28 Best WordPress Premium Themes: Does Cost Equal Quality?

When there are thousands of perfectly decent free WordPress themes around, why would you pay for one?

Why would you spend your hard-earned money on something you can get for nothing?

As the creators of both free and premium WordPress themes and plugins, we can appreciate both sides of the story.

The best price is definitely free, but we think the value offered by a premium theme far outweighs the cost.

Let us prove it as we share the 28 best WordPress premium themes money can buy in 2024.

We’ll also discuss:

• The benefits of WordPress premium themes
• Why it’s worth paying for quality
• Why using nulled themes may give you more than you bargained for

Let’s get to it!

Why We Think Premium Themes Are Worth Paying For

The short answer to that question is because quality is worth paying for.

The longer answer includes the many reasons we think a premium theme is a solid investment.

We think WordPress premium themes are worth paying for because:

• Quality – Aside from free Astra Starter Templates, you just don’t get the same design quality in a free theme that you do with a premium one. This is the main reason to buy a premium theme in our opinion.
• Customization – Premium themes are much easier to customize than free ones. You also get more design tools, custom headers, extensive WooCommerce features and better integration options.
• Regular updates – Premium themes will usually receive faster updates as they are able to afford a team of developers. In most of the cases, both free and premium users get immediate access to security fixes as they are released.
• Support – Premium users get priority support (within 24 hours here at Astra). Free users typically have to wait a little longer (2-3 days for Astra free users ) or figure things out themselves (looking at you Hello theme).
• Peace of mind – The peace of mind of full support, great documentation and the knowledge that there’s help available if something goes wrong is priceless!

Purchasing a premium WordPress theme buys peace of mind as well as the theme itself.

All those reasons are why we think it’s well worth paying for a WordPress premium theme!

28 Best Premium WordPress Themes

Here are what we consider the best premium WordPress themes around right now.

1. Astra

Astra is fast, user-friendly and comes with the full support of a team of dedicated experts.

Astra is fully compatible with popular page builders including Spectra, Elementor and others. It uses the latest SEO best practices, is fully responsive and has some of the best documentation and support in the industry.

What people think of Astra:

Astra also has some of the best premium website templates in the industry too.

They cover every niche, every type of business and all manner of uses. It’s no wonder over 1.6 million websites use Astra!

Here are just 3 of many premium Astra templates you can use:

Dentalist

John’s Fitness Hub

Sports Equipment Store

There are over 250 Starter Templates in all, with more being added all the time.

Each delivers a readymade website you can install and customize using the block editor or your favorite page builder.

Pros of Astra:

• Premium support and regular updates
• Over 250 professional quality templates
• Compatible with popular drag and drop page builders
• Easy to learn and to use
• Fastest loading WordPress theme

Cons of Astra:

• Choosing from that list of templates can be tough

Astra Pricing

There’s a free version of Astra with three premium plans from $49 per year.

Why We Like Astra

Astra has everything you need from a premium WordPress theme. It has drag and drop page builder compatibility, a series of amazing premium themes, access to top class support, a generous suite of web design tools and the peace of mind that you’re using one of the most trusted WordPress themes available.

Get Started with Astra

2. Divi

Divi is another WordPress premium theme worth exploring. It has some excellent templates, a suite of powerful design tools and the documentation and support to set your mind at ease.

The designs aren’t as vibrant or as good looking as Astra’s but they are still great options if you’re looking for a new website.

Divi is also compatible with page builders and comes with its own Divi Builder. It works a little differently than others but is easy to use once you know how.

What people think of Divi:

Pros of Divi:

• Compatibility with drag and drop page builders
• Good collection of templates
• Lots of extra modules to add features
• A wealth of customization options
• Fully responsive

Cons of Divi:

• You need to import templates per page rather than per site
• More expensive than Astra

Divi Pricing

Divi costs from $89 per year.

Why We Like Divi

If you like the design style of Divi, there is every reason to use it. You get lots of customization options, fast loading pages, Divi Builder is straightforward to use and designs are fully responsive.

Get Started with Divi

3. Uncode

Uncode is a multipurpose WordPress theme with a number of high quality templates covering all kinds of niches.

Designs are modern, well-balanced, attractive and can be fully customized using the WPBakery drag and drop page builder.

Uncode comes with lots of element modules covering most of what you’ll need for almost any site you can think of.

