Ribosome is a magazine style free WordPress blog theme. It comes with a custom header, custom background, and unlimited colors. OceanWP is one of the most popular free WordPress themes with tons of premium-like features. It has its own companion plugin and recommends installing a free page builder plugin upon activation. It can be used for any kind of website, including blogs, magazines, business website, or an eCommerce store.

There are thousands of WordPress themes for blogging, all with their own unique features. This can make the search for your perfect theme an intimidating process. In this guide, I’ll explore and compare the best WordPress blog themes to help you make the right choice.

But first, let’s make sure you’ve got WordPress set up properly.

Creative WordPress Blog Themes. Browse over 860 WordPress blog themes to use for personal and business content. These WordPress blog theme sets keep the focus on the written word, with templates for creatives, journalists, retailers, and more. Trying to ensure a great experience for the theme authors and users, means that theme requirements change from time to time. Keep up with the latest changes by following the Theme Review Team's blog.

Table of contents

Getting started with WordPress

WordPress is a powerful and flexible blogging tool used to power millions of websites. There are two ways this tool can be used: through WordPress hosting, or on a self-hosted site.

WordPress.com

This option gives you access to the base blogging tool. You can use this for free or access a variety of affordable hosting plans. However, this form of WordPress has limits on customization and is not compatible with plugins.

WordPress.com also does not allow affiliate marketing. This greatly reduces your ability to monetize your site.

Self-hosted WordPress

This a tool you install on a website you own. This version of WordPress is compatible with all themes and can have its functionality extended with plugins. The themes on this list are designed for self-hosted WordPress.

If you plan to make money blogging, self-hosted WordPress is the way to go. You gain more flexibility in terms of design, purposes you’re allowed to use the site for, and ways you’re permitted to monetize the site.

Many website hosts, such as SiteGround, offer WordPress-specific plans. These come with WordPress pre-installed on your site and may include access to WordPress specialists for customer support.

Blogging basics

Of course, starting a successful blog requires more than installing WordPress. In fact, there are several things you should do even before you choose a theme:

• Choose a subject for your blog
• Select the types of content you will create (reviews, listicles, et cetera)
• Set a regular posting schedule
• Decide whether you want to use a free theme or invest in a premium one

For help with all of these decisions and more, check out our guide to starting a blog.

Now, let’s dive into the best WordPress themes for blogging!

Best WordPress blog themes

1. Astra

Price: Free. Premium plans with extra features are available starting at $47 (regular $59).

Page builder compatibility: Compatible with Beaver Builder, SiteOrigin, Visual Composer, Divi, and others.

Astra is a free theme produced by Brainstorm, a WordPress development company known for its Ultimate Add-ons for Beaver Builder and Elementor. The theme is easy to use, highly customizable, and compatible with a variety of page builders.

To get the most out of this theme, you’ll need to pick up the free Astra Starter Site Plugin. This plugin gives you access to over 30 pre-built website designs, including several designs built specifically for blogging. All of these designs are optimized for Astra’s high-speed framework, which allows pages to load in half a second.

Some reviewers have said that Astra customer support has a slow response time when compared to their competitors. However, when customer support does respond, they’re known for being knowledgeable and helpful.

2. GeneratePress

Price: Free. Premium version is available for $49.95.

Page builder compatibility: Limited compatibility with Beaver Builder, Elementor, SiteOrigin.

GeneratePress is a lightweight theme that allows you to enable/disable features to meet your needs without slowing your site down. The theme is fully responsive and comes with built-in schema to improve performance on search engines.

The free version of GeneratePress comes with numerous customization options, including specialized WooCommerce pages. Developers will be glad to know that there is also an area for customizing GeneratePress with additional CSS.

The one big drawback of GeneratePress is that its compatibility with modern page builders is limited. You can use modules provided by page builders, but the drag-and-drop function will not work.

If GeneratePress still appeals to you and you have a little bit of wiggle room in your budget, you’ll want to invest in the premium version. Premium GeneratePress gives you access to a variety of modules, including access to a library of pre-made site designs.

3. Neve

Price: Free. Additional features can be purchased starting at $59 (regularly $86).

Page builder compatibility: Elementor, Brizy, Beaver Builder, Divi, SiteOrigin, and Visual Composer.

