second Summary
Best for: Entrepreneurs, coaches, course creators, small business owners
Ideal for: Anyone who wants full visual control without wrestling with code or bloated page builders
Perfect when you: Care about conversions — not just having a pretty website
Budget: Great value for anyone already using Thrive Suite or wanting an all-in-one toolkit
Thrive Theme Builder gives you something most WordPress themes don’t: complete control over how your site looks, feels, and performs — without needing a developer or a dozen extra plugins. I say this because it’s more than a theme. It’s a full site-building framework designed for people who want a website that helps them grow their business, not just hold space on the internet.
It comes with beautiful starter templates, a visual drag-and-drop editor, built-in conversion tools, and deep integration with the entire Thrive Suite. If you’re building a marketing-driven site — landing pages, funnels, lead generation, online courses — this is where I've found the experience becomes smooth, intuitive, and strategically aligned.
Thrive Theme Builder: Personal Review
I’ve tested a lot of themes over the years — lightweight ones, flexible ones, “do-everything” ones — and Thrive Theme Builder has consistently been the option that feels built for people who actually run online businesses.
What stands out most to me is how quickly it gets you from “blank website” to something that feels polished and intentional. The visual editor is clean, predictable, and forgiving. The templates look modern. And because it’s tied into Thrive Architect, Thrive Optimize, Thrive Leads, and the rest of the ecosystem, you skip the usual WordPress chaos of trying to force different plugins to work together.
You can customize headers, footers, blog layouts, sidebar logic, landing pages — all in one place — without breaking anything or feeling overwhelmed. It's the kind of tool that makes me think, “Oh… this is how WordPress should feel.”
I wouldn't recommend it for someone who wants a minimal, bare-bones framework or plans to rely heavily on Elementor or Divi. But for business owners, creators, and marketers? I think it hits the sweet spot between flexibility and focus.
Thrive Theme Builder: Key Details
Feature | Details |
|---|---|
Control Level | Full visual control of your entire site |
Monetization | Built-in tools for funnels, email capture, course selling |
Best For | Businesses, personal brands, online course creators, coaches |
Page Builder Compatibility | Native Thrive Architect (included), not for Elementor/Divi users |
FSE Support | Traditional theme with advanced visual editing |
Speed | Excellent, especially when paired with Thrive Architect |
Learning Curve | Moderate, but highly intuitive once you grasp the visual editor |
Support | Comprehensive knowledge base, active community, and dedicated support team |
⭐ Why Thrive Theme Builder Shines for Online Business Growth
With its deep integration of marketing tools and a visual editor designed for conversion, Thrive Theme Builder is my top recommendation for anyone building an online business. I find its intuitive workflow and focus on strategic actions make it a powerhouse for selling online, generating leads, and growing your audience.
Starting Price: Thrive Theme Builder is part of the Thrive Suite, which starts at $149 per year.
2. SeedProd Theme Builder — Best for Landing Pages & Simple Sites
Overview
SeedProd started as a popular landing page builder, and it's evolved into a full theme builder that lets you create your entire WordPress site visually, piece by piece. If you're building a site that's heavily reliant on landing pages, sales funnels, or just need a super-fast, custom design without touching code, SeedProd is a strong contender. I've found it's built for speed and simplicity, making it a favorite for marketers and small business owners who prioritize a quick setup and high performance.
Key Features
- Drag & Drop Visual Builder: Design every part of your site with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
- Landing Page Focus: Comes with hundreds of pre-built landing page templates for various goals (sales, coming soon, opt-in).
- Full Theme Building: Create custom headers, footers, single post templates, archive pages, and more.
- WooCommerce Blocks: Specific blocks to design custom product pages and shop layouts.
- Subscriber Management: Built-in subscriber management and email marketing integrations.
Pros
Cons
Ideal Use Case
SeedProd Theme Builder is perfect for marketers, solopreneurs, and small businesses who need to launch websites quickly, prioritize fast loading speeds, and primarily focus on landing pages, sales funnels, or simple brochure sites. If you want a visual builder that helps you convert visitors without getting bogged down in complex theme settings, I think this is a smart choice.
Starting Price: SeedProd's Theme Builder features are available with their Pro plan, starting at $39.50 per year.
