4 of the Most Popular WordPress Theme Frameworks

WordPress theme frameworks are becoming more and more popular, allowing the theme to be developed quickly based on best practices without having to reinvent the wheel every time a new theme is designed.

Key Points

• WordPress theme frameworks such as Genesis, Thesis, WooFramework Canvas Theme, and Gantry allow rapid development and customization of themes, saving developers time and effort.
• While the theme framework simplifies the design process, there are indeed limitations in terms of flexibility and creativity, and the themes based on them tend to look similar. However, with enough time and understanding, developers can create unique themes.
• Each popular WordPress theme framework has its unique features, costs and support levels. Genesis is well received for its detailed SEO options and responsive design; Thesis provides more control over design and functionality; WooFramework Canvas Theme has WooCommerce compatibility and portfolio capabilities; Gantry offers a wide range of customization options.
• Important features to consider when choosing a WordPress theme framework include SEO-friendliness, responsiveness, customization options, and the strength of the support community. The best framework will depend on individual needs and workflow.

What is a WordPress theme framework?

WordPress Theme Framework allows you to build WordPress themes just like Volkswagen builds cars. They use only a few platforms to build dozens of different models for their four major brands. Each model has a common set of components such as an engine, powertrain or suspension. But when designing the interior and exterior, each brand gives it a unique style, making it unique.

For example, if you replace "Engine" with the theme option, "Powertrain" with documentation, and "Suspension" with SEO, you will understand the concept of these shared components. Framework lays the foundation for the theme so you can focus on design rather than programming. For some frameworks, 80% of the work is done before you start, so you only need to worry about using the remaining 20% ​​to make your topic unique.

The frame does have one major disadvantage, which can also be seen on the automotive platform. They limit flexibility and creativity, and framework-based themes tend to look the same. Additionally, as a developer, it may take some time to fully understand the framework.

If you invest enough time, you will find it possible to make your subject stand out. Just like we all want unique designs, most of us would rather drive the Audi A3 than the Volkswagen Golf. If you have learned the framework of your choice, at least you can always make sure that your foundation is built correctly.

Popular WordPress Theme Framework

In this article, I will show you some of the currently popular WordPress theme frameworks. Three of them are paid, one is free, each with its unique features. I'll also learn about their support options and show you the look of some finished themes.

1. Genesis

Genesis Demo 1 Genesis Demo 2 Genesis Demo 3

Price: $59.95 Support: Includes unlimited support Active forum

Genesis is one of the most popular WordPress theme frameworks at present. It was developed by the Copyblogger Media team, a professional marketing company that is not only highly respected content marketers, but also offers a range of WordPress-related services. They incorporate their experience into this framework, which translates into some interesting features such as:

• Detailed SEO options, you can specify the most detailed settings and support Schema.org
• Responsive design based on HTML5
• Many (very beautiful) prefabricated sub-themes (at an extra fee), you can create your own theme based on this
• Developer friendly, there are lots of documents that can reduce the learning curve
• Unlimited support and updates

Genesis is definitely worth a try with its pricing and support alone. It is used by many popular websites, including the famous Problogger.net. The Genesis developer community is also very active, so if you are new to themed development, this is a great starting framework.

2. Thesis

Thesis Demo 1 Thesis Demo 2 (fully customized motivation) Thesis Demo 3

Price: Recommended version of Professional is $197. Support: Unlimited support (Pro version and above) Active community

Thesis is an advanced WordPress theme framework that provides more control over design and functionality. However, if you want to write your own code, the learning curve will increase as your flexibility increases. Fortunately, they also provide a drag-and-drop layout tool with a visual template editor so non-developers can create custom designs without leaving the dashboard.

The main functions of Thesis include:

• boxes, which are a bit like template plugins, you can use them to add a lot of integrations to newsletters, Facebook like boxes, and more.
• Focus on typography, allowing you to control fonts with almost unlimited control
• Easy to integrate search engine tools such as Authorship and Google Webmaster Tools
• Ability to use Thesis API to dig deep into the code

Thesis is the perfect framework for more advanced theme developers. It's pretty expensive compared to other frameworks, especially if you want to use some basic skins (as these are not included in the cheaper $87 base license). The Pro license contains unlimited support and updates, as well as some extra frames and skins. But don't expect to use these basic skins as a shortcut, because in my opinion, these skins are pretty ugly.

3. WooFramework Canvas Theme

Canvas Demo 1 Canvas Demo 2 Canvas Demo 3 (Canvas WooCommerce)

Price: $97 Support: 1 year of support and updates Community support

WooThemes is one of the world's leading theme stores in WordPress. They build all the themes on their own framework "WooFramework". The framework itself cannot be purchased, so they developed a basic theme called Canvas. This will serve as the basis for your own theme, which Canvas itself is a pretty good theme. WooFramework and Canvas combine to provide the following important features:

• WooCommerce compatible
• Polete Feature with Advanced Display Options
• One-click update in the dashboard
• Very solid foundation, this is the framework for WooThemes to build its own theme (they sell thousands each year).

