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GeneratePress Theme v3.4.0 + GP Premium v2.5.0 WordPress Plugin
https://themesfores.com/product/generatepress-theme-gp-premium-plugin/ GeneratePress Theme v3.4.0 + GeneratePress Premium alpha.1 v2.5.0 WordPress Plugin GeneratePress is a fast, powerful, Responsive, and easy-to-use WordPress Theme. This package is the premium paid plugin add-on for the theme. Take GeneratePress to the next level with GP Premium. GeneratePress is a lightweight WordPress theme that focuses on speed, stability, and accessibility. Start your website off in the right direction whether you’re a hobbyist, freelancer, or agency. How To Install GeneratePress Theme? : Click Here How To Install GP Premium Plugin alpha.1? : Click Here Features: Demo 100% PageSpeed Scores At just 7.5kb page size, 2 HTTP requests, and zero dependencies, the theme provides the perfect foundation to help your site hit 100%. Professional Patterns Build your pages in parts or choose from full pages crafted by professionals using best web development practices. Full Website Designs Don’t want to build your pages? Start with a full website in a few clicks. All you need to do is change out the content. Theme Builder Design and build your theme elements in the block editor using our Block Elements. Full Website Designs Start with a full website in a few clicks. All you need to do is change out the content. WooCommerce Add more flexibility & controls to your WooCommerce store. Advanced Hook System Add anything you need anywhere in the theme using our hook system. Mobile Header Easily add a sleek, low-profile mobile header to your website on smaller devices. Secondary Nav Add a secondary navigation with all the same options as the primary. Off-Canvas Panel A lightweight slide-out or overlay off-canvas panel for all devices. Advanced Layout System Change the theme layout based on advanced Display Rules. Sticky Navigation Make your navigation sticky for better user experience and design. Infinite Scroll Use vanilla javascript infinite scroll on your blog archives. Masonry Display your blog archive posts in a multi-column masonry layout. World-Class Support We’ve been proud to help our customers with best-in-class support for over 10 years. Install GeneratePress The first step you need to do is installing GeneratePress. GeneratePress is the free theme which is required to be installed and activated in order to use GP Premium (plugin) GeneratePress Premium alpha.1 Plugin – For GeneratePress Theme WordPress themes (tested and compared) Theme: GeneratePress PageSpeed Score: 99% A YSlow Score: 94% A Fully Loaded Time (s): 1.1 Total Page Size (KB): 39.8 Changelog August 20, 2024 : GP Premium 2.5.0 alpha.1 Feature: Font Library Feature: Install Google Fonts locally Feature: Upload custom fonts locally Fix: Apply button color settings to WooCommerce block buttons Fix: WooCommerce button typography Fix: Check if DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT is set to true for PHP Elements Fix: Use up to date react render functions Tweak: Allow Display Rules metabox to collapse Accessibility: Add aria-label to secondary navigation August 15, 2023: GP Premium 2.3.2 Tweak: Remove deprecated wp_get_loading_attr_default function August 15, 2023: GeneratePress 3.3.1 Tweak: Update Customizer script dependencies to prevent WP 6.3 conflicts March 30, 2023: GP Premium 2.3.1 Fix: SelectSearch component infinite loop Fix: Block widths inside Block Elements Please note that any digital products presented on the themesfores website do not contain malicious code, viruses, or advertising. https://themesfores.com/product/generatepress-theme-gp-premium-plugin/ #Addon #BlogThemes #Multi-PurposeThemes #WordpressPlugins #WordpressTheme
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Best Elementor Wordpress Themes
Elementor Themes Free
Download Elementor Wordpress
Bugster – Bugs & Pest Control WordPress Elementor Theme for Home Services Xing – Business / ecommerce WordPress Theme Searmek – SEO and Marketing WordPress Theme Kargo – Logistics & Transportation WordPress Elementor Theme. We provide the best Free Elementor WordPress Themes based on a strong template framework, Elementor Free add-on. All Free Elementor themes and Free Elementor Templates design with a modern, fully compatible with latest Elementor Free version, with high-performance loading, easy to install and customize with drag-drop layout. Hello theme works out of the box and offers consistent compatibility with Elementor. When we release a new version of Elementor, most of the testing is done using the Hello theme. Our developers make sure Hello is always updated and up to speed.
It is one of the fast, lightweight and modern WordPress themes for Elementor. Although the theme is easy to customize. Page Builder Framework was developed from the ground with page speed in mind. Furthermore, the theme is SEO friendly, WooCommerce ready, developer-friendly. So that it is the best WordPress Elementor theme. The best, simplest, and fastest theme for Elementor is the Hello Theme. It features minimal elements upon which you can easily build your desired design and it’s absolutely free. There other free themes which you can use, including Astra Themes and Envato Themes. What are some of the best premium themes for Elementor?
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Elementor is undoubtedly one of the best WordPress page builders on the market (if you haven’t already, check out our full review). In fact, I rank it right alongside Divi (from Elegant Themes) as one of the two best page builders available for WordPress.
It features a fantastic front-end page builder that’s easy to use and includes hundreds of high-quality content widgets, pre-made page templates and blocks. Elementor is supported well by third-party developers too, so it’s easy to extend functionality.
As with all WordPress plugins, page builders, such as Elementor, need to work in harmony with your WordPress theme. Unfortunately, some WordPress themes conflict with page builders and don’t offer full-width page templates or support Elementor’s excellent theme builder.
So, to help you to get the most from Elementor, we’ve prepared a list of the top ten best WordPress themes for this plugin.
1. Hello Theme — FREE
Hello is a simple WordPress theme that was developed by the creators of Elementor.
It acts as a blank canvas — there’s no settings page and no additional options available in the WordPress theme customiser either.
The lack of theme customisation options may not suit everyone, but this approach means Elementor can be used to control all aspects of your website design. It also means Hello is one of the fastest WordPress designs available today.
The theme can be downloaded free of charge from WordPress.org.
If you’re looking to use Elementor to control every aspect of your website, Hello should be top of your list.
Elementor Themes Free
2. OceanWP — FREE/$39-Plus
OceanWP is a flexible free WordPress theme that comes with 13 website designs, and has been optimised for drag-and-drop page builders such as Elementor.
All design options can be found within the WordPress theme customiser, and there’s great support for WooCommerce. The core version of the plugin is quite basic, but eight plugin extensions are available to expand functionality.
The core extensions bundle retails from only $39, and upgrading gives you access to 13 premium extensions and a further 60 website designs.
If you want to use OceanWP properly, I recommend upgrading, as all of the included free website designs use premium extensions to function correctly.
Check out our full review of OceanWP to learn more about what this WordPress theme offers.
3. Astra — FREE/$59-Plus
Like OceanWP, Astra was created with WordPress page builders in mind.
It’s a user-friendly solution that lets you change your website design through the WordPress theme customiser.
Using the Starter Templates plugin, you can import over a hundred website designs that were created using Elementor, Beaver Builder, Brizy and the WordPress block editor.
While Astra is free to download, if you upgrade to Astra Pro you’ll be able to change page headers, adjust colors, add footer widgets and more.
Astra Pro retails from $59. However, you can only gain access to 55 additional website designs if you select one of their more expensive agency licenses.
Read our full review of Astra to learn more about what it can do.
I also encourage you to check out our Astra showcase and our comparisons with OceanWP and Divi.
4. Layers for Elementor — FREE
Layers for Elementor was originally an ‘All-In-One’ WordPress theme that featured its own unique page builder, but, in 2019, the company was sold to Elementor.
All of the features that were previously only available in Layers Pro have now been now built in to Layers free of charge.
Like Elementor’s Hello theme, Layers is a minimal solution that complements Elementor well — however, it’s not simply a blank canvas.
Layers does offer many useful styling options within the WordPress theme customiser, including header arrangement options, header styling, a sticky header, menu styling and more.
If you’re looking for a minimal WordPress theme with support for the WordPress theme customiser, give Layers a try.
5. Jupiter X — $59
Jupiter X is a premium multipurpose WordPress theme that comes with more than 320 pre-made website designs.
The whole WordPress theme was designed around Elementor, adding new features to its page builder, such as a form builder, visual effects and a title bar customiser.
Jupiter X adds many new content widgets too and, as you’d expect, each pre-made website design was created using Elementor’s page builder.
Jupiter X retails at $59 from ThemeForest, and comes with lifetime updates and six months of support.
6. Phlox — FREE/$39
Phlox is a user-friendly WordPress theme that’s built upon Elementor — but it also adds hundreds of customisation options to the WordPress theme customiser to help you to change how your website is styled and structured.
Download Elementor Wordpress
The free version of Phlox comes with 19 high-quality pre-made website designs, and adds 40 new content widgets to Elementor.

Phlox Pro is available from ThemeForest for only $39.
Upgrading will give you access to more than a hundred designs and around $250 of premium plugins. It also adds new features such as white label branding, a unique header and footer builder and unlimited footer and header layouts.
Phlox is easy to recommend as the developers have been generous with features in the free version, and priced the full version competitively.
7. Hestia — FREE/$69-Plus
Hestia has been one of ThemeIsle’s flagship WordPress themes for a long time.
It has a corporate style design that can be adapted for many different websites. From the ground up, the theme has been created to work with the WordPress block editor, Elementor and other page builders, such as Brizy, Beaver Builder, Visual Composer, SiteOrigin and Divi Builder.
The free version of Hestia comes with five website designs, and these can be installed via the Hestia options page, but all website customisations take place within the WordPress theme customiser.
Hestia Pro retails from $69 a year, and adds options for reordering sections on the home page, a header slider, customisable colors and more. If you upgrade to the $99 business license, four additional website designs are made available.
I recommend checking it out.
8. GeneratePress — FREE/$49.95
GeneratePress is a lightweight WordPress theme that works with all major WordPress page builders.
The free version of GeneratePress has many useful customisation options within the WordPress theme customiser, but I recommend upgrading to Generate Pro, as it unlocks 14 premium modules.
The site library module adds dozens of demo website designs for the WordPress block editor, Elementor and Beaver Builder. Generate Pro also adds more options for customising colors, typography, menus, backgrounds, sections and more.
I use the premium version of GeneratePress on my own blog; its minimal designs may not appeal to everyone, but I love its simplicity and how quickly pages load.
9. Bridge — $59
Another ThemeForest WordPress theme that has been optimised for Elementor is Bridge.
Bridge comes packaged with more than 495 beautiful pre-made website designs and layouts for headers, blogs, online shops, portfolios and more.
The theme also adds more than 75 unique content widgets to Elementor to expand what you can do with the page builder.
Bridge retails at $59, which is highly competitive when you consider the number of designs and features it makes available to you.

10. Shoptimizer — $99
My last recommendation is WooCommerce WordPress theme Shoptimizer.
Developed by CommerceGurus, Shoptimizer adds many features to help shop owners increase sales and leads — and it also offers auto-complete for searches, mega menus and pre-designed layouts.
All content pages have been designed around Elementor, which gives you greater control over how your shop and other important pages look.
Typography, colors and other website design customisations are all handled through the WordPress theme customiser.
Shoptimizer is available for $99, but is frequently sold at a discount in sales. It’s a great option if you want to create an online shop using WooCommerce and Elementor.
Final Thoughts
All of the WordPress themes in this article have been optimised for page builders, but which one should you choose for your website?
If you want to use Elementor to control every aspect of your website’s design, I recommend Hello, as it makes every page on your website a blank canvas for Elementor’s page builder.
Layers and GeneratePress are also great minimal themes. In contrast to Hello, they also give you many options within the WordPress theme customiser to help to style your website.
OceanWP, Astra and Hestia have been designed with all page builders in mind and include professional pre-made website designs.
If you want closer integration with Elementor, I’d recommend checking out Jupiter X, Plox and Bridge, as they’ve been built specifically for Elementor. This means they add new content widgets, layouts and other features directly into the Elementor page builder.
All of these themes work well with WooCommerce, and many add features for the eCommerce plugin. However, I recommend Shoptimizer if you’re building an online shop, as it adds many conversion and optimisation features that you’ll not find elsewhere.
Which theme do you view as the best for Elementor? Thoughts?
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13 Best Elementor Themes (According to Elementor!) in 2020
Looking for the best Elementor themes?
If you’re here, you’ve probably decided to join the three million plus other people using the Elementor page builder plugin.
However, if you want to build a custom website with Elementor (affiliate link), you need more than just the plugin — you also need a theme!
But here’s the thing:
Some themes work better than others with Elementor. It’s just not about basic compatibility (though that’s important!), it’s also about helpful features, like page-level controls to create the perfect canvas for your Elementor designs or importable demo sites built with Elementor.
So how do you pick the best Elementor theme?
Well, Elementor has a public list of themes that “work best with Elementor”, but it’s pretty barebones.
To make your decision a lot easier, we’re going to take that same list from Elementor, add a little curation, and break down each theme by the features that matter most to you.
And, if that’s not enough to help you make your decision, we’ll also share some data from a poll of over 800 Elementor users.
By the end of this post, you should be able to pick the right theme to set your Elementor website up for success.
Let’s jump in.
The 13 Best Elementor Themes
Hello Elementor
Astra
GeneratePress
OceanWP
Neve
Sydney
Rife
Page Builder Framework
Zakra
Phlox
Ashe
Hestia
Jupiter X
1. Hello Elementor
Overview of Hello Elementor
Hello Elementor (affiliate link) is the official theme from the Elementor team. It’s designed to provide the most lightweight foundation possible to pair with Elementor Pro (affilate link) and Elementor Theme Builder. To achieve that, it doesn’t come with any of its own styling, which is why the screenshot above looks so basic.
Think of it as a 100% blank canvas for your Elementor Pro Theme Builder templates.
Standout Features of Hello Elementor
Built to pair with Elementor Pro and Theme Builder
The most lightweight theme possible
…there’s not much else to say. The standout feature of this theme is that it has no features of its own!
What Users are Saying About Hello Elementor
After spending more than a decade working in WordPress and spending several thousand dollars on themes and packages, I have finally settled down with Hello Elementor.
Hello Elementor is the last theme I am going to need to build beautiful websites using Elementor Pro.
Finally, I no longer have to jump around in theme settings anymore. Alok Sharma
Final Word on Hello Elementor
If you’re planning to use Elementor Theme Builder to design your entire theme, Hello Elementor is the best option if you want to create a lightweight, performance-friendly website.
However, if you’re not planning to use Theme Builder, this theme is not a viable option because it doesn’t include its own styling — it’s just a lightweight canvas for you to build on.
Download Hello Elementor
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2. Astra