Neve is a free multi-purpose theme from ThemeIsle. This theme is not merely compatible with page builders: it is designed for page builders. Specifically, Neve is designed to improve loading speed for websites built with tools like Elementor and Beaver Builder. This makes it one of the best WordPress blog themes for people who like page builders.

One of the best things about this theme is how it interacts with headers and footers in the WordPress Customizer. Instead of being able to adjust a couple of minor settings, you gain full control. You can add links, buttons, and a variety of widgets.

You can also access ten demo sites for different industries. These can be imported to your site, adjusted minimally, and published as your new blog in minutes.

4. OceanWP

Price: Free. Premium plans available starting at $59.

Page builder compatibility: Elementor, Divi, Visual Composer, SiteOrigin.

OceanWP is a free multi-purpose theme that is compatible with a variety of popular page builders. This theme comes with a large range of customization options, including the ability to create Mega Menus.

OceanWP also lets you customize individual pages in a variety of ways. You can disable sticky elements, add a custom logo, customize background color, and more. This allows you to use specialized branding for different areas of your site.

Last but certainly not least, OceanWP features deep integration with WooCommerce. When you activate this plugin and go to the WordPress Customizer, you’ll find customization options for product pages, product images, and more. This makes OceanWP one of the best WordPress blog themes for users who also want to create an eCommerce store.

5. The Essence (MeridianThemes)

Price: $59

Page builder compatibility: None; uses proprietary styler instead.

The Essence is a premium theme that uses the front-end Meridian Styler to create a user-friendly experience. You can use the Styler to customize every aspect of your site, including fonts, spacing, colors, and more.

This plugin comes with 17 pre-made responsive layouts for you to work with, including a variety of layouts for blogging. You can choose one of these, do some minimal configuration, and get your blog online within the hour.

The Essence is also optimized for social media. The header automatically incorporates social media icons to encourage people to follow you in multiple places. You can also use the custom social widget and Instagram widget to further integrate your site with social media.

6. Gema

Price: $75/year or $112 as a one time fee.

Page builder compatibility: Elementor, Visual Composer, SiteOrigin, MotoPress, and Beaver Builder.

Gema is a 100% responsive theme from Pixelgrade that focuses on striking visuals. On desktop, Gema uses an open grid layout to display featured images and headlines. On phones, this becomes a scrolling gallery, almost like Instagram.

Gema is remarkably easy to use. Once you have installed it, simply choose from their wide range of color palettes and Gema will transform your content into a unique visual experience.

The Gema theme also provides an extensive range of customization options. You can choose your number and width of columns, font, spacing, and more.

6. Bucket

Price: €70/year or €80 for a one time purchase.

Page builder compatibility: Custom page builder.

Bucket is a specialized magazine plugin from Pixelgrade. The theme offers several unique features, including a visual rating system that can be used to efficiently create reviews. This theme also uses mega menus to help you highlight important content.

You won’t be able to use your favorite page builder with Bucket, but the plugin comes with a powerful page builder of its own. This allows you to customize many aspects of your site, including a variety of color options, in just a few clicks.

Bucket is also fully compatible with WordPress Multilingual Plugin, allowing you to translate the theme fully into your own language.

7. Magazine Pro

Price: $99.95 (Includes Genesis Framework Package)

Page builder compatibility: Optimized for the Genesis Framework and the Gutenberg editor.

Created by popular WordPress development company StudioPress, Magazine Pro is a specialized Genesis Child theme for magazines. You can take advantage of advanced integration with the Gutenberg editor to get your home page set up in one click. From there, you’ll gain access to a variety of customization options including fonts, typography, and the features of certain WooCommerce pages.

To make things even easier, Magazine Pro offers a variety of demo content for industries like fashion, fitness, and cuisine. You can use these as inspiration or install one directly onto your site, make a few small changes, and put your blog online within minutes.

This theme also comes with three page layouts and six custom post layouts, making it easy for you to give each piece of content a unique look.

8. News Pro

Price: $99.95 (includes Genesis Framework)

Page builder compatibility: Optimized for the Genesis Framework and Gutenberg editor.

News Pro is exactly what it sounds like: a specialized theme for news-based blogs and magazines. This theme offers a simple, professional look similar to what you’ll see on popular news sites like The Washington Post.

The simplicity doesn’t mean you lack for customization options, however. News Pro comes with five color schemes and six layouts. You can also use the Genesis Featured Post widget to create a detailed spotlight for your most recent or relevant content.