What people think of Uncode:

Pros of Uncode:

• Modern, attractive template designs
• Vast array of feature modules to choose from
• Fully responsive
• Works with the WPBakery page builder
• Compatible with WordPress plugins including WooCommerce

Cons of Uncode:

• Standard of English in the documentation isn’t great
• Only 6 months of support, a full year costs extra

Uncode Pricing

Uncode costs $59 + $17.63 for a full year of support.

Why We Like Uncode

Uncode has a range of good quality templates with attractive designs covering a multitude of niches. It is also relatively easy to use and to design, which is another reason we like it so much.

Get Started with Uncode

4. Balance

Balance from WPZoom is a flexible WordPress premium theme from WPZoom and comes with two demos, a store and a standard site.

Balance is clean, simple and attractive. Both demo websites offer the opportunity to customize it into something more modern using the WordPress block editor.

It’s an attractive theme. Despite not offering as many demos as Astra or Divi, the quality of what’s there is unquestionable.

What people think of Balance:

Pros of Balance:

• High quality pair of demo templates
• Both templates can be fully customized
• Compatible with the WordPress block editor
• Fully responsive and SEO-friendly
• Full support for premium users

Cons of Balance:

• Expensive for what it is
• Fewer themes for more money than Astra

Balance Pricing

Balance costs from $79 per year.

Why We Like Balance

The quality of design and flexibility is great. The Organic Shop demo is particularly good and offers a lot of flexibility. If these designs tick your box, they are well worth trying!

Get Started with Balance

5. Sydney Pro

Sydney Pro is a multipurpose WordPress theme that’s worth checking out as it has a range of well-designed templates that cover most niches

It’s compatible with most WordPress plugins including WooCommerce and comes with its own customizer to help you build pages.

The designs cover most niches and load quickly, which is something else we look for. They are also easy to use and to personalize and offer a range of customization options depending on what you need.

What people think of Sydney Pro:

Pros of Sydney Pro:

• Attractive designs covering most requirements
• Easy to install and use
• Compatible with most WordPress plugins
• Excellent documentation and support
• Fully responsive and SEO-friendly

Cons of Sydney Pro:

• You’ll need to learn how the theme customizer works

Sydney Pro Pricing

Sydney Pro costs $79 per year.

Why We Like Sydney Pro

Sydney Pro is a great looking theme with a lot going for it. There are a ton of customization options, lots of page elements you can add and it has great documentation and support.

Get Started with Sydney Pro

6. Extra

Extra is a premium magazine theme from the people behind Divi. It has a similar look and feel but is also different.

Extra uses the Divi Builder to make page creation simple. It comes with a wide range of page elements, WooCommerce compatibility, an accessible user dashboard and impressive ease of use second only to Astra.

We think Extra is well worth paying for thanks to the Divi Builder and extensive support options.

What people think of Extra:

Pros of Extra:

• Attractive premium WordPress theme
• Fully customizable using the Divi Builder
• Lots of page elements and design options
• Fully responsive and SEO-friendly
• Extensive documentation and support

Cons of Extra:

• Attractive but not amazing theme design

Extra Pricing

Extra costs from $89 per year.

Why We Like Extra

Extra is light, bright and flexible and could be used for any type of magazine website. The package isn’t quite as generous as some but still delivers decent value, especially as you get Divi Builder as part of the price.

Get Started with Extra

7. Binder Pro

You know Binder Pro is a premium theme the moment you open the main demo. With a range of templates to choose from, there is a style here to suit almost any use.

Each site has been well designed with smart colors and layouts and you can customize everything you see on the page.

The demo is translation ready and is compatible with most WordPress plugins. It’s definitely one of the better premium WordPress themes in our list!

What people think of Binder Pro:

Pros of Binder Pro:

• Attractive premium templates
• Works with most WordPress plugins
• Compatible with WooCommerce
• Fully responsive and SEO friendly
• Package includes premium plugins

Cons of Binder Pro:

• More expensive than other premium WordPress themes

Binder Pro Pricing

Binder Pro costs $129 per year.

Why We Like Binder Pro

The quality of the Binder Pro templates is superb and each offers a simple way to install and use as your own. You do pay a little over the odds for the privilege though.

Get Started with Binder Pro

8. Kojiro

Kojiro from Yoothemes is a sensational restaurant template that’s a prime example of why it’s worth paying for a premium theme.

The design is excellent, there are lots of readymade options, color and typography combinations and it’s easy to brand or make your site unique.

