{"id":25525,"date":"2020-04-03T08:15:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T13:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=25525"},"modified":"2020-04-01T13:15:50","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T18:15:50","slug":"how-find-good-free-wordpress-theme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/how-find-good-free-wordpress-theme\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find a Good Free WordPress Theme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the great things about WordPress is that you can create a professional website<\/a> without investing a ton of money. Beyond the cost of hosting and a domain name, you can build a site pretty much for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This makes WordPress a very attractive and affordable option for users who want to validate the success of their site before they start investing a ton of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the WordPress free library is massive, and not every theme is worth installing on your site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, a low-quality theme can end up doing more damage than good, and lead to poor website performance and even leave you open to security risks<\/a>. Still, you can avoid these risks by educating yourself on the steps you can take to find a high-quality free theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below we dive deep into how you can find the absolute best free WordPress theme for your needs, the risks you need to look out for, and how you can install and start customizing your shiny new theme.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"best<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Free vs Premium WordPress Themes: What’s the Difference, and Does It Matter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The focus of this post is on free WordPress themes, but it\u2019s still important to understand how the premium theme marketplace works and the main differences between free and premium themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free themes are easy to understand. They\u2019re an entirely free WordPress theme that you can install on your site and start customizing<\/a>. Usually, they aren\u2019t as feature-rich as a premium theme, but they can get the job done if you don\u2019t require an extensive set of features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premium themes<\/a> typically have a higher-quality design, and a much larger feature set. You\u2019ll also get access to a premium support team to help walk you through any website issues, and you get access to premium theme updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free themes are a great starting place for the majority of website owners. They\u2019re often easier to set up and give you the chance to experiment with WordPress without putting any money down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WordPress Security Tips: What Are the Risks Involved With a Free Theme?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Free themes are a great way to get started with WordPress for no money down. But, not all free themes are created equal. Sometimes using a free theme is more hassle than it\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the biggest risks that come with using a free WordPress theme: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Bad Code<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest downsides to a free theme is the code might not be high-quality. This means your site will be less secure, might not function properly, and it could leave you open to hacking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other issues with bad code include not being able to optimize your site for SEO, and it can be hard to customize. It can also lead to conflicts with other WordPress plugins and even the WordPress core itself. Issues like these can end up taking your site offline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Lack of Theme Support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lack of a dedicated support team can be an issue for some website owners. If you run into an issue with your site and don\u2019t have technical support to rely on, it can be difficult to fix your site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, you\u2019ll have to turn to Google and try to troubleshoot the issue yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond dedicated support, there also might be an issue with theme updates. Themes are updated regularly to patch for security holes, add new features, and ensure it stays compatible with the WordPress core. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, your theme might become outdated and unable to function with the current version of WordPress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Waste of Time\/Money<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you run into a bunch of issues with your theme like having to fix things yourself, or even recover from a hack, then you\u2019re going to be investing a lot of time and money into your site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of this could have been avoided by using a premium WordPress theme, or a free theme that has higher quality standards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Avoid Pirated Themes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes you\u2019ll find websites that allow you to download free versions of a premium theme. You must avoid these sites like the plague. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might seem like you\u2019re getting a great deal, but these themes are often infected with malware, ads, spammy links, and redirects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These can cause a ton of damage to your website and even your online reputation. If something seems like it\u2019s too good to be true, it probably is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Find a Safe Free WordPress Theme<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even with the risks mentioned above, using a free theme might still be a great choice for a lot of website owners. If you can get around the issue of not having a premium support team behind you, you can mitigate the other risks highlighted above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are two steps you should take before you install a free WordPress theme on your site: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Verify Your Theme Before Installing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before you install a free theme you\u2019ll want to make sure that installing the theme won\u2019t harm your site. Below we cover a handful of vendors that are known for producing quality themes, but if you\u2019ve already downloaded a free theme, then this section is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are all kinds of tools you can run your theme through that will check the legitimacy of the theme. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Themecheck<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"themecheck<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Themecheck<\/a> is an online tool that will scan your theme for any security issues and issues with code quality. It\u2019ll run your theme through a series of checks to see if there are any problems with the code, or if there are any elements that shouldn\u2019t be there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To use this tool, you’ll need to upload the zip file of the theme, and the tool will get to work. Once it\u2019s done scanning your theme you\u2019ll get a detailed report, along with warnings of any problems that it\u2019s found. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Exploit Scanner<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"exploit<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Exploit Scanner<\/a> is a WordPress plugin that will check for any malicious code. Once you install and activate this plugin it\u2019ll scan through your entire site, including any themes that you have installed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This plugin is very useful, beyond checking for any theme security risks, as it\u2019ll also search through your WordPress databases, posts, comments, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Theme Check<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"theme<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Theme Check<\/a> is another WordPress plugin that\u2019ll scan through any themes you have installed on your site. It\u2019ll run through a series of checks to make sure that your theme is up to the latest WordPress standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the theme you want to use fails any of the checks offered by the tools above, then it\u2019s a good idea to choose a different theme. The WordPress theme marketplace is so large you\u2019re guaranteed to find a high-quality and secure theme with similar features. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Download a Theme From a Reputable Source<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the easiest ways to ensure you\u2019re installing a quality theme is to download it from a reputable source. The origins of your theme are incredibly important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you download a theme from a reputable vendor you can ensure that it\u2019s up to the latest quality standards, doesn\u2019t have issues with malicious code, and will support you in your website creation goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some trusted websites for finding free WordPress themes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WordPress Theme Directory<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Here you\u2019ll find the largest collection of free WordPress themes. You can filter the themes by certain features, and every theme listed here has been tested by their internal team, so you\u2019ll know your theme is up to the latest WordPress standards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elegant Themes<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Elegant Themes offers two high-quality WordPress themes. The flagship theme Divi is one of the most flexible themes on the market today and can be used to build virtually any kind of website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

StudioPress<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

StudioPress is the company behind the Genesis framework. You\u2019ll also find a huge library of niche-specific child themes. They have a very strong reputation throughout the WordPress space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

iThemes<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

iThemes is another WordPress theme and plugin development company. They have a wide range of themes that can be used for virtually every niche and are all very high-quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re in the market for a free theme, then the WordPress Theme Directory will probably be your best bet. While, if you\u2019re looking for a premium theme, then any of the options mentioned above are great choices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What About the Free Theme That Come Installed With WordPress?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On a fresh installation of WordPress, you\u2019ll find a free theme that\u2019s already installed. This default theme<\/a> is created by the company Automattic, who is the company behind WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on when you installed WordPress, the theme should be called Twenty Nineteen or Twenty Twenty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"pre-installed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Twenty Twenty is a very high-quality theme and uses the WordPress block editor<\/a> to allow you to create custom website pages and layouts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"twenty<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If all you require is a basic WordPress blogging theme<\/a>, then this can be a great theme to start with. Most people will opt to go with a different theme, but it\u2019s high-quality and can support your site if you like the overall design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you love using the Gutenberg block editor, check out these 10 Free Gutenberg-Ready WordPress Themes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding the Best Free Theme for Your Industry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you begin your search for the best free theme you\u2019ll probably be overwhelmed with options. Keep in mind that there really isn\u2019t a 'best'\u009d theme, but instead, it\u2019s the 'best theme for your needs'\u009d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019re in the same industry as another website owner, you could have different overarching goals for your website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One great place to start in your theme search is Google. Just type in '[your niche] WordPress theme<\/em>'\u009d and you\u2019ll be able to find a series of post roundups that break down the best themes in the niche. We have many of these on the HostGator blog, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n