Revised and updated for 2024.
Why would you want to use a WordPress.com theme on a WordPress.org site?
There are a few reasons:
- Your site is on WordPress.com now. You want to move it over to self-hosted WordPress i.e. WordPress.org. (Or you think you might want to move later.) You want to know if you can keep the same theme.
- You’ve seen a really cool theme on someone else’s site which runs on WordPress.com. You want to know if you can use it on your own self-hosted site.
- You’ve looked through the WordPress.org theme directory and got overwhelmed. The smaller selection of themes on WordPress.com seems easier to navigate.
So can you use a WordPress.com theme on a WordPress.org site?
Short answer: Probably.
Long answer: Keep reading!
Confused about the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org? Read this:
How do themes work on WordPress.com?
Themes consist of a number of files which specify the look of a WordPress site.
When you install a theme on a WordPress.com website, the theme files stay on the WordPress.com web server.
If you want to move to a new web host one day, unless you have paid for a Business or higher plan, you can’t simply download the theme and reuse it.
However, there’s a good chance that the WordPress.com theme you like is available for download elsewhere.
What themes are available on WordPress.com?
There are over 300 themes to choose from on WordPress.com’s theme directory. New themes are continually being added – check out WordPress.com Themes News to read about the latest ones.
Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com) are the main theme designers. Some themes, mainly those aimed at ecommerce sites, are built by other people. The “Twenty…” series of themes are built by the WordPress.org team.
Many of the themes on WordPress.com are free.
WordPress.com used to offer individually priced premium themes ranging from £14 to £113, but now includes premium themes for free when you subscribe to a particular WordPress.com plan. The exception is for ecommerce themes, which require a subscription to the Business plan and an additional subscription fee of up to £89/year.
The majority of themes on WordPress.com are block themes, which allow full site editing using the block editor. There are also a smaller number of classic themes, and others which bridge the gap between the two – hybrid themes and universal themes.
Find out more about classic and block themes.
What themes are available on WordPress.org?
There are over 12,000 free themes on the WordPress.org theme directory.
Many (but not all) free themes on WordPress.com are also in the WordPress.org theme directory. Some themes that you can only access via a paid plan on WordPress.com are also there.
Where else can you get WordPress themes?
There are dozens of theme shops selling their own themes.
Some of them are listed in the Commercial Themes section on WordPress.org.
Other places you can find WordPress themes are on the WooCommerce Themes (for ecommerce themes) and GitHub.
How do I know if the WordPress.com theme I want is available for use with WordPress.org?
I went through the list of WordPress.com themes and I’ve organized them into four tables in alphabetical order – for block, hybrid, universal and classic themes.
Each table has 4 columns:
- WordPress.com theme & creator
- Cost on WordPress.com For some themes, I’ve listed the price in pounds as I’m in the UK. If you’re in the USA, you will see prices in dollars.
- Available on WordPress.org? If a theme is here, I’ve added the link to the page to download it.
- Available elsewhere? If a theme is available elsewhere on the Web, it’s mentioned here.