Overview of Astra
Astra (affiliate link) is a lightweight, customizable, free theme that pairs exceptionally well with Elementor thanks to its page-level controls and detailed customization options. It also includes integrations with other WordPress plugins to help you create online stores or courses.
It’s active on over 600,000 sites while maintaining a perfect five-star rating, which makes it one of the most popular Elementor themes on this list.
There’s also a premium add-on that tacks on extra functionality, but the free version has quite a few bells and whistles built right in.
Standout Features of Astra
80+ importable demo sites built with Elementor
Detailed options to control page layout, typography, and styles in the WordPress Customizer
Page-level controls to disable headings, use full-width templates, customize your homepage, and more
Under 50 KB which makes it still quite lightweight
WooCommerce support for eCommerce
Native AMP support
SEO friendly (aka Google friendly)
Integrations with the LifterLMS and LearnDash LMS plugins for online courses
What Users are Saying About Astra
Astra is a simple, fully customizable & fast theme that I can wholeheartedly recommend to all Elementor users. I love the fact that it comes with dozens of pre-built sites that were built using Elementor and that can be used to create a full website with one click. Ben Pines, CMO of Elementor
Final Word on Astra
Based on my personal experience and the Elementor Facebook groups that I’m in, Astra is probably the most popular theme that people pair with Elementor.
If you’re looking for a good multipurpose starting point, this is it. It offers a huge collection of pre-made demo sites built with Elementor, tons of customization options, and plenty of helpful integrations with other tools.
Download Astra
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3. GeneratePress

Overview of GeneratePress
If I had to describe GeneratePress in one word, it would be “lightweight”. It’s about as performance optimized as possible while still giving you multipurpose flexibility and tons of options in the WordPress Customizer.
Standout Features of
Page-level controls to disable headings, change widths, etc.
Less than 30 KB which is about as small as possible for an Elementor theme (I’ve tested it!)
Detailed customization options in the live customizer
Importable demo sites built with Elementor (only available with the premium add-on)
WooCommerce support for eCommerce
Lots of hooks to insert content or Elementor templates anywhere on your site (including your homepage)
What Users are Saying About
After switching from Thrive Themes FocusBlog to GeneratePress, my portfolio site’s page load times shrank from 1.877 seconds to 0.979 seconds. Colin Newcomer
Yes — that’s me, the guy writing this post. I use GeneratePress on my portfolio site.
Final Word on GeneratePress
GeneratePress is a great option if you value performance, which you should. Despite its lightweight package, it still gives you tons of customization options and you can use it for any type of website.
However, it doesn’t have quite as many design customization options as some other themes on this list, so there is still a small trade-off.
Download GeneratePress
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4. OceanWP

Overview of OceanWP
OceanWP is an incredibly flexible theme that comes with a dizzying array of style and customization options in the visual WordPress Customizer.
It’s still fairly lightweight, but it puts more emphasis on flexibility than achieving the absolute fastest foundation.
Standout Features of OceanWP
A huge number of style and page layout options in the WordPress Customizer
Page-level controls to create the perfect Elementor canvas
Detailed WooCommerce support (though many features require the premium version)
Includes a bunch of new Elementor widgets with the premium version
Search engine friendly (aka Google friendly)
Importable demo sites built with Elementor (in the premium version)
What Users are Saying About OceanWP
After spending money on fancy bloated themes I always come back to simple ones like OceanWP. Less is more. Works well with Elementor which seems to be the easiest graphical UI for designing web pages fast as on [sic] 2020. trovador
Final Word on OceanWP
If you want the absolute most style and customization options, then OceanWP might be the best Elementor theme for you. While GeneratePress and Astra both give you lots of options as well, OceanWP takes things even further.
However, you will sacrifice a bit of performance for that flexibility. OceanWP clocks in more around ~250 KB, whereas both Astra and GeneratePress are under 50 KB.
OceanWP does include a tool to conditionally disable scripts, though, which can help you make it a little leaner.
Download OceanWP
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5. Neve

Overview of Neve
Along with GeneratePress, Neve (affiliate link) is one of the most lightweight themes on this list, while still managing to pack in demo sites built with Elementor and tons of options in the WordPress Customizer.
There’s also a premium add-on that gives you more control over your header, footer, and WooCommerce store.
Standout Features of Neve
80+ importable demo sites, many of which are built with Elementor (though some also use Beaver Builder or the WordPress block editor, aka Gutenberg editor)
Under 30 KB in size, which, again, is about as small as it gets for a customizable Elementor WordPress theme
Page-level settings to control the canvas for your Elementor designs
Super flexible header builder (in the premium version)
WooCommerce compatibility
What Users are Saying About Neve
Because I work with Elementor, I needed a template that gives all the flexibility to create my site of dreams. Neve was of great help. I’m not that person who has information about HTML or CSS, so Neve was also of great help. Neve is a great template if you want all the flexibility and also to edit everything easy. David Romanowski
Final Word on Neve
Neve is another great option if you value performance but still don’t want to skimp on design flexibility. Along with GeneratePress, it’s one of the fastest themes that I’ve tested.
If you use Neve, I’d definitely recommend considering the premium add-on for its header and footer builders.
Download Neve
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6. Sydney

Overview of Sydney
Sydney is a flexible WordPress website theme that pairs well with Elementor.
Whereas many of the other Elementor themes on this list are multipurpose offerings that you can adapt to any niche, Sydney is specifically focused on helping small businesses and freelancers create an online presence.
Standout Features of Sydney
Focused on business websites
Detailed theme options in the WordPress Customizer
Responsive design
Includes custom Elementor blocks to help you control your design
Parallax background scrolling
Social media icons
What Users are Saying About Sydney
This theme caught my eye with its stunning beauty and interface. I believe it is one of the best looking and functioning free WordPress themes out there.
I have not done any coding in about 10 years, and was a little intimidated to design my own website through WordPress. Fortunately this theme was easy to set up and any time I ran into an issue, I was able to find similar questions already answered on the support forums. childersdavidson
Final Word on Sydney
Sydney is a great option if you want to build a business website with WordPress and Elementor. It’s not multipurpose like the other Elementor themes, but if you are looking to build a business website, that specificity can actually work in your favor.
Download Sydney
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7. Rife

Overview of Rife
Rife brands itself as a “creative multipurpose” theme and you can see evidence of that aesthetic in the seven importable demo sites, all of which are built with Elementor.
The same developer also offers an Elementor extension plugin with the same name that adds new templates and custom widgets.
Standout Features of Rife
Seven free importable demo sites built with Elementor (40 demos available in Pro version)
Detailed style and layout controls in the WordPress Customizer
Creative aesthetic
Companion WordPress plugin that adds more templates and further extends Elementor
WooCommerce compatibility
Mega menu support
What Users are Saying About Rife
The clear layout of this theme accommodates many applications. Through its feature-rich options you can use this theme to deliver professional websites that are awe-inspiring.
I have used both paid and free products from this designer/author and have been fully satisfied with their products! ryazhari
Final Word on Rife
While you can use Rife for any niche, you can definitely see its creative focus evident in the demo sites and templates. For that reason, I think Rife makes an especially good option if you are looking to build a creative site, like a photography portfolio.
Download Rife
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8. Page Builder Framework

Overview of Page Builder Framework
As the name suggests, Page Builder Framework is built specifically to pair with WordPress page builder plugins, including Elementor.
The basic idea is that you use Page Builder Framework to control your header, footer, and other non-content areas. Then, you can use Elementor for everything else.
The core features are available in the free theme, and there’s also a premium add-on with more features.
Standout Features of Page Builder Framework
Under 50 KB in size, which is still quite lightweight even if it’s not on GeneratePress and Neve’s level
Uses the WordPress Customizer for easy tweaking
Mobile responsive
Multiple navigation menu options
Page-level controls to control your page builder canvas
WooCommerce and WPML support
What Users are Saying About Page Builder Framework
No other theme I have tried works that a) fast and b) stable. I had OceanWP, Astra, Hello and many many others. That theme will stay with me for good. AND: I like that it has been developed by a true coding enthusiast who knows what matters when it comes to speed AND reliability. neuspurcom
Final Word on Page Builder Framework
Page Builder Framework is specifically built to pair with Elementor (and other page builders), so it’s got everything that you need and nothing that you don’t. You can use Elementor to build out your content areas while leaving everything else to Page Builder Framework.
It’s the same basic approach as a theme like GeneratePress or Astra, though, so your decision should really come down to whether you like Page Builder Framework’s unique cocktail of customization options more than the others.
Download Page Builder Framework
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9. Zakra

Overview of Zakra
Zakra is another lightweight multipurpose theme in the vein of GeneratePress and Neve. At 37.2 KB, it’s performance friendly, but it also doesn’t skimp on customization options and comes with tons of pre-built demo sites built with Elementor.
Standout Features of Zakra
10 free importable demo sites built with Elementor (30+ in Pro version)
Detailed style and layout options in the WordPress Customizer
Page-level options to control your Elementor canvas
Responsive design
WooCommerce integration
AMP ready
What Users are Saying About Zakra
This theme was exactly what I needed. I imported one of their custom pages and then customizaded [sic] and tweek [sic] it to meeet [sic] my needs. I found the combination of Zakra and Elementor really powerful. alvarowh
Final Word on Zakra
Zakra hasn’t been around for as long as something like Astra, but it’s quickly made a name for itself and offers another great option if you want a lightweight, multipurpose theme to go underneath Elementor.
If one of the demo sites catches your eye, you should give it a go.
Download Zakra
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10. Phlox

Overview of Phlox
Phlox is a popular Elementor theme that focuses on design flexibility and style. It includes a huge array of importable demo sites built with Elementor, as well as 30+ exclusive Elementor widgets that you can use in your designs.
Standout Features of Phlox
100+ pre-made demo sites built with Elementor (not all are free)
30+ new Elementor widgets
40+ page templates (beyond the full demo sites)
Focus on style and creative design freedom
Translation & RTL ready
What Users are Saying About Phlox
Phlox is a great multi-purpose theme which works best with Elementor, it has more than 35 exclusive elements, complete demos for Elementor with 1-click demo importer, and I can say Phlox is perfect for creating any kind of website with ease. Ben Pines, CMO of Elementor
Final Word on Phlox
Phlox puts more emphasis on style and design flexibility than creating the most lightweight foundation possible, which is a philosophical difference between it and a lot of the other Elementor themes on this list.
If you’re willing to sacrifice a little performance for that creative freedom, Phlox might be the theme for you.
Download Phlox
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11. Ashe

Overview of Ashe
Like Sydney, Ashe bucks the multipurpose trend of themes on this list, instead opting to focus specifically on blogging. It has a nice minimal design that works great for all different kinds of WordPress blogs.
Standout Features of Ashe
Minimal design style with lots of white space
Responsive design
Multiple blog layout options in the WordPress Customizer
WooCommerce ready
What Users are Saying About Ashe
I tried many themes for my cooking blog, none of them worked except for Ashe. Very useful, very easy to customize with amazing features! I had a lot of fun customizing my blog. So satisfied. Moreover, they offer perfect and fast support whenever needed. mygratitudecatalogue
Final Word on Ashe
Ashe is a little bit more niche-focused than the other Elementor themes, but I would say that it’s a great option if you’re looking to make a blog in the fashion, lifestyle, or creative niches.
Download Ashe
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12. Hestia

Overview of Hestia
Hestia is a multipurpose WordPress theme that implements material design principles, which gives it a unique look in comparison to many of the other themes on this list. It also uses a one-page design out-of-the-box, which is another unique feature.
Hestia comes from the same developer as the Neve theme from earlier on this list.
Standout Features of Hestia
Material design styling
One-page design
WooCommerce compatible
SEO friendly (aka Google friendly)
Four importable demo sites, some of which use Elementor
Mega menu support
What Users are Saying About Hestia
Going from Hestia Free to Hestia Pro helped us to make a better landing page without any third-party plugins. Combined with Elementor, we’re able to design all we want. Vincent Duvernet
Final Word on Hestia
The main reason to use Hestia over the other options on this list is if you like the material design styling. If you do, go with Hestia. Otherwise, you might prefer a more flexible theme to pair with Elementor.
Download Hestia
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13. Jupiter X

