35 Most Popular WordPress Frameworks For Theme Development

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, powering over 40% of all websites on the internet. One of the reasons for its popularity is its flexibility, which is further enhanced by the use of WordPress frameworks. Frameworks provide a solid foundation for building WordPress themes, offering a range of features, tools, and best practices that make development faster, easier, and more efficient.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular WordPress frameworks, their features, and how they can help you create powerful, customizable, and responsive WordPress themes.

What is a WordPress Framework?

A WordPress framework is a code library that serves as the foundation for building WordPress themes. It provides a set of standardized functions, templates, and tools that developers can use to create custom themes without starting from scratch. Frameworks often include features like responsive design, SEO optimization, and custom widgets, making them a popular choice for both beginners and experienced developers.

Popular WordPress Frameworks

Below is a list of some of the most widely used WordPress frameworks, along with their key features and links to their official websites.

 

Genesis Framework

• Website: https://www.studiopress.com/themes/genesis/
• Details: Genesis is a highly popular WordPress framework known for its clean code, SEO optimization, and security features. It’s ideal for developers and marketers who want a solid foundation for building custom themes.
  • Key Features:
    • SEO-friendly structure
    • Responsive design
    • Secure and optimized code
    • Large library of child themes
    • Regular updates and excellent support

Divi (Elegant Themes)

• Website: https://www.elegantthemes.com/gallery/divi/
• Details: Divi is a versatile WordPress framework and theme builder with a drag-and-drop interface. It’s perfect for beginners and non-coders who want to create custom designs without coding.
  • Key Features:
    • Drag-and-drop builder
    • Pre-made layouts and templates
    • Responsive editing
    • Custom CSS control
    • Built-in split testing

Themify Framework

• Website: https://themify.me/
• Details: Themify is a powerful framework with a drag-and-drop builder and a wide range of pre-designed themes. It’s highly customizable and user-friendly.
  • Key Features:
    • Drag-and-drop builder
    • Responsive design
    • Parallax scrolling
    • Animation effects
    • Extensive documentation and support

Beaver Builder

• Website: https://www.wpbeaverbuilder.com/
• Details: Beaver Builder is a page builder plugin that also functions as a framework for creating custom WordPress themes. It’s known for its ease of use and flexibility.
  • Key Features:
    • Drag-and-drop interface
    • Pre-designed templates
    • Responsive design
    • Compatible with most WordPress themes
    • Developer-friendly with hooks and filters

Underscores

• Website: https://underscores.me/
• Details: Underscores is a minimalist WordPress starter theme developed by Automattic. It’s designed for developers who want to build custom themes from scratch without unnecessary bloat.
  • Key Features:
    • Lightweight and minimal
    • Clean, semantic code
    • Highly customizable
    • No pre-built styles or layouts
    • Ideal for advanced developers

Bones

• Website: https://themble.com/bones/
• Details: Bones is a development-focused WordPress starter theme that emphasizes clean code and best practices. It’s ideal for developers who want a lightweight starting point.
  • Key Features:
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Mobile-first approach
    • Sass support
    • Customizable and modular
    • Ideal for developers

Gantry Framework

• Website: https://gantry.org/
• Details: Gantry is a flexible and powerful open-source framework for WordPress and other CMS platforms. It’s known for its advanced layout management and customization options.
  • Key Features:
    • Drag-and-drop layout manager
    • Responsive design
    • Customizable particle system
    • Built-in presets and themes
    • Extensive documentation

Astra

• Website: https://wpastra.com/
• Details: Astra is a lightweight and highly customizable WordPress theme that also functions as a framework. It’s designed for performance and flexibility.
  • Key Features:
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Pre-built website templates
    • Customizable layouts
    • Compatible with popular page builders
    • SEO-friendly

Sage (formerly Roots)

• Website: https://roots.io/sage/
• Details: Sage is a modern WordPress starter theme that focuses on best practices and performance. It’s built with Laravel’s Blade templating engine and integrates with tools like Webpack and Browsersync.
  • Key Features:
    • Blade templating engine
    • Modern development tools
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Developer-friendly
    • Regular updates

 

Redux Framework

• Website: https://redux.io/
• Details: Redux Framework is a popular options framework for WordPress that allows developers to create custom theme options panels with ease. It’s widely used in premium themes and plugins.
  • Key Features:
    • Easy-to-use options panel
    • Extensive documentation
    • Developer-friendly
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Compatible with most themes and plugins

Unyson Framework

• Website: https://unyson.io/
• Details: Unyson is a WordPress framework that provides a range of tools and features for building custom themes and websites. It’s known for its flexibility and ease of use.
  • Key Features:
    • Drag-and-drop page builder
    • Built-in shortcodes and widgets
    • Responsive design
    • Easy-to-use customization options
    • Regular updates

