After 15 years of building websites, I‘ve learned that finding the right WordPress theme shop can make or break your online presence.
Selecting a high quality theme sets the foundation for great design and user experience. But with thousands of themes out there, how do you pick the best one tailored for your needs?
In this detailed guide, I‘ll share my insider knowledge on what makes a good commercial theme shop, and the top providers available today.
Contents
Why Should You Buy From a Theme Shop?
Let‘s first look at why purchasing a premium theme from an established shop has advantages compared to using a free theme:
Well-Designed and Feature Packed Themes
Commercial theme shops invest heavily in design and development. Their themes follow the latest web standards and WordPress best practices. This results in high performance, security, SEO optimization, and ease of use.
Free themes often lack in these areas since they are created by solo developers without rigorous testing.
Regular Updates and Reliable Support
Reputable theme shops maintain and update their themes periodically. They fix bugs, offer patches, and add new features. This keeps your site running smoothly for the long-term.
You also get access to documentation and support in case you need help. With free themes, you are mostly on your own.
Options for Specific Niches
Shops like Elegant Themes, CSSIgniter, and ThemeIsle offer both multipurpose themes as well as niche-specific options tailored for businesses, restaurants, blogs, magazines, etc.
The designs and built-in functionality match the industry you are building a website for. This saves a lot of time and effort in customization.
Affordable Pricing
Many established shops offer all their themes for a single yearly fee. For example, Elegant Themes provides unlimited access to all 87+ themes and plugins for just $89 a year.
This is much more cost effective than paying a developer to build a custom theme which can cost thousands.
3 Tips to Pick the Right Theme Shop
Here are a few pro tips to consider when evaluating WordPress theme shops:
1. Focus on Design and User Experience
For most websites, the design and ease of use matter more than theme options.
Stay away from theme shops using excessive animations or trying too hard to impress. Simpler themes with clean layouts tend to look more professional.
Things to evaluate are color schemes, spacing, typography, clarity, and mobile friendliness. These impact user experience and conversion rates.
2. Understand the Differences Between Theme Types
Not all themes are made equal. Here are the two main types of themes available from shops:
Multi-Purpose Themes – A single versatile theme designed for use with different kinds of sites. For example, Astra which works well for blogs, businesses, agencies, portfolios, online stores, etc.
Niche-Specific Themes – Tailored themes built for specific industries. For instance, a restaurant theme would have sections for menus, reservations, locations, etc.
Choose the type fitting your website goals. Using a specialized theme gives you pre-built functionality but a multipurpose theme offers more flexibility.
3. Check Reviews and Ratings
Before buying from a theme shop, be sure to evaluate customer reviews. Platforms like Trustpilot allow users to post reviews based on their purchase experience.
High ratings on support quality, design, and code quality indicate a shop that takes customer success seriously. This gives you confidence in their offerings.
Negative reviews about bugs, lack of updates, minimal documentation or support are red flags to watch out for.
Top 10 WordPress Theme Shops (2022)
Now that you know what to look for in a theme shop, let‘s explore the best options available today:
1. Elegant Themes
Elegant Themes is my personal favorite and what I recommend to all my clients. A few reasons why:
- 87+ themes suitable for any website including Divi, Extra, and Bloom. New themes added periodically.
- Extremely affordable pricing starting at $89/year for all themes and plugins. Lifetime access option available.
- Top-notch support with very fast response times and detailed documentation.
- Divi builder included for drag and drop customization. Also works as standalone plugin.
- High-quality code and regular theme updates and improvements.
In terms of value for money, you won‘t find many theme shops beating Elegant Themes.
2. StudioPress
StudioPress offers professionally designed Genesis-powered themes. The Genesis framework is trusted by over 1 million websites.
Some key reasons to choose StudioPress:
- All themes built on robust Genesis code for performance and security.
- Niche-specific themes available for businesses, creatives, authors, restaurants, etc.
- Excellent documentation and tutorials to help you get started.
- Option for managed WordPress hosting via WP Engine.
- Reliable support team and frequent theme updates.
The combination of Genesis and tailored themes makes StudioPress a top choice for websites where quality code matters.
3. Astra
With over 600,000+ active installs, Astra is the most popular WordPress theme. Reasons for this include:
- Very lightweight and fast performance. Pagespeed score of 99/100.
