- \n
- Simple designs<\/li>\n
- You obviously don\u2019t have to pay anything<\/li>\n
- Customization options, such as changing fonts and colors, are usually limited<\/li>\n
- The theme author might stop updating the theme<\/li>\n
- Support is usually limited or non-existent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Premium WordPress Themes<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Prices can range from $20-$100<\/li>\n
- Plenty of customization options, which usually involve more than just the ability to change the colors and the fonts<\/li>\n
- Support is always provided<\/li>\n
- Themes are regularly maintained and updated<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So, should you buy a premium theme or go for a free one?<\/p>\n
The answer ultimately depends on your preferences and site needs. There are wonderful free themes out there which feel like a premium theme in every sense, from being regularly updated to having general support. However, those are few and far in between.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t have many plans for customizing your website and just want\u00a0a personal blog, then a free theme will probably do the job.\u00a0But if you are a business owner, or you want to make serious money with your website then a premium theme is the way to go. Rather than focusing on the expense aspect, think of it as an investment in your business.<\/p>\n
The Theme Has the Right Features for Your Needs<\/h4>\n
Is the theme responsive? Does it support a landing page? Will you need a sidebar or do you prefer a full-width layout? Does it have extra widgets in the footer? Does it support additional page layouts you know you might need?<\/p>\n
These basic features are just of those you should be looking for in your choice theme.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Theme_Features_Example.png\")
A look at how theme features are typically presented.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n Theme design best practice recommends that additional features and functionality such as sliders, galleries, custom post types, and such, should be kept separate from design. In layman\u2019s terms, this means they should instead be provided via plugins rather than incorporated directly into the theme.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n
Does it Come from a Reputable Developer?<\/h4>\n
Who is the theme author? Is it a well-known developer or someone no one’s heard of? It\u2019s pretty obvious theme developers have to start somewhere but choosing a theme from a developer who already has a number of themes (and downloads) under their belt gives you added peace of mind. Their themes have been tested and you can count on\u00a0quality to some degree. This ensures you won\u2019t run into problems immediately upon installing and activating the theme as well as further down the road when you start adding plugins.<\/p>\n
Theme is Not Overloaded with Features<\/h4>\n
Having the right features you know you will need is crucial. But if the theme has a million other features that you don’t really need can lead to complications. If you know you will never use all those extra features, don\u2019t settle on that theme simply because you might need it “some day.” Chances are, you won\u2019t. Plus, choosing a theme that has too many features built in could mean getting locked into that particular theme, with no easy way to change\u00a0things up\u00a0in the future.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nThe Theme is Updated Frequently<\/h4>\n
WordPress updates rather frequently, and major WordPress updates usually involve a change in the way certain bits of code work. That\u2019s why it\u2019s crucial to select a theme that is maintained and updated frequently; otherwise, you run the risk of your theme breaking or not functioning properly once you update WordPress.<\/p>\n
The Theme Has a Look That Meets Your Needs<\/h4>\n
Design plays an important role in choosing the right theme, of course. You should consider choosing a theme that closely matches how you want your final website to look. You should also keep in mind your niche and choose a suitable theme that works well within it. A corporate theme will look different than a magazine theme so keeping your industry in mind should definitely be on your priority list.<\/p>\n
The Theme Allows Just the Right Level of Customization<\/h4>\n
Having the ability to customize the theme to match your brand is an important feature. Simply using a theme as-is means your website will look like every other website that uses the same theme as you.<\/p>\n
Nearly every theme offers some form of customization but some theme authors provide you with countless theme customization options, all delivered through a custom control panel.\u00a0While this sounds great in theory, too many options can make you overwhelmed to the point where you never finish your theme setup. Too many decisions can lead to stagnation.<\/p>\n
Responsiveness & Browser Compatibility<\/h4>\n
In this day and age, having a responsive website is a must. There is no excuse for picking a theme that isn\u2019t responsive.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n![\"Your](\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Mobile_Friendly_Theme.png\")
Your choice theme must be responsive and mobile-friendly.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n On top of that, you should make sure the theme loads fast and won\u2019t slow down your website as Google favors not only responsive websites but also those that load quickly. Make sure the theme has clean code, too.<\/p>\n
On a related note, you should also make sure your theme displays nicely across different browsers and works as intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n
Browser cross-compatibility should be plainly stated as one of your choice theme’s features.<\/p>\n
The Theme is Compatible With Third Party Plugins<\/h4>\n
Plugins are what extends the functionality of your website. Although WordPress themes should in theory work with nearly all the plugins, there are always cases where you might run into problems.<\/p>\n
If you know you will run an online shop, make sure your chosen theme supports a plugin like WooCommerce. Similarly, if your website will need a forum or the ability to show user profiles, it\u2019s best to shop for a theme that mentions support for plugins like bbPress or BuddyPress. If in doubt, contact the author of the theme and ask him about compatibility with plugins you know you will need.<\/p>\n
The Theme is Translation Ready<\/h4>\n
If English is not your native language, you need to make sure your theme is translation ready. Likewise, if you plan on creating a multi-lingual website, your theme needs to be translation ready as well as support a multilingual plugin like WPML.<\/p>\n
SEO is Included<\/h4>\n
Sometimes a theme might have all the features you want and the exact look you\u2019re going for, but it has one major flaw: it generates lousy code. This dramatically affect your site\u2019s SEO performance.\u00a0Since it can be tricky to analyze the theme\u2019s code if you are a beginner, it pays off to read the theme\u2019s description thoroughly. Most, if not all, premium WordPress theme developers will let you know if the theme is optimized for SEO.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/WordPress_Plugin_Directory.png\")
![\"Use](\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Star_Rating_WordPress.png\")
![\"ThemeForest](\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Quality_Check.png\")