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In the vast universe of WordPress, templates play a crucial role in building a website’s visual identity. They are the first impression visitors get and play a significant role in the user experience.
When you choose a template, you are shaping the way content is presented, user navigation and even influencing the performance of your website. Therefore, it is essential to understand the importance of this decision for the success of your online project.
In this article, we’ll show you the best WordPress templates for 2024 and point out the trends for the coming year. Check it out!
How to choose the ideal WordPress template
Choosing the ideal template for your WordPress It can seem overwhelming given the countless options available. However, to make an informed decision, it’s vital to consider factors such as your website’s purpose, target audience, ease of navigation, and desired aesthetics.
It’s not just about finding the best-looking template, but rather the one that best aligns with your specific project goals. Additionally, content is also a key consideration when it comes to designing your layout, which will influence your template selection. Let’s explore these criteria in detail to help you make an informed decision.
Design Trends for 2025
In 2025, design trends point towards minimalism and responsiveness. Users are increasingly accessing websites via mobile devices, and responsive design is essential to deliver a consistent experience across different screens.
Minimalism, on the other hand, stands out for its simplicity and focus on the essential. The clean aesthetic not only improves usability, but also reflects a modern and elegant approach.
The addition of animations and interactive elements is transforming the user experience. These features not only make a website more visually appealing, but they also engage visitors and keep them there for longer. So, we expect to see more of these elements integrated into WordPress templates.
1. Hello Elementor: Great theme, specially developed for Elementor
The fact that Hello Elementor is developed especially for Elementor brings with it complete control over the creation of your website.
The theme offers a wide range of pre-built templates with responsive layouts and blocks that can be easily customized. It also allows you to create your own designs from scratch using Elementor’s drag-and-drop interface.
The Hello Elementor theme is responsive, ensuring that your blog posts look great on any device. Since mobile-friendliness is a ranking factor for Google, this is a huge bonus from an SEO perspective.
Another strong point is that the theme is free and does not have a Pro version.
2. Astra: Modernity and functionality in a single template
The Astra theme has won over the WordPress community for its perfect fusion of modernity and functionality. With a clean design and advanced features, this template stands out among the favorites for many types of websites.
With over 1.6 million active installs, Astra is a lightweight and fast-loading multipurpose theme that can be used for both blogs and websites. The free version gives you access to starter site installations, custom widgets, unlimited color options, and more.
As far as free WordPress themes for blogs go, it is one of the best in terms of design flexibility and customization without the need to upgrade to the Pro version.
On the other hand, upgrading to the Pro version provides great additional features like a custom header and footer builder. Plus, if you want to sell physical or digital products through your blog, the premium version also offers WooCommerce integration.
The Astra theme costs $$44 to $$174 per year or $$224 to $$874 for a lifetime subscription. It is compatible with Elementor, Gutenberg, Beaver Builder, and Brizy page builders.
3. OceanWP: Versatility is its strength
There are over 700,000 active installations of OceanWP. In addition to being very popular, it is very easy to customize and can be used for blogs, magazines, and business websites.
The free version comes with features like pre-built layouts, custom widgets, infinite scrolling, full-screen backgrounds, and more. So, it’s a good choice for those who want to run a blog and focus on content creation, while also having access to advanced customization options.
The Pro version also adds extra features like Elementor page builder support and WooCommerce integration, so you can create an online store if you need to.
The Pro version costs between $$ 27 to $$ 80 per year or $$ 11 to $$ 318 for a lifetime subscription.
4. Snow: Speed and great options for beginners
The Neve theme is very fast and ideal for both blogs and small businesses.
If you want to start a personal blog on a budget but still want advanced options usually only found in a premium theme, Neve is a great choice.
The free version is incredibly comprehensive and comes with a variety of blog layouts, custom widgets, custom colors, infinite scrolling option, and more.
Upgrading to the Pro version adds features like WooCommerce integration, as well as Elementor page builder support, post layouts, responsive design options, and other functionality.
The Pro version costs between $1.99 and $1.349 per year. The theme is compatible with Elementor, Brizy, Beaver Builder, Visual Composer, and Divi page builder.
5. Divi: its own builder and editing system
The Divi Builder theme lets you customize any page or post without having to write any code like most WordPress themes. With it, you can add text, images, videos, and many other elements that help make your blog stand out.
Plus, it also offers pre-made layouts to get you started right away. The included Divi Theme Customizer lets you customize every aspect of your design quickly and easily with real-time previews. And mobile design options give you full control over how your blog looks on different devices.
The theme's own builder is very easy to use, which is the theme's highlight. However, it loses some flexibility, as it is not compatible with other builders. The theme does not have a free version, which can also be a deterrent to its use. It costs US$$ 89 per year or US$$ 249 for lifetime access.
[PREVIEW]
6. Generate Press: flexibility and variety of options
The Generate Press theme comes with built-in support for popular page builders like Beaver Builder and Elementor. This gives you full control over how your website looks and functions.
The theme also includes a variety of custom widgets, including Instagram feeds, sliders, and post grids. So, you can use it to make your blog more dynamic. Plus, the minimalist design makes it easy to create an attractive website without sacrificing performance or speed.
GeneratePress is perfect for food blogs thanks to its ability to showcase recipes. It also offers responsive design features to ensure your posts look great on any device.
Generate Press has over 1,300 five-star reviews and is rated by most users as having great support. The theme's documentation is very detailed, far superior to most themes. The theme has a free version and the Pro version costs $1,59 per year or $1,249 for lifetime access.