3. Hello Elementor — Best Blank Canvas for Elementor Users
Overview
Hello Elementor isn't a theme in the traditional sense; I see it more as a minimalist starter framework specifically designed to work hand-in-hand with the Elementor page builder. It's intentionally bare-bones, with almost no styling or features built-in. This means it's incredibly lightweight and fast, providing a clean slate for Elementor users to build their entire site visually, without any theme styles interfering or slowing things down. If you're committed to Elementor, I'd say this is its ideal partner.
Key Features
- Minimalist Design: Comes with almost no CSS or JavaScript, making it extremely lightweight.
- Full Elementor Compatibility: Designed by Elementor to be 100% compatible with all Elementor Pro features, including Theme Builder.
- Fast Performance: Its lean code base contributes to excellent loading speeds.
- Developer-Friendly: Easy to extend and customize with custom code if needed.
- Free: Available for free in the WordPress theme directory.
Pros
Cons
Ideal Use Case
Hello Elementor is the go-to theme for anyone who uses Elementor Pro extensively and wants maximum speed and design control. If you're an Elementor power user, a web designer building client sites with Elementor, or someone who wants to avoid theme bloat and build everything visually with Elementor's tools, I think this theme is your best friend.
Starting Price: Hello Elementor is completely free. But paid plans start from $59/year.
Overview
Astra is a powerhouse in the WordPress theme world, known for its incredible versatility, speed, and vast library of pre-built starter templates. It's a non-FSE theme that works beautifully with all major page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, and the WordPress block editor. Agencies love it for its flexibility in building diverse client sites, and individual users appreciate how quickly they can launch a professional-looking website without starting from scratch.
Key Features
- 240+ Starter Templates: A massive library of professionally designed full website templates for various niches.
- Page Builder Integration: Deep integration and optimization for Elementor, Beaver Builder, Brizy, and the block editor.
- Performance Focused: Built with speed in mind, featuring lightweight code and modular architecture.
- Extensive Customization: Control almost every aspect of your site's design through the WordPress Customizer.
- WooCommerce Ready: Dedicated features and templates for building online stores.
Pros
Cons
Ideal Use Case
Astra is an excellent choice for agencies, freelancers, and anyone who needs to build multiple websites quickly and efficiently. It's also great for small businesses and individuals who want a highly customizable, fast, and feature-rich theme that works well with their preferred page builder. If you value a wide range of pre-designed options and strong performance, I think Astra is a top pick.
Starting Price: Astra offers a free version. The Pro version starts at $59 per year.
Overview
Divi isn't just a theme; I see it as a complete website design framework from Elegant Themes. It comes with its own powerful visual drag-and-drop page builder, the Divi Builder, which lets you design every part of your website in real-time on the front end. If you're a designer, a creative, or someone who values pixel-perfect control and a highly visual workflow, I think Divi offers an unparalleled level of design freedom without needing to touch a line of code.
Key Features
- Divi Builder: A proprietary visual drag-and-drop page builder for front-end editing.
- Extensive Design Options: Control over colors, fonts, spacing, animations, and more for every element.
- Layout Library: Hundreds of pre-made layouts and sections to kickstart your designs.
- Global Elements: Create elements (like headers or footers) once and use them across your entire site.
- Divi AI: Recently added AI capabilities for generating content and layouts.
Pros
Cons
Ideal Use Case
Divi is ideal for designers, creative professionals, and businesses who want absolute control over their website's aesthetics and enjoy a highly visual design process. If you're willing to invest time in learning its powerful builder and prioritize design freedom above all else, I think Divi can help you create truly unique and stunning websites.
Starting Price: Divi starts at $89 per year, or you can purchase a lifetime license for $249.
Overview
GeneratePress is a minimalist, performance-focused WordPress theme that consistently ranks among the fastest available. I like that it's built with clean code and a modular approach, meaning it only loads what's necessary, resulting in lightning-fast page speeds. While its free version is quite capable, the premium version, GeneratePress Premium, unlocks a powerful module system that lets you add features only when you need them, keeping your site lean. It's a favorite among developers and performance enthusiasts.
Key Features
- Ultra-Lightweight Core: Tiny file size and optimized code for maximum speed.
- Modular Design: Add features (like WooCommerce support, advanced typography) only when you need them with premium modules.
- Block Editor Focused: Works smoothly with the WordPress block editor and its companion plugin, GenerateBlocks.