Overview of Jupiter X
Jupiter X is one of the all-time best-selling themes at ThemeForest, where it’s been purchased over 131,000 times.
It includes a massive collection of 290+ pre-made websites built with Elementor, as well as tons of detailed customization options.
Jupiter X costs $59, which gets you lifetime updates and six months of support.
Standout Features of Jupiter X
290+ importable demo sites built with Elementor
20+ pre-built header options, plus detailed header customization options
Visual footer editor
100+ block templates
Custom Elementor widgets for forms and other content elements
Mega menu builder
Includes tons of other Elementor extensions, including the Jet plugins for Elementor
What Users are Saying About Jupiter X
Not only does Jupiter X offers [sic] plenty of pre-made templates — Jupiter X is also really easy to use when you first get a hang of it. MarieW
Final Word on Jupiter X
The most unique thing about Jupiter X is its absolutely massive collection of 290+ pre-made websites built with Elementor. If you see a site you like, you can import it, tweak the content with Elementor, and be up and running in no time.
It also includes JetPlugins for Elementor which extends Elementor with a ton of new functionality that you can use in your designs. This bundled functionality can replace the need to purchase Elementor Pro.
All in all, if you like the abundance of demo sites, bundled plugins, and customization options, Jupiter X has a lot to offer.
However, it’s a bit bloated as compared to the more lightweight options like GeneratePress and Astra. If you value performance, I’d probably pick a different theme.
Download Jupiter X
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Still Unsure? Here’s How 800+ People Voted
Still unsure which of these Elementor themes to choose for your site?
Don’t worry — you’re not alone!
There’s actually an entire Facebook group dedicated to the topic. It’s called Elementor + Which Theme? and it has over 3,800 members who were similarly vexed about how to pick the best Elementor theme for their websites.
If you’re still struggling with which theme to choose, here’s what the wisdom of the crowds says from a poll with over 800 responses:
Astra — 320 votes
OceanWP — 258 votes
GeneratePress — 169 votes
Page Builder Framework — 28 votes
That poll is a little old, so here’s the data from the new version of the poll in 2020, which doesn’t have quite as many responses yet:
Hello — 19 votes
Astra — 15 votes
OceanWP — 12 votes
GeneratePress — 4 votes
Zakra — 1 vote
Based on those two polls (and my own experience), Astra makes a great starting point if you’re still on the fence. It offers an enticing combination of “design flexibility + performance optimization” that’s tough to beat.
Unless, that is, you want to build your entire theme with Elementor Pro Theme Builder, in which case Elementor Hello might be a better choice.
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Pick One of These Elementor Themes and Get Started!
Elementor gives you the power to design your content with a visual, drag-and-drop page builder, but you still need to pair it with a quality WordPress theme.
With one of the Elementor themes on this list, you can be confident that your Elementor content has a foundation that sets it up for success.
All you need to do is pick the best WordPress theme that’s right for you, install it, and start building out your site!
About the author: Colin Newcomer is a freelance writer for hire with a background in SEO and affiliate marketing. He helps clients grow their web visibility by writing primarily about digital marketing and WordPress. In his spare time, he travels and curates graphic t-shirts.
The post 13 Best Elementor Themes (According to Elementor!) in 2020 appeared first on Smart Blogger.
from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/best-elementor-themes/
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The Best Free WordPress Themes
Are you thinking of creating your website or renewing an existing one? There are countless themes and free WordPress templates from which you can choose. To help you with the best selection, we have dived in all and we offer you the best.
When you install and configure WordPress for the first time, you will have verified that it comes with the default theme as standard, and that will be the one that the platform offers by default at that moment, currently the one of 2020 if you just installed it.
A theme or template is all that contributes to the appearance, style and design of the website. Basic elements such as design, fonts and colors are included here, but you can also add custom elements such as headers, sliding images and homepage widgets that are integrated.
While you can think of this as a theme for your website, WordPress uses the term ‘template’ in a more specific way. A theme is responsible for all pages and publications on the web, as opposed to the template that offers a specific design within that theme for a particular page or group of pages.
Although the default theme becomes very suitable for many environments, you may want to customize certain features for your website or contemplate aspects that the default theme does not offer.
Most of the themes, including the eight that we show below, are available as a fully functional free version in the WordPress repository, so you can easily access them from your own WordPress dashboard.
Many also offer premium paid versions with additional features and functionalities, and you will see the extras offered by each of them if you consult the topics we offer below.
Shapely
It is a great theme that currently triumphs among small businesses, personal websites, local businesses or those very focused on electronic commerce, where it stands out for its numerous customization possibilities.
Its main page is very clean, which is possible to change with backgrounds, colors in the fonts of letters, as well as add sections with effects to the home page. Another aspect to consider is that Shapely is well structured for SEO.
You can use it with all the most popular widgets like Yoast SEO, Jetpack, WooCommerce, or even Google Analytics. Within what is the documentation of the subject, you will find illustrative videos for its implementation and customization.
It is very mobile friendly and adaptable to any screen size. Its great success that has been reaped among WordPress users may be the only impediment to ending up being the theme chosen for your next web project.
Storefront
Based on the fact that Storefront was designed by WooCommerce developers, it should be said that it has a deep integration with this plugin, in addition to many other extensions.
It offers various color and structure options to customize the store as well as the widget areas. Developers love cleaning the code that makes it easy to customize it to your liking if you have some light knowledge.
If not, you can always turn to Storefront Powerpack that will help you in a more graphic way to achieve amazing results.
Colormag
If you like to tell stories or you are a journalist and you are thinking of creating your own blog or channel to express your humble opinion, you have reached the WordPress theme that may interest you most.
It cannot be a coincidence that the number of daily downloads of Colormag comes to exceed, on occasion, the number of 5,000 worldwide, for its particular way of highlighting various topics on the main cover of the web.
With regard to the premium version, you will find that it offers multiple color and font options, custom menus and a host of additional features that make some renowned publications and editorial groups use it daily.
Blossom Coach
As its name suggests, it is a very appropriate WordPress theme for coaching and all those who offer services of this type, be it consulting, personal training, training classes or health tips.
You will find numerous options that are enabled from the Blossom Coach sidebar, with more than 600 sources to choose from, and dedicated sections very focused on handling customers, services, calls, as well as developing contact forms.
Construction Landing Page
As it is possible to appreciate in the images, it is a free WordPress theme that you can use during those periods in which you are working on your website due to drastic or large-scale implementations.
Its main screen makes it clear that your website is under construction, with a contact form and other series of outstanding information so that visitors or customers can contact through various alternative ways.
The options for call buttons and query forms offered by Construction Landing Page, allow you to keep in touch with those who visit the web, even for the first time, and do not get the feeling of not receiving support.
GeneratePress
Very focused on speed and usability, GeneratePress is a fairly light theme that offers very interesting performance to get pages to load at high speed by not overloading the main page of additional elements.
It allows you to take full advantage of the new block editor with which you have greater control over the creation of content and the possibility of exposing them through different formats.
GeneratePress is very customizable, uses HTML / CSS language and is translated into more than 25 languages by the user community, which gives an idea of the great acceptance it has.
In total, it has 9 widget areas, 5 menu locations, 5 different sidebar designs and many more customizations. It is compatible with all the most outstanding WordPress plugins, such as WooCommerce.
Cali
Somehow, Cali focuses on highlighting the graphic material and the succession of high quality photographs to a greater extent. That is why it lends itself a lot to be used by fashion sites, online magazines, travel blogs or travel stores.
The Cali theme offers a full-width main carrousel on the main page, with the possibility of displaying featured images with links to sections that interest depending on the circumstances.
We have the integration of MailChimp, as well as various social networks to share information comfortably. You can add widgets or blocks where the fonts overlap the images to give some vividness to the web portal.
FotoGraphy
Another subject very focused on the area of photography, is to offer a clean and clear interface where the image stands out especially. In fact, it has a great acceptance among photographers and artists who want to show their works or photographic projects.
The FotoGraphy theme has a slider with which you can quickly move from one photo to another or even album. It is also possible to add brief testimonials of each project.
There are numerous designs and galleries to choose from, if what you want is to be able to offer a different look for each project. If it turns out that you market your images as an iStock, this WordPress theme can greatly facilitate many of your tasks.
from WordPress https://ift.tt/2I4NHz5 via IFTTT
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The Shop
New Post has been published on https://test.juristique.org/actualite/how-the-shop-was-made
The Shop
Sommaire
1 Hook Elements
1.1 Hook #1 – Woocommerce Shop Category Menu
1.2 Hook #2 – Woo Shop Filter and Breadcrumb
1.2.1 Woo Shop Filter
1.2.2 Breadcrumb
1.2.3 Positioning and styling the filter and breadcrumb
2 Custom Post Grid
2.1 Custom CSS
2.1.1 Reduced grid Gap
2.1.2 Remove Add to Cart button styling
2.1.3 Show Add to Cart / Hide Price on Hover
The advanced Woocommerce features in GeneratePress Premium 1.8 has allowed my to divulge in some new custom functions and styling. Upon visiting the Shop page you will see several custom elements and styles.
Category Navigation below entry title
Off Canvas Filter Toggle
Repositioned Breadcrumb
Minimal styled shop grid with hover add to cart effect
Hook Elements
Niche uses two GeneratePress Hook Elements. You can read the documents for hooks here. The shop uses two hook Elements.
Woocommerce Shop Category Menu
Woo Shop Filter and Breadcrumb
Both of these elements display rules are set to our Product Archive ( The Shop ) and Product Category Archives.
Hook #1 – Woocommerce Shop Category Menu
To aid with navigation across categories our first hook adds a simple category menu to the woocommerce_archive_description.
<?php $orderby = 'name'; $order = 'asc'; $hide_empty = true ; $cat_args = array( 'orderby' => $orderby, 'order' => $order, 'hide_empty' => $hide_empty, ); $product_categories = get_terms( 'product_cat', $cat_args ); if( !empty($product_categories) ) echo ' <ul class="woo-cat-nav">'; foreach ($product_categories as $key => $category) echo ' <li>'; echo '<a href="'.get_term_link($category).'" >'; echo $category->name; echo '</a>'; echo '</li>'; echo '</ul> '; ?>
It simply outputs a list of all categories that contain a product. We then use some CSS to style the list:
.woo-cat-nav list-style-type: none; margin-left: 0; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 80px; .woo-cat-nav li padding: 5px 0; margin: 0 10px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; font-size: 0.95em;
As each of the list items are a link they get their colors from the link colors we set in the customizer. Apart from the border color which is within the CSS above.
Hook #2 – Woo Shop Filter and Breadcrumb
Then we add two functions to woocommerce_before_shop_loop hook. First is a custom Off Canvas Panel toggle and second is the Woocommerce Breadcrumb.
Woo Shop Filter
The first function in our hook is some simple HTML:
<span class="slideout-toggle woo-filter-toggle hide-on-mobile"><a href="#">FILTER</a></span>
The <span> tag contains three classes. The slideout-toggle is what GeneratePress requires to trigger the opening of the off canvas panel. The woo-filter-toggle is our own custom class we use to style and position the toggle. And lastly hide-on-mobile, i am sure you can figure out what this does.
For our woo filter toggle to appear we have set Customizer > Layout > Off Canvas Panel to display on Desktop and Mobile.
We now need to remove the toggle from the Primary Navigation on Desktop ( it’s default location ) we have to hide it using some CSS:
.main-navigation ul li.slideout-toggle display: none !important;
Breadcrumb
Here is our second function to add our breadcrumb inline with our filter toggle:
<span class="hide-on-mobile"><?php woocommerce_breadcrumb(); ?></span>
It uses the default woocommerce function. So as it doesn’t display twice on the page we disabled the themes breadcrumb position in Customizer > Layout > Woocommerce.
Positioning and styling the filter and breadcrumb
Positioning and styling our toggle and breadcrumb requires this CSS:
.woo-filter-toggle, .woocommerce.archive .woocommerce-breadcrumb padding: 10px 0; margin-right: 20px; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;
To make room for our filter toggle and breacrumb and to keep the styles in line we need a little more CSS. First to shift over the product count and then style the sorting selector.
.woocommerce .woocommerce-result-count float: right; margin-right: 20px; .woocommerce-ordering select text-transform: uppercase; max-width: 200px; border: 0;
Custom Post Grid
Most of our shop styling has been set using the Theme customizer, from typograpghy and colors to the layout of our shop and single product page. But to add a little something more unique the obligatory Flint Skin CSS magic has bee applied.
Custom CSS
Lets step through each of the changes:
Reduced grid Gap
No GeneratePress uses CSS Grid for the shop its super simple to reduce ( or increase ) our grid gap. This is being applied to all responsive sizes.
.wc-columns-container .products, .woocommerce .related ul.products, .woocommerce .up-sells ul.products grid-gap: 20px;
Remove Add to Cart button styling
I wanted a normal looking link for our add to cart by removing the padding and background color. and inheriting the body text color.
.woocommerce ul.products li.product a.button padding: 5px 0; color: inherit; background-color: transparent;
Show Add to Cart / Hide Price on Hover
For our desktop view we can afford to hide our add to cart. I think it looks better then a page full of buttons.
@media (min-width: 768px) .woocommerce ul.products li.product a.button transform: translateY(0); width: 100%; opacity: 0; transition: all 0.4s; .woocommerce ul.products li.product:hover a.button, .woocommerce ul.products li.product:hover .price transform: translateY(calc(-100% - 10px)); opacity: 1; .woocommerce ul.products li.product .price opacity: 1; transition: all 0.4s; .woocommerce ul.products li.product:hover .price opacity: 0; transform: translateY(calc(-100% - 10px));
Originally posted 2013-06-18 19:25:01.
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Best Free Wordpress Blog Themes For 2020
Are you searching for a free WordPress theme to start your blog on a budget and keep your costs down? Well, there are thousands of free WordPress themes made available to you. But which ones fall into the category of those themes that have been vouched for and vetted by expert bloggers?
As Matt Wolfe rightly said, “There’s a lot of information out there for free, so you’ve got to figure out what makes your information different”
Thus, in order to set you on the right track, we have a list of the best free WordPress themes that have been recommended by experts.
Astra Theme
You don’t require any coding skills to use this multipurpose theme providing you with a set of unique and simple customization options. It is lightweight offering responsive design with numerous page layouts for mobile devices as well.
It works exceptionally well with drag-and-drop page builders such as Beaver Builder or Elementor and is compatible with the Gutenberg block editor. Business websites with e-commerce stores can use Astra as it comes with WooCommerce support.
It is WPML compatible and is translation and retina ready. It serves you with 700+ Google fonts, custom widgets and widget areas, custom backgrounds, social icons, and numerous color options.
The theme offers you an SEO-friendly foundation for search engines and has certainly proven to be one of the best and the most popular free WordPress themes with over 200,000 active installations.
GeneratePress
GeneratePress is a lightweight chameleon that is capable of adapting to any need or niche and ends up at the top of the pack when it comes to performance tests which is great for bloggers who want their blog to load faster. You’ll be able to explore tons of customizer options that are available in the native WordPress Customizer.
