Choosing the best WordPress templates is a key step in building a successful website. Templates affect how your site looks, works, and loads. They give you a layout for each page, making it easy to design a professional website without coding. In this guide, we’ll cover everything about WordPress templates—from types and features to choosing and customising them to fit your needs.
What Are WordPress Templates
What Are WordPress Templates?
A WordPress template is a ready-made page layout you can use to organise content on your website. Templates give you a basic design to build on. They allow you to change elements like colours, fonts, and layout without writing code. With templates, you can create a site that looks unique and fits your brand.
Themes vs. Templates: Key Differences
Though “themes” and “templates” are often mixed up, they aren’t the same.
| Aspect | WordPress Themes | WordPress Templates |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Controls the look of the entire site | Sets the layout of specific pages |
| Includes | Colours, fonts, and overall design | Layouts for home pages, posts, and categories |
| Customisation | Applies style to the whole site | Allows unique page layouts within a theme |
Knowing this difference helps you choose WordPress templates that suit your design needs.
Types of WordPress Templates
The right template depends on what your site needs. Here’s an overview of the main types:
| Template Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Free Templates | Available at no cost, these templates are a great starting point for beginners. Many can be found in the WordPress Template Directory, making them easy to access and install. |
| Premium Templates | These templates come at a cost and offer advanced features, customization options, and dedicated support, making them ideal for businesses or serious projects. |
| Niche Templates | Templates tailored for specific purposes or industries, providing unique designs and functionalities. |
| eCommerce Templates | Designed for online stores, these templates include layouts for product pages, shopping carts, and checkout processes. |
| Blogging Templates | Focused on simplicity and readability, these templates are perfect for bloggers who want to present their content effectively. |
| Portfolio Templates | Ideal for artists and designers, these templates showcase work with image-centric layouts that highlight creativity. |
| Responsive Templates | Responsive templates automatically adjust to different screen sizes, ensuring an optimal browsing experience on desktops, tablets, and smartphones. They are essential as mobile browsing continues to rise. |
Types of WordPress Templates
Key Features to Look for in WordPress Templates
The best WordPress templates come with features that improve your site’s usability and SEO. Here’s what to look for:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Customisation | Look for templates that let you adjust colours, fonts, and layout without needing to code. |
| SEO-Friendly Design | A template with clean code and quick loading times supports your search engine ranking efforts. |
| Performance | Lightweight templates load faster, improving the user experience and helping with SEO. |
| Plugin Compatibility | Make sure the template works with plugins, especially if you need features like eCommerce or page builders. |
Templates with these features create a better experience for users and help with search engine performance.
Top WordPress Templates for 2024
With so many templates to choose from, it can be hard to find the right one. Here are some of the most popular options for 2024:
1. Astra
Astra is popular for its speed, flexibility, and mobile-friendliness. It’s a solid choice for blogs, businesses, and online stores. Astra’s main advantage is its lightweight design, which keeps pages loading fast even with rich media. It’s compatible with Elementor and Beaver Builder, so it’s easy to create customised pages without slowing things down.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Fast-loading | ❌ Some advanced options require paid add-ons |
| ✔️ Easily customisable | |
| ✔️ Offers starter templates for specific niches |
Best for: Blogging, eCommerce, and small business sites.
From my experience: Astra’s straightforward interface and speed make it reliable for new sites. It’s particularly effective for eCommerce since it integrates well with WooCommerce, and the setup is simple enough for those new to WordPress.
2. Divi
Divi is well-known for its drag-and-drop builder, allowing you to design complex pages without any code. The layout options are highly flexible, giving you precise control over every detail. Divi’s design tools make it easy to create a unique layout, but the added features can sometimes impact loading times if not optimised.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Drag-and-drop builder | ❌ Can be resource-intensive; requires optimisation |
| ✔️ Detailed design options | |
| ✔️ Wide variety of modules |
Best for: Users wanting full creative control, from business sites to portfolios.
From my experience: Divi works well for creative sites where brand look and feel are important. The layout options are unmatched for unique designs, but I’d suggest limiting complex features to keep pages fast.
3. OceanWP
OceanWP is a flexible template built with WooCommerce integration, making it perfect for online shops. It’s also responsive, so it looks good across devices. The theme includes options for popup logins, custom headers, and side panels, making it versatile for businesses and portfolios. OceanWP works especially well if you want a clean design without complex coding.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ WooCommerce-ready | ❌ Some extra features are paid add-ons |
| ✔️ Responsive | ❌ Too many extensions may slow down the site |
| ✔️ Offers several demo designs |
Best for: eCommerce and portfolio sites needing mobile-friendly layouts.
From my experience: OceanWP’s strength is in its simplicity. It’s easy to use, especially for shops, and its responsive design is great for users on different devices. Keeping add-ons minimal helps maintain speed.
4. GeneratePress
GeneratePress is known for its speed and minimalist design, which makes it ideal for content-heavy sites. It’s one of the lightest templates available, and it works well with the Gutenberg editor for fast loading. GeneratePress is often used for blogs or information sites because it keeps pages quick without sacrificing a professional look.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Lightweight | ❌ Limited customisation in the free version |
| ✔️ Optimised for speed | |
| ✔️ Works well with Gutenberg editor |
Best for: Minimalist, content-focused sites like blogs or news sites.
From my experience: GeneratePress performs well on sites that prioritise content over design. It’s reliable for blogs where keeping page load fast is a priority. For those needing basic design with high performance, it’s a practical choice.
5. Kadence
Kadence is a beginner-friendly option with a customisable header and footer builder. It includes pre-designed starter templates for various industries, which speeds up site creation. While Kadence is simple to use, it also includes options for more advanced customisation, making it a flexible choice for both beginners and experienced users.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ User-friendly | ❌ Limited options in the free version |
| ✔️ Customisable header and footer | |
| ✔️ Good selection of templates |
Best for: Sites needing a unique look with a professional finish.
From my experience: Kadence is a good match for users who want an attractive design without too much setup. The customisation options are intuitive, and the design is clean, making it easy to create a professional-looking site without hassle.
These templates each offer a good mix of style, speed, and customisation options. Choose one that best meets your site’s needs and goals.
How to Choose the Right Template for Your Site
Picking a WordPress template involves more than selecting one that looks good. Here are some tips to help you make the best choice:
- Define Your Website Goals
- Think about your site’s main purpose. A business site may need features that are different from those of a personal blog. Setting clear goals can narrow down your options.
- Evaluate Customisation Options
- Pick a template that’s easy to adjust. The best templates allow you to change colours, fonts, and layouts to match your brand and keep things fresh as your site grows.
- Look for Customer Support
- Premium templates usually come with support. Good support and documentation are helpful if you encounter issues.
- Try Demo Versions
- Many premium templates offer demos that let you preview them. Use demos to see how the template functions and whether it fits your needs.
- Check User Reviews
- User reviews can reveal important details about a template’s strengths and weaknesses. Feedback from other users can help you choose a reliable option and avoid common issues.
Customising Your WordPress Template
After selecting your template, customising it is key to making it unique and matching it to your brand. Here’s how to get started:
- Basic Customisation
- Colours and Fonts: Use the theme’s customiser to change colours and fonts so they match your brand.
- Layout Adjustments: Many templates let you adjust layouts through settings. You can also use page builders like Elementor to arrange content.
- Advanced Customisation
- Custom CSS can add a unique style for those comfortable with coding. Plugins can also add new features, like image sliders, forms, and galleries.
- Optimising for Speed and SEO
- To keep your site fast and user-friendly, it’s important to optimise loading times. Here are some effective methods:
| Optimisation Step | Purpose | Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Image Compression | Reduces image file sizes for faster loading | Smush, ShortPixel |
| Caching Plugins | Speeds up page load times for returning visitors | WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache |
| Page Speed Testing | Measures site speed and provides improvement tips | Google PageSpeed, GTmetrix |
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a theme and a template in WordPress?
A theme controls the site’s overall look, while templates apply layouts to specific pages within that theme. Themes set colours, fonts, and backgrounds, while templates control page layouts like blogs or contact pages.
Can I change my template after my site is live?
Yes, you can change templates even if your site is live. However, switching templates may affect your content’s layout. Always back up your site before making changes and, if possible, test on a staging environment first.
Are free WordPress templates a good option?
Free templates can work well for beginners or budget sites. They may lack features found in premium templates, but many are well-designed and functional. If your needs grow, you can upgrade to a premium template later.
How can I ensure my template is SEO-friendly?
Look for templates with clean code, responsive design, and fast load times. SEO plugins like Yoast can also help with tasks like meta descriptions and keyword placement.
What if my template isn’t responsive?
If your template isn’t responsive, switching to one that is will improve user experience on all devices, which can boost SEO too.
Conclusion
Choosing the right WordPress template is a major step in building a successful site. Whether you’re creating a blog, portfolio, or business site, templates like Astra, Divi, and OceanWP offer quality, flexibility, and performance. By following these steps for choosing and customising a template, you’ll build a site that’s appealing and user-friendly, with strong SEO.
Investing time in finding the best WordPress templates will pay off with a website that supports your goals and provides a great experience for visitors.
With over two decades of web design and development expertise, I craft bespoke WordPress solutions at FallingBrick, delivering visually striking, high-performing websites optimised for user experience and SEO.