News Pro is also optimized for integration with WooCommerce, allowing you to easily set up an attractive store.

How to choose between the best WordPress blog themes

So there you have it: the best WordPress themes for blogging, compiled into one neat list. But how do you choose the best one for your business?

The key is to go back to those blogging basics we discussed at the beginning of the article and ask yourself some questions.

Do you already use a page builder?

If you already have a preferred page builder, you’ll want a plugin that’s compatible. Astra, Neve, and Gema are compatible with the greatest number of page builders.

Is eCommerce a major part of your business plan?

While all of these plugins are compatible with WooCommerce, they are not all created equal when it comes to building a store. GeneratePress and OceanWP offer the greatest amount of customization options for WooCommerce.

Do you want a specialized media theme?

Looking for something that really drives home your focus on quality articles? Choose The Essence, Magazine Pro, or News Pro.

Is your blog focused on reviews?

The best theme for review-based blogs is Bucket, thanks to its unique visual rating system.

Stretch the possibilities with Elementor Pro

Not quite satisfied with what the best WordPress blog themes have to offer? Is there a specific feature you’re looking for that you can’t find? You can customize themes or even build one from scratch using Elementor Pro. This provides ultimate freedom, allowing you to create any kind of website you can imagine.

RELATED: Divi vs. Elementor vs. Beaver Builder: Which is the Best Page Builder?

A re you looking for the best WordPress themes for blogs? In this article, we’ll share our picks for the best WordPress themes for blogging, both free and paid.

Starting a blog can seem daunting; you’ve got to create a website that looks great and has all of the features you need, which seems difficult if you’ve never created a website before. And of course, you need to write blog posts. But, don’t worry.

If you use WordPress to create your website, you can use a WordPress theme for blogging that will give your site a professional look in an instant.

Plus, since WordPress is completely customizable, you can easily create a blog that’s uniquely yours. Then, all you need to do is get writing!

WordPress.org is the best blogging platform for both beginner bloggers and pros. To get started with WordPress, check out our detailed guide on how to start a blog for step-by-step instructions.

If you need help with WordPress installation then read our guide on how to install WordPress.

Before we dive into the list of the best WordPress themes for blogs, you might be wondering: How do I choose a theme for my blog?

Let’s find out…

How to Choose the Best Theme for Your Blog

When choosing a WordPress theme for your blog, there are a few things you should keep in mind. The most important factors in any WordPress theme are:

• Responsive Design:

A responsive WordPress blog theme will make sure your blog looks great on any device. This is important today when many people surf the web on their mobile devices.

• Simplicity:

Picking a busy theme with a ton of unnecessary features will only slow down your website and distract your readers. Choose a simple WordPress blog theme that puts the focus on your content. You can always download WordPress plugins to add the features you need for your blog later.

• Good Reviews:

A WordPress theme might look cool at first glance, but if it’s poorly designed, it can negatively impact the performance of your site and upset your readers. Be sure to read the reviews of a WordPress theme before you try it out.

You also have to consider your brand when choosing a WordPress theme for your blog. Your blog’s brand is the particular feeling and impression you want to give your audience.

For example, a travel blog might want to give their readers an adventurous and outdoorsy impression. On the other hand, a fashion blog’s brand may be more urban and modern.

Consider your blog’s brand when choosing a WordPress theme. Does it match the vibe you want to give to your readers? Or, are you able to easily customize the theme to match your brand?

These are important things to think about before you make a commitment to a WordPress blog theme.

Now that you know what to look for, here are the 17 best WordPress themes for blogs in 2020.

Best WordPress Themes for Blogs

1. Astra

Are you wondering which free WordPress theme is best for blogging? The answer is Astra. Astra is one of the best free WordPress themes for bloggers and it’s being used by over 700,000 people.

One of the biggest benefits of Astra is that it comes with 100s of starter templates so you can create a blog website in no time. There are starter templates that are perfect for blogs about fashion, lifestyle, food, travel, fitness, religion, and much more.

Astra also offers a Pro version of their free theme that offers extra features such as:

• Multiple site and blog layout options
• More color controls
• Better typography
• Extensive WooCommerce integration
• And more

The Pro version of Astra starts at $47.

2. OceanWP

OceanWP is another one of the best free WordPress themes for blogs. Because of that, it’s one of the fastest growing WordPress themes with over 2 million downloads.