The code quality here is excellent and it also integrates well with all major page builders including Beaver Builder and Elementor. It is compatible with the Glutenberg block editor and also offers WooCommerce support for e-commerce stores.
With all its excellent qualities and being super lightweight, the GeneratePress theme has proven to be one of the best free responsive WordPress themes that also comes with a great mobile design.
Writee
Writee is a theme putting all the focus on your writing along with a full-width featured image which is given a bold spot. It is a clean theme offering minimal looks and bold featured images.
You are also provided with multiple blog archive options and other customization options as well via the native WordPress Customizer. It offers responsive design and WooCommerce compatibility for e-commerce stores.
It can be easily translated into the language of your choice if needed and works with all types of blogging sites. It is built using the highest coding practices and allows you to customize using the Live Customizer.
Apart from these themes, you must also use blogging tools, to accelerate your blogging game.
Some of the blogging tools you must use:
Elementor Pro
Astra theme
GeneratePress theme
Constant Contact
ConvertKit
Canva
Grammarly
SEMRush
Yoast SEO
Bluehost
Conclusion
So, these were our free WordPress themes recommendations. These three themes are the best and the most versatile ones available no matter which blogging career you pursue. Thus, give it a try and see the change for yourself!
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A Deadly Mistake Uncovered on Fastest Wordpress Themes and How to Avoid It
Kitchen Design is just one of the quickest free WordPress themes 2019 that were designed for getting into an internet presence. Selecting free WordPress Themes for an expert Website is not a great idea. It's also ideal for your private blog Theme.
Check whether the Theme ideal for some essential plugin like Contact form 7. Customizations are simple to carry out within this theme. Astra WordPress theme is absolutely free but since I mentioned you can extend it together with addons that provides you loads more advanced capabilities.
In the characteristics of this theme you will locate intuitive theme customizer tool that permits you to change almost anything about your site, all through a visual menu with a live preview. GeneratePress is a multipurpose theme and is completely customizable, which means you can use it in order to create any sort of a site. A sensible and fashionable theme, GoMedia has each of the qualities that you try to find in a quick and feature-rich theme.
Best is just one more amazing WordPress theme from MyThemeShop. You're able to just use the theme demos link to check them. If you are searching for a distraction-free theme for your blog, then you are going to like Pocket.
The higher you're able to achieve by keeping your Website perfect is ideal for you. Browse WP Templates if you're eager to create a website which will immediately catch your viewers' attention and prove your company is beyond any competition! Following that, your new website will be prepared for your content.
While searching for fastest wordpress themes the search engine you may get plenty of results but you will need to find which is the ideal template for your site. Social networks buttons may also be added. If you would like better ranking into Search Engine you have to need much better Pagespeed.
Just import your preferred demo seem associated with your enterprise and you are finished. It is possible to use ready-made templates both for business projects and individual sites, because many of them are multifunctional and flexible. Now you may use the fastest loading free WordPress themes to create a web site for repair enterprise.
Hence, your site should load in under 2 seconds. The Foto WordPress template for photographers is simple to use, and permits you to customize the appearance and feel of your photography site. It offers a full-width image slideshow on the homepage that allows you to display multiple photos.
What's more is that the theme has a custom made background and menu that is a terrific starting point in conditions of customization. Due to Newspaper's varied choice of demos and customization alternatives, it doesn't really matter what sort of content you're going to be publishing. It has a very simple and straightforward design that does not consist of many widgets, sidebars, and no extra settings.
This template was designed remembering the networking needs of the current occasions but don't think that it lags in speed. This theme isn't only 100% responsive but in addition it provides you with the capacity to control any element presentation on tablets and cellular devices. This speedy loading WordPress theme incorporates full support for the WooCommerce plugin, which makes it a great option for either creating a web-based shop or simply listing a few products alongside your normal content.
If you're interesting in improving your on-line presence and attract customers or clients, Sydney is a superb selection. Among the many facets, website speed plays an important function. If you are searching for a WordPress theme to sell arts and craft, then Beatrix is a terrific alternative for it.
Some of the further things that speed matters are, In addition to that, you will acquire bad ratings from the visitors and it's going to be difficult to recapture your preceding status. Some of the significant reason your site speed matters are as follows, Moreover, there are many aspects to make your website fastest. In any case, the theme is SEO-optimized, meaning that concerned people will readily locate your website through search engines and read it!
When it has to do with setting up your church website, Exodus provides you plenty of customisation choices. Moreover, each theme can compensate for a SEO-specialist's work due to its wide variety of functions coupled with a transparent structure. The Travelista theme is appropriate for any form of travel blog and includes a clean and contemporary design with large featured images, perfect for showcasing your destinations and must-see websites.
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New Original Art The Shop by Greg Cartmell
The Shop
The advanced Woocommerce features in GeneratePress Premium 1.8 has allowed my to divulge in some new custom functions and styling. Upon visiting the Shop page you will see several custom elements and styles.
Category Navigation below entry title
Off Canvas Filter Toggle
Repositioned Breadcrumb
Minimal styled shop grid with hover add to cart effect
Hook Elements
Niche uses two GeneratePress Hook Elements. You can read the documents for hooks here. The shop uses two hook Elements.
Woocommerce Shop Category Menu
Woo Shop Filter and Breadcrumb
Both of these elements display rules are set to our Product Archive ( The Shop ) and Product Category Archives.
Hook #1 – Woocommerce Shop Category Menu
To aid with navigation across categories our first hook adds a simple category menu to the woocommerce_archive_description.
<?php $orderby = 'name'; $order = 'asc'; $hide_empty = true ; $cat_args = array( 'orderby' => $orderby, 'order' => $order, 'hide_empty' => $hide_empty, ); $product_categories = get_terms( 'product_cat', $cat_args ); if( !empty($product_categories) ) echo ' <ul class="woo-cat-nav">'; foreach ($product_categories as $key => $category) echo ' <li>'; echo '<a href="'.get_term_link($category).'" >'; echo $category->name; echo '</a>'; echo '</li>'; echo '</ul> '; ?>
It simply outputs a list of all categories that contain a product. We then use some CSS to style the list:
.woo-cat-nav list-style-type: none; margin-left: 0; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 80px; .woo-cat-nav li padding: 5px 0; margin: 0 10px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; font-size: 0.95em;
As each of the list items are a link they get their colors from the link colors we set in the customizer. Apart from the border color which is within the CSS above.
Hook #2 – Woo Shop Filter and Breadcrumb
Then we add two functions to woocommerce_before_shop_loop hook. First is a custom Off Canvas Panel toggle and second is the Woocommerce Breadcrumb.
Woo Shop Filter
The first function in our hook is some simple HTML:
<span class="slideout-toggle woo-filter-toggle hide-on-mobile"><a href="#">FILTER</a></span>
The <span> tag contains three classes. The slideout-toggle is what GeneratePress requires to trigger the opening of the off canvas panel. The woo-filter-toggle is our own custom class we use to style and position the toggle. And lastly hide-on-mobile, i am sure you can figure out what this does.
For our woo filter toggle to appear we have set Customizer > Layout > Off Canvas Panel to display on Desktop and Mobile.
We now need to remove the toggle from the Primary Navigation on Desktop ( it’s default location ) we have to hide it using some CSS:
.main-navigation ul li.slideout-toggle display: none !important;
Breadcrumb
Here is our second function to add our breadcrumb inline with our filter toggle:
<span class="hide-on-mobile"><?php woocommerce_breadcrumb(); ?></span>
It uses the default woocommerce function. So as it doesn’t display twice on the page we disabled the themes breadcrumb position in Customizer > Layout > Woocommerce.
Positioning and styling the filter and breadcrumb
Positioning and styling our toggle and breadcrumb requires this CSS:
.woo-filter-toggle, .woocommerce.archive .woocommerce-breadcrumb padding: 10px 0; margin-right: 20px; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;
To make room for our filter toggle and breacrumb and to keep the styles in line we need a little more CSS. First to shift over the product count and then style the sorting selector.
.woocommerce .woocommerce-result-count float: right; margin-right: 20px; .woocommerce-ordering select text-transform: uppercase; max-width: 200px; border: 0;
Custom Post Grid
Most of our shop styling has been set using the Theme customizer, from typograpghy and colors to the layout of our shop and single product page. But to add a little something more unique the obligatory Flint Skin CSS magic has bee applied.
Custom CSS
Lets step through each of the changes:
Reduced grid Gap
No GeneratePress uses CSS Grid for the shop its super simple to reduce ( or increase ) our grid gap. This is being applied to all responsive sizes.
.wc-columns-container .products, .woocommerce .related ul.products, .woocommerce .up-sells ul.products grid-gap: 20px;
Remove Add to Cart button styling
I wanted a normal looking link for our add to cart by removing the padding and background color. and inheriting the body text color.
.woocommerce ul.products li.product a.button padding: 5px 0; color: inherit; background-color: transparent;
Show Add to Cart / Hide Price on Hover
For our desktop view we can afford to hide our add to cart. I think it looks better then a page full of buttons.
@media (min-width: 768px) .woocommerce ul.products li.product a.button transform: translateY(0); width: 100%; opacity: 0; transition: all 0.4s; .woocommerce ul.products li.product:hover a.button, .woocommerce ul.products li.product:hover .price transform: translateY(calc(-100% - 10px)); opacity: 1; .woocommerce ul.products li.product .price opacity: 1; transition: all 0.4s; .woocommerce ul.products li.product:hover .price opacity: 0; transform: translateY(calc(-100% - 10px));
Artwork Source: https://staging.gregcartmell.com/landscapes/how-the-shop-was-made/
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8 Best Free WordPress Themes of 2019 (Chosen by Experts)
If you’re starting your blog on a budget, a free WordPress theme is a great way to keep costs down.
The problem?
There are literally thousands of free WordPress themes to sort through. And when you search for guidance on Google, you’re greeted with articles offering dozens (or hundreds) of free WordPress theme options.
Let’s be honest:
You don’t need a list of dozens (or hundreds) of free WordPress themes. There’s not enough time in the day to review them all, and most of them sound the same anyway.
No, what you need is a small list of themes that have been vouched for and vetted by people who know what they’re talking about.
And you need that list to be broken down in a way that makes it easy for you to choose the theme that best fits your needs.
In short, you need the post you’re reading right now.
We asked 11 influential WordPress experts and bloggers the following, open-ended question:
“What is the best free WordPress theme for bloggers?”
They were allowed to pick up to two themes.
Here are the results:
The Best Free WordPress Themes of 2019
Astra by Brainstorm Force
Writee by Scissor Themes
GeneratePress by Tom Usborne
Neve by Themeisle
Reykjavik by WebMan Design
Cali by aThemes
Didi Lite by Anariel Design
OceanWP by OceanWP
1. Astra by Brainstorm Force
A Look at Astra (in 50 Words or Less)
Astra is a popular multipurpose theme that offers a lightweight, optimized foundation that you can build into your own unique design via a set of simple, customization options. No coding is required.
The TL;DR for Astra
7 Votes Of our 11 experts, 7 chose Astra in our survey.
300k Active Installs There are more than 300,000 active installations of the Astra theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given Astra an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Astra
The Astra theme is perfect for someone who’s getting started with blogging. Not only can you easily control the look and feel of the blog through the settings in the WordPress Customizer; but you can also import a complete starter site for free using the Astra Sites plugin. This can get you up and running in minutes.
Brad Morrison, Founder of GoWP
I’m a big fan of keeping things as simple and as fast as possible and the default “out of the box” Astra experience aligns with my own ethos perfectly. As a theme author I was pleasantly surprised at how many sensible defaults they had adopted meaning I think I spent less time setting this blog up than any other in recent memory!
Colm Troy, Co-founder of Create and Code
The free version comes with a lot of flexibility, it’s very well coded and the team behind it is great at support. It also works perfectly with WordPress’ new block editor as well as Beaver Builder and Elementor, so it’s a great option no matter how you build your content.
Nick Adams, COO at WP Buffs
Sure, [Astra] may not be the snazziest theme out there in it’s “out of the box” form, but it’s lightweight and gives you a great platform to build upon.
Want to get started right now? Install the theme, activate, make a few tweaks and get your blog out there. So, you can start writing today! Then, once you’re ready, you can grab the add-ons to the theme and customize it further.
Adam Connell, Founder of Blogging Wizard
Last One:
Astra is one WordPress theme that has been on my radar for a while. We are actually moving ShoutMeLoud from Genesis to Astra for a few reasons:
The code is super clean and it’s one of the well-developed themes.
With over 200,000+ installs, it is one of the best free WordPress themes in the repository.
It works with Elementor Pro, LearnDash, EDD and few other popular extensions that we use all the time.
Harsh Agrawal, Founder of ShoutMeLoud
In case you missed it, Harsh Agrawl is moving his website to Astra. That’s how big a fan he is of the theme.
Astra also received votes from Karol Krol and Daan Tol. We’ll have more from them later.
Key Features of Astra
Responsive design
Lots of customization options in the native WordPress Customizer (these let you control your theme’s design without needing any special technical knowledge)
Multipurpose – use it for any type of site, blogs included
Lightweight and performance optimized
Works great with page builders like Elementor or Beaver Builder
One of the most popular free WordPress themes, with more than 200,000 active installations
Compatible with the Gutenberg block editor
Pre-built importable demo sites
WooCommerce support
Active Facebook discussion group to learn tips and tricks
5-star rating on over 1,600 reviews at WordPress.org
Final Thoughts on Astra
If you want a free, lightweight theme that excels at customization and performance, Astra is a great choice.
Download Astra for Free
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2. Writee by Scissor Themes
A Look at Writee (in 50 Words or Less)
Writee is a clean theme that puts the focus on your writing, along with a spot for a bold, full-width featured image.
The TL;DR for Writee
3 Votes Of our 11 experts, 3 chose Writee in our survey.
30k Active Installs There are more than 30,000 active installations of the Writee theme.
4.8 Rating Users have given Writee an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Writee
My recommended free WordPress theme for bloggers is Writee by Scissor Themes. This theme has a clean and modern design that is simple enough to work for all sorts of blogs. It’s very easy to set up, making it ideal for beginners. It comes with a range of widgets that bloggers will need, such as an ‘About Me’ widget and social widget.
Katie Keith, Co-founder of Barn2 Media
Writee is a free blogging theme found in the WordPress Repository, meaning it was built using the highest coding practices. It will work for all types of blogging sites, is easy to customize using the Live Customizer, and can easily be translated into the language of your choice if needed. Though there is room for more advanced customizations when it comes to the layout, sidebars, and navigation menus, Writee is perfect out-of-the-box and is suitable for even the most novice of bloggers.
Devesh Sharma, Founder of WPKube
There are a lot of excellent free blogging themes out there, but one standout is Writee by Scissor Themes. It has striking visuals, a lot of customization potential, and some other neat features.
Charlie Livingston, Founder of aThemes
Key Features of Writee
Responsive design
Clean, minimal looks
Bold featured images (that’s where the “striking visuals” come from)
Multiple blog archive options – list or grid view
Customization via the native WordPress Customizer
Full-width or boxed slider
WooCommerce compatibility