Canvas theme is loved by many developers around the world. It's attractive in itself, which makes it easier to get started. It already includes some popular features such as portfolio features and custom shortcodes. The only downside is that you only pay for support and updates for one year, and for other paid frameworks, it's unlimited.

4. Gantry

Gantry Demo 1 Gantry Demo 2 Gantry Demo 3

Price: Free Support: 1-year paid support for $99 per year 2 active Google groups

Gantry is another popular theme store RocketTheme framework. They themselves have provided some beautiful themes and have their framework provided under the GPL license. They have a good record of Gantry and actively improve it based on their experience and community feedback. It can easily compete with other frameworks. Some of its most important features include:

• Responsive design based on Twitter Bootstrap
• Expand customization options such as blank widgets that allow for better positioning
• A large number of included widgets and built-in fields
• Support LESS CSS and popular 960 grid systems

Gantry is not the easiest framework to use, but it does allow for extreme customization. Looking at the demo above, all the themes are very different, but they are all built on the same platform. As mentioned, the documentation is great and there are a lot of developers in the Gantry Google group that can help you learn more.

Paid support is available, but only if you purchase a commercial license at RocketTheme itself. $99 per year is not cheap, but there is an option to buy a shorter support period to reduce costs. If you're still unsure whether you want to use a framework, Gantry may be a good choice for testing waters.

Other Theme Frames

WordPress Codex lists many of thematic frameworks not mentioned in this article, and I only cover the more popular frameworks I see developers and designers using.

If you are interested in more theme frameworks, I highly recommend that you check out the page on WordPress Codex about theme frameworks. WordPress Codex is also an authoritative place to learn best practices in theme development.

SitePoint also introduced the WordPress theme framework in 2011, and it's interesting to see how things have evolved since then!

Conclusion

In addition to these four frameworks, there are more frameworks available, although these are one of the most popular ones. There are a lot of competitive themed framework projects, many of which look very interesting. Ultimately, it’s all about keeping up with current trends, best practices, and listening to your audience. Some frameworks are more suitable for designers than developers. Some are lighter than others, and some have more support and community options. Ultimately, the framework that best suits you is the one that best meets your needs and workflow.

Please comment below and tell me what your favorite frame is. Feel free to suggest different frameworks and share your experience.

WordPress Theme Framework FAQ

What key features need attention when choosing a WordPress theme framework?

Several key features need to be considered when choosing a WordPress theme framework. First, the framework should be SEO friendly to help your website rank higher in search engine results. Second, it should be responsive, making sure your website looks great on all devices. Third, it should provide customization options that allow you to customize your website to your specific needs. Finally, it should have a strong support community so that you can get help when you need it.

How does WordPress theme framework affect website performance?

WordPress theme frameworks can significantly affect your website performance. Writing a good framework can improve your website’s speed and responsiveness, which can enhance user experience and SEO. Instead, poorly written frameworks can slow down your website and cause functional problems.

If I'm not a developer, can I use WordPress theme framework?

Yes, many WordPress theme frameworks are designed to be user-friendly and can be used by even those without coding knowledge. They usually come with drag and drop builders, pre-designed templates, and customization options to make creating professional-looking websites easy.

What are sub-themes in WordPress?

A child theme in WordPress is a child theme that inherits all the functions, features, and styles of its parent theme (i.e. the theme framework). Child themes are used to customize the parent theme without affecting the original code, which makes it easier to update the parent theme without losing custom content.

How to choose the best WordPress theme framework based on my needs?

Choose the best WordPress theme framework depends on your specific needs and skill level. If you are a beginner, you may need a framework with a user-friendly interface and a lot of customization options. If you are a developer, you may prefer a framework with powerful coding capabilities. Consider factors such as SEO-friendliness, responsiveness, support, and customization options.

Is WordPress Theme Framework SEO Friendly?

Yes, most WordPress theme frameworks are designed for SEO-friendly. They often come with built-in SEO tools and features such as pattern markup and clean code that can help improve visibility of your website in search engine results.

Is the WordPress theme framework mobile responsive?

Yes, most WordPress theme frameworks are mobile responsive, meaning they are automatically adjusted to suit different screen sizes. This ensures that your website looks great and features well on all devices (from desktop computers to smartphones).

Can I switch WordPress theme framework without losing content?

Yes, you can switch WordPress theme frameworks without losing content. However, you may need to reconfigure some settings and customize content to fit the new framework.

Is the WordPress theme framework supported?

Yes, most WordPress theme frameworks are powered. This may include documentation, tutorials, forums, and even direct support from developers. Having a strong support community is extremely helpful, especially if you have any problems or need help customizing your website.

Is the WordPress theme framework worth spending?

While some WordPress theme frameworks are free, others are paid. Whether a paid framework is worth spending depends on your specific needs. Paid frameworks often come with additional features, better support and more customization options, which may be worth the investment for many users.

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