With OceanWP you can import any of their creative demo sites with 1-click, so you can give your site the exact look you want in an instant. They have demo sites built specifically for blogs as well as music sites, photography sites, freelance sites, and much more.

Other awesome features include:

• Fully responsive
• Fast page load time
• eCommerce ready
• Translation and RTL ready

3. Divi

Divi by Elegant Themes is a premium WordPress theme. The thing about Divi that makes it different from other WordPress themes for blogs is that it’s more than just a theme—it’s an easy-to-use website builder.

With Divi you can use their drag-and-drop builder and visual editor to control every single feature and detail on your site so that it’s completely customized to your needs.

They also offer a ton of free layouts to their users that make it easy to get started. The example image above shows a layout for food blogs but they also offer layouts for travel blogs, fashion blogs, gardening blogs, author websites, and much more.

Other features include:

• Built-in split testing
• WooCommerce compatibility
• 24/7 support

Divi starts at $89 per year.

4. Revolution Pro

The Revolution Pro theme package by Studiopress is a minimalistic blog theme that puts the focus on your awesome content.

Revolution Pro offers a 1-click theme setup and you can customize the theme’s settings, colors, and content, all while seeing a preview of your changes in real-time. Plus, this theme comes pre-installed with WPForms. With WPForms you can easily create contact forms, newsletter forms, survey forms, and other forms to add to your site.

Other awesome features included with Revolution Pro are:

• WooCommerce integration
• Multiple layout options
• Advanced Gutenburg support

You can purchase Revolution Pro for a 1-time fee of $129.95.

5. Hestia PRO

Hestia PRO, from Themeisle, is a sleek 1-page WordPress theme that’s perfect for a blog. Hestia PRO is built for speed, WooCommerce-ready, SEO-friendly, and it comes with a live customizer that’s incredibly easy-to-use.

Hestia PRO also offers a library of ready made starter sites so you can easily create a blog that matches your brand perfectly.

With Hestia PRO, you also get fast support and video tutorials that are a great help if you ever get stuck building your blog.

Other Hestia PRO features include:

• Advanced blog options
• Completely customizable homepage
• Slider and video header

This WordPress theme starts at $69.

6. Elegant

Elegant by Themify is a stunning, multi-purpose WordPress theme. The minimal design and beautiful typography will make your content stand out on the page. Elegant is perfectly suited for bloggers, artists, writers, photographers, designers, and individual portfolios.

This WordPress theme is responsive, has a powerful drag-and-drop builder so you can customize each page, multiple layout options, image filters, and more.

Elegant also offers:

• 600+ Google fonts
• Social icons
• Automatic theme updates

Plus, it has a built-in WooCommerce feature (and a separate WooCommerce add-on) so you can place products anywhere on your blog. Selling products is an effective way to monetize your blog.

You can buy the Elegant theme starting at $59.

7. Letterum Pro

Letterum Pro is another stylish, minimalist, and content-focused WordPress theme that’s best suited for bloggers and content creators.

It offers multiple site header layouts, multiple blog post layouts, sortable front page sections, and customizable post options. Like the other WordPress themes for blogs in this list, Letterum is also fully responsive and highly customizable.

Other features include:

• Lifetime updates
• Free installation service
• 1 on 1 support

Letterum Pro costs $39. You can also get a FREE version of the Letterum theme from WordPress.org.

8. Indigo

Indigo by WPZoom is one of the best WordPress themes for travel blogs. But, this blog theme is completely customizable, so it can be used for any niche such as fashion, food, sports, and more.

The Indigo theme includes layout options like a featured slider, recent posts (which can be hidden), featured category widgets, sidebar, and a sticky menu. Indigo also offers other unique widget options. For example, you can add your Instagram feed, social icons, scrollable carousel, or a newsletter subscription form to your blog.

Indigo also comes with:

• Automatic updates
• 1 year of support and updates
• WooCommerce support

Indigo is trusted by 75,000 customers and costs $69.

9. Color Blog Pro

Color Blog Pro by Mystery Themes is a fun, bright, and modern blog theme. It has multiple different layouts for blogging websites. Plus, it has dozens of theme options to customize the theme to your exact needs, without having to touch a line of code.