Block themes
| WordPress.com theme & creator | Cost on WordPress.com | Available on WordPress.org? | Available elsewhere? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adonay by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Adventurer by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Adventurer | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Allez by the WordPress team | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Alter by the WordPress team | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Amulet by Automattic | Requires Business plan | No | No |
| Annalee by Automattic | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | No |
| Archeo by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Archeo | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Archivo by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Archivo | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Arquio by SiloCreativo | Requires Business plan + £44/year | No | Yes, from Arquio • Silo Creativo as a single theme for $49 (one-off payment) or as part of a theme bundle for $89/year |
| Artistry by Organic Themes | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from Artistry – Arts and Crafts WooCommerce Theme |
| Artly by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Artly | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Assembler by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Attar by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Avalon by Anariel Design | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Avalon – Fashion and Clothing WooCommerce Theme |
| BagBerry by AgniHD | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from Bagberry – Fashion and Clothing WooCommerce Theme |
| Bain Marie by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/bain-marie |
| Bark by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub |
| Basti by Anariel Design | Requires Business plan +£71/year | No | Yes, £79/year or £179 (one time) from Basti | Anariel Design |
| Baxter by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Bedrock by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Bedrock | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Bibimbap by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Bibimbap | WordPress Theme Block theme | N/A |
| Bibliophile by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Bibliophile | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Bitácora by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Bitácora | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Blissed by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Blissed | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Blissful by ThemeGrill | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Blissful – Gift Shop WordPress WooCommerce Theme |
| Blockstar by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Blogorama by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/blogorama |
| Bookix by MadrasThemes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Bookix – Bookstore & Bookshop WooCommerce Theme |
| Boxed Bio by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/boxedbio |
| Bricksy Pro by Anariel Design | Requires Business plan +£53/year | No | Yes, for £59/year or £149 (one time) from Bricksy Pro | Anariel Design |
| Brute by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Brute | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| BSoJ by Automattic | Free | Yes, at BSoJ | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Bute by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Bute | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Byrne by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Cakely by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Cakely | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Calyx by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Carnation by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Carter by ThemeZee | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | No |
| Chrono by Organic Themes | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from Chrono – WooCommerce Marketplace |
| Colorloops by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Colorloops | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Colorstream by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Colorstream | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Common by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Common | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Cortado by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/cortado |
| Cottage by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Course by Automattic | Requires Business plan | Yes, at Course | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Covr by Automattic | Free | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/covr |
| Craftfully by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/craftfully |
| Creatio 2 by Automattic | Free | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/creatio-2 |
| CTLG by Automattic | Free | Yes, at CTLG | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Cubico by Automattic | Yes, at Cubico | WordPress Theme | N/A | |
| Cultivate by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Curriculum by Automattic | Free | No | No |
| Dark Academia by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Dark Academia | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Dawson by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Dawson | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Deco by MadrasThemes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Deco – Home Decor Furniture WooCommerce Theme |
| Didone by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Didone | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Disco by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Disco | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| DOS by Automattic | Free | Yes, as WP-DOS | WordPress Theme | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Dossier by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/dossier |
| Dropp by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/dropp |
| Eben by Themes Harbor | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from Eben – Minimalist Architecture WooCommerce Theme |
| eLaventa by Catch Themes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from eLaventa – WooCommerce themes |
| eMart by MadrasThemes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from eMart – Electronics Store WooCommerce Theme |
| Enroute by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Entry by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| ePentatonic by Viva Themes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from ePentatonic – Music, Artist WooCommerce Theme |
| Epi by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/epi |
| eRide by Madras Themes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from eRide – Sport WooCommerce Theme |
| Erma by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Erma | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| eThreadwears by Catch Themes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from eThreadwears – WooCommerce Marketplace |
| Eventual by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/eventual |
| Everglow by AgniHD | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Everglow – Cosmetics, Skincare Block Theme for WooCommerce |
| Feature by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Feature | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Feelin’Good by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Feelin’Good – Themes | N/A |
| Fewer by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Fewer | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Fictionary by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/fictionary |
| Fixmate by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Fixmate | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Foam by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Fontaine by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Fontaine | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Fotograma by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Fotograma | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Freddie by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Freddie | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| FreshCart by MadrasThemes | Requires Business plan + £53/year | No | Yes, for $59/year from FreshCart – Dokan Multi-vendor Marketplace WooCommerce Theme |
| Fuel by Anariel Design | Requires Business plan + £62/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Fuel – Healthy Food Store WooCommerce Theme Block theme |
| George Lois by Automattic | Free | Yes, at George Lois | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Gizmo by ThemeGrill | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Gizmo – Electronics Store WooCommerce Theme |
| Goodskin by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Gourmetto by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Grammer One by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Greenstead by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Happening by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Happening | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Hevor by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Hey by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Hey | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Highline by AgniHD | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Highline – Fashion and Clothing Block Theme for WooCommerce |
| Hola by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Hola | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Infield by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Iotix by Automattic | Free | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/iotix |
| Issue by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Jackson by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Jaida by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Jaida | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| JazzyGrid by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at JazzyGrid | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Jenn by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/jenn |
| JinJang by Automattic | Free | Yes, at JinJang | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Kamala by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/kamala |
| Kawaii-Chan by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/kawaii-chan |
| Kaze by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/kaze |