- Accessibility Ready: Built with accessibility best practices in mind.
- Developer-Friendly: Clean code and hooks make it easy for developers to extend.
Pros
Cons
Ideal Use Case
GeneratePress is the perfect theme for developers, performance-obsessed site owners, and anyone who prioritizes speed and clean code above all else. If you're comfortable with the WordPress Customizer, plan to use the block editor (perhaps with GenerateBlocks), or want a rock-solid foundation for a custom-built site, I think GeneratePress is an unbeatable choice.
Starting Price: GeneratePress offers a free version. GeneratePress Premium starts at $59 per year.
Overview
Neve is a modern, fast, and highly customizable WordPress theme from ThemeIsle. I like that it's designed to be lightweight and mobile-first, making sure your site looks great and loads quickly on any device. Neve offers a good balance of features, ease of use, and performance, making it a strong contender for beginners, small businesses, and anyone looking for a versatile theme that works well with popular page builders.
Key Features
- Lightweight & Fast: Built for speed and optimal performance, with a focus on Core Web Vitals.
- Mobile-First Design: Responsive and adaptive design makes sure you get a great experience on all screen sizes.
- Starter Sites: A growing library of ready-to-import starter sites for various industries.
- Page Builder Compatibility: Works well with Elementor, Beaver Builder, Brizy, and the Gutenberg block editor.
- WooCommerce Booster: Enhanced features for building and customizing online stores.
Pros
Cons
Ideal Use Case
Neve is an ideal theme for beginners, small business owners, bloggers, and freelancers who need a fast, modern, and easy-to-use theme. If you want a theme that gets out of your way, performs well, and lets you build a professional site without a steep learning curve, I think Neve is a solid, reliable option.
Starting Price: Neve offers a free version. The Pro version starts at $69 per year.
Overview
Twenty Twenty-Five is the default WordPress theme for 2025 (and beyond, as these themes often remain relevant). It's a pure Full Site Editing (FSE) theme, meaning every aspect of your site – from headers and footers to post templates and global styles – is editable using the native WordPress block editor. I see this theme as your purest gateway into the future of WordPress design, offering a clean, modern aesthetic and showcasing the power of block-based site building.
Key Features
- Full Site Editing (FSE): Edit all parts of your site visually with the block editor.
- Global Styles: Control typography, colors, and layout settings site-wide from one place.
- Block Patterns: Comes with a variety of pre-designed block patterns for quick section building.
- Lightweight & Fast: As a default WordPress theme, it's optimized for performance.
- Free: Included with every WordPress installation.
Pros
Cons
Ideal Use Case
Twenty Twenty-Five is perfect for bloggers, content creators, and those who want to embrace the future of WordPress. If you're curious about Full Site Editing, want a free and fast theme, or enjoy building with native WordPress blocks, I think this theme provides an excellent, unadulterated FSE experience.
Starting Price: Twenty Twenty-Five is completely free and comes pre-installed with WordPress.
Overview
Ollie is a beautifully designed Full Site Editing (FSE) theme that aims to make block-based site building more approachable and aesthetically pleasing. While it uses the native WordPress block editor for all customization, it adds a layer of thoughtful design, curated patterns, and a more guided experience than a bare-bones FSE theme like Twenty Twenty-Five. I'd say it’s a fantastic option for those who want to explore FSE but appreciate a little more hand-holding and a polished starting point.
Key Features
- Curated Block Patterns: A rich library of stylish, pre-designed block patterns for common sections.
- Intuitive Onboarding: Designed to guide users through the FSE experience.
- Modern Aesthetics: Focus on clean lines, good typography, and contemporary layouts.
- Global Styles Integration: Easy management of site-wide colors, fonts, and layout settings.
- FSE Native: Fully built for the WordPress block editor and site editor.
Pros
Cons
Ideal Use Case
Ollie is an excellent choice for FSE newcomers, bloggers, small businesses, and creatives who want to build a modern, block-based website without feeling overwhelmed. If you're ready to dive into Full Site Editing but want a theme that offers more design guidance and beautiful pre-made elements, I think Ollie is a standout option.
Starting Price: Ollie is available for free, with paid add-ons for extended functionality.