Color Blog Pro has other cool features like:

• Responsive design
• Unlimited color options
• Multiple header layouts
• WooCommerce compatibility
• And more

Color Blog Pro costs $55. Mystery Themes also has a free version of the Color Blog theme (with basic features) so you can try it out before you buy.

10. Didi

Didi from Anariel Designs is one of the best WordPress themes for fashion blogs. It’s also perfect for lifestyle blogs and beauty blogs. The beautiful, minimalistic design of this WordPress theme puts all the focus on your content.

Didi has multiple pre-made homepage designs you can choose from and it’s easily customizable. And the Live Preview feature allows you to see the changes you make to the theme in real-time.

Other features include:

• Responsive design
• Translation and RTL ready
• SEO ready code
• Fast support and documentation

You can get started with Anariel Designs for $59, which gives you access to all 18 of their premium WordPress themes, including Didi.

11. Memory

Memory is a super trendy and elegant WordPress theme for bloggers.

Memory comes with 7 easy-to-install, pre-built demos so you can get the blog look you want in an instant. It also comes with all of the layouts and options you want including multiple post styles, sidebar layout, list and grid styles, featured content sliders, advertising banners, and more.

Standard features include:

• Responsive layout
• SEO-optimized
• Fast-loading speeds

The Memory theme costs $49 for personal use. There’s also a FREE version of the theme but it comes with fewer features.

12. WOW Blog

Created by AcmeThemes, WOW Blog is another great WordPress theme for blogs of any type or niche. The clean, modest design makes it easy to customize to your personal brand.

Some notable features include:

• Live customizer tool
• 10+ custom widgets
• Header and footer options
• Multiple color options
• Social media integration

The WOW Blog theme is FREE. But, you can upgrade to the pro version with more features for $44.

13. Minimal Magazine

Minimal Magazine is a free WordPress blog theme from Atlantis Themes. This multipurpose theme also works great for news sites, magazines, and many other types of websites.

Features include:

• Flexible header
• Threaded comments
• Translation-ready
• Custom color and background options
• And more

If you want extra layouts, pre-made templates, and more customization options, you can upgrade to the premium version of Minimal Magazine for $45.

14. Swift Blog

Wordpress Blog Themes Minimalist

Swift Blog, by ThemeInWP, is another one of the best free WordPress themes for blogs. The fun and stylish design is perfect for lifestyle, fashion, travel, food, fitness, and bloggers of any kind.

The theme is SEO-optimized, WooCommerce compatible, translation ready, and has a responsive layout. You can also easily customize the logo and title.

Other features include:

• Social profile options
• Social sharing
• Footer widgets

If you want more powerful features like extra customization options, multiple layout options, and Instagram direct feeds, you can upgrade to the pro version for $49.

15. Magazine

The Magazine WordPress theme by ThemeShopy is great for blogs and news websites. This modern and professional-looking theme comes with a blog post section, newsletter section, testimonials section, and more.

This theme also includes features like:

• 100+ font options
• Advanced color options
• Custom page templates
• Responsive design
• And more

You can get the Magazine WordPress theme by ThemeShopy for just $39. And for $99, you can get all of ThemeShopy’s premium themes.

16. Kale Pro

Kale PRO is one of the best WordPress themes for food blogs. Kale PRO is minimalist in design with simple yet beautiful typography that puts the focus on your delicious food photos.

With the Kale PRO WordPress theme, you get:

• Built-in ads
• Recipe shortcode builder
• Special recipe index template
• Custom fonts and colors
• Multiple blog post display options
• And much more

The theme is also fully responsive and optimized for SEO.

The Kale PRO theme starts at $35. There’s also a free version you can try out first.

17. Inspirin

Inspirin, by FameThemes, is a beautiful WordPress theme for bloggers, writers, and marketers. The gorgeous typography and clean design puts your amazing content in the spotlight.

Inspirin comes with a number of features, like:

• Theme customizer
• Custom theme widgets
• Custom page templates
• Page speed optimization
• And more

Inspirin costs $49, which includes 1 year of expert customer support.

That’s a wrap!

Wordpress Blog Themes Simple

We hope you enjoyed this post on the best WordPress themes for blogs. Now, instead of searching through thousands of WordPress themes, hopefully you can easily find a great-looking, well-built WordPress theme that’s perfect for your blog.

And if you haven’t gotten web hosting for your blog yet, check out our picks for the best blog hosting services.

Wordpress Blog Themes Download

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