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The Best Theme Frameworks for WordPress

by Brenda Barron on Apr 11, 2019

Did you know WordPress is one of the most popular website-building tools on the internet?

Not only is it incredibly easy to design a fantastic digital presence via WordPress, but the platform also offers a host of themes and plugins developed to make your website more attractive too.

While there are many things to love about WordPress, the idea we’re going to focus on today is what makes your website look incredible: theme frameworks.

Theme frameworks for WordPress are code libraries that form the basis of your theme. From that library, you can build out and customize your website to suit your needs.

So, which are the best theme frameworks for 2019? Here, we’re going to explore our favorite options, including:

  • Genesis
  • Gantry
  • Photocrati
  • Divi
  • WPZoom
  • Builder

1. Genesis

The header for the Genesis Framework, showing its pricing and a small blurb about it

Created by the StudioPress team, Genesis is one of the best-known theme frameworks for WordPress. It powers some of the most famous themes in the digital world and offers a clean and easy-to-use code that makes updating your site easy.

StudioPress delivers a fantastic experience from start to finish with Genesis. You’ll find a high-level of security built into the framework for peace of mind. There are also regular updates, so you can ensure that criminals aren’t able to make their way into your system.

Genesis also offers a wide range of customization options for footers, headers, widgets and more.

And, because Genesis is so popular, you’ll find many Genesis child themes available for download to customize your site even further. These themes build upon the Genesis framework to give you a stunning site that’s customized to your exact needs.

Imagely has some of the best Genesis child themes for WordPress on the market today. Their sleek, modern designs forefront your images, which makes them perfect for photographers.

Imagely Genesis child themes for WordPress

Try an Imagely Genesis child theme today.

Perhaps best of all, Genesis is compatible with Envira Gallery for all of your gallery-building needs.

2. Gantry

A soft green to purple gradient behind the download button for Gantry

Gantry is an impressive WordPress theme framework delivered by the experts at Rocket Theme. This well-known development agency makes developing your image easier, regardless of whether you’re on WordPress, Joomla, or a completely different system.

With a visual menu editor and powerful layout manager to enjoy, Gantry is excellent for beginners in the development world. Even if you don’t know a lot about coding, you’ll learn how to build amazing themes in less time than you’d think. Additionally, there are 38 different design layouts to choose from to get you started.

Gantry is attractive, easy to use, and it’s compatible with a number of fantastic WordPress plugins.

3. Photocrati

For a theme framework designed specifically with photographers in mind, choose Photocrati by Imagely, the makers of NextGEN Gallery plugin. Built by one of the most trusted names in WordPress for independent photographers, the Photocrati theme framework includes the most important features for a photography website.

This framework includes built-in eCommerce and proofing features that integrate with Stripe and Paypal and even includes Automated Sales Tax. The framework also boasts right-click protection, which prevents users from downloading your online images, and one year of both updates and email support.

And even though it’s packed with features, Photocrati doesn’t take more than a few minutes to get set up on your website. You can apply hundreds of easy customizations to the pre-made themes to give your site a completely unique look.

3. Divi by Elegant Themes

A staircase spiraling down into water behind the download Divi button

If you’ve found yourself searching for pre-made WordPress themes that are compatible with Envira before, you’ve probably come across the Elegant Themes website. Spend a little time exploring, and you’ll find Divi, one of the best-known theme frameworks for WordPress.

Like many of the best libraries available today, this framework comes with an impressive drag-and-drop builder, and a wide selection of pre-built templates to choose from. Additionally, the features of Divi mean that it’s great to use with a host of website projects. Even if you only want to make some basic customizations to your site, Divi could be the solution.

Divi is compatible with Envira, and it comes with the opportunity to join the Elegant Themes club for access to various high-quality themes and plugins.

4. WPZoom

A news website loaded onto a desktop and a mobile phone sitting beside it, showing off WPZoom's responsive features

WPZoom is a simple but effective WordPress Framework created by a team of expert developers. The company created this framework to power their commercial WordPress templates. The idea is that when you choose one of the immersive WPZoom themes, you’ll be able to find all the coding and functionality of the framework layered underneath.

Switching from one theme to another is incredibly easy with WPZoom, which is excellent if you’re looking for a way to refresh your image every once in a while. However, we recommend not changing things up too often, or you could end up confusing your audience.

The good news is that whatever theme you choose with WPZoom, you can rest assured that your site will be built on strong and reliable foundations. The user-friendly control panel is a bonus too!

5. Themify

A simple purple background behind a quick blurb about Themify

Finally, the last option on our list of theme frameworks for WordPress is Themify. The thing that makes this theme developing tool so impressive is the fact that you don’t need to know much about coding to start using it.

Many elements of your page can be dragged and dropped into place, including galleries, maps, tabs, sliders, and a lot more. There’s also the option to add numerous widgets to your page layouts – including the widgets connected to plugins that you already have installed on WordPress. More than 90,000 customers currently rely on Themify to design stunning WordPress websites, with responsive imagery and excellent usability. The package even comes with themes to suit different industries.

What do you think about our favorite theme frameworks for WordPress? Let us know in the comments, and remember to check us out on Facebook and Twitter.

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