Overview
Botiga is a modern, clean, and performance-optimized WooCommerce theme designed specifically for online stores. I like that it focuses on providing a great shopping experience with beautiful product layouts, flexible customization options, and a lightweight code base. Whether you're just starting an online shop or looking to refresh an existing one, I think Botiga offers a compelling package, especially with its feature-rich free version.
Key Features
- WooCommerce Focused: Deep integration and specific features for online stores.
- Product Layouts: Multiple product gallery and single product page layouts.
- Checkout Customization: Options to customize the checkout page for better conversions.
- Performance Optimized: Built for speed and efficiency, important for e-commerce.
- Header & Footer Builder: Visual options to design custom headers and footers.
Pros
Cons
Ideal Use Case
Botiga is the perfect theme for anyone building an online store with WooCommerce. If you need a theme that looks professional, loads quickly, and offers specific features to enhance the shopping experience and boost sales, I think Botiga (especially its free version) is a fantastic starting point.
Starting Price: Botiga offers a free version. The Pro version starts at $69 per year.
Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress Themes
I get a lot of questions about picking the right theme. Here are some of the most common ones I hear, along with my straightforward answers.
Making Your Decision: What Matters Most?
You've seen the options, and I hope you're feeling a bit clearer about what's out there. The goal here wasn't to declare a single "winner" for everyone, because your perfect theme depends entirely on your specific needs, your technical comfort, and what you want your website to do.
If you're building a business where every page needs to work towards a conversion, and you want a unified system that just makes sense, I genuinely believe Thrive Theme Builder is your smartest next step. It's the theme I trust for my own projects and for the businesses I advise.
But if speed is your absolute top priority, GeneratePress is a fantastic choice. If you're an agency juggling many clients, Astra offers incredible flexibility. And if you're embracing the future of WordPress with Full Site Editing, Ollie or Twenty Twenty-Five will give you a great head start.
The best theme is the one that empowers you, not frustrates you. It's the one that lets you build, create, and grow without getting in your way.
So, take a moment, revisit the quick comparison table, and think about what truly matters for your project. Then, pick a theme, install it, and start building. The clarity you gain by simply getting started is worth more than endless research.
You've got this. Go build something great.
Great, useful and thoughtful exploration as always. Been a Thrive Theme customer for many years now and always highly rated the themes and plugins provided and how they all work together. Thank you for your good work.
Thank you for your kind words, Una! We’re really glad to have you as a part of the Thrive Themes family
I Absolutely love Thrive Themes!
The suite includes everything necessary to create high-converting content, from blog posts to sales pages and even membership portals.
Its ability to simplify the design process of a conversion-focused website, a feature that stands out even among numerous WordPress page builders!
One of the most significant advantages of Thrive Themes is their focus on conversion-oriented design. Their themes and plugins are crafted to help websites turn visitors into customers, subscribers, or members, depending on the site’s goals.
The suite it includes a robust WordPress visual editor that’s considered the best for creating aesthetically pleasing content. The drag-and-drop editor is user-friendly and comes packed with elements that can enhance pages, like testimonial boxes and exit-intent pop-ups, which are all aimed at improving conversion rates!
Another aspect where Thrive Themes seems to excel is customer service. The support team receives commendations for their dedication and effectiveness, going beyond the call of duty to resolve issues.
The combination of powerful, conversion-focused tools and strong customer support makes Thrive Themes the BEST suite for individuals and agencies looking to optimize their WordPress sites for better user engagement and conversion. 100% recommended!
Marco, thank you so much for this amazing testimonial. We’re so glad to hear that our products have helped you.
Thrive Themes is the best as always.
Been with Thrive Themes for a few years… Their themes are awesome (and so easily interchangeable!!) and their customer support is out of this world!! The Thrive Themes platform and suite makes my life soooo easy! From a course platform, to quizzes, to beautiful and simple to use Themes… there are no cons to subscribing!!
Thanks for this pro-level rundown, Chipo. I have used several of these but by far, my recommendation goes to Thrive Themes. Why?
First, I know that pretty websites alone are not enough. They don’t convert visitors to leads and into customers – unless they’re optimised for conversion. I know from long experience, plus the continual series of educational videos and blog posts over the past nine years (that I’ve been a happy customer) that Thrive Themes templates are optimised.
Also, other themes I’ve used in the past have proved difficult to work with. Options have been confusing, making any meaningful changes has been frustratingly difficult and over time, they have not always been maintained, leaving them open to security breaches. Thrive Themes has always been the opposite in every way.
