7 Best WordPress Themes For Bloggers (Updated 2023)

Choosing the best WordPress theme for your blog isn’t as easy as it sounds.

To find the perfect option, you need to consider several factors, like features, performance, and pricing.

This post reviews the seven best WordPress themes with these things in mind.

Let’s get started.

Best WordPress Themes for Bloggers (in 2023)

1. Kadence Theme

Allow me to start with the WordPress theme that I personally use.

Kadence Theme from KadenceWP is a comprehensive, versatile, and easy-to-use WordPress theme. It lets you construct a professional-looking website in no time — thanks to its site demos, Blocks Toolkit, and more.

I chose Kadence because it allows me to tweak and fine-tune my pages’ design within seconds. And, no matter how many customizations you implement, rest assured that your site will remain optimized for performance.

Kadence WP Features

Kadence Blocks — First and foremost, Kadence Blocks is the secret sauce that makes Kadence WP a top-tier theme. It allows you to integrate animations, tabs, dynamic content, forms, and more without writing a single line of code.
Minimal Starter Templates — Kadence WP’s library of minimal templates can provide you with the perfect blank canvas for all your creative ideas. There are templates for personal blogs, membership sites, eCommerce stores, business blogs, and eLearning sites.
Compatible with popular page builders and tools — Kadence WP fully supports Elementor, Beaver Builder, WooCommerce, LifterLMS, and a bunch of other third-party apps. In short, it can help you create future-proof websites that will stay relevant and competitive for years.
Site building tools baked in — Create the site you envision with the built-in header builder, footer builder, global typography settings, and custom layouts. You can also easily add buttons, social icons, sticky headers, and scroll to top buttons.
Free version — Enjoy some of the best features that Kadence WP has to offer without paying a single cent. This will help you decide whether to go all-in on Kadence WP Pro.

Kadence Theme Pricing

You can buy Kadence WP Pro for as little as $59 per year. If you want, you have the option to buy the lifetime bundle for a one-time payment of $799.

Get 10% Discount on KadenceWP Products

Why I recommend Kadence Theme

Kadence WP works seamlessly with WordPress’s Gutenberg Editor.

Despite how easy it is to use, Kadence Theme achieves high customizability and flexibility. That’s mostly thanks to Kadence Blocks, which is definitely a game-changer as far as DIY WordPress themes go.

In fact, you no longer need to invest in a separate page builder once you understand how Kadence WP works.

Overall, I highly recommend Kadence WP to new bloggers who don’t want to worry about site performance, appearance, and SEO.

Click here to explore the Kadence theme!

2. GeneratePress

To me, GeneratePress is the definition of a “lightweight WordPress theme.”

I also consider it to be one of the best eCommerce WordPress themes in the market. That’s mainly because of the user experience benefit of having a fast theme and the WooCommerce module.

All of GeneratePress’s site templates are built to be simple and minimalistic. As a result, they all work buttery smooth and deliver a great experience to users.

GeneratePress Features

Performance-focused theme — GeneratePress is built for performance with security, stability, and SEO in mind. All these lead to a compelling and user-friendly experience, which will directly improve conversions on your website.
Keep your WordPress ecosystem lean and clean — GeneratePress’s features are integrated as “modules,” which you can activate and deactivate individually. That will help you maintain a clean WordPress ecosystem, maximizing both speed and stability.
Built-in section editor — You can modify the layout of your GeneratePress pages without the help of a third-party page builder. The less you rely on third-party plugins, the more streamlined and reliable your WordPress website can be.
Free version — GeneratePress offers a free version with all the base features you need to launch a competitive website. This allows you to test the theme yourself while investing more in other essentials, like hosting and an SSL certificate.

There’s a lot more to love about GeneratePress. For its complete lineup of features, you can read my full review here.

GeneratePress Pricing

If you don’t want the free version, you can purchase GeneratePress for $49.95.

Why I recommend GeneratePress

GeneratePress not only provides top-notch performance to your users. The theme is also incredibly easy to work with.

You can easily modify your website’s typography, colors, layouts, and more. It also integrates well with page builders like Beaver Builder and Elementor.

Plus, it’s perfect for bloggers who want a solid foundation for their competitive web design ideas.

That’s all because of GeneratePress’s clean code, plugin compatibility, SEO-friendliness, and support for custom hooks.

Click here to explore the GeneratePress theme!

3. Astra

Astra is a popular WordPress theme that will help you create professional and vibrant websites fast.