Final Thoughts on Writee
Writee is a great option if you want something that’s going to look great right out of the box. This contrasts with Astra and some of the other free WordPress themes on this list, where you’re expected to put in a little elbow grease to make them your own.
With Writee, you just activate it and start writing.
Download Writee for Free
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3. GeneratePress by Tom Usborne
A Look at GeneratePress (in 50 Words or Less)
GeneratePress is another popular option that shares the same philosophy as Astra. That is, it’s a lightweight chameleon that you can adapt to any niche or need.
In performance tests, GeneratePress usually ends up at the top of the pack, which is great if you want your blog to load fast. Beyond that, it also comes with over-the-top good support.
The TL;DR for GeneratePress
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose GeneratePress in our survey.
100k Active Installs There are more than 100,000 active installations of the GeneratePress theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given GeneratePress an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About GeneratePress
Tom Usborne (the owner/creator of GeneratePress) is very helpful on [the support forum]. I could solve all my problems just by searching in the support forum. He also gives some great tips for using plugins that go very well with his theme (Code Snippets, Simple CSS). This way of working kept my theme vanilla so that I can always update without having to worry. For a non-coder like me – that’s the dream.
Daan Tol, Owner of WPLift
Key Features of GeneratePress
Super lightweight and performance optimized (under 30 kb)
Tons of customization options in the native WordPress Customizer
Compatible with the Gutenberg block editor
One of the best free responsive WordPress themes, with a great mobile design
Excellent code quality
Integrates well with all major page builders, including Elementor and Beaver Builder
WooCommerce compatible
5-star rating on over 800 reviews at WordPress.org
Final Thoughts on GeneratePress
Like Astra, GeneratePress will look pretty basic when you first install it. However, the magic of this theme is the many options in the WordPress Customizer that let you build it into the exact look you want.
If you’re willing to put in some time, you can create the theme of your dreams, and it will all be powered by a lightweight, performance-optimized foundation.
Finally, as Daan mentioned, the theme’s developer, Tom Usborne, offers amazing support if you ever need a helping hand.
Download GeneratePress for Free
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4. Neve by Themeisle
A Look at Neve (in 50 Words or Less)
Neve is a lightweight theme that’s optimized to work with the new WordPress block editor (also known as the Gutenberg editor). It’s also on the list of the most popular free WordPress themes at WordPress.org, which means that, although it’s new, it’s getting a lot of traction.
While you certainly can customize Neve to suit your needs, it looks more “polished” out of the box, and it also comes with a variety of pre-built demo sites that you can import with just a few clicks.
The TL;DR for Neve
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Neve in our survey.
30k Active Installs There are more than 30,000 active installations of the Neve theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given Neve an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Neve
If you’d rather get a theme that looks great out the box and simply works without necessarily needing to dive through various settings panels, use Neve. It gives you a modern, beautiful design that’s also built with performance in mind. Plus, it’s the top 10 most popular free theme in the official theme directory at WordPress.org. What more could you need?
Karol Krol, Heads Content at Themeisle
Key Features of Neve
Responsive design
Built to work well with the new WordPress block editor
One-page design
Customization options in the real-time WordPress Customizer
Mega menu support
Importable demo sites
WooCommerce compatible
Final Thoughts on Neve
As Karol highlighted, Neve makes a great option if you want something that’s going to look great as soon as you install it. If you like the default looks, you can just install it and start writing. Or, if you want to switch things up, but don’t want to redesign things yourself, you can also import one of the pre-built demo sites by clicking a few buttons.
Download Neve for Free
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5. Reykjavik by WebMan Design
A Look at Reykjavik (in 50 Words or Less)
Reykjavik brands itself as a free business WordPress theme, but it’s got a great look that can just as easily be adapted to blogging or other niches.
As the name suggests, you get a very “Nordic” feel to the styling.
(Basically, if you like Ikea, you’ll probably like this WordPress theme!)
The TL;DR for Reykjavik
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Reykjavik in our survey.
2k Active Installs There are more than 2,000 active installations of the Reykjavik theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given Reykjavik an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Reykjavik
Reykjavik is a fresh, lightweight theme that features minimalist style. It is therefore a great fit for blogging and portfolio type websites.
Marko Segota, Co-founder of Anariel Design
Key Features of Reykjavik
Responsive design
Great-looking blog post layout with space for a full-width featured image
Accessible by default – passes WCAG 2.0 level AA and Section 508 requirements
Customization via the native WordPress Customizer
One-click demo content import
Compatible with all major page builder plugins
Final Thoughts on Reykjavik
Reykjavik is another option that will give you a great-looking site from the second you install it. The clean styling also does a great job of highlighting your content, and will satisfy your love of Nordic style more than an ALLEMANSRÄTTEN meatball.
(Those are the meatballs at Ikea, if you’re not familiar.)
Note: While the earlier screenshot highlights Reykjavik’s business-focused homepage, I’d recommend you click through to the demo because the blog page has a great full-width layout that really puts the focus on your content. You can see one of the sample blog posts here.
Download Reykjavik for Free
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6. Cali by aThemes
A Look at Cali (in 50 Words or Less)
With its focus on visual imagery, Cali makes a great option for fashion, lifestyle, and travel blogs.
Beyond its looks, Cali also builds in some other helpful features for bloggers, like a newsletter integration (via the MailChimp for WordPress plugin), dedicated spots for social media follow buttons at both the top and bottom of your page, and space to bring in your Instagram feed (via the WP Instagram Widget plugin).
The TL;DR for Cali
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Cali in our survey.
1k Active Installs There are more than 1,000 active installations of the Cali theme.
3.0 Rating Users have given Cali an average rating of 3.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Cali
(I) also recommend our own Cali theme. It has plenty of cool options for bloggers – including a posts carousel, a wide selection of fonts to choose from, and social media integration.
Charlie Livingston, Founder of aThemes
Key Features of Cali
Responsive design
Full-width posts carousel at the top of the screen
Lots of spots to showcase your featured images/visuals
Customization via the native WordPress Customizer
Built-in social follow buttons (two different locations)
WooCommerce compatible
Integrations for MailChimp for WordPress and WP Instagram Widget (the theme recommends that you install both of these plugins)
Final Thoughts on Cali
Cali’s looks are best suited for lifestyle, fashion, or travel blogs…or really just any niche with a heavy focus on imagery. Beyond that, it does a good job of integrating social media into its design, which, if you’re active on social media, is another big benefit to choosing this theme.
Download Cali for Free
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7. Didi Lite by Anariel Design
A Look at Didi Lite (in 50 Words or Less)
If you want something minimal that will put the focus on your strong words, Didi Lite is a great free option that has one of the simplest looks on this list. The theme offers plenty of white space and unique typography options that will help your site stand out.
As the “lite” in the name suggests, there’s also a premium version that you can purchase if you decide you’d like more layouts and customization options in the future.
The TL;DR for Didi Lite
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Didi Lite in our survey.
700+ Active Installs There are more than 700 active installations of the Didi Lite theme.
4.5 Rating Users have given Didi Lite an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Didi Lite
Didi Lite is a modern blogging theme, built mobile first, that offers sleek layout and beautiful typography. With its minimalistic design it brings readers’ focus to what really matters: the content.
Marko Segota, Co-founder of Anariel Design
Key Features of Didi Lite
Responsive design
Minimal looks with plenty of white space
Multiple front page options to display your latest blog posts
Beautiful typography
Demo content
Built to work well with Elementor (and other page builders)
Final Thoughts on Didi Lite
With its minimal design, Didi Lite makes a great option for both text-heavy blogs, as well as fashion or lifestyle blogs (because you also get the option to display large featured images).
It’s also another good option if you want a theme that looks “polished” as soon as you install it.
Download Didi Lite for Free
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8. OceanWP by OceanWP
A Look at OceanWP (in 50 Words or Less)
OceanWP is another free theme that follows the chameleon principles of Astra and GeneratePress. Once again, that means it’s a flexible foundation that you can build into your dream blog theme.
Like Astra and Neve, OceanWP also offers some free demo sites that you can import if you don’t want to customize your design from scratch.
The TL;DR for OceanWP
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose OceanWP in our survey.
300k Active Installs There are more than 300,000 active installations of the OceanWP theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given OceanWP an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About OceanWP
I like the set of options OceanWP has for the headers. It has so many well-designed options out of the box. Plus the free extensions are awesome. [The free extensions] offer you a lot of (customizable) control on your website.
Daan Tol, Owner of WPLift
Key Features of OceanWP
Responsive design
Multipurpose and flexible looks
Uses the native WordPress Customizer for customization
Pre-built importable demo sites
Offers a number of free extensions
Lots of different header options
Built to work well with popular WordPress page builders
WooCommerce compatible
Active on 300,000+ sites
5-star rating on over 2,100 reviews at WordPress.org
Final Thoughts on OceanWP
OceanWP has a lot of similarities to GeneratePress and Astra, but it’s a little more focused on offering design and functionality flexibility, rather than just acting as a lightweight canvas. For example, you’ll find official free extensions for social sharing, sticky headers, and more that you won’t get with Astra or GeneratePress.
Download OceanWP for Free
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Free WordPress Themes: Frequently Asked Questions
Before we wrap up, let’s look at a few common questions we hear from readers regarding free WordPress themes. Questions like:
Free WordPress Themes vs Premium Themes: Is There a Difference?
How Much are Premium WordPress Themes?
What’s the Difference Between Free WordPress Themes and Free WordPress Templates?
Can I Use a WordPress Theme if I’m not on WordPress?
How do I Find WordPress Themes?
1. Free WordPress Themes vs Premium Themes: Is There a Difference?
When it comes to free WordPress themes vs premium WordPress themes, there are a lot of misconceptions out there.
Have you seen people write stuff like “premium themes are coded better than free themes”? Or “premium themes offer better designs”? How about “premium themes load faster than free themes”? Or even “premium themes are more secure than free themes”?
As someone who makes his living in the WordPress space, let me tell you that none of that is true. It’s just impossible to make those generalizations based solely on a theme’s price tag.
Free themes are code.
Premium themes are code.
You can have perfectly coded free themes and poorly coded premium themes. You can have well-maintained free themes, and premium themes that haven’t been updated in years. And, of course, the opposite can also be true.
What’s more, many themes are both free and premium. For example, the Astra theme that came so highly recommended comes in both a free and a premium version, and the “core” theme is exactly the same between each. The code doesn’t suddenly become “better” when you crack open your wallet, right?
Long story short:
There’s not a single inherent difference between free themes vs premium themes and there’s no reason you need to feel compelled to use a premium WordPress theme.
So if you absolutely love a free WordPress theme, it comes from a quality developer who maintains it, and it does everything you need it to already, just use it and be happy!
That doesn’t mean premium themes have no benefits
If you noticed above, you’ll see I used phrases like “inherent difference.” That’s because I wanted to hedge my bets a little bit. 🙂
There is, of course, a reason why premium themes exist, and it might turn out that a premium theme actually is a better option for your unique situation, especially as your blog starts growing.
Even if you start with a free WordPress theme, here are some reasons to consider going Pro in the future:
Better support: While some developers offer basic forum support for their free themes, paying for a premium theme usually means you’ll get at least 6-12 months of premium support. If you’re the kind of person who likes to reach out for help, this might be a reason to go Pro.
More features: While it’s not true in all cases, a lot of developers will lock up more advanced features beyond a Pro version (like more customization options). This is true for Astra, GeneratePress, OceanWP, and others. Sometimes, paying for those features is worth it.
Ongoing updates: When a developer is earning income from a theme, they have a bigger incentive to continue updating and improving that theme. This increases the chance that your theme’s developer continues to pay attention (this is what Nick Adams was talking about with the Astra theme).
2. How Much are Premium WordPress Themes?
Because each developer sets their own prices, there’s a lot of variation in how much premium WordPress themes cost.
However, on average, you’ll usually spend about $60 for most premium WordPress themes. For example, the premium version of Astra sits right at $59, and many of the premium themes that you’ll find at ThemeForest also adopt this pricing.
Typically, that price also comes with one year of support and updates for your theme. After that first year, you can continue to use your theme on your site, but you will need to pay again if you wish to continue receiving support and updates.
3. What’s the Difference Between Free WordPress Themes and Free WordPress Templates?
Many people use these terms interchangeably, but they are very different. A WordPress theme controls the design of your entire website. A WordPress template controls the layout for a specific page (or specific pages) within your website — e.g. your contact page, your individual blog posts, etc.
In short, if someone tells you they’re looking for “free WordPress templates” or the like, they probably mean themes.
4. Can I Use a WordPress Theme if I’m not on WordPress?
No, WordPress themes are for websites that use WordPress as its CMS (content management system).
If you’re using Wix, Blogger, or a different blogging platform, you won’t be able to use WordPress themes for your website’s design.
5. How do I Find WordPress Themes?
If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect WordPress theme after our list, here are some tips for other spots where you can find WordPress themes.
For free WordPress themes, your best bet is to use the official WordPress.org theme directory.
Beyond just generally being a huge collection of free WordPress themes, another benefit is that every theme listed in the directory has to go through a basic code review process.
While this process is not foolproof for eliminating all issues, it does mean that any theme you find at WordPress.org is at least going to be free from any major errors or problems and coded to a minimum level of quality.
For premium WordPress themes, Smart Blogger typically recommends Elegant Themes (affiliate link) and Avada (affiliate link). However, you’ll have no shortage of options. Browse around, read reviews, and test as many demos as you can.
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So, What’s the Best Free WordPress Theme?
That will depend on your particular needs and situation.
Based on the feedback from our experts, Astra leads the pack. But any of the free WordPress themes mentioned in this post are great options.
Take each one for a test drive.
See which one fits your website like a glove.
And be sure to let us know in the comments section which one you like best.
About the author: Colin Newcomer is a freelance writer for hire with a background in SEO and affiliate marketing. He helps clients grow their web visibility by writing primarily about digital marketing and WordPress. In his spare time, he travels and curates graphic t-shirts.
The post 8 Best Free WordPress Themes of 2019 (Chosen by Experts) appeared first on Smart Blogger.
from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/free-wordpress-themes/
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A guide to styling and making Dispatch your own
New Post has been published on https://techscos.com/styling/
A guide to styling and making Dispatch your own