Kojiro comes as part of a template package that includes equally well-designed templates for other niches too.

What people think of Kojiro:

Pros of Kojiro:

• Professional-quality templates that genuinely stand out
• Includes lots of templates as part of the package
• YOOtheme Pro page builder included in the price
• Fully responsive and SEO friendly
• Great documentation and support

Cons of Kojiro:

• Expensive if you only want one template

Kojiro Pricing

Kojiro costs $129.99 per year.

Why We Like Kojiro

You pay a lot more for Kojiro than for Astra. But what you do get is well designed, well-balanced and delivers a very professional look. You just don’t get that with most free themes.

Get Started with Kojiro

9. GeneratePress

GeneratePress is a multipurpose WordPress theme that could be turned into anything you want.

It’s a flexible theme with a range of attractive premium templates, a wide range of color and typography options and compatibility with most WordPress plugins.

Some of the demos will need a little work to bring them up to the same quality as others here, but otherwise they are well worth the investment.

What people think of GeneratePress:

Pros of GeneratePress:

• Lots of quality templates to choose from
• Extensive customization options
• Compatible with WooCommerce and other plugins
• Uses the WordPress block editor
• Fully responsive

Cons of GeneratePress:

• Some designs will need more work than others

GeneratePress Pricing

GeneratePress costs from $59 per year.

Why We Like GeneratePress

If you can find a template you like, you’ll find the theme easy to work with and easy to use. The quality of the code and performance are mainly why GeneratePress is worth paying for.

Get Started with GeneratePress

10. Hestia Pro

Hestia Pro is a well-coded theme that offers excellent performance and a modern flat design that’s almost timeless.

This is a multipurpose theme that will require a little work to build as a unique website but is worth the investment in time and money. It has great balance, some nice aesthetic touches and the freedom to build your pages however you like.

We feature it for what it could easily be, not necessarily for what the template is right now.

What people think of Hestia Pro:

Pros of Hestia Pro:

• Attractive template with lots of potential
• Easy to use and customize
• Compatible with drag and drop page builders
• WooCommerce compatible
• Pages load quickly and can be optimized further

Cons of Hestia Pro:

• On the expensive side compared to others

Hestia Pro Pricing

Hestia Pro costs from €199 as a one-time payment.

Why We Like Hestia Pro

Hestia Pro loads quickly, has a ton of features and offers all the design freedom you could need. If the style of the demos appeal, this premium WordPress theme is very easy to work with.

Get Started with Hestia Pro

11. Ultra

Ultra from Themify is a very flexible multipurpose theme that delivers everything we look for in a WordPress theme.

The range and quality of the template designs is very high and you can install them with a single click. It’s a well designed theme with a lot of flexibility.

It uses the Themify Framework to provide drag and drop functionality and a multitude of design features and page elements. This is definitely one of the best premium WordPress themes here!

What people think of Ultra:

Pros of Ultra:

• Wide range of high quality templates
• Themify Framework offers page builder functionality
• Lots of design elements to choose from
• Pages load quickly and are fully responsive
• Compatible with WooCommerce and other plugins

Cons of Ultra:

• Themify Framework is yet another system to learn

Ultra Pricing

Ultra costs from $59 per year.

Why We Like Ultra

Ultra has a great range of premium templates and makes installing and customizing them simple. You have a ton of page elements to use that makes it well worth experimenting with if you like the design.

Get Started with Ultra

12. Gega

Gega is an artistic theme with a unique split screen template. It’s a real standout and is something you don’t see very often.

It’s a design and portfolio theme that could be easily customized using the included Neuron Builder or the WordPress editor. Either way, you could easily create something truly unique.

This is a quality of design you just don’t get in free themes. Coupled with the builder and priority support, it’s more than worth the investment.

Gega doesn’t have any reviews, but don’t let that put you off trying it!

Pros of Gega:

• Standout artist or portfolio template
• Use with the Neuron Builder or WordPress editor
• Fully responsive and SEO optimized
• Smart page elements ideal for showing off your creations
• Loads quickly and includes premium support

Cons of Gega:

• Design depends heavily on images for appeal

Gega Pricing

Gega costs $64 per year.

Why We Like Gega

Gega is a unique split screen portfolio template that delivers a visual impact. It backs that up with great usability, smart layouts and lots of premium features.

Get Started with Gega

13. Edme

Edme is a premium theme for educators and coaches. It is not only visually appealing for students but also packed with awesome features.