- Lots of design customization options available within the theme.
- Starter site templates for blogs, businesses, agencies, online stores, restaurants, etc. One-click install.
- Works seamlessly with page builders like Elementor for full customization.
- Affordable pricing starting from $47/year for the Pro package.
Reliable speed and uptime along with flexibility makes Astra a great all-rounder theme.
4. Themify
Themify is well-known for its beautiful themes featuring the drag and drop Themify Builder. Reasons to choose Themify:
- Huge selection of multipurpose themes for all niches.
- 100+ pre-made site layouts and demos available.
- Themify Builder allows full customization without coding.
- Strong focus on performance and SEO optimization.
- Access all themes and Builder from $89/year.
For non-tech users who want an easy yet customizable theme, Themify is a top contender.
5. CSSIgniter
CSSIgniter is a reliable theme shop offering high-quality well-designed themes. Reasons to go with CSSIgniter:
- Great collection of themes for businesses, hotels, blogs, magazines, etc.
- Meticulously crafted themes with clean and professional designs.
- Good documentation and customer support.
- Easy to customize design and layout without coding.
- All themes available for $89/year.
For beautiful high-converting themes that are easy to customize, CSSIgniter is a safe choice.
6. ThemeIsle
ThemeIsle is popular for their free themes but also has advanced premium offerings. Reasons to choose them:
- Themes specially made for small businesses, restaurants, bloggers, etc.
- Top free themes (Hestia, Orfeo, Hemingway) also available as paid versions with more features.
- Site demos and one-click installation available.
- Integrates with Elementor and other page builders for customization.
- Affordable pricing starting from $69/year for single theme license.
For those looking for an easy-to-use optimized theme from a provider with a solid reputation, ThemeIsle delivers.
7. Graph Paper Press
Graph Paper Press has beautifully designed themes for creatives and artists. Reasons to select them:
- Themes for photographers, bloggers, small businesses.
- Bold and interactive designs that grab attention.
- Good design documentation and tutorials.
- eCommerce features to start selling your work online.
- All themes available for $99/year.
If you want a creative theme that helps your work shine, Graph Paper Press is worth exploring.
8. TeslaThemes
TeslaThemes offer advanced WordPress themes to take your site to the next level. Here‘s why to pick them:
- Niche themes for courses, memberships, coaching, digital products, etc.
- Drag and drop Tesla Builder for custom layouts.
- Conversion and security optimized themes.
- Fast loading performance with good scores.
- Affordable pricing starting from $59/year for single theme license.
If you need a feature-packed theme specially made for online courses or membership sites, TeslaThemes is a leading choice.
9. ThemeFusion
ThemeFusion is the team behind the popular Avada theme. Reasons to consider them:
- Avada is the #1 selling theme with over 1 million purchases.
- Powerful drag and drop Fusion Builder for customization.
- 900+ professionally designed templates.
- Works seamlessly with WooCommerce for online stores.
- Great documentation and tutorials.
For a theme shop that clearly understands user experience and conversion optimization, ThemeFusion is a market leader.
10. Array Themes
Array Themes offer flexible multipurpose themes great for any website. Reasons to choose them:
- 75+ niche demos available for one-click install.
- Built-in header and footer builders to customize your theme.
- SEO and speed optimized clean code.
- Excellent customer support for any issues.
- Affordably priced themes starting from $49.
If you want a versatile theme with top-notch support, Array Themes is a great choice.
Making Your Final Decision
As you can see, there are several great theme shops to choose from. Each has their strengths based on pricing, selection, features, design, customer support, and more.
Your specific criteria will depend on your website niche, business needs, and budget.
I recommend shortlisting 3-4 options that fit your requirements. Then browse their entire theme selection to pick the one that resonates most with your vision.
Many reputable theme shops also allow you to request a demo or preview before purchasing. Take advantage of this to test drive the theme and make an informed decision.
Most leading theme shops also offer a 30-day return window if you are not fully satisfied. So don‘t hesitate to request a refund if the theme is not the right fit.
Once you‘ve selected your theme, I have plenty of tips to help you customize it to match your brand. You can find those in my guide on how to edit your WordPress theme without coding.
I hope this detailed guide helps you find your ideal WordPress theme shop. Let me know if you have any other questions!
