Paid Themes Vs. Free Themes for WordPress
The Advantages vs. Disadvantages of Paid Themes vs. Free Themes
There are some great free WordPress themes out there on the Internet – this is one of them. This particular theme was very easy to customize a few areas (namely the RSS and Email options) and it also has four choices for color schemes. However, there are many reasons why premium themes are often the way to go which this post does a great job of outlining.
In my opinion three of the most important reasons why I recommend and chose a Premium Theme (such as Thesis) is because:
- Ability to easily customize, especially the header, with minimal knowledge of HTML, CSS and PHP
- Lifetime updates and customer support (and often user forums)
- NO crazy promo links to some other site that I may or may not be interested in supporting
This post is, by no means, to say you must only work with a paid theme. However, just be aware that with limited knowledge of HTML, CSS and PHP you may quickly find yourself frustrated and ready to “throw in the towel” with a free theme.
Check out Thesis and check out some of these sites that have been built with Thesis for an idea of the variations of what can easily be done by a DIY WordPress user, such as yourself, with a premium theme.
- Lake Winnebago Vacation Rentals by Owner
- London, UK Hypnotherapist
- Kitty Hawk, NC Beach Buggies
- Appleton WI Masonry Contractor
- Marketing & Leadership: Justin McCullough (his site is “straight out of the Thesis box”)
- And, of course, my totally customized Social Media Virtual Assistant site
During the upcoming WordPress Workshop in Appleton, Wisconsin we will discuss in more detail and will explain why we chose a free theme for this particular site. (yes, we really do have a good reason!)
If you are already using WordPress for your personal or business website what are your thoughts as far as a free theme vs. a paid theme?
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Popular free WordPress themes can appear on thousands and thousands of blogs which, while themes that cost money tend to be slightly more unique since not everyone is able to download them freely.
Thesis I’ve heard has a very strong support community, but it’s worth noting that unfortunately not every premium theme comes with quality support. Make sure you do your research before buying.
Leland´s last blog ..Hurricane
Leland – you are correct on that point about the support. Do you have recommendations as to the best way someone could do their due diligence prior to purchasing a paid theme or is it best to speak to someone who has purchased a paid theme and get their opinion on support?
Free themes are so popular and they continue to get better and better. As a designer its almost frightening what they’re willing to giving away! But if you change your site around like a lot or even a little, or need any customization at all, Id have to agree, only a pro theme such as Thesis is gonna give you the control over wordpress you’ll need.
Due diligence for support, id say give em a call or write an email… see how long they take to respond!
Awesome post! I bet a lot of people are wondering.
Trisha´s last blog ..CSS Positioning
Trisha – you got it! Another great thing about custom, premium themes also allow for great customization. Free themes tend to be a dime a dozen and therefore can make your site look a lot like other sites.