And in fairness, I gave the others an honest go. I even tried to like them. But they just didn’t come close, no matter what the glossy images made them look like they could produce.
Thank you so much for these amazing words, Matthew! We love hearing about how our products have helped our customers, because we really want to see you guys win.
I didn’t know that Thrive was offering themes for WordPress. They look great!
Since I chose to use ThriveThemes (some years ago now!), and the themes offered in the suit, never needed anything else. They’re easy to set up, very flexible for any desired changes, and in my opinion they can meet most needs. I really like being able to adapt them as I wish. I don’t even look anywhere else.
I use Thrive Suite for 5+ years and all my business is built around it. I can say that it was a life changer for me that this suite is actually meant to help the creators get leads, build funnels and grow a business on one of world known platform. Since then, updates changed the way I promote and get more leads and sales and this makes me give +1 on any one asking for a platform to build an online business.
When I began looking for a website for my author page, I researched many options. Coming across Thrive Themes I was able to create the look I wanted. Thrive Themes is great value for money as it continues to incorporate additional items that work to bring you more results. It also has templates for courses and quizzes. So no need to purchase another tool for those. For instance, I want to update my website with courses and some quizzes. While I had someone help me with the initial set-up I can easily change and plug in items as needed. I love that I don’t need to be a techie, have coding experience, or have to pay someone to add or change items on my website. I also like that they have instructional videos for when I need help. Whenever another author (or anyone) asks about website platforms, I tell them about Thrive. Check it out!
I’ve been using Thrive Themes for 3 years now and just installed it on a second (new) website. I’ve used WordPress before so I’m not a newbie, but I prefer not to customize a site all that much because it create maintenance nightmares later. Here’s what I learned from using TT twice. The first time, I didn’t understand all the different features and I’m still not using even a fraction of what the system can do. But I still made mistakes in not recognizing when I was working in the blog area versus the main site. I also didn’t fully understand how to keep everything consistent with global features. But I correct all of this when I built the second site. And now it’s super easy to maintain and make needed changes without customization.
But as a former programmer and now a content creator who has worked on several different platforms and WordPress sites…where Thrive Themes excels is in their customer service. Without fail, when I get stuck and can’t figure something out – I open a support ticket and give support access to my site. Within a day or two (often less), I get a thoughtful response that shows evidence the technician took the time to truly look at my site, detect the problem, and often fix it for me. Seriously – Unparalleled in this industry.
Thank you for sharing this, Shelley. I love what you shared about your growth with finding your way around our tools, and being able to use them on a second site. Thank you for being a part of the Thrive Themes family 🙂
I changed over to the Bookwise theme. Love it! Great for author websites.
So glad to hear this, Kelly!
An interesting overview. Thank you.
I’ve been using shapeshift since it came out and have loved it. I can’t say enough about Thrive Themes. It has been a Wow experience since I first got it. So much continued improvements/upgrades. I use the quizzes and online courses (Apprentice) and all their features/plug-ins. I can’t recommend it enough.
So happy to hear this, Duke. Thank you for sharing!
Breakthru Pro works well with Woo which works with Thrive so it’s not a bad option.
Great article – I like the differentiated view.
Thank you, Jörg 🙂
This article was very helpful I will definitely use all the info to create my website!
Glad to hear that, Stella!
Feel free to share a link to your site once you’ve built it!
Glad to see there’s a coach template in Thrive Themes.
I build all my sites (and my client sites) using Thrive Themes. There is no better system, full stop.
Thanks, Aaron 🙂 Glad to have you as part of the Thrive Themes fam!
By far the most visually attractive but beyond that functional and easy to navigate. I enjoy building with Thrive Themes.
Thank you, Kenny!
Love the DIVI theme. It’s one of my favorites.
Great article. I am constantly looking at new WordPress Themes and trying them out for new clients. However, I always come back to Thrive because my business needs the advanced features that I get with the Thrive Suite.
So glad to hear that, Andrew! Thank you for sharing!
I’m currently involved in working behind the scenes on the complete redesign and rebuild of a site. During the research and planning we experimented with no fewer than five others of your “13 Most Popular WordPress Themes” listed above, in addition to Thrive Themes. We settled on Thrive Themes. The interconnectedness of the various plugins and opportunity to minimise external plugins outside the Thrive Themes ecosystem was a key factor in the decision.