You can create and sell courses, accept payments, and book appointments quickly and easily. The theme is built with Elementor and is compatible with most plugins out there.

You can add multiple courses with multiple mentors on the same website and deliver the high quality your students expect, which is why it’s in our list.

What people think of Edme:

Pros of Edme:

• User-friendly website design
• Modern template that’s regularly updated
• Compatible with learning management systems
• Plenty of powerful admin options for staff and users
• Supports appointment scheduling for tutoring

Cons of Edme:

• Designed for eLearning only

Edme Pricing

Edme costs $79.

Why We Like Edme

Edme covers everything an education web designer needs. There are options for categories, teacher profiles, rich course and mentor descriptions, online bookings, and a whole lot more.

Get Started with Edme

14. Neve

Neve is a modern multipurpose theme that has a number of high quality templates that cover most popular niches.

It’s a mobile-first theme so works flawlessly on all screen sizes and delivers a superior user experience regardless of device used.

The demo designs are all well balanced and include competent color choices, compatibility with most drag and drop page builders, great typography and a variety of page elements.

What people think of Neve:

Pros of Neve:

• Lightweight design with fast loading pages
• Modern templates covering many niches
• Full documentation and support
• Compatibility with most WordPress plugins
• Mobile-first design

Cons of Neve:

• Templates will need a little work to make them really pop

Neve Pricing

Neve costs from €69 per year.

Why We Like Neve

Neve is a top performer and one of the best WordPress premium themes here after Astra. Designs are appealing and page builder compatibility means making them your own is simple and fast.

Get Started with Neve

15. Olsen

Would you believe Olsen has been around since 2015? Well it has. Thanks to regular updates from CSSIgniter, it’s a blog design that still delivers the qualities we look for in a premium theme.

We particularly like the flat design and contemporary color scheme. Along with some clever font choices, it gives it a genuine appeal ideal for current audience tastes.

Olsen is updated constantly and is compatible with the WordPress block editor, Elementor, WooCommerce and most plugins you use.

What people think of Olsen:

Pros of Olsen:

• Attractive blog template with lots of flexibility
• Works with the WordPress block editor and Elementor
• Blog design that could also support a store
• SEO optimized with fast loading pages
• Compatible with WooCommerce and most plugins

Cons of Olsen:

• Shifting away from the Scandi design will take some work

Olsen Pricing

Olsen costs from $49 per year.

Why We Like Olsen

Olsen is a very current design that comes with lots of opportunity for customization. It could be part blog, part news and part eCommerce site, or something completely different.

Get Started with Olsen

16. Avada

Avada is the highest selling WordPress premium theme on ThemeForest. That should tell you as much as you need to know to check it out.

It’s a theme and website builder in one with over a hundred templates covering everything from stores to online learning.

The theme has been optimized for speed, is SEO-friendly, relatively simple to customize and deliver all the qualities we look for.

What people think of Avada:

Pros of Avada:

• Multipurpose premium theme with quality templates
• Theme and website builder in one package
• Compatible with most WordPress plugins
• Lots of customization options
• Full support and regular updates

Cons of Avada:

• Price only includes 6 months of support

Avada Pricing

Avada costs $69 + an optional $21.38 for 12 months of support.

Why We Like Avada

Avada is rich, powerful and has some very nice designs. It’s also a theme and website builder in one with a ton of features we think you’ll really like.

Get Started with Avada

17. ColorMag

ColorMag is a premium magazine theme for news outlets and other types of content driven website.

There are multiple templates that all have a unique character while all sharing the magazine-style layout and feel. Each offers lots of space for customization and personalization using your favorite page builder.

The theme also has smart content management tools, support for WooCommerce and options for ads and monetization.

What people think of ColorMag:

Pros of ColorMag:

• Wide selection of magazine demos
• Supports WooCommerce and monetization
• Fully responsive with fast loading pages
• Compatible with popular page builders
• Great support and documentation

Cons of ColorMag:

• Pages load fast but could be much faster

ColorMag Pricing

ColorMag costs from $69 per year.

Why We Like ColorMag

ColorMag is well designed, well priced and well executed. With a selection of attractive magazine templates, page builder compatibility and decent support, we think this theme is well worth paying for.

Get Started with ColorMag

18. Colibri

Colibri is another entry deserving of its place in our list of best WordPress premium themes. The templates are colorful, well designed, modern and cover a multitude of niches.