Dispatch is a Magazine style blog for your new website. Each of its features have been designed and built using GeneratePress and WP Show Posts. As expected of a Flint Skin Site it uses Custom CSS. At over 350 lines it is recommended, but not necessary, to move the Additional CSS to a Child Theme style sheet. So lets get onto making it your own.
WP Show Posts
Without WP Show Posts plugin, this Site wouldn’t exist. Another awesome product from Tom Usborne, WP Show Posts does exactly what the title says. Anywhere and everywhere in the case of Dispatch. So much so there is a dedicated page to explain its uses here.
Social Icons – Desktop
The Lightweight Social Icons widget has been added to the Header Widget. It only displays on Desktop as the Widget has the hide-on-mobile and hide-on-tablet-classes.
Social Icons – Tablet and Mobile
They are also displayed in the Slideout Navigation. Using the Slideout Widget.
Social Icon Colors
Colors are changed within the widget.
Pagebuilders
Can I use a page builder with Dispatch?
Yes, you can if you wish. The only rule is that you need to use the Default Template for your Pages and Posts. To create a full width blank canvas template then follow these steps:
Appearance > Elements > New Layout
Disable Content Title
Set Page Builder Container to Contained or Full Width
Set Display Rules to the Pages you need a Blank canvas on.
How do I change colors?
The majority of Volumes colors are controlled by the Customizer. There are some Elements that are part of Volumes features that require CSS. This article covers where to make those changes:
How to change the Custom Colors
Logo and Site Identity
Dispatch does not have a logo, just the Site Title. You can change the Site Branding or add a logo via the Customizer > Site Identity
Page Layout – Container Margin
Dispatch uses the Customizer > Layout > Container > Separate Containers option. To maintain horizontal alignment the left and right padding has been removed on the desktop.
The following CSS adds left and right margin to offset the padding.
@media (min-width: 769px) body margin: 0 30px;
Navigation
Dispatch uses the Primary Navigation for the main menu and Secondary Navigation displays post categories.The majority of their layout and styling is controlled by the Customizer. With these exceptions:
Menu underline on hover
The animated underline is set using this CSS. Changing the color of the bar is covered here:
How to change the Custom Colors
Secondary Navigation Location
The Secondary Nav is placed using a Hook Element as opposed to the Customizer, which is set to No Navigation. This is so the secondary navigation is dynamically placed. You will notice it doesn’t appear on the posts. It also appears below the Header Element on the front page.
More information be found on that here:
Hooks – Custom Theme Elements
I want to use the Customizer to control the navigation
Simply delete ( or Quick Edit > Set to Draft and Save ) the Magazine Grid header element to revert to the normal customizer controls.
Blog
The majority of the Blog settings are controlled within the Customizer > Layout > Blog. Of course it wouldn’t be a Flint Skin site if some custom customization wasn’t done. These comprise of re-ordering the post meta layout and fixing the height of the featured image.
To maintain a consistent style the Blog posts have been styled to match the WP Show Posts Plugin. You can read more here:
https://gpsites.co/dispatch/wp-show-posts/
Single Post – Sidebar and No Sidebar
The default setting ( in the Customizer ) for the single post includes the right hand sidebar. If the sidebar is removed, like it is on this post, then the content container is narrowed for easier reading.
Single posts container without sidebar are resized by this CSS:
body.no-sidebar .site-content max-width: 720px; /* Adjust the size to suit */ margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;
Options to remove the Sidebar on a post by post basis can be done using either the disable elements module or the layout module:
Layout Metabox Overview
Layout Element Overview
Page Heros – Header Elements
The Hero Headers are built using the Elements module. Volumes Hero Headers are covered here:
Page and Post Heroes
Magazine Grid – Front Page
A custom WP Show Posts Grid displaying 5 posts. More details on creating your own list for this grid and the ones used in content are covered here …… WWWW ……
The Header Element contains just the WP Show Posts Shortcode. And requires these two Element Classes: wpsp-grid wpsp-card
Single Post
The single post uses template tags for dynamically displaying the Post Title, Category, Date and Author. The Post Title is set as the H1 and it uses the featured image for its background.
Background Image Inset Shadow
To improve readability an inset shadow is cast on to the background image. This uses the Element Classes field. To add the shadow to a new page header just add the overlay class in that field. Likewise you can remove it from this Header Element to disable the shadow.
Archives Header
This simple header places the archive title above the secondary navigation.
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8 Best Free WordPress Themes of 2020 (Chosen by Experts)
If you’re starting your blog on a budget, a free WordPress theme is a great way to keep costs down.
The problem?
There are literally thousands of free WordPress themes to sort through. And when you search for guidance on Google, you’re greeted with articles offering dozens (or hundreds) of free WordPress theme options.
Let’s be honest:
You don’t need a list of dozens (or hundreds) of free WordPress themes. There’s not enough time in the day to review them all, and most of them sound the same anyway.
No, what you need is a small list of themes that have been vouched for and vetted by people who know what they’re talking about.
And you need that list to be broken down in a way that makes it easy for you to choose the theme that best fits your needs.
In short, you need the post you’re reading right now.
We asked 11 influential WordPress experts and bloggers the following, open-ended question:
“What is the best free WordPress theme for bloggers?”
They were allowed to pick up to two themes.
Here are the results:
The Best Free WordPress Themes of 2020
Astra by Brainstorm Force
Writee by Scissor Themes
GeneratePress by Tom Usborne
Neve by Themeisle
Reykjavik by WebMan Design
Cali by aThemes
Didi Lite by Anariel Design
OceanWP by OceanWP
1. Astra by Brainstorm Force
A Look at Astra (in 50 Words or Less)
Astra (affiliate link) is a popular multipurpose theme that offers a lightweight, SEO-friendly foundation that you can build into your own unique design via a set of simple, customization options. No coding is required.
The TL;DR for Astra
7 Votes Of our 11 experts, 7 chose Astra in our survey.
1+ Million Active Installs There are more than 1 million active installations of the Astra theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given Astra an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Astra
The Astra theme is perfect for someone who’s getting started with blogging. Not only can you easily control the look and feel of the blog through the settings in the WordPress Customizer; but you can also import a complete starter site for free using the Astra Sites plugin. This can get you up and running in minutes.
Brad Morrison, Founder of GoWP
I’m a big fan of keeping things as simple and as fast as possible and the default “out of the box” Astra experience aligns with my own ethos perfectly. As a theme author I was pleasantly surprised at how many sensible defaults they had adopted meaning I think I spent less time setting this blog up than any other in recent memory!
Colm Troy, Co-founder of Create and Code
The free version comes with a lot of flexibility, it’s very well coded and the team behind it is great at support. It also works perfectly with WordPress’ new block editor as well as Beaver Builder and the Elementor page builder, so it’s a great option no matter how you build your content.
Nick Adams, COO at WP Buffs
Sure, [Astra] may not be the snazziest theme out there in it’s “out of the box” form, but it’s lightweight and gives you a great platform to build upon.
Want to get started right now? Install the theme, activate, make a few tweaks and get your blog out there. So, you can start writing today! Then, once you’re ready, you can grab the add-ons to the theme and customize it further.
Adam Connell, Founder of Blogging Wizard
Last One:
Astra is one WordPress theme that has been on my radar for a while. We are actually moving ShoutMeLoud from Genesis to Astra for a few reasons:
The code is super clean and it’s one of the well-developed themes.
With over 200,000+ installs, it is one of the best free WordPress themes in the repository.
It works with Elementor Pro, LearnDash, EDD and few other popular extensions that we use all the time.
Harsh Agrawal, Founder of ShoutMeLoud
In case you missed it, Harsh Agrawl is moving his website to Astra, so his comments are more of a testimonial than a review. That’s how big a fan he is of the theme.Astra also received votes from Karol Krol and Daan Tol. We’ll have more from them later.
Key Features of Astra
Responsive design with numerous page layouts
Lots of customization options in the native WordPress Customizer (these let you control your theme’s design without needing any special technical knowledge)
Multipurpose – use it for any type of site, blogs included
Lightweight, responsive layouts for mobile devices
Works great with drag-and-drop page builders like Elementor or Beaver Builder (learn more in our in-depth breakdown of the best Elementor themes)
One of the most popular free WordPress themes, with more than 200,000 active installations
Compatible with the Gutenberg block editor
SEO optimized for search engines
Translation ready
User-friendly theme with intuitive dashboard options
Custom widgets and widget areas, 700+ Google fonts, social icons, custom backgrounds, and numerous color options
WooCommerce support for business websites with e-commerce stores
Active Facebook discussion group to learn tips and tricks
Retina ready
WPML compatible
5-star rating on over 1,600 reviews at WordPress.org
Final Thoughts on Astra
If you want a free, lightweight theme that excels at customization and performance, Astra is a great choice.
Download Astra for Free
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2. Writee by Scissor Themes
A Look at Writee (in 50 Words or Less)
Writee is a clean theme that puts the focus on your writing, along with a spot for a bold, full-width featured image.
The TL;DR for Writee
3 Votes Of our 11 experts, 3 chose Writee in our survey.
10k Active Installs There are more than 10,000 active installations of the Writee theme.
4.7 Rating Users have given Writee an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Writee
My recommended free WordPress theme for bloggers is Writee by Scissor Themes. This theme has a clean and modern design that is simple enough to work for all sorts of blogs. It’s very easy to set up, making it ideal for beginners. It comes with a range of widgets that bloggers will need, such as an ‘About Me’ widget and social widget.
Katie Keith, Co-founder of Barn2 Media
Writee is a free blogging theme found in the WordPress Repository, meaning it was built using the highest coding practices. It will work for all types of blogging sites, is easy to customize using the Live Customizer, and can easily be translated into the language of your choice if needed. Though there is room for more advanced customizations when it comes to the layout, sidebars, and navigation menus, Writee is perfect out-of-the-box and is suitable for even the most novice of bloggers.
Devesh Sharma, Founder of WPKube
There are a lot of excellent free blogging themes out there, but one standout is Writee by Scissor Themes. It has striking visuals, a lot of customization potential, and some other neat features.
Charlie Livingston, Founder of aThemes
Key Features of Writee
Responsive design with responsive themes
Clean, minimal looks
Bold featured images (that’s where the “striking visuals” come from)
Multiple blog archive options – list or grid view
Customization via the native WordPress Customizer
Full-width or boxed slider
WooCommerce compatibility for e-commerce stores
Final Thoughts on Writee
Writee is a great option if you want something that’s going to look great right out of the box. This contrasts with Astra and some of the other free WordPress themes on this list, where you’re expected to put in a little elbow grease to make them your own.
With Writee, you just activate it and start writing.
Download Writee for Free
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3. GeneratePress by Tom Usborne
A Look at GeneratePress (in 50 Words or Less)
GeneratePress is another popular option that shares the same philosophy as Astra. That is, it’s a lightweight chameleon that you can adapt to any niche or need.
In performance tests, GeneratePress usually ends up at the top of the pack, which is great if you want your blog to load fast. Beyond that, it also comes with over-the-top good support.
The TL;DR for GeneratePress
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose GeneratePress in our survey.
300k Active Installs There are more than 300,000 active installations of the GeneratePress theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given GeneratePress an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About GeneratePress
Tom Usborne (the owner/creator of GeneratePress) is very helpful on [the support forum]. I could solve all my problems just by searching in the support forum. He also gives some great tips for using plugins that go very well with his theme (Code Snippets, Simple CSS). This way of working kept my theme vanilla so that I can always update without having to worry. For a non-coder like me – that’s the dream.
Daan Tol, Owner of WPLift
Key Features of GeneratePress
Super lightweight and performance optimized (under 30 kb)
Tons of customization options in the native WordPress Customizer
Compatible with the Gutenberg block editor
One of the best free responsive WordPress themes, with a great mobile design
Excellent code quality
Integrates well with all major page builders, including Elementor and Beaver Builder
WooCommerce compatible for e-commerce stores
5-star rating on over 800 reviews at WordPress.org
Final Thoughts on GeneratePress
Like Astra, GeneratePress will look pretty basic when you first install it. However, the magic of this theme is the many options in the WordPress Customizer that let you build it into the exact look you want.
If you’re willing to put in some time, you can create the theme of your dreams, and it will all be powered by a lightweight, performance-optimized foundation.
Finally, as Daan mentioned, the theme’s developer, Tom Usborne, offers amazing support if you ever need a helping hand.
Download GeneratePress for Free
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4. Neve by Themeisle
A Look at Neve (in 50 Words or Less)
Neve (affiliate link) is a lightweight theme that’s optimized to work with the new WordPress block editor (also known as the Gutenberg editor). It’s also on the list of the most popular free WordPress themes at WordPress.org, which means that, although it’s new, it’s getting a lot of traction.
While you certainly can customize Neve to suit your needs, it looks more “polished” out of the box, and it also comes with a variety of pre-built demo sites that you can import with just a few clicks. This is great for users who want an online presence with minimal fuss.
The TL;DR for Neve
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Neve in our survey.
100k Active Installs There are more than 100,000 active installations of the Neve theme.
4.8 Rating Users have given Neve an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Neve
If you’d rather get a theme that looks great out the box and simply works without necessarily needing to dive through various settings panels, use Neve. It gives you a modern, beautiful design that’s also built with performance in mind. Plus, it’s the top 10 most popular free theme in the official theme directory at WordPress.org. What more could you need?
Karol Krol, Heads Content at Themeisle
Key Features of Neve
Responsive design
Built to work well with the new WordPress block editor
One-page design
Customization options in the real-time WordPress Customizer
Mega menu support
Importable demo sites
WooCommerce compatible for online shops
Final Thoughts on Neve
As Karol highlighted, Neve makes a great option if you want something that’s going to look great as soon as you install it. If you like the default looks, you can just install it and start writing. Or, if you want to switch things up, but don’t want to redesign things yourself, you can also import one of the pre-built demo sites by clicking a few buttons.
Download Neve for Free (affiliate link)
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5. Reykjavik by WebMan Design
A Look at Reykjavik (in 50 Words or Less)
Reykjavik brands itself as a free business theme for WordPress, but it’s got a great look that can just as easily be adapted to blogging or other niches.
As the name suggests, you get a very “Nordic” feel to the styling.
(Basically, if you like Ikea, you’ll probably like this WordPress theme!)
The TL;DR for Reykjavik
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Reykjavik in our survey.
3k Active Installs There are more than 3,000 active installations of the Reykjavik theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given Reykjavik an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Reykjavik
Reykjavik is a fresh, lightweight theme that features minimalist style. It is therefore a great fit for blogging and portfolio type websites.
Marko Segota, Co-founder of Anariel Design
Key Features of Reykjavik
Responsive design
Great-looking WordPress blog post layout with space for a full-width featured image
Accessible by default – passes WCAG 2.0 level AA and Section 508 requirements
Customization via the native WordPress Customizer
One-click demo content import
Compatible with all major page builder plugins
Final Thoughts on Reykjavik
Reykjavik is another option that will give you a great-looking site from the second you install it. The clean styling also does a great job of highlighting your content, and will satisfy your love of Nordic style more than an ALLEMANSRÄTTEN meatball.
(Those are the meatballs at Ikea, if you’re not familiar.)
Note: While the earlier screenshot highlights Reykjavik’s business-focused homepage, I’d recommend you click through to the demo because the blog page has a great full-width layout that really puts the focus on your content. You can see one of the sample blog posts here.
Download Reykjavik for Free
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6. Cali by aThemes
A Look at Cali (in 50 Words or Less)
With its focus on visual imagery, Cali makes a great option for fashion, lifestyle, travel, personal blogs, and anyone looking for a magazine theme.
Beyond its looks, Cali also builds in some other helpful features for bloggers, like a newsletter integration (via the MailChimp for WordPress plugin), dedicated spots for social media icons at both the top and bottom of your page, and space to bring in your Instagram feed (via the WP Instagram Widget plugin).
The TL;DR for Cali
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Cali in our survey.
1k Active Installs There are more than 1,000 active installations of the Cali theme.
3.0 Rating Users have given Cali an average rating of 3.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Cali
(I) also recommend our own Cali theme. It has plenty of cool options for bloggers – including a posts carousel, a wide selection of fonts to choose from, and social media integration.
Charlie Livingston, Founder of aThemes
Key Features of Cali
Responsive design
Full-width posts carousel at the top of the screen
Lots of spots to showcase your featured images/visuals
Customization via the native WordPress Customizer
Built-in social follow buttons (two different locations)
WooCommerce compatible for online stores
Integrations for MailChimp for WordPress and WP Instagram Widget (the theme recommends that you install both of these plugins)
Final Thoughts on Cali
Cali’s looks are best suited for lifestyle, fashion, or travel blogs…or really just any niche with a heavy focus on imagery. Beyond that, it does a good job of integrating social media into its design, which, if you’re active on social media, is another big benefit to choosing this theme.