7. Blocksy: light and very fast
The Blocksy theme has over 100,000 active installations and one of its attractions is its constant updates. In addition to being lightweight, fast and very versatile, it was built with the latest technologies. It is based on the Gutenberg editor and can be used for various types of websites, such as business consulting, stores, institutional, educational, blogs and portfolios.
It works with most page builders, such as Elementor, Beaver Builder, Visual Composer, and Brizy. It’s responsive and also built to accept translations, which helps a lot. It already has WooCommerce built in and is well-built for SEO.
Blocksy has a free version and the Pro version has annual plans ranging from US$ 69 to US$ 149 and lifetime plans ranging from US$ 199 to US$ 499.
8. Inspiro: focus on images and video
The Inspiro theme focuses on photo and video editing and has a modern design and good speed. Packed with features including a fullscreen area for Vimeo and YouTube, the theme comes with self-hosted video backgrounds and Page Builder integration, as well as compatibility with WooCommerce and the Elementor and Beaver Builder builders.
With over 70,000 installations, the theme is rated 4.7 stars. It has a free version and the Pro version costs from US$1.99 per year to US$1.99 per year.
9. Go: simplicity and flexibility
The Go theme currently has over 90,000 active installations. The 4.8-star rating shows how much the theme stands out in the WordPress repository.
With customizable color schemes, pre-made designs, and Gutenberg compatibility, the Go theme also works with the CoBlocks plugin, which adds over 20 extra block options, such as carousels and hero images.
Go does not have a paid option. It is widely used by agencies to start a website from scratch and its documentation is available on Github.
[DOWNLOAD]
10. Hestia: ideal for businesses and agencies
Hestia has a modern and professional design, and is available in both free and paid versions. With a 5-star rating and over 100,000 active installations, it is a great option for business websites and online stores.
Compatible with Beaver Builder and with WooCommerce integration, it is fully responsive, retina-ready and optimized for SEO.
The paid version has three plans: US$ 69 per year, US$ 99 per year and US$ 299 per year.
11. Storefront: a great theme for online stores
Built by WooCommerce developers themselves, which provides full integration and compatibility, Storefronte has over 200,000 active installations and a 4.5-star rating. One of its strengths is that the theme is free and offers a variety of features, with a responsive layout and multiple color options.
Theme extensions offer additional features like parallax scrolling for hero images and hamburger menus.
12. Sydney: Great for businesses and freelancers
When Sydney was first released, it quickly spread throughout the WordPress community. Its multi-functionality (it works for agencies, businesses, and freelancers alike) and ease of use earned the theme a 5-star rating and over 100,000 active installs.
The theme supports over 600 Google fonts, offers parallax effect and has a free and Pro version. The paid version starts at US$$ 55 per year, goes up to US$$ 95 per year and ends with the US$$ 199 per year plan.
[DOWNLOAD]
Customizing your WordPress template
Customization is key when choosing a template. By customizing, you ensure that your design reflects your brand’s unique identity. Explore your template’s customization options to make your website’s look truly unique.
It is important to choose a theme that fits the type of website being developed and planning is an important step before starting installation and customization.
Recommended plugins to expand customization
In addition to native customization options, integrating plugins can significantly expand your capabilities. Find out which plugins are recommended to add advanced functionality and further customize your website.
The WordPress repository offers several options and reviews that can help with this. In addition, it is also necessary to plan the installation of plugins, due to compatibility and compromise in the speed of the site.
Common challenges and solutions
When installing new templates, compatibility issues can arise. To address this, it’s essential to keep your plugins and themes up to date and check compatibility before installing. A proactive approach can help you avoid future headaches.
Backup your site while you are doing your project (there are good plugins for this) and check if your accommodation also offers daily backups.
Additionally, site speed is crucial to retaining visitors. Use practices like image optimization, efficient caching, and choosing quality hosting to ensure your site loads quickly. Remember, first impressions count.
The importance of SEO in templates
Integrating SEO strategies into your template is a smart move. Make sure to use optimized titles and meta descriptions, user-friendly URLs, and appropriate headers to improve search engine visibility.
There are also great plugins to help with these tasks, so do your research before you start optimizing your site.
In addition to integrated practices, explore SEO analysis tools to continually evaluate and improve your performance. Tools like Google Analytics and the SEMrush can offer valuable insights.
Free Templates vs. paid
Free template options can be a viable option, as long as they come from reputable sources. Consider quality, compatibility, and features before making your decision, and remember that free options should not compromise functionality.
On the other hand, paid templates often offer premium support, regular updates, and advanced features. If your budget allows, considering a paid investment can provide a more robust and reliable experience.
Factors to consider beyond design
In addition to the design, consider the quality of customer support offered by the template developer. An active online community can also be a valuable resource, providing additional support and sharing tips and tricks.
Additionally, templates that receive regular updates are essential to maintaining the security and performance of your website. Make sure to choose a template that is continually improved to meet the latest technological demands.
In short…
By exploring trends, community favorites, expert templates, and common challenges, you’re now better equipped to find the perfect template for your website in 2024. Carefully consider your needs and goals, and don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the perfect match.
As we head into 2024, we can anticipate an exciting future for WordPress design. With trends and technologies constantly evolving, templates will continue to play a crucial role in creating engaging and innovative online experiences. Be ready to embrace the changes and take your online presence to new heights. WordPress is evolving, and so can your website.
Image: Freepik
Marcel Castilho is a specialist in digital marketing, neuromarketing, neuroscience, mindfulness and positive psychology. In addition to being an advertiser, he also has a Master's degree in Neurolinguistic Programming. He is the founder and owner of Vero Comunicação and also the digital agency Vero Contents.