They are also easy to use and to customize, which is worth money in itself.

Colibri adds its own tools to the WordPress block editor, including a range of design elements, colors, fonts and other goodies. It’s easy to use and makes it easy to create unique pages, which is why we like it.

What people think of Colibri:

Pros of Colibri:

• Well designed theme covering many niches
• Adds its own tools to the WordPress block editor
• Fast loading and SEO optimized
• Supports popular plugins
• Can utilize the Colibri Cloud platform

Cons of Colibri:

• More expensive than some themes here

Colibri Pricing

Colibris costs from $67 + tax per year.

Why We Like Colibri

Colibri is a very competent premium WordPress theme that delivers a lot for the money. Templates are modern and attractive, pages load fast and the overall package looks and feels good when you use it.

Get Started with Colibri

19. Zakra

Zakra is well worth exploring if you’re in the market for a top performing WordPress premium theme.

With a series of professional looking templates and compatibility with WordPress, Brizy and Elementor page builders, you have everything you need to build something amazing.

Templates are high quality and cover a range of niches. Pages load quickly and it supports most plugins you’re likely to need.

What people think of Zakra:

Pros of Zakra:

• Well designed modern templates
• Supports popular drag and drop page builders
• Consistently updated to remain current
• Supports WooCommerce and most WordPress plugins
• SEO friendly and RTL ready

Cons of Zakra:

• Template designs feel a little ‘safe’

Zakra Pricing

Zakra costs from $69 per year.

Why We Like Zakra

Zakra is a very well designed WordPress theme that offers a range of customization tools, compatibility with leading page builders and everything you need to build and run a website.

Get Started with Zakra

20. Kalium

Kalium is a premium WordPress theme designed for business. The 25 templates cover most niches and all deliver the quality look and feel we want from a website.

The theme supports the Elementor and WPBakery page builders and includes some premium plugins to help create almost any type of website.

Kalium is another theme that has been around forever, but, thanks to constant updates, remains current and well worth checking out.

What people think of Kalium:

Pros of Kalium:

• Modern template designs cover a wide range of uses
• One-click website importer
• Compatible with Elementor and WPBakery
• Supports multi-language and translations
• Premium plugins included in the package

Cons of Kalium:

• Not all templates are compatible with Elementor

Kalium Pricing

This theme costs $69 per year.

Why We Like Kalium

The developers crafted this theme for professionals, businesses, and agencies, and it shows. Templates are good, pages load fast and there’s a lot of flexibility in how you design your pages.

Get Started with Kalium

21. Education Zone Pro

Education Zone Pro is a premium theme for schools, colleges or online learning. The design is attractive and effective, with lots of customization options.

The template delivers most features an education site would need but you can add, remove or change everything you see on the page using Elementor.

The theme is compatible with most LMS and WordPress plugins and comes with its own premium plugins as part of the package.

What people think of Education Zone Pro:

Pros of Education Zone Pro:

• Well-designed template with relevant sections included
• Lots of design options included with the theme
• Highly customizable and includes Google fonts
• One-click demo import
• Polylang and WPML compatible

Cons of Education Zone Pro:

• There are a lot of features to get to grips with

Education Zone Pro Pricing

This theme costs $59 per year.

Why We Like Education Zone Pro

Education Zone Pro uses simple design elements to create a dynamic feel perfect for a learning website. The design isn’t exactly cutting edge but it’s exactly right for schools, colleges, kindergartens and some eLearning uses.

Get Started with Education Zone Pro

22. Frutta Verde

Frutta Verde from MotoPress is a welcoming eCommerce template designed around fruit and vegetables. While the default design is great, it can be easily customized to suit other types of stores.

The layout is nicely done, with lots of whitespace and areas to highlight products. It’s easy to navigate and provides a pleasant shopping experience.

You can customize everything with the WordPress block editor and the theme includes some essential apps to make your store shine.

What people think of Frutta Verde:

Pros of Frutta Verde:

• Contemporary online store theme
• Supports WooCommerce and the WordPress block editor
• Lots of flexibility and customization options
• Includes Getwid and One Click Demo Data plugins
• Built-in payment gateway

Cons of Frutta Verde:

• Not updated as frequently as others in this list

Frutta Verde Pricing

Frutta Verde costs $55.

Why We Like Frutta Verde

Frutta Verde is a great eCommerce theme that delivers exactly what we look for. It’s open, welcoming and provides lots of page space to showcase products and special offers.