Download Cali for Free
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7. Didi Lite by Anariel Design
A Look at Didi Lite (in 50 Words or Less)
If you want something minimal that will put the focus on your strong words, Didi Lite is a great free option that has one of the simplest looks on this list. The theme offers plenty of white space and unique typography options that will help your site stand out.
As the “lite” in the name suggests, there’s also a premium version that you can purchase if you decide you’d like more layouts and customization options in the future.
The TL;DR for Didi Lite
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Didi Lite in our survey.
700+ Active Installs There are more than 700 active installations of the Didi Lite theme.
4.5 Rating Users have given Didi Lite an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Didi Lite
Didi Lite is a modern blogging theme, built mobile first, that offers sleek layout and beautiful typography. With its minimalistic design it brings readers’ focus to what really matters: the content.
Marko Segota, Co-founder of Anariel Design
Key Features of Didi Lite
Responsive design
Minimal looks with plenty of white space
Multiple front page options to display your latest blog posts
Beautiful typography
Demo content
Built to work well with Elementor (and other page builders)
Final Thoughts on Didi Lite
With its minimal design, Didi Lite makes a great option for both freelancers who focus on written content, as well as fashion or lifestyle blogs (because you also get the option to display large featured images).
It’s also another good option if you want a theme that looks “polished” as soon as you install it.
Download Didi Lite for Free
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8. OceanWP by OceanWP
A Look at OceanWP (in 50 Words or Less)
OceanWP is another free theme that follows the chameleon principles of Astra and GeneratePress. Once again, that means it’s a flexible foundation that you can build into your dream blog theme.
Like Astra and Neve, OceanWP also offers some free demo sites that you can import if you don’t want to customize your design from scratch.
The TL;DR for OceanWP
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose OceanWP in our survey.
600k Active Installs There are more than 600,000 active installations of the OceanWP theme.
4.9 Rating Users have given OceanWP an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About OceanWP
I like the set of options OceanWP has for the headers. It has so many well-designed options out of the box. Plus the free extensions are awesome. [The free extensions] offer you a lot of (customizable) control on your website.
Daan Tol, Owner of WPLift
Key Features of OceanWP
Responsive design
Multipurpose and flexible looks
Uses the native WordPress Customizer for customization
Pre-built importable demo sites
Offers a number of free extensions
Lots of different header image options
Built to work well with popular WordPress page builders
WooCommerce compatible for small businesses with online shops
Active on 300,000+ sites
5-star rating on over 2,100 reviews at WordPress.org
Final Thoughts on OceanWP
OceanWP has a lot of similarities to GeneratePress and Astra, but it’s a little more focused on offering design and functionality flexibility, rather than just acting as a lightweight canvas. For example, you’ll find official free extensions for social sharing, sticky headers, and more that you won’t get with Astra or GeneratePress.
Download OceanWP for Free
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Free WordPress Themes: Frequently Asked Questions
Before we wrap up, let’s look at a few common questions we hear from readers regarding free WordPress themes. Questions like:
Free WordPress Themes vs Premium Themes: Is There a Difference?
How Much are Premium WordPress Themes?
What’s the Difference Between Free WordPress Themes and Free WordPress Page Templates?
Can I Use a WordPress Theme if I’m not on WordPress?
How do I Find WordPress Themes?
1. Free WordPress Themes vs Premium Themes: Is There a Difference?
When it comes to free WordPress themes vs premium WordPress themes, there are a lot of misconceptions out there.
Have you seen people write stuff like “premium themes are coded better than free themes”? Or “premium themes offer better designs”? How about “premium themes load faster than free themes”? Or even “premium themes are more secure than free themes”?
As someone who makes his living in the WordPress space, let me tell you that none of that is true. It’s just impossible to make those generalizations based solely on a theme’s price tag.
Free themes are code.
Premium themes are code.
You can have perfectly coded free themes and poorly coded premium themes. You can have well-maintained free themes, and premium themes that haven’t been updated in years. And, of course, the opposite can also be true.
What’s more, many themes are both free and premium. For example, the Astra theme that came so highly recommended comes in both a free and a premium version, and the “core” theme is exactly the same between each. The code doesn’t suddenly become “better” when you crack open your wallet, right?
Long story short:
There’s not a single inherent difference between free themes vs premium themes and there’s no reason you need to feel compelled to use a premium WordPress theme.
So if you absolutely love a free WordPress theme, it comes from a quality developer who maintains it, and it does everything you need it to already, just use it and be happy!
That doesn’t mean premium themes have no benefits
If you noticed above, you’ll see I used phrases like “inherent difference.” That’s because I wanted to hedge my bets a little bit. 🙂
There is, of course, a reason why premium themes exist, and it might turn out that a premium theme actually is a better option for your unique situation, especially as your blog starts growing.
Even if you start with a free WordPress theme, here are some reasons to consider going Pro in the future:
Better support: While some developers offer basic forum support for their free themes, paying for a premium theme usually means you’ll get at least 6-12 months of premium support. If you’re the kind of person who likes to reach out for help, this might be a reason to go Pro.
More features: While it’s not true in all cases, a lot of developers will lock up more advanced theme features beyond a Pro version (like more customization options, landing pages, contact forms, additional blog layout options, unlimited colors and color schemes, parallax effects, custom headers, homepage sliders, different post formats, built on advanced frameworks like Twitter’s Bootstrap, etc.). This is true for Astra, GeneratePress, OceanWP, and others. Sometimes, paying for those features is worth it.
Ongoing updates: When a developer is earning income from a theme, they have a bigger incentive to continue updating and improving that theme. This increases the chance that your theme’s developer continues to pay attention (this is what Nick Adams was talking about with the Astra theme).
2. How Much are Premium WordPress Themes?
Because each developer sets their own prices, there’s a lot of variation in how much premium WordPress themes cost.
However, on average, you’ll usually spend around $60 for most premium WordPress themes. A few examples:
The premium version of Astra sits right at $59
Hestia Pro and ShopIsle Pro each cost $69 annually
Many of the top premium themes that you’ll find at ThemeForest are in the $59 to $69 range
Typically, that price also comes with one year of support and updates for your theme. After that first year, you can continue to use your theme on your site, but you will need to pay again if you wish to continue receiving support and updates.
3. What’s the Difference Between Free WordPress Themes and Free WordPress Page Templates?
Many people use these terms interchangeably, but they are very different. A WordPress theme controls the design of your entire website. A WordPress page template controls the layout for a specific page (or specific pages) within your website — e.g. your contact page, your individual blog posts, etc.
In short, if someone tells you they’re looking for “free WordPress templates” or the like, they probably mean themes.
4. Can I Use a WordPress Theme if I’m not on WordPress?
No, WordPress themes are for websites that use WordPress as its CMS (content management system).
If you’re using Wix, Blogger, or a different blogging platform, you won’t be able to use WordPress themes for your website’s design.
5. How do I Find WordPress Themes?
If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect WordPress theme after our list, here are some tips for other spots where you can find WordPress themes.
For free WordPress themes, your best bet is to use the official WordPress.org theme directory.
Beyond just generally being a huge collection of free WordPress themes, another benefit is that every theme listed in the directory has to go through a basic code review process.
While this process is not foolproof for eliminating all issues, it does mean that any theme you find at WordPress.org is at least going to be free from any major errors or problems and coded to a minimum level of quality.
For premium WordPress themes, Smart Blogger typically recommends Astra Pro (affiliate link). However, you’ll have no shortage of options. Browse around, read reviews, and test as many demos as you can.
Free Bonus: More Expert Quotes(unabridged PDF with every insight shared by our experts)
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So, What’s the Best Free WordPress Theme?
That will depend on your particular needs and situation.
Based on the feedback from our experts, Astra leads the pack. But any of the free WordPress themes mentioned in this post are great options.
Take each one for a test drive.
See which one fits your website like a glove.
And be sure to let us know in the comments section which one you like best.
The post 8 Best Free WordPress Themes of 2020 (Chosen by Experts) appeared first on Smart Blogger.
from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/free-wordpress-themes/
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GeneratePress
A simple multipurpose theme that mostly fits corporate and business websites. It has a clean and minimalist look, a full-width header, a widgetized footer, and various post formats. GeneratePress theme has a blog-style layout and a shop section. Preview Link Download Link
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8 Best Free WordPress Themes of 2019 (Chosen by Experts)
If you’re starting your blog on a budget, a free WordPress theme is a great way to keep costs down.
The problem?
There are literally thousands of free WordPress themes to sort through. And when you search for guidance on Google, you’re greeted with articles offering dozens (or hundreds) of free WordPress theme options.
Let’s be honest:
You don’t need a list of dozens (or hundreds) of free WordPress themes. There’s not enough time in the day to review them all, and most of them sound the same anyway.
No, what you need is a small list of themes that have been vouched for and vetted by people who know what they’re talking about.
And you need that list to be broken down in a way that makes it easy for you to choose the theme that best fits your needs.
In short, you need the post you’re reading right now.
We asked 11 influential WordPress experts and bloggers the following, open-ended question:
“What is the best free WordPress theme for bloggers?”
They were allowed to pick up to two themes.
Here are the results:
The Best Free WordPress Themes of 2019
Astra by Brainstorm Force
Writee by Scissor Themes
GeneratePress by Tom Usborne
Neve by Themeisle
Reykjavik by WebMan Design
Cali by aThemes
Didi Lite by Anariel Design
OceanWP by OceanWP
1. Astra by Brainstorm Force
A Look at Astra (in 50 Words or Less)
Astra is a popular multipurpose theme that offers a lightweight, optimized foundation that you can build into your own unique design via a set of simple, customization options. No coding is required.
The TL;DR for Astra
7 Votes Of our 11 experts, 7 chose Astra in our survey.
300k Active Installs There are more than 300,000 active installations of the Astra theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given Astra an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Astra
The Astra theme is perfect for someone who’s getting started with blogging. Not only can you easily control the look and feel of the blog through the settings in the WordPress Customizer; but you can also import a complete starter site for free using the Astra Sites plugin. This can get you up and running in minutes.
Brad Morrison, Founder of GoWP
I’m a big fan of keeping things as simple and as fast as possible and the default “out of the box” Astra experience aligns with my own ethos perfectly. As a theme author I was pleasantly surprised at how many sensible defaults they had adopted meaning I think I spent less time setting this blog up than any other in recent memory!
Colm Troy, Co-founder of Create and Code
The free version comes with a lot of flexibility, it’s very well coded and the team behind it is great at support. It also works perfectly with WordPress’ new block editor as well as Beaver Builder and Elementor, so it’s a great option no matter how you build your content.
Nick Adams, COO at WP Buffs
Sure, [Astra] may not be the snazziest theme out there in it’s “out of the box” form, but it’s lightweight and gives you a great platform to build upon.
Want to get started right now? Install the theme, activate, make a few tweaks and get your blog out there. So, you can start writing today! Then, once you’re ready, you can grab the add-ons to the theme and customize it further.
Adam Connell, Founder of Blogging Wizard
Last One:
Astra is one WordPress theme that has been on my radar for a while. We are actually moving ShoutMeLoud from Genesis to Astra for a few reasons:
The code is super clean and it’s one of the well-developed themes.
With over 200,000+ installs, it is one of the best free WordPress themes in the repository.
It works with Elementor Pro, LearnDash, EDD and few other popular extensions that we use all the time.
Harsh Agrawal, Founder of ShoutMeLoud
In case you missed it, Harsh Agrawl is moving his website to Astra. That’s how big a fan he is of the theme.
Astra also received votes from Karol Krol and Daan Tol. We’ll have more from them later.
Key Features of Astra
Responsive design
Lots of customization options in the native WordPress Customizer (these let you control your theme’s design without needing any special technical knowledge)
Multipurpose – use it for any type of site, blogs included
Lightweight and performance optimized
Works great with page builders like Elementor or Beaver Builder
One of the most popular free WordPress themes, with more than 200,000 active installations
Compatible with the Gutenberg block editor
Pre-built importable demo sites
WooCommerce support
Active Facebook discussion group to learn tips and tricks
5-star rating on over 1,600 reviews at WordPress.org
Final Thoughts on Astra
If you want a free, lightweight theme that excels at customization and performance, Astra is a great choice.
Download Astra for Free
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2. Writee by Scissor Themes
A Look at Writee (in 50 Words or Less)
Writee is a clean theme that puts the focus on your writing, along with a spot for a bold, full-width featured image.
The TL;DR for Writee
3 Votes Of our 11 experts, 3 chose Writee in our survey.
30k Active Installs There are more than 30,000 active installations of the Writee theme.
4.8 Rating Users have given Writee an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Writee
My recommended free WordPress theme for bloggers is Writee by Scissor Themes. This theme has a clean and modern design that is simple enough to work for all sorts of blogs. It’s very easy to set up, making it ideal for beginners. It comes with a range of widgets that bloggers will need, such as an ‘About Me’ widget and social widget.
Katie Keith, Co-founder of Barn2 Media
Writee is a free blogging theme found in the WordPress Repository, meaning it was built using the highest coding practices. It will work for all types of blogging sites, is easy to customize using the Live Customizer, and can easily be translated into the language of your choice if needed. Though there is room for more advanced customizations when it comes to the layout, sidebars, and navigation menus, Writee is perfect out-of-the-box and is suitable for even the most novice of bloggers.
Devesh Sharma, Founder of WPKube
There are a lot of excellent free blogging themes out there, but one standout is Writee by Scissor Themes. It has striking visuals, a lot of customization potential, and some other neat features.
Charlie Livingston, Founder of aThemes
Key Features of Writee
Responsive design
Clean, minimal looks
Bold featured images (that’s where the “striking visuals” come from)
Multiple blog archive options – list or grid view
Customization via the native WordPress Customizer
Full-width or boxed slider
WooCommerce compatibility
Final Thoughts on Writee
Writee is a great option if you want something that’s going to look great right out of the box. This contrasts with Astra and some of the other free WordPress themes on this list, where you’re expected to put in a little elbow grease to make them your own.
With Writee, you just activate it and start writing.
Download Writee for Free
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3. GeneratePress by Tom Usborne
A Look at GeneratePress (in 50 Words or Less)
GeneratePress is another popular option that shares the same philosophy as Astra. That is, it’s a lightweight chameleon that you can adapt to any niche or need.
In performance tests, GeneratePress usually ends up at the top of the pack, which is great if you want your blog to load fast. Beyond that, it also comes with over-the-top good support.
The TL;DR for GeneratePress
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose GeneratePress in our survey.
100k Active Installs There are more than 100,000 active installations of the GeneratePress theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given GeneratePress an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About GeneratePress
Tom Usborne (the owner/creator of GeneratePress) is very helpful on [the support forum]. I could solve all my problems just by searching in the support forum. He also gives some great tips for using plugins that go very well with his theme (Code Snippets, Simple CSS). This way of working kept my theme vanilla so that I can always update without having to worry. For a non-coder like me – that’s the dream.
Daan Tol, Owner of WPLift
Key Features of GeneratePress
Super lightweight and performance optimized (under 30 kb)
Tons of customization options in the native WordPress Customizer
Compatible with the Gutenberg block editor
One of the best free responsive WordPress themes, with a great mobile design
Excellent code quality
Integrates well with all major page builders, including Elementor and Beaver Builder
WooCommerce compatible
5-star rating on over 800 reviews at WordPress.org
Final Thoughts on GeneratePress
Like Astra, GeneratePress will look pretty basic when you first install it. However, the magic of this theme is the many options in the WordPress Customizer that let you build it into the exact look you want.
If you’re willing to put in some time, you can create the theme of your dreams, and it will all be powered by a lightweight, performance-optimized foundation.
Finally, as Daan mentioned, the theme’s developer, Tom Usborne, offers amazing support if you ever need a helping hand.
Download GeneratePress for Free
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4. Neve by Themeisle
A Look at Neve (in 50 Words or Less)
Neve is a lightweight theme that’s optimized to work with the new WordPress block editor (also known as the Gutenberg editor). It’s also on the list of the most popular free WordPress themes at WordPress.org, which means that, although it’s new, it’s getting a lot of traction.
While you certainly can customize Neve to suit your needs, it looks more “polished” out of the box, and it also comes with a variety of pre-built demo sites that you can import with just a few clicks.