So glad to hear this, David. Thank you for sharing!
Thrive themes are the best.
Excellent content as always! Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
This is a vry nice overview, I’ll stick with Thrive Themes any day. I have build my website in the early days from notepad, afterwards in WordPress, and always felt, there is something missing.
That missing link is Thrive Themes, I save time setting up my website and have more time to do my business. It’s as simple as that.
Thank you for this, Peter. We’re glad to have you as a part of the Thrive Themes family!
I chose Thrive Themes because it’s an all-in platform and allows me to host my online videos as well
thrive themes are amazing
This is a very comprehensive post about which theme you should consider using for your next website. I prefer the Thrive themes because they are truly wysiwyg and as a visual person I find this so much easier to implement. Some clever people have done all the hard work for you behind the scenes, and all you need to do is to make them your own using preferred colours and a few extra tweaks.
Thank you for your kind words, Alice!
I have heard and used most of the aforementioned themes but never used thrived theme. I’ll give it a try on my next website. I hope it’s good as advertised here.
We look forward to seeing what you build with our tools, Enoma. Thanks for commenting!
Those themes are really nice and look very professional! Very useful post with nice tips for people looking for neat themes!
Thank you for the info! Very helpful
Great info!
Very informative and educational article. I learned a lot. Article was well put together and is a great learning tool.
Una forma rápida, económica y profesional de mejorar tu presencia web
Hi Chipo, great blog post! As a website designer for 10+ years who started on dreamweaver and have used Divi themes and all other website builder software (squarespace, wix, godaddy, etc), Thrive Theme is by far the best theme builder in terms of easy-to-use, extensiveness of customisation (that doesn’t damage SEO/site performance) AND longevity. As someone who has been in the industry for a while, and even if you want a FAST theme (yes you have a thrive theme template customised in under an hour) – you need the company who owns the theme to be reliable, constantly updating, and innovating with the times. This is where Thrive is the real winner. Everything from customer support, youtube channel, the weekly emails – they don’t cut corners and they are here to stay! That’s really important for a business owner – switching themes and software is an expensive business mistake that most business owners can’t afford to make! I love thrive themes – I’m currently designing a site with Xpert Theme and I’m loving it. Before that, Shapeshifter has been my go-to for years! Thanks Thrive Themes for keeping website building simple, extensively customisable and reliable!!
Very informative read. Thanks.
I’ve used a few of these themes! Thrive is a good choice. It’s quick and provides good design flexibility. You can set your website colours and unique look while also utilising the prebuilt templates.
I never realized how a webpage layout would have so much impact based on the business style of a company, this gives me a lot to consider in the future even for personal web design.
DIVI theme – very interesting! I like!
So much info! But very helpful. I’m needing WordPress more and more so I found this very helpful. I had to save it for reference.
It’s awesome to refer to the 13 popular themes you shared
thanks a lot
u do a great job
go go go continue
This testimonial reflects my experience. I began creating my website using Notepad, before migrating to WordPress. However, I felt a constant lack in the process.
Discovering Thrive Themes filled that gap. Using it has saved me precious time in setting up my site, leaving me more available for my professional activities. It’s become an essential tool that really simplifies the management of my site, and it’s incredibly efficient.
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Astra & OceanWP are by far my go to when I’m building a website for someone. They have so many flexibilities.
Great content
Informative and thought provoking for my business. Thank you for the education
I really like kadence but their blocks can be confusing when using for the first time.
This is a solid overview! I’ve used several of these themes myself, and I can definitely relate – choosing the wrong theme upfront can make everything more challenging. A great theme should look good and also keep your site running smoothly. It’s all about finding the right balance between design and performance, and this list really does a great job of pointing out themes that get that mix just right.
I like Astra and its simplicity!
Divi is by far the best
Great review thanks.
The begginner ones might come in handy 😀
Great tips and tools for businesses starting and growing. Excellent resource for people looking to improve.
Nice, I’ve always loved “setup wizards” because they usually save hours if not entire days of work!
I love the simplicity of the themes.
I once read a comment from a very successful female entrepreneur: No system is 100% perfect, so if you find one that works for you, stick with it! I agree! That is what Thrive themes have been for me for years! And the best part? The support! And that is rare these days:)