For me, one of its main selling points is the massive library of pre-built website demos.

These website demos are designed to work seamlessly with Elementor, Beaver Builder, Brizy, and the Gutenberg editor.

While most of Astra’s website demos look slightly heavy on visuals, the theme runs on well-optimized code.

In plain English, that means your blog will still have extremely fast page loading speeds.

Astra Features

Advanced website building features — With Astra, you don’t need a page builder to create sticky headers, advanced menus, custom sidebars, and more. These features are baked into the theme to kickstart your WordPress design and development efforts from day one.
Pro layouts — Build your web pages exactly how you like them with layouts like padded, fluid, boxed, and full-width. These layouts can emphasize the website elements you want your audience to see, be it your content, sidebar, or menus.
Full control over color and typography — Astra allows you to change the colors of headers, content, footers, and sidebars without any help from a page builder. This can be done from the WordPress theme customizer — something even beginners should be familiar with.
Pro WooCommerce features — Astra lets you build unique WooCommerce stores with sales bubbles, off-canvas sidebars, dropdown carts, infinite scrolling, and more. Smartly incorporating these features into your virtual storefront will definitely enhance your customers’ experience and increase sales.

Astra Pricing

Just like GeneratePress, Astra also has a free version that’s received well by the WordPress community.

For the premium version, the entry-level plan starts at $47 yearly or $249 for lifetime access.

Why I recommend Astra

Astra belongs to the upper echelon of WordPress themes when it comes to design features.

It allows you to build beautiful, professional-looking websites with minimum effort. That’s mostly thanks to its large collection of pre-built WordPress website demos.

I recommend Astra if you want to have an impressive WordPress website up and running fast.

Click here to explore the Astra theme!

4. OceanWP

I often compare OceanWP with Astra due to their similar feature sets.

OceanWP also offers a long list of website demos you can build your website with. One striking difference is that OceanWP’s templates lean more towards minimalism and flat design.

Of course, the difference between OceanWP and Astra is more than skin deep.

OceanWP may not have as many customization features as Astra. It is, however, hard-coded to deliver content to users in a quick, minimalistic, and mobile-friendly fashion.

OceanWP Features

SEO-friendly — OceanWP, along with its site demos, are created with the best SEO practices in mind. This will help you reach higher search engine rankings and generate more organic traffic.
Great page builder support — OceanWP works well with some of the best page builders available like Elementor, Thrive Architect, Visual Composer, and Beaver Builder. You can expect to work with these page builders without running into compatibility issues.
Useful extensions — Make the most out of OceanWP with extensions for popup login windows, Instagram feeds, cookie policy popups, and more. These extensions can help you create a unique and engaging experience for your audience.
Built-in eCommerce features — OceanWP goes well together with WooCommerce through features like “add to cart” buttons, product filters, and “quick view” windows. Again, these can help you create a unique experience that will help your audience make purchase decisions.

OceanWP Pricing

You can get OceanWP as an annual subscription service at $39 yearly or a $159 one-time purchase.

Why I recommend OceanWP

Whether or not you should go with OceanWP or Astra boils down to personal preferences.

Both offer an easy and convenient route to WordPress website development. It just so happens that OceanWP is substantially more affordable than Astra for new bloggers.

I, however, would personally go with Astra since it outperforms OceanWP in terms of speed right out of the box.

Click here to explore the OceanWP theme!

5. Schema

Schema by MyThemeShop is a WordPress theme designed to do one thing: help you rank well in search engines.

Of course, that means the theme is also built with quality code to ensure fast loading speeds.

Design-wise, however, let’s just say the theme will rely on your visual customizations to look top-notch.

Schema Features

Extremely fast — Schema’s clean code and modest design features make it an excellent WordPress theme for those who value website performance. This will have a positive effect on your website’s rankings and user experience factor.
Built-in ads manager — You won’t need a third-party ad management plugin for ad placements, which contributes to the theme’s small footprint. This is perfect for bloggers who want to monetize their WordPress website through ads.
SEO features — True to its name, Schema supports a variety of SEO features like built-in reviews, rich snippets, and algorithm-friendly code. There will be no need to purchase and learn a premium SEO plugin.
Miscellaneous features — Schema includes full support for Google Fonts, multiple languages, Elementor, and more. It also comes bundled with over 350 icons that help spice up your page content.

