Free vs. Premium WordPress Theme

Posted by on Apr 13, 2010 in Blog, Web Design, Website Consultant, WordPress Theme | 1 comment

free or paid themes

So, you’re setting up a WordPress website and discover all the free themes available out their. Many of them look really good and the “Price is right”. Then you discover a few websites that sell some premium themes. These look even better than the free themes!

So, why are some themes free and some you have to pay for?

Free Themes:

Free themes are great, if you get them from a legitimate website. Most of those sites, I find, are pitching both free and paid themes.

  1. The free ones are usually sponsored by outside companies and links can be placed into the footers of the themes. The footers also contain some “special” code that will not allow you to delete the sponsored link. If you try to remove it, the theme will usually shut down entirely.
  2. The problem with some free themes is the links in the footers can be “bad” links that go to websites that you may not want to link to. Sure, the theme may look fantastic, but that’s the whole idea. It’ll entice you to use it for there gain.
  3. Another problem is the coding in the files. Sometimes they contain hidden code in the header and other theme files. If they’re hidden, then you know what that means…
  4. Lastly, there is no support for these themes. If you don’t know how to use HTML and CSS, you aren’t going to be able to get any answers for your numerous questions should you run into trouble.

Paid Themes:

Premium paid WordPress themes are such a blessing! My web design packages INCLUDE a premium theme. If someone wants to use a free one instead, I make them aware of the points I made above.

  1. The companies that provide premium themes usually charge between $20-$80. This includes signing up on their website at the time of sale and being provided with support in the form of a forum with detailed information regarding your theme purchase.
  2. Administration panels in WordPress usually contain extra tools to be able to adjust and customize your website to your liking with minimal to no HTML or CSS knowledge.
  3. Premium theme creators spend extra time to make sure their themes are compatible with WordPress upgrades and plug-in upgrades. They want to make sure their product is versatile and working without any bugs.
  4. With all the focused attention on each premium theme, the designs and functionalities are  SUPERB! Some more than others…
  5. There are a few “Systems” out there too. They are a framework system for WordPress that can have many different “child themes” applied to them. This creates the possibility to switch around the design and style of your site with minimal effort and zero HTML structural failures.

Here are a few of my go to websites for Premium themes:

Before you buy a Premium theme, make sure it has the set up and functions that you’ll need for your business or personal site. Check to see if it’s set up for a blog or as a CMS. (best if both) I always make sure it has a “Full Width” page template with it.

Do you like the Free ones or the Premium ones?

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One Comment

  1. car December 28, 2010

    Taking time and real effort to make a good post. Cool!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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