Get Started with Frutta Verde

23. Music

Music is a cool template for musicians, bands, audio artists and anyone who works with sound. It’s a colorful full-page design with a built-in audio player.

The design is engaging and there are sections for tracks, tickets, albums, tours and other useful features. There’s also a portfolio, socials and a contact form.

The theme works fast, has lots of design options and supports, audio and video. Just some of the reasons this WordPress premium theme is worth paying for!

There are no dedicated reviews of Music but Themify themes usually review very well.

Pros of Music:

• Modern theme with support for audio and video
• Engaging design that suits the target audience
• Lots of customization options
• Demo template delivers everything we like in a design
• SEO friendly with fast loading pages

Cons of Music:

• Will take work to change the layout if you wanted to

Music Pricing

Music costs $59 per year.

Why We Like Music

Music is a modern, engaging template designed perfectly for the target market. It’s smart, engaging and includes an on-page audio player. What’s not to like?

Get Started with Music

24. Konference

Konference is a contemporary WordPress premium theme for events or conferences. It’s an arresting fullscreen design with bold imagery and all the essential features you would look for.

It’s fully compatible with Elementor so customizing should be a breeze. It also works with WooCommerce to help you sell tickets or merch and marketing plugins to help spread the word.

It’s a feature-rich theme with several templates covering most use cases.

There aren’t any reviews of Konference as yet, but that just means we’re ahead of the game!

Pros of Konference:

• Bold full page design for events or conferences
• Well-designed templates that make a real statement
• Compatible with Elementor, WooCommerce and others
• Fast loading pages
• Excellent documentation and support

Cons of Konference:

• Full 12 month support costs $21.38 extra

Konference Pricing

Konference costs $69.

Why We Like Konference

Konference has an attractive, contemporary look with some very attractive features. It also has the scope and the tools to be customized to almost any event or conference.

Get Started with Konference

25. Inspiro Pro

Inspiro Pro is a classy modern theme ideal for a wide variety of uses. We particularly like the Eccentric demo with its fullscreen video hero section.

Each template includes relevant blocks, contemporary design touches and Elementor compatibility, so living and working with it should be a breeze.

Inspiro Pro has been designed to be easy to use while delivering a professional look and feel. That’s one reason we like it so much.

What people think of Inspiro Pro:

Pros of Inspiro Pro:

• Attractive design with some nice touches
• Full compatible with the Elementor page builder
• Lots of customization options covering most requirements
• Compatible with WooCommerce and other plugins
• Good documentation and support

Cons of Inspiro Pro:

• Not the fastest loading pages available

Inspiro Pro Pricing

Inspiro Pro costs € 79 per year.

Why We Like Inspiro Pro

Inspiro Pro definitely earns its place in our list of WordPress premium themes. It’s modern, feature-rich and designed to perform. It also has some very well-designed templates.

Get Started with Inspiro Pro

26. Foodie Pro

Foodie Pro is a minimal design for food blogs or recipe websites. It uses pared back design with a simple color palette and typography to provide enough interest without getting in the way of the content.

The design is simple, with an uncluttered page that centers on the content. You could work with it as it is or add more blocks and features as you like.

It uses the WordPress block editor for the design and the WP Recipe Maker plugin for some page elements. If you like things simple but still effective, this is a theme to try.

Foodie Pro has yet to be reviewed but take it from us, it’s a very good theme to use!

Pros of Foodie Pro:

• Clean, elegant design with a minimalist touch
• Lots of customization options
• Includes the WP Recipe Maker plugin
• Responsive and fast loading
• Uses the Genesis Framework

Cons of Foodie Pro:

• You’ll need to add some kind of hero section yourself

Foodie Pro Pricing

Foodie Pro costs $75.

Why We Like Foodie Pro

Foodie Pro uses minimal design to let recipes stand out and we like it for that. The spacing and layout works well, pages load fast and WP Recipe Maker is very straightforward to use.

Get Started with Foodie Pro

27. Travel Way Pro

Travel Way Pro is a vibrant premium WordPress theme that makes an immediate impact. It’s a feature-rich theme with lots of images to help paint the picture of a lifestyle.

While the demo is for travel, you could easily change it for cars, fashion, real estate or something else entirely.

The theme comes with dozens of styling and layout options, with everything you need to create something unique.