Pods Framework

• Website: https://pods.io/
• Details: Pods Framework is a powerful tool for creating custom content types, fields, and taxonomies in WordPress. It’s ideal for developers who need to build complex websites with custom data structures.
  • Key Features:
    • Custom content types and fields
    • Easy-to-use interface
    • Developer-friendly
    • Modular and extensible
    • Regular updates

 

Elementor Framework

• Website: https://elementor.com/
• Details: Elementor is a popular page builder that also functions as a framework for creating custom WordPress themes. It’s known for its ease of use and flexibility.
  • Key Features:
    • Drag-and-drop interface
    • Pre-designed templates
    • Responsive design
    • Developer-friendly
    • Regular updates

Oxygen Builder

• Website: https://oxygenbuilder.com/
• Details: Oxygen Builder is a powerful tool for building custom WordPress themes and websites. It’s designed for developers who want full control over their designs.
  • Key Features:
    • Drag-and-drop interface
    • Full control over design
    • Responsive design
    • Developer-friendly
    • Regular updates

GeneratePress

• Website: https://generatepress.com/
• Details: GeneratePress is a lightweight and fast WordPress theme that also functions as a framework. It’s designed for performance and flexibility.
  • Key Features:
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Pre-designed templates
    • Customizable layouts
    • Developer-friendly
    • Regular updates

 

WP Rig

• Website: https://wprig.io/
• Details: WP Rig is a modern WordPress starter theme and build process that focuses on performance, accessibility, and modern development practices.
  • Key Features:
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Modern development tools
    • Accessibility-ready
    • Developer-friendly
    • Regular updates

Air Light

• Website: https://github.com/digitoimistodude/air-light
• Details: Air Light is a minimalist WordPress starter theme designed for performance and modern development practices. It’s built by Digitoimisto Dude, a Finnish digital agency.
  • Key Features:
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Modern development tools
    • Accessibility-ready
    • Developer-friendly
    • Free and open-source

UnderStrap

• Website: https://understrap.com/
• Details: UnderStrap is a WordPress starter theme that combines the Underscores starter theme with the Bootstrap framework. It’s ideal for developers who want a responsive and modern foundation.
  • Key Features:
    • Combines Underscores and Bootstrap
    • Responsive design
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Developer-friendly
    • Free and open-source

Timber

• Website: https://upstatement.com/timber/
• Details: Timber is a WordPress theme framework that integrates with the Twig templating engine. It’s designed for developers who want to separate logic from presentation.
  • Key Features:
    • Twig templating engine
    • Clean and organized code
    • Modular and extensible
    • Developer-friendly
    • Regular updates

WP Emerge

• Website: https://wpemerge.com/
• Details: WP Emerge is a modern WordPress development framework that focuses on simplicity and performance. It provides a clean and organized way to build custom themes.
  • Key Features:
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Modern development practices
    • Modular and extensible
    • Developer-friendly
    • Regular updates

BootstrapWP

• Website: https://bootstrapwp.com/
• Details: BootstrapWP is a WordPress starter theme built on the Bootstrap framework. It’s ideal for developers who want to leverage Bootstrap’s responsive grid system and components.
  • Key Features:
    • Built on Bootstrap
    • Responsive design
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Developer-friendly
    • Modular and customizable

 

Jointswp

• Website: https://jointswp.com/
• Details: Jointswp is a WordPress starter theme built on the Foundation framework. It’s designed for developers who want to create responsive and modern websites with a clean codebase.
  • Key Features:
    • Built on Foundation
    • Responsive design
    • Modular and extensible
    • Developer-friendly
    • Regular updates

 

Roots (Bedrock)

• Website: https://roots.io/bedrock/
• Details: Bedrock is a modern WordPress stack that helps you manage dependencies and streamline your development workflow. It’s part of the Roots suite of tools.
  • Key Features:
    • Dependency management with Composer
    • Environment-specific configuration
    • Secure and optimized
    • Developer-friendly
    • Modern development workflow

WPGulp

• Website: https://github.com/ahmadawais/WPGulp
• Details: WPGulp is a modern WordPress development workflow that uses Gulp for automating tasks like Sass compilation, JavaScript minification, and image optimization.
  • Key Features:
    • Automated development tasks
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Modern development tools
    • Developer-friendly
    • Free and open-source

 

Timber

• Website: https://upstatement.com/timber/
• Details: Timber is a WordPress theme framework that integrates with the Twig templating engine. It’s designed for developers who want to separate logic from presentation.
  • Key Features:
    • Twig templating engine
    • Clean and organized code
    • Modular and extensible
    • Developer-friendly
    • Regular updates

WP Rig

• Website: https://wprig.io/
• Details: WP Rig is a modern WordPress starter theme and build process that focuses on performance, accessibility, and modern development practices.
  • Key Features:
    • Lightweight and fast
    • Modern development tools
    • Accessibility-ready
    • Developer-friendly
    • Regular updates