Schema Pricing

The full version of Schema is available through a MyThemeShop subscription or a one-time payment. It starts at $35 for one website or $99 if you prefer a MyThemeShop subscription.

Why I recommend Schema

Schema may not be the best-looking theme around. But for SEO-savvy bloggers, it’s the perfect blank canvas for creating high-ranking, profitable websites.

I recommend Schema for advanced bloggers who want to build from the ground up, especially for Elementor users.

The membership option also offers a ton of value through premium plugins. Some examples are Content Locker Pro, WP Review Pro, and WP Real Estate Pro.

Click here to explore the Schema theme!

6. Divi

Divi is a flexible WordPress theme and visual page builder rolled into one.

You don’t have to make a separate purchase for Elementor or any alternative.

By itself, Divi will allow you to create brilliant, fully customized websites without coding.

Divi will also help you save even more time with its huge library of pre-designed layouts.

They have something for everything, be it for fashion blogs, online stores, education websites, business websites, and so on.

Divi Features

Built-in drag and drop builder — The Divi page builder enables non-developers to create a stunning website using a drag-and-drop interface. You don’t need to spend hours learning and tweaking code to get the results you want.
Pre-built website elements — To reduce your plugin footprint, Divi comes with modules for elements like CTAs, sliders, forms, and testimonials. These website elements can be added to any page via the drag-and-drop builder.
Deep customization — Divi is one of the few themes that give you total control over everything right out of the box. This lets you achieve the specific look you want for your website within minutes.

Divi Pricing

Divi can only be acquired through an Elegant Themes membership, which starts at $70 yearly.

Why I recommend Divi

Divi is perfect for those who prefer a more cohesive WordPress ecosystem.

It’s for bloggers who don’t want to spend extra on page builders, form builders, social sharing widgets, and other plugins.

On the flip side, Divi isn’t ideal if you’re already invested in a product like Elementor or Visual Composer.

Click here to explore the Divi theme!

7. Genesis Framework

Genesis Framework is more than just a WordPress theme.

It is an open-source package with tools that can help beginners and veterans build unique websites from scratch.

Just bear in mind that Genesis depends on your original vision as a web designer.

The theme lets you utilize premium Genesis child themes, which come with a Genesis Pro subscription.

Genesis Framework Features

Build websites with reusable modules — Genesis Framework makes it easy to build a website from scratch using modules for featured posts, social icons, and more. These are like Divi extensions, which can be used without having to write code.
Professionally-designed page templates — With Genesis Framework, you can quickly create essential web pages with templates like archives, single posts, and author pages. These templates will save you a ton of time and allow you to focus on creating blog content sooner.
Different section layouts — Genesis Framework lets you create full-width sections, galleries, quotes, and custom content boxes with just your mouse. Using the right section layouts will allow you to emphasize pieces of information on your web pages.
Minimalistic design — The default Genesis Framework theme is as minimalistic as you can get while also being stylish and elegant. This results in a pleasant reading experience matched with fast loading speeds.
Custom StudioPress plugins — StudioPress also offers free plugins exclusively for Genesis Framework users, like Genesis Blocks, Simple Hooks, Simple Share, and more. These are powerful plugins specifically designed to help you bring out the best in Genesis Framework.

Genesis Framework Pricing

Genesis Framework is an open-source software that can be used for free. You can also purchase Genesis Pro to access 9 professionally-built child themes and premium features.

Genesis Pro costs $360 yearly.

Why I recommend Genesis Framework

Before anything else, Genesis Framework isn’t made for beginners who have no desire to learn WordPress website development.

If you want to get Genesis Framework, you should be prepared to learn the ropes of web design.

That’s also the reason why I highly recommend Genesis Framework.

It’s not made to make WordPress development a walk in the park. Rather, it pushes you to explore WordPress on your own while providing the tools to create something truly amazing.

Alternatively, you can buy Genesis Framework as a bundle with a pre-designed child theme.

Click here to explore the Genesis Framework!

Conclusion

There you have it — the top seven WordPress themes in terms of features, performance, and cost-effectiveness.

My advice for you is to take your time and try the free versions, if any, of these themes yourself.

When you’re done, come back and let me know about your experience. You can also leave suggestions and questions in the comments section below.

Good luck!

Article by

Ankit Singla

Ankit Singla is a full-time blogger, YouTuber, author, and public speaker. He founded and leads Master Blogging. With over 13 years of blogging expertise, he has assisted numerous aspiring bloggers in achieving their dreams of creating successful blogs.

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