The TL;DR for Neve
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Neve in our survey.
30k Active Installs There are more than 30,000 active installations of the Neve theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given Neve an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Neve
If you’d rather get a theme that looks great out the box and simply works without necessarily needing to dive through various settings panels, use Neve. It gives you a modern, beautiful design that’s also built with performance in mind. Plus, it’s the top 10 most popular free theme in the official theme directory at WordPress.org. What more could you need?
Karol Krol, Heads Content at Themeisle
Key Features of Neve
Responsive design
Built to work well with the new WordPress block editor
One-page design
Customization options in the real-time WordPress Customizer
Mega menu support
Importable demo sites
WooCommerce compatible
Final Thoughts on Neve
As Karol highlighted, Neve makes a great option if you want something that’s going to look great as soon as you install it. If you like the default looks, you can just install it and start writing. Or, if you want to switch things up, but don’t want to redesign things yourself, you can also import one of the pre-built demo sites by clicking a few buttons.
Download Neve for Free
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5. Reykjavik by WebMan Design
A Look at Reykjavik (in 50 Words or Less)
Reykjavik brands itself as a free business WordPress theme, but it’s got a great look that can just as easily be adapted to blogging or other niches.
As the name suggests, you get a very “Nordic” feel to the styling.
(Basically, if you like Ikea, you’ll probably like this WordPress theme!)
The TL;DR for Reykjavik
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Reykjavik in our survey.
2k Active Installs There are more than 2,000 active installations of the Reykjavik theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given Reykjavik an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Reykjavik
Reykjavik is a fresh, lightweight theme that features minimalist style. It is therefore a great fit for blogging and portfolio type websites.
Marko Segota, Co-founder of Anariel Design
Key Features of Reykjavik
Responsive design
Great-looking blog post layout with space for a full-width featured image
Accessible by default – passes WCAG 2.0 level AA and Section 508 requirements
Customization via the native WordPress Customizer
One-click demo content import
Compatible with all major page builder plugins
Final Thoughts on Reykjavik
Reykjavik is another option that will give you a great-looking site from the second you install it. The clean styling also does a great job of highlighting your content, and will satisfy your love of Nordic style more than an ALLEMANSRÄTTEN meatball.
(Those are the meatballs at Ikea, if you’re not familiar.)
Note: While the earlier screenshot highlights Reykjavik’s business-focused homepage, I’d recommend you click through to the demo because the blog page has a great full-width layout that really puts the focus on your content. You can see one of the sample blog posts here.
Download Reykjavik for Free
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6. Cali by aThemes
A Look at Cali (in 50 Words or Less)
With its focus on visual imagery, Cali makes a great option for fashion, lifestyle, and travel blogs.
Beyond its looks, Cali also builds in some other helpful features for bloggers, like a newsletter integration (via the MailChimp for WordPress plugin), dedicated spots for social media follow buttons at both the top and bottom of your page, and space to bring in your Instagram feed (via the WP Instagram Widget plugin).
The TL;DR for Cali
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Cali in our survey.
1k Active Installs There are more than 1,000 active installations of the Cali theme.
3.0 Rating Users have given Cali an average rating of 3.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Cali
(I) also recommend our own Cali theme. It has plenty of cool options for bloggers – including a posts carousel, a wide selection of fonts to choose from, and social media integration.
Charlie Livingston, Founder of aThemes
Key Features of Cali
Responsive design
Full-width posts carousel at the top of the screen
Lots of spots to showcase your featured images/visuals
Customization via the native WordPress Customizer
Built-in social follow buttons (two different locations)
WooCommerce compatible
Integrations for MailChimp for WordPress and WP Instagram Widget (the theme recommends that you install both of these plugins)
Final Thoughts on Cali
Cali’s looks are best suited for lifestyle, fashion, or travel blogs…or really just any niche with a heavy focus on imagery. Beyond that, it does a good job of integrating social media into its design, which, if you’re active on social media, is another big benefit to choosing this theme.
Download Cali for Free
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7. Didi Lite by Anariel Design
A Look at Didi Lite (in 50 Words or Less)
If you want something minimal that will put the focus on your strong words, Didi Lite is a great free option that has one of the simplest looks on this list. The theme offers plenty of white space and unique typography options that will help your site stand out.
As the “lite” in the name suggests, there’s also a premium version that you can purchase if you decide you’d like more layouts and customization options in the future.
The TL;DR for Didi Lite
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose Didi Lite in our survey.
700+ Active Installs There are more than 700 active installations of the Didi Lite theme.
4.5 Rating Users have given Didi Lite an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About Didi Lite
Didi Lite is a modern blogging theme, built mobile first, that offers sleek layout and beautiful typography. With its minimalistic design it brings readers’ focus to what really matters: the content.
Marko Segota, Co-founder of Anariel Design
Key Features of Didi Lite
Responsive design
Minimal looks with plenty of white space
Multiple front page options to display your latest blog posts
Beautiful typography
Demo content
Built to work well with Elementor (and other page builders)
Final Thoughts on Didi Lite
With its minimal design, Didi Lite makes a great option for both text-heavy blogs, as well as fashion or lifestyle blogs (because you also get the option to display large featured images).
It’s also another good option if you want a theme that looks “polished” as soon as you install it.
Download Didi Lite for Free
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8. OceanWP by OceanWP
A Look at OceanWP (in 50 Words or Less)
OceanWP is another free theme that follows the chameleon principles of Astra and GeneratePress. Once again, that means it’s a flexible foundation that you can build into your dream blog theme.
Like Astra and Neve, OceanWP also offers some free demo sites that you can import if you don’t want to customize your design from scratch.
The TL;DR for OceanWP
1 Vote Of our 11 experts, 1 chose OceanWP in our survey.
300k Active Installs There are more than 300,000 active installations of the OceanWP theme.
5.0 Rating Users have given OceanWP an average rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
What Our Experts Say About OceanWP
I like the set of options OceanWP has for the headers. It has so many well-designed options out of the box. Plus the free extensions are awesome. [The free extensions] offer you a lot of (customizable) control on your website.
Daan Tol, Owner of WPLift
Key Features of OceanWP
Responsive design
Multipurpose and flexible looks
Uses the native WordPress Customizer for customization
Pre-built importable demo sites
Offers a number of free extensions
Lots of different header options
Built to work well with popular WordPress page builders
WooCommerce compatible
Active on 300,000+ sites
5-star rating on over 2,100 reviews at WordPress.org
Final Thoughts on OceanWP
OceanWP has a lot of similarities to GeneratePress and Astra, but it’s a little more focused on offering design and functionality flexibility, rather than just acting as a lightweight canvas. For example, you’ll find official free extensions for social sharing, sticky headers, and more that you won’t get with Astra or GeneratePress.
Download OceanWP for Free
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Free WordPress Themes: Frequently Asked Questions
Before we wrap up, let’s look at a few common questions we hear from readers regarding free WordPress themes. Questions like:
Free WordPress Themes vs Premium Themes: Is There a Difference?
How Much are Premium WordPress Themes?
What’s the Difference Between Free WordPress Themes and Free WordPress Templates?
Can I Use a WordPress Theme if I’m not on WordPress?
How do I Find WordPress Themes?
1. Free WordPress Themes vs Premium Themes: Is There a Difference?
When it comes to free WordPress themes vs premium WordPress themes, there are a lot of misconceptions out there.
Have you seen people write stuff like “premium themes are coded better than free themes”? Or “premium themes offer better designs”? How about “premium themes load faster than free themes”? Or even “premium themes are more secure than free themes”?
As someone who makes his living in the WordPress space, let me tell you that none of that is true. It’s just impossible to make those generalizations based solely on a theme’s price tag.
Free themes are code.
Premium themes are code.
You can have perfectly coded free themes and poorly coded premium themes. You can have well-maintained free themes, and premium themes that haven’t been updated in years. And, of course, the opposite can also be true.
What’s more, many themes are both free and premium. For example, the Astra theme that came so highly recommended comes in both a free and a premium version, and the “core” theme is exactly the same between each. The code doesn’t suddenly become “better” when you crack open your wallet, right?
Long story short:
There’s not a single inherent difference between free themes vs premium themes and there’s no reason you need to feel compelled to use a premium WordPress theme.
So if you absolutely love a free WordPress theme, it comes from a quality developer who maintains it, and it does everything you need it to already, just use it and be happy!
That doesn’t mean premium themes have no benefits
If you noticed above, you’ll see I used phrases like “inherent difference.” That’s because I wanted to hedge my bets a little bit. 🙂
There is, of course, a reason why premium themes exist, and it might turn out that a premium theme actually is a better option for your unique situation, especially as your blog starts growing.
Even if you start with a free WordPress theme, here are some reasons to consider going Pro in the future:
Better support: While some developers offer basic forum support for their free themes, paying for a premium theme usually means you’ll get at least 6-12 months of premium support. If you’re the kind of person who likes to reach out for help, this might be a reason to go Pro.
More features: While it’s not true in all cases, a lot of developers will lock up more advanced features beyond a Pro version (like more customization options). This is true for Astra, GeneratePress, OceanWP, and others. Sometimes, paying for those features is worth it.
Ongoing updates: When a developer is earning income from a theme, they have a bigger incentive to continue updating and improving that theme. This increases the chance that your theme’s developer continues to pay attention (this is what Nick Adams was talking about with the Astra theme).
2. How Much are Premium WordPress Themes?
Because each developer sets their own prices, there’s a lot of variation in how much premium WordPress themes cost.
However, on average, you’ll usually spend about $60 for most premium WordPress themes. For example, the premium version of Astra sits right at $59, and many of the premium themes that you’ll find at ThemeForest also adopt this pricing.
Typically, that price also comes with one year of support and updates for your theme. After that first year, you can continue to use your theme on your site, but you will need to pay again if you wish to continue receiving support and updates.
3. What’s the Difference Between Free WordPress Themes and Free WordPress Templates?
Many people use these terms interchangeably, but they are very different. A WordPress theme controls the design of your entire website. A WordPress template controls the layout for a specific page (or specific pages) within your website — e.g. your contact page, your individual blog posts, etc.
In short, if someone tells you they’re looking for “free WordPress templates” or the like, they probably mean themes.
4. Can I Use a WordPress Theme if I’m not on WordPress?
No, WordPress themes are for websites that use WordPress as its CMS (content management system).
If you’re using Wix, Blogger, or a different blogging platform, you won’t be able to use WordPress themes for your website’s design.
5. How do I Find WordPress Themes?
If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect WordPress theme after our list, here are some tips for other spots where you can find WordPress themes.
For free WordPress themes, your best bet is to use the official WordPress.org theme directory.
Beyond just generally being a huge collection of free WordPress themes, another benefit is that every theme listed in the directory has to go through a basic code review process.
While this process is not foolproof for eliminating all issues, it does mean that any theme you find at WordPress.org is at least going to be free from any major errors or problems and coded to a minimum level of quality.
For premium WordPress themes, Smart Blogger typically recommends Elegant Themes (affiliate link) and Avada (affiliate link). However, you’ll have no shortage of options. Browse around, read reviews, and test as many demos as you can.
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So, What’s the Best Free WordPress Theme?
That will depend on your particular needs and situation.
Based on the feedback from our experts, Astra leads the pack. But any of the free WordPress themes mentioned in this post are great options.
Take each one for a test drive.
See which one fits your website like a glove.
And be sure to let us know in the comments section which one you like best.
About the author: Colin Newcomer is a freelance writer for hire with a background in SEO and affiliate marketing. He helps clients grow their web visibility by writing primarily about digital marketing and WordPress. In his spare time, he travels and curates graphic t-shirts.
The post 8 Best Free WordPress Themes of 2019 (Chosen by Experts) appeared first on Smart Blogger.
from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/free-wordpress-themes/
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A guide to styling and making Dispatch your own
New Post has been published on https://test.juristique.org/actualite/styling
A guide to styling and making Dispatch your own
Dispatch is a Magazine style blog for your new website. Each of its features have been designed and built using GeneratePress and WP Show Posts. As expected of a Flint Skin Site it uses Custom CSS. At over 350 lines it is recommended, but not necessary, to move the Additional CSS to a Child Theme style sheet. So lets get onto making it your own.
WP Show Posts
Without WP Show Posts plugin, this Site wouldn’t exist. Another awesome product from Tom Usborne, WP Show Posts does exactly what the title says. Anywhere and everywhere in the case of Dispatch. So much so there is a dedicated page to explain its uses here.
Social Icons – Desktop
The Lightweight Social Icons widget has been added to the Header Widget. It only displays on Desktop as the Widget has the hide-on-mobile and hide-on-tablet-classes.
Social Icons – Tablet and Mobile
They are also displayed in the Slideout Navigation. Using the Slideout Widget.
Social Icon Colors
Colors are changed within the widget.
Pagebuilders
Can I use a page builder with Dispatch?
Yes, you can if you wish. The only rule is that you need to use the Default Template for your Pages and Posts. To create a full width blank canvas template then follow these steps:
Appearance > Elements > New Layout
Disable Content Title
Set Page Builder Container to Contained or Full Width
Set Display Rules to the Pages you need a Blank canvas on.
How do I change colors?
The majority of Volumes colors are controlled by the Customizer. There are some Elements that are part of Volumes features that require CSS. This article covers where to make those changes: https://gpsites.co/dispatch/how-to-change-the-custom-colors/
Logo and Site Identity
Dispatch does not have a logo, just the Site Title. You can change the Site Branding or add a logo via the Customizer > Site Identity
Page Layout – Container Margin
Dispatch uses the Customizer > Layout > Container > Separate Containers option. To maintain horizontal alignment the left and right padding has been removed on the desktop.
The following CSS adds left and right margin to offset the padding.
@media (min-width: 769px) body margin: 0 30px;
Navigation
Dispatch uses the Primary Navigation for the main menu and Secondary Navigation displays post categories.The majority of their layout and styling is controlled by the Customizer. With these exceptions:
Menu underline on hover
The animated underline is set using this CSS. Changing the color of the bar is covered here:
https://gpsites.co/dispatch/how-to-change-the-custom-colors/
Secondary Navigation Location
The Secondary Nav is placed using a Hook Element as opposed to the Customizer, which is set to No Navigation. This is so the secondary navigation is dynamically placed. You will notice it doesn’t appear on the posts. It also appears below the Header Element on the front page.
More information be found on that here:
https://gpsites.co/dispatch/hook-elements/
I want to use the Customizer to control the navigation
Simply delete ( or Quick Edit > Set to Draft and Save ) the Magazine Grid header element to revert to the normal customizer controls.
Blog
The majority of the Blog settings are controlled within the Customizer > Layout > Blog. Of course it wouldn’t be a Flint Skin site if some custom customization wasn’t done. These comprise of re-ordering the post meta layout and fixing the height of the featured image.
To maintain a consistent style the Blog posts have been styled to match the WP Show Posts Plugin. You can read more here:
https://gpsites.co/dispatch/wp-show-posts/
Single Post – Sidebar and No Sidebar
The default setting ( in the Customizer ) for the single post includes the right hand sidebar. If the sidebar is removed, like it is on this post, then the content container is narrowed for easier reading.
Single posts container without sidebar are resized by this CSS:
body.no-sidebar .site-content max-width: 720px; /* Adjust the size to suit */ margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;
Options to remove the Sidebar on a post by post basis can be done using either the disable elements module or the layout module:
https://docs.generatepress.com/article/layout-metabox-overview/
https://docs.generatepress.com/article/layout-element-overview/
Page Heros – Header Elements
The Hero Headers are built using the Elements module. Volumes Hero Headers are covered here:
https://gpsites.co/dispatch/page-and-post-heroes/
Magazine Grid – Front Page
A custom WP Show Posts Grid displaying 5 posts. More details on creating your own list for this grid and the ones used in content are covered here …… WWWW ……
The Header Element contains just the WP Show Posts Shortcode. And requires these two Element Classes: wpsp-grid wpsp-card
Single Post
The single post uses template tags for dynamically displaying the Post Title, Category, Date and Author. The Post Title is set as the H1 and it uses the featured image for its background.
Background Image Inset Shadow
To improve readability an inset shadow is cast on to the background image. This uses the Element Classes field. To add the shadow to a new page header just add the overlay class in that field. Likewise you can remove it from this Header Element to disable the shadow.
Archives Header
This simple header places the archive title above the secondary navigation.
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