| Kedai by MadrasThemes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Kedai – Electronics Store WooCommerce Theme |
| Kereta by MadrasThemes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Kereta – Automotive & Cars WooCommerce Theme |
| Kerr by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Kigen by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Kigen | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Kiosko by Automattic | Free with Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/kiosko |
| Lativ by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Lativ | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Lettre by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Lettre | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Lincoln by ThemeZee | Requires Business plan + £53/year | No | No |
| Lineup by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Lineup | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Livro by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Livro | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Loïc by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Loïc | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Loudness by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Loudness – WordPress theme | N/A |
| LowFi by Automattic | Free | Yes, at LowFi | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Luce by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Luminance by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Luminance | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Luminate by AgniHD | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Wardrobe – Minimal Fashion Block Theme for WooCommerce |
| Luxus by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/luxus |
| Macchiato by AgniHD | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Macchiato – Coffee Shop WooCommerce Theme |
| Makoney by ElmaStudio | Requires Business plan +£62/year | No | Yes, free from Makoney | ElmaStudio |
| Mann by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/mann |
| Margarethe by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Margarethe | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Marl by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Massimo by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Massimo | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Masu by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Matrioska by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Matrioska | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Meraki by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Message by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Message | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Messagerie by the WordPress team | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/messagerie |
| Moviescript by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Moviescript | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Mpho by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Mpho | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Mugistore by ElmaStudio | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, free from Mugistore | ElmaStudio |
| Munchies by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Muscat by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Musée by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Musee | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Mysa by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/mysa |
| Natural Block by Organic Themes | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | No |
| Negai by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Negai | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Nested by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Nook by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Olsen FSE by CSSIgniter | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | No |
| Olympique by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Olympique | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| OnyxPulse by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at OnyxPulse | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Optimismo by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Optimismo | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Organizer by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/organizer |
| OrnateDecor by ThemeGrill | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Ornate Decor – Furniture Shop WooCommerce WordPress Theme |
| Otis by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Otis | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Outland by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Overlaid by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Paimio by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Paimio | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Partygurl by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Partygurl | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Payton by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Peirao by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Pendant by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Pendant | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Photographer by Organic Themes | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, $99/year from Photographer Theme – WordPress Block Themes and Plugins |
| Pieria by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Pierian by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Pierian | WordPress Theme Identical theme to Pieria, but with more style variations | N/A |
| Pixl by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Pixl | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Pizzeria by MadrasThemes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, $79/year from Pizzeria – Pizza/Fast Food Restaurant WooCommerce Theme |
| Podbase by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Podbase | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Podcasty by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Poema by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Poema | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Poesis by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Poesis | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Pomme by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Portia by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Portia | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Programme by Automattic | Free | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/programme |
| Promoter by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Promoter | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Raconteur by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Raconteur | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Rainfall by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Rainfall | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| RAW by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/raw |
| RecipeBook by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | Yes, at RecipeBook | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Remote by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Remote | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Restaurant by Organic Themes | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from Restaurant Theme – WordPress Block Themes and Plugins |
| Retrato by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Retrato | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Reverie by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Rialto by Organic Themes | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from Rialto – Multivendor Marketplace WooCommerce WordPress Theme |
| Ritratto by the WordPress team | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Roam by Press75 | Requires Business plan + £26/year | No | No |
| Ron by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Ron | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Saison by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Saison | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Screenplay by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Skatepark by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Skatepark | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Skincues by CatchThemes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Skincues – Cosmetics Store WooCommerce Theme |
| Skivers by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Smithland by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| SND by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| SolarOne by ElmaStudio | Requires Business plan +£53/year | No | Free from SolarOne | ElmaStudio |
| Spearhead by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Spiel by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Spiel | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Sprinkler by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/sprinkler |
| Stage by the WordPress team | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/stage |
| StartAce by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| StartFitter by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Startorg by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/startorg |
| STAX by Organic Themes | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from STAX – WordPress Block Themes and Plugins |
| Sten by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Sten | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Stewart by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Stewart | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Storia by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Storia | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Strand by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Sunderland by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Sunderland | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Surrealist by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Surrealist | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Swag by VivaThemes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Swag – WooCommerce Marketplace |
| Tazza by Automattic | Requires Business plan | No | No |
| Tenku by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Texty by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Titleless by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Titleless | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| The MENU by the WordPress team | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | On WordPress.org as MyMenu at MyMenu | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| The Jazzers by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/the-jazzