Choosing a WordPress theme can be extremely tricky with the large number of high-quality themes and plugins to choose from. Plus, there are also other similar tools that can bias your choice. Luckily, our team is at the rescue, offering you the ultimate StudioPress review that, believe us, you need badly.
The almost unlimited types of websites you can build using StudioPress can make you feel a little overwhelmed. Having so much freedom can make it difficult to see the right choice right away with such a variety of products to offer.
Being one of the most popular theme stores in the industry nowadays, StudioPress helps over 200,00 customers in operating their websites and boasting a community of 10K users and developers. Over half a million websites are powered by the StudioPress themes and there are over 60 templates to choose from. Also, Yoast, WPBeginner, Copyblogger, Problogger, and Matt Mullenweg (the founder of WordPress), all use StudioPress and its themes for their sites.
Let’s see what StudioPress has to offer and why you should consider it.
StudioPress Promo Code
StudioPress Coupon Code - 50% Off Discount & Promo Code
What Is StudioPress?
You might have heard about the Genesis framework, a very well-known WordPress theme frame that can be best described as a layer of code that sits between the WordPress software and your theme of choice. Well, StudioPress is the creator of this unusual framework. Both StudioPress and Genesis Framework were created back in 2010 by Brian Gardner. The goal was to facilitate easier theme updates for WordPress site owners. In June 2018, WP Engine acquired StudioPress including the Genesis Framework. In this StudioPress review, we will also dig a little deeper into the Genesis Framework as these two tools are connected.
Genesis Framework is a WordPress theme with a basic design and appearance. These can be enhanced by installing one of the many child themes that have been built specifically for it. Only child themes that have been built for the Genesis Framework can be used alongside it. However, that does not cancel the fact that anyone is free to create new child themes for the StudioPress Genesis Framework. This is exactly how many developers make a living by creating commercial child themes for the framework.
Hence, be sure to install the Genesis Framework before you install the desired child theme. While Genesis is perfect as a stand-alone startup theme, it is important to note that it is a basic theme with basic functionality and design.
Some of the Genesis Framework best features are:
- Auto-size featured images
- Multiple layout options
- Mobile-friendly
- Built-in comment system
- Advertising functionality
- Custom page templates
- Live Theme Customiser
Finally, it comes with things like unlimited support, updates, and websites, all at a low cost. The Genesis Framework is suitable for advanced-level developers as well as for all novice website users. While Genesis is perfect as a standalone launch theme, it is important to note that it is a basic theme with basic functionality and design. In fact, it is more of a foundation than a theme. The real fun comes in when you start adding Genesis Kids Themes to the frame of your WordPress internet page.
StudioPress has a variety of strong points such as fast loading time and commitment to security. On the other hand, some theme features like a minimal amount of customization options and built-in features, are debatable. But these characteristics use a smaller amount of code to produce the themes. This allowing the website to load faster and have a more streamlined user experience.
Nowadays, the number of WordPress users who want to use multipurpose WordPress themes is constantly increasing. This means that there is a huge demand for all-in-one themes that can be used to build almost any type of website with all of the necessary features included in one package. That can be done with StudioPress once you install additional plugins or write custom code. Choosing a StudioPress theme that’s been built for creating a specific type of website, along with a handful of plugins that are essential for your project, still has its upsides. Your site will still probably outperform a true multipurpose theme that includes every feature imaginable, as well as countless demo versions and templates.
StudioPress Children’s Themes
Anyone can create a children’s theme for Genesis so that you are free to create any kind of website. Some examples can be found on StudioPress Showcase if you are curious what a StudioPress website looks like. You can find websites designed by bloggers, designers, and developers of all levels.
StudioPress Review of Plugins and Theme Features
1. StudioPress Plugins
StudioPress offers a wide range of plugins that help you expand the design and functionality of your site. Some of the available and most popular ones are:
- Genesis Connect for WooCommerce – Build an eCommerce Store Using the Popular WooCommerce Plugin
- AgentPress Lists – Help you create a list management system.
- Simple URL’s – Create, manage and track all outbound links using custom post types and 301 redirects
- Genesis Simple Share – Add unique social sharing buttons to any Genesis Kids theme
There are hundreds of free StudioPress plugins in the WordPress plugin repository that you can use. You are free to explore and find the plugins that fit best your needs and ideas.
2. StudioPress Theme Features
Each StudioPress theme has a set of standard features such as responsive design, clean code for security, fast loading time, SEO optimization, and minimal features for a streamlined site-building experience. StudioPress themes are built on pure code that meets the highest WordPress code standards. As a result, your site always runs fast, secure, and seamlessly for the ultimate user experience.
Let us dive deeper into some of the benefits that StudioPress themes possess:
2.1 Fast and Lightweight
Having a fast-loading website used to be an impressive feature. Nowadays, however, it is a must-have. Possessing a fast WordPress theme is critical for user experience, SEO, and conversion rate. One of the things that set StudioPress themes apart from the rest of the popular WordPress themes on the market is the fact that they are all built to be fast and easy.
These themes do not come with all the features you can think of, instead, they are built to give you the best set of features possible for creating a highly functional website, without all the code files that can slow down your site’s speed and affect overall performance.
And if you find that you need more design and functionality than is built into the theme you have chosen, you can take advantage of the thousands of free and premium WordPress plugins available to do just that, without overwhelming your site and hiding the user experience.
2.2 Mobile Responsive Design
Just as we cannot imagine our daily lives without smartphones, it is impossible to picture a website that is not mobile-friendly. Clearly, this feature is a must nowadays. After all, Google officially announced back in 2015 that sites with mobile-friendly web pages are getting a ranking boost. Fortunately, all StudioPress-themed mobile responses come so that visitors who click on your site from any device type or screen size can see your site in its entirety without excessive zooming or scrolling.
Also, StudioPress themes are built with HTML5 markup, which means they will:
- Spend less on plugins for functionality
- Work with all web browsers
- Get the same end experience regardless of the device
- Has more effective content
- Use less bandwidth and load faster
2.3 Security
Website security is the key to your success. After all, if your site is hacked or compromised, not only do you risk losing all your hard work, but you also risk losing customers.
StudioPress brought expert and core WordPress developer Mark Jaquith to ensure that the Genesis Framework is the most secure around.
2.4 Accessibility
Quite a lot of website owners do not take into consideration the availability of their websites and how accessible they are too disabled people. While the reason for such omission is unknown, it is a big mistake to alienate a large portion of your target audience because they cannot access all of your sites. People who are visually impaired, hard of hearing, color blind, or even temporarily disabled due to a personal injury or illness may have difficulty seeing your site fully when engaging in your content.
StudioPress, however, did take into account accessibility features so that all kinds of customers can access their website and disabled people will not be prevented from using its services. StudioPress themes make it easy to make assets accessible on your site so that anyone with any disability can enjoy your site.
2.5 Modern Design
At least once in every user’s experience, there was a time when they found the perfect theme for their idea when it comes to backend functionality, only to realize later on that the frontend design is outdated and not good in general. However, StudioPress comes with a modern design that suits any type of site, appeals to all visitors to the site, and works as it should.
Some of the best features that StudioPress themes possess are:
- Customize color scheme, font, and layout
- Widget ready homepage
- Custom header with the upload of the logo
- Latest posts complete with featured photos
- Easy to install demo content
- Custom page templates, including an exclusive landing page
- 6 default layout settings including side panel settings
- Social icon and share buttons
- Built-in search bar and breadcrumb navigation
2.6 A Large Community
With over 10,000 people involved in the StudioPress community, made up of both users and developers, you can get any kind of support in building your website using this tool. You can get support when it comes to design, functionality, site security, or troubleshooting. Another plus is that you can get a lot of inspiration from more experienced users who already succeeded at building their website. Their great job can serve as a starting point for you.
A great thing about these large communities is that you can find updates, code snippets, and tips and tricks from other users once you’re part of it. Besides, if you need someone to help you design or develop a website customized for you, StudioPress has a curated list of Genesis professionals who can help you with any type of job you need. View developer profiles, portfolios of their work, and contact information so you can get your site up and running with people who really know how to use the Genesis Framework.
3. Some of The Most Popular WordPress Themes
3.1 Academy Pro
Academy Pro is designed for those who want to create an online course, website owners, and member marketers. Some of the main features are:
- Live Theme Customizer
- Customizable heading with logo upload
- Mobile friendly and responsive design
- 6 built-in widget areas
- Translation ready
- Exclusive landing page
3.2 Foodie Pro
Foodie Pro is a minimalist Genesis children’s theme that also has the title of the most flexible Genesis theme to date. Its main features include:
- Custom page templates
- 3 home page layout options
- 5 widget-width widget areas
- Mobile responsive design
- Translation ability
- HYML5 marking
3.3 Maker Pro
Maker Pro is perfect for those with lots of ideas they want to share with their loyal readers, as well as those looking for a great place to display their beautiful imagery.
Main features:
- Lots of built-in widget areas
- Pre-trained custom page templates
- 3 layout options
- Custom header complete with logo upload
- Live Theme Customizer
- Mobile-friendly design
- Translation ready
- Pre-designed author, landing, and contact page
Pricing of StudioPress
When it comes to getting access to the themes from StudioPress, there are three main options:
- Single StudioPress theme including Genesis Framework: from $99.95 to $129.95.
- Pro Plus All-Theme Package: all 35-plus StudioPress themes for $499.95.
- Sign up for WP Engine managed to host and get the themes for free: Plans start from $34.95 a month.
Genesis Framework is required to use themes from StudioPress however, the framework is also available on its own for $59.95.
With prices starting at $99.95 for a single theme and going up to $129.95 for the newer options, the StudioPress themes can be considered a little more expensive than some other WordPress themes. However, taking into account the great value they offer, the price is worth it. When you consider how quickly and easily they can be used to build a professional-looking website. Return customers receive a discount when buying additional themes from StudioPress.
Final Thoughts
To sum up our StudioPress review, this tool’s themes are always a good idea in case you are looking for a secure, high-quality WordPress theme for your site. All the themes continue to constantly increase in popularity thanks to their design and functionality. With the StudioPress themes, it is easy to build a competitive website that is also easy to use whether you are an advanced developer or a new website owner.
We hope that this StudioPress review, its themes, and the Genesis Framework were useful to you and you can decide now whether it will be worth trying it out when building your website. In case you are already familiar with the tool, we really want to know about your experience with it. Let us know what you think about StudioPress and how’s the tool working for you.
Comments are closed.