WordPress is the world’s most popular and fastest-growing content management system for blogs, websites, and, with the free WooCommerce plugin, also suitable for online shops. Premium WordPress themes offer the best solution with many advantages for both administrators and site visitors. Here we show the advantages, possible disadvantages, as well as the top selection and recommendations for premium templates for WordPress.
The Top Premium WordPress Themes, which are also WooCommerce Shop capable
This article will address the often-discussed topic of premium themes and templates for WordPress, with optional WooCommerce functionality, which is often surrounded by uncertainty and half-knowledge. However, premium here does NOT simultaneously mean high costs. Prices are usually under €50 but a maximum of €80-100 once off. Monthly or annual licenses are the exception and should not be used, or rather a lifetime license should be booked.
What are WordPress Premium Themes and why you should use them (our recommendation)
A theme is the same as a template. Basically, it provides the optics and layout from the navigation to the grid in the content area, the spacing, font, colors, blocks, and possible combination options.
As written above, Premium means significantly more functions for a truly fair and low price and without follow-up costs. Premium themes are significantly more flexible and, with their „multi-purpose“ nature, can be used for all industries, so that any type of website can be created for any area.
Most premium themes also come directly with WordPress Premium Plugins, which would otherwise cost several hundred euros individually. The most common pro and premium plugins in combination with themes are, for example, Revolution Slider as the bestseller among slider plugins, WPBakery as a page builder for content, social media plugins for sharing, etc.
For beginners and newcomers to WordPress, so-called one-click demos are also offered, which import demo example content with just one click and thus prepare a page so that you only have to replace images and text.
There is nothing worse than realizing after a few weeks or months that the template does not offer this function and you have to manually improve WordPress with PHP, CSS, jQuery and Co or even install one or more plugins. This often leads to problems, frustration, and sometimes additional costs.
However, any theme can basically be extended with functions, plugins, shortcodes, and modules (scripts)!
5 tips on what to look for when choosing a theme:
- Regular updates and the last update should not be older than 3 months
- Positive reviews (at least 10) and initial development older than 6 months
- Which plugins are included and compatible (ask if in doubt)
- Are there sufficient demos, examples, templates and a description?
- Can unused functions be easily deactivated or are there simple functions for the functions.php (remove_action) from the developer?
Of course, there are many more topics you should consider when choosing the right template for WordPress and WooCommerce, but this would go beyond the scope of this article. Please feel free to consult us as a WordPress agency and professional.
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Advantages of WordPress Premium Themes and Templates + possible disadvantages compared to free ones
First, it must be said directly: "Premium Themes are ALWAYS better and more powerful than often poorly programmed or outdated free solutions!"
- High-quality and modern layouts with an attractive appearance and responsive design
- High-quality and valid code (programming) for fast loading times, error-free display in all browsers and on mobile devices (tablets/smartphones)
- Regular updates ensure security and always new functions with good quality (lifelong or depending on the license always for 1 year)
- Flexibility and countless additional functions + expandability
- Mostly unlimited types of menu/navigation display, predefined blocks, content elements, and compositions
- All Pro and Premium Themes are easily translatable into German or other languages with e.g. Loco Translate, Polylanguage, WPML etc.
- Suitable for all industries, products and services (Multi-Purpose)
- Templates, demos and partly ready-made pages for industries as well as personalization options save time and money
- Individual customization always possible
- Premium themes make WordPress websites and WooCommerce webshops unique
- Usually at least 6 months or lifetime support from the theme developer
- Particularly easy installation
- High security standard as Pro and Premium templates are always checked by the marketplace or platform, making security much higher than with free themes where security vulnerabilities or even malware (malicious code, usually JavaScript) can be present
- Regarding search engine optimization, many technical measures are already in place and initial optimization is integrated.
- No „dubious“, unsightly, and annoying links in the footer with a reference to the theme developer, author, or other sites
- Absolutely favorable price in relation to the great benefit and the gain in flexibility and the superb appearance
- Depending on the developer, you even have a certain say and can influence further development like pushing a wish list – without guarantee of consideration & implementation.
Potential disadvantages, depending on the theme, include a slightly slower loading time, which can be well managed through caching and compression. Pay attention to the type of license and the duration of support. A minor but marginal point of criticism is the limited use per domain. A theme with premium status must always be purchased per domain, i.e., per use. However, some providers offer discount packages for, e.g., 3, 5, or unlimited sites.
Our Premium Theme Recommendations
First off: The reason we recommend these WordPress themes is simple. We have known the developers for years and have implemented at least 100 websites and 30 online shops with both themes. As an agency and professional, we have thus actively contributed to their improvement.
The Best Premium WordPress Theme
In the detailed article on the top and best BeTheme WordPress Theme, you will find further details and advantages for this WordPress template, which also offers an optimized look for WooCommerce.
The Best WooCommerce Premium Theme
In our detailed article about the WooCommerce WoodMart Template, you will find more information.
All bestseller WordPress themes with premium status can be found here*.
Themes that we „unfortunately“ support and maintain for our clients and CANNOT recommend:
- Avada Theme* (although a bestseller!)
- The7 Theme* (it's okay but not good)
- Bridge Creative Theme* (gets better with every update but still not a highlight)
- Enfold* (simply not well developed and too many non-deactivatable functions)
Risk of confusion: Theme/Template, Gutenberg and PageBuilder
The Gutenberg Editor, newly released in 2019, is intended in the medium term not only to be responsible for content, but also to replace entire templates, thus allowing everything to be customized with one editor, and that as standard with WordPress. Our assessment is that this will happen in 2021, but this does not mean that existing and future themes will be replaced!
Update: In 2022, WordPress 5.9 will introduce the Block Editor including Full Site Editing in a first version. In our opinion, this will not be fully usable until the end of 2022. Therefore, we assume that themes with PageBuilders will continue to be used for now.
A theme, especially if it is premium, will always be more flexible and individual than an editor. Ready-made templates will also always be an advantage.
PageBuilder plugins, on the other hand, are usually only responsible for the content in the content area and less for the layout. However, the development of Elementor and Divi is also moving in the direction of Gutenberg’s planning and already offers the all-in-one module that makes an additional template unnecessary.
Be sure to also read our article on WordPress PageBuilders with a comparison and the many advantages. We have also written an article on the best WordPress Elementor Themes.
Sie haben Fragen, Probleme oder benötigen Beratung rund um WordPress Themes?
E-Mail: fi@vastcob.com
Florian Ibe
DE
