Top 7 WordPress Frameworks

If you have a WordPress site, opting for a WordPress framework can provide you with many more design customization options.

This includes changing the layout, features, and overall design of your site to make it exactly the way you want it to be.

In this article, we will explain what a WordPress framework is and how it differs from a WordPress theme. We will also list the top 12 WordPress frameworks and explain their pros and cons to help you make the right choice.

What is a WordPress framework?

WordPress frameworks are libraries of code that can be used as the basis for .

They work like a framework and include the basic features and design details needed to build a WordPress theme. Frameworks can speed up your site development process as you don’t need .

There are two main types of WordPress theme frameworks: in-house frameworks and standalone frameworks.

Brands use in-house frameworks to develop their own themes. For example, TeslaThemes uses the , while WPZoomthat uses the .

On the other hand, a standalone framework is a free or premium option that anyone can use, like or .

Before delving into the features of the WordPress frameworks, it is necessary to understand how the .

A child theme is a copy that inherits the attributes of its parent theme. It keeps the framework folder separate, so that when a new one comes out, you don’t lose all your work. Child themes can also serve as a backup in case of development errors.

The WordPress Codex has if you want to learn more about WordPress theme development.

How is a WordPress framework different from a WordPress theme?

The main difference between a WordPress framework and a WordPress theme is the customization options. As theme frameworks are primarily intended to make website development easier, their code libraries and tools are better suited for extensive modifications.

For its part, WordPress themes are ready to be used from the beginning. But while users can modify the design, customization is limited as they have fewer options and code tools.

Advantages and disadvantages of using a WordPress framework

If you still don’t know if you should use a WordPress framework, consider the following pros and cons:

Advantage:

• Lots of built-in features– From extensive code libraries and custom hooks to pre-built widgets and drag-and-drop functionality that make development quick and easy.
• more efficient: They are built using best programming practices and are reviewed by professional contributors, so they tend to be more secure and well programmed.
• Large community and many resources– The most popular theme frameworks have a wide range of developer networks behind them that you can turn to for advice and support.
• Ready for the future– Customization already done will not be obsolete with each new kernel update. This allows developers to make changes without losing their work.

Disadvantages:

• Learning curve and limitations: Custom code can take a while to master and have limitations that can only be overridden with patches or complex tweaks.
• Price: With so many features, they don’t usually come cheap, especially if you need support and updates on a priority basis.
• deprecated features– As your theme relies heavily on your framework code, some features are at risk of becoming obsolete if your framework is not up to date with the latest WordPress update.

Best frameworks for WordPress

To help you find the most suitable WordPress framework for your site, we have compiled a list of the best options on the market. Here is our pick of the best WordPress theme frameworks with their pros and cons:

1.

Framework Statistics:

• Featured Features– Lots of child theme options, widgets and design tutorials.
• Ideal for: Theme developers looking for a speed-focused framework.
• Price: $59.95 per license, $360 per year (Pro).
• pros: minimalist, clean code for fast performance, good support.
• Cons: expensive, steep learning curve.

The Genesis Framework is one of the most popular WordPress theme frameworks. While it’s not as feature-rich in comparison as the other options on this list, it stands out for its efficiency. This framework is well coded, secure, and SEO-friendly, both on PC and mobile.

The Genesis Framework offers a bunch of beautiful child themes to build upon, which can be installed with a single click. The framework’s theme customizer allows users to change colors, elements, and other design attributes in real time.

This WordPress framework offers three main page templates to choose from: File, Archive, blog page Y Default. There are several selections of widgets to enhance the functionality of these pages. You can also extend the functionality using .

Another advantage of using this WordPress framework is that it is well supported by developers. It is and has one.

However, the Genesis Framework lacks styling options. For example, color change can only be done at the site level instead of individual parts unless you install the plugin.

Also, the default minimal style makes most complex customizations difficult without advanced programming, making the Genesis Framework unsuitable for novice users.

You can pay a single fee of $59.95 to get the framework and a theme with which to use this tool. Or, you can subscribe to the Genesis Pro plan for $360 a year to access all the theme options, more designs and support.

two.

Framework Statistics:

• Featured Features: version control, automatic updates, can also be used to create plugins.
• Ideal for: Theme developers looking for a free and highly extensible WordPress framework.
• Price: free.
• pros: open source, 300+ child theme options, highly extensible.
• Cons: no priority support, learning curve is very steep.

If you are looking for an open source framework, you can go for the Cherry Framework. It is built on the latest version of , which guarantees fully responsive websites. This tool can also be used to develop .

A notable feature of the Cherry Framework is its modular system. It allows its simultaneous use in multiple projects, keeping all changes updated with the history of the latest version. Users can also create multiple backups and restore them at any time.

The open source nature of the Cherry Framework makes it very extensible and less restrictive. Users can contribute to the tool’s code repository at and participate directly in the development of this framework.

There are also that allow users to add content and elements without having to code from scratch. These shortcodes can be inserted directly into the visual editor. Some examples of shortcodes include parallax image settings, additional CSS classes, and style presets.

Users can choose from templates like FAQ, Services, Our team Y Testimonials as input types. There are also plenty of widgets to add features like showing ads, social links, and post categories.

The framework panel is organized into the categories General, Logo & Favicon, Navigation, Slider Settings, Blog, Briefcase Y Footer. Despite the simple partition, the control panel can take some getting used to, as it’s quite clunky and cluttered.

Also, there is no dedicated support. If you need help, you can ask in the .

Also note that while the framework itself is free, the demo themes are not. In general, you have to pay between 25 and 35 dollars per license to buy a .

3.

Framework Statistics:

• Featured Features: drag and drop, site-wide design elements, reusable custom sections.
• Ideal for: Beginners looking for an easy-to-use visual framework.
• Price: $89 a year either $249 for the license.
• pros– Intuitive interface, rich features, templates have advanced code editor with clear design.
• Cons: The sheer number of features can be overwhelming for beginners, custom shortcodes cannot be used with other page builders.

Divi by Elegant Themes offers an all-in-one solution for WordPress site design. Although it describes itself as a page builder, Divi allows you to customize your WordPress site from scratch.

It comes with tons of customization features like 40+ design elements and 800 layouts. Every week, items like icons, royalty-free stock photos, and illustrations are added. You can also enhance the look of your website with dynamic animations, background videos, color filters, and various hover styles.

Thanks to its extensive features, Divi can create all kinds of themes and websites, be it a landing page or an eCommerce platform. Business websites, in particular, can benefit from the numerous .

The advanced code editor is easy to use. It has valuable features like syntax highlighting, color labels, auto-completion, and a well-documented code library.

If you need to reuse sections or custom elements, use the function Divi Library of the framework. Additionally, Divi offers fully responsive editing, so your website edits and effects will display correctly on all devices and browsers.

Although the number of features available may overwhelm some users, customer support is available 24 hours a day via live chat and email.

Elegant Themes also has a and a with useful resources.

If you are interested in purchasing this framework, there are two pricing options to consider: $89 a year either $249 for the license.

Four.

Framework Statistics:

• Featured Features: style manager, layout editor, block builder.
• Ideal for: Website owners who want to design mobile-friendly WordPress websites and themes without having to code.
• Price: $80 a year (Foundation Pack), $150 a year (Developer Pack), $197 a year (All Access Pass).
• pros– Fully responsive design, 100+ page builder themes to choose from.
• Cons: the…