What people think of Travel Way Pro:

Pros of Travel Way Pro:

• Attractive travel template that could work right away
• Customize using the block editor or SiteOrigin
• Dozens of customization options
• Fast loading, SEO friendly pages
• Compatible with most WordPress plugins

Cons of Travel Way Pro:

• SiteOrigin isn’t the best page builder around

Travel Way Pro Pricing

Travel Way Pro costs from $69 per year.

Why We Like Travel Way Pro

It’s hard to not like Travel Way Pro. It’s vibrant and welcoming and even in default guise, works well for its chosen niche. It does come with a lot of options though so you could turn it into almost anything.

Get Started with Travel Way Pro

28. Bolden

Bolden is a podcast template that holds its own against these other premium WordPress themes. It’s calm, professional and sets you at ease the moment you land on the page.

The theme also includes some neat audio player features ideal for its niche.

Bolden uses the WordPress customizer to personalize and has some audio and video specific display options that many other themes don’t have. If podcasts or audio is your thing, this theme is well worth checking out.

Bolden is only rated using stars on its website, currently sitting at an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Pros of Bolden:

• Cool design ideal for its chosen niche
• Audio and video elements included
• Attractive design with a calm feel
• Compatible with the WordPress block editor
• Includes YouTube and Podcast Import Pro plugins

Cons of Bolden:

• Very narrow niche appeal

Bolden Pricing

Bolden costs from $69 per year.

Why We Like Bolden

Bolden is a superb podcast theme with some nice audio and video touches. If this is your niche, you would do well to try this theme out as it goes places other themes cannot reach.

Get Started with Bolden

Why You Should Avoid Pirated Themes

When money is tight, it can be tempting to use a pirated copy of a WordPress theme rather than a free version or waiting until you can afford it.

That could be a big mistake.

Often referred to as ‘nulled themes’, pirated themes could include more than you bargained for.

We’ll give you three good reasons why piracy is a bad idea:

• Malware
• Lack of updates
• Negative trust and SEO impact

Malware

Many pirated WordPress themes include unexpected extras like malware or backdoors that allow unauthorized access.

Infecting premium products and offering them for free is a popular tactic to spread malicious code and you really don’t want to get caught up in that.

Lack of Updates

Frequent updates are one key benefit of premium themes over free themes and the same is true for pirated themes.

If you download a nulled theme, you have no opportunity to update and will have to download a fresh copy every time.

Negative Trust and SEO Impact

Trust plays a huge part in SEO and anything you do to compromise that could have serious consequences.

Hidden or poisoned links, malicious code and other nastiness are all frequently found in pirated themes.

If a visitor or search engines discover anything like this, they are unlikely to ever return.

Do you want to risk your business or your website like that?

We wouldn’t, which is why we think premium themes are an investment well worth making.

WordPress Premium Themes

So now you know why WordPress premium themes are worth the investment. You also know what to look for and why you shouldn’t pirate them.

You also have a good idea of the 28 best premium WordPress themes available and their pros and cons.

Whatever type of website you’re building, whatever your niche, we are sure there is a theme here to suit!

We think all 28 themes are great, but if we had to choose:

• Astra would be great for small businesses and agencies as it makes it quick and easy to build amazing websites.
• Binder Pro nails page design and would work for a wide range of ventures with the budget to cope.
• Gega stands out for the unique page design and would be amazing for creatives, artists, photographers and agencies.

Do you use any of these premium WordPress themes? Know of any other reasons to choose a premium theme over a free one? Have anything else to add?

Tell us about it in the comments below!

Premium Theme FAQs

Have more questions about WordPress premium themes? Perhaps you’ll find the answer here.

What is a premium WordPress theme?

A premium WordPress theme is one you pay for, as opposed to free themes where you don’t. Premium themes usually offer more features, premium designs and plugins, better support, more frequent updates and other useful features.

Is it worth paying for a WordPress premium theme?

Yes, it is worth paying for a WordPress premium theme. That’s especially true if you’re planning to use the theme for a business, online store or anywhere your reputation might be at stake. You often get better designs and features and full support should anything go wrong.

What is the difference between free and premium WordPress themes?

The difference between free and premium themes depends on the theme. Premium usually includes premium templates, access to other premium plugins or services, better support, priority access to updates and new features and many other value-add features.

Which is the best theme for WordPress?

The best theme for WordPress is Astra. It has both free and premium versions, is regularly updated, has over 250 Starter Templates, is compatible with popular page builders and is optimized for speed and SEO.