The Best WordPress Theme Frameworks
Theme frameworks have always been around but lately they have begun to gain in popularity as more people discover the flexibility that they bring to the table. There is no doubt that there are more than enough themes available for WordPress to suit a number of needs but frameworks provide something different, they provide individuality.
There’s a good sense of satisfaction to being able to create something unique for your site and theme frameworks are a good start on this path. They also help teach you about the structure of WordPress and how powerful it can be when it’s used to it’s full extent.
Here is a list of what we consider to be the best WordPress theme frameworks:
PageLines (website)
A drag-and-drop platform that allows you to build a website in a professional way. PageLines theme offers an unmatched level of customization and, for the price, is an incredibly good deal. It produces clean code and amazing websites.
Some of the Features:
- Drag and Drop: A drag-and-drop platform that allows you to build a website in a professional way.
- Responsive Design: PageLines framework will dynamically respond to the resolution of your browser or device.
- Layout Control: Just drag & drop to set up your content layout dimensions. Then select each of your 5 layout options on a page-by-page basis.
- Section Control: Duplicate sections so that you can use them multiple times on the same page. Each section gets its own options and is controlled independently.
- Typography: Select from over 50 web-safe and Google fonts. Completely change the look of your website’s typography in seconds.
- Color Control: Use color control to change the palette of your site in seconds. You can also change layout modes and add background images.
Here is a video explaining the concept behind the theme:
Interested? Try the demo
Elemental
Elemental is a powerful theme with a myriad of options. With 12 page templates, tons of widgets and customization options, it won’t take much to create a unique look for your site. Elemental was designed by the same development team that put together the incredible Mimbo Pro theme.
Website: Pro Theme Design
Thesis
Thesis is a very popular theme framework. There are tons of child themes for thesis available and it’s known for performing well in the search engines. It provides a large number of options and is extremely configurable. There’s a bit of a learning curve to get used to but once you do, it’s quite amazing what can be done with this theme.
Here is a video showing how Thesis works:
Website: Thesis
Genesis
Genesis is, quite simply, the most popular of the WordPress theme frameworks on the market. The reasons are simple: Amazing Support + Amazing Designs + Amazing pricing. Genesis offers state of the art code backed by some of the top WordPress developers out there. There are tons of child themes that can be used to create amazing sites and it’s extremely extensible.
Here is just one sample of how it can look (there are tons of other options on their website):
Website: StudioPress – Genesis
Headway
Headway is another drag and drop capable theme for WordPress that allows you to create some pretty cool layouts for your site.
Some of the features:
- The Headway Grid allows you to build virtually any layout you can think of. You are no longer constrained to other limited drag and drop layout systems. Headway is beyond drag and drop.
- Add colors, background images, rounded corners, shadows, and more all without any code. Need to customize an element on one page, but not the other? No problem!
- Responsive grid, HTML5, and CSS3 support.
Check out the video showcasing this great theme:
Website: Headway Themes
Catalyst
Catalyst is an advanced theme framework that produces great, responsive websites. It is an HTML5 framework and there are child themes available for it as well.
What Makes Catalyst Different from Cobalt Apps on Vimeo.
Website: Catalyst Framework
There are definitely more frameworks out there but these are the ones that we think are the best of the best. What are your favorites?
Comments
You should really take a look at Frugal. The 3.2 release is awesome!
People can create skins (like child themes) without any coding. It's super flexible and easy to admin for all levels. From the guy that wants to use filters and hooks, custom css etc.. to the one that just buys and installs a premium skin.
I think this should be on this list as well.
Looks like you forgot Reptile :D
Thanks for the suggestion David. We've added it!
1 other theme which is more of a framework than a theme is Builder by iThemes… they were the first (that I'm aware of) that allowed you to customize the layouts on each individual post/page by creating custom layouts.
Can't forget Thematic! :)
I would choose Thesis for Paid Framework and Reptile for Free Framework.
Oh, you should add this too. It called The Buffet Framework: www.zy.sg/the-buffet-framework/
It's very nice framework and has many settings like Thesis.
Thanks for the listing.
I'm a thematic man all the way right now. Ian Stewart does an amazing job of keeping it simple AND making it comprehensive. Great code!
Here is something I'm working on, it's still a baby but it's a framework!
www.o-theme.com
Hmm…I wonder why you are saying this site was built on top of Elemental from Pro Theme Design which you recommend, when in fact it is using WP-DaVinci?
If you used to be running it on Elemental, I would be interested to know what made you switch?
It is always nice to hear specific experience with one versus another theme framework, as from the outside they can all look so nice.
I would also like to know if you have used any of the listed theme frameworks, or just list any as they come handy. Doing an actual review, based on your own personal experience adds so much credibility. It would make people want to click through.
Not all of the themes you listed are available in its current form – I am sure you can find out which ones they are :)
At the time, it was. I moved from it not because it's no longer a valid option but because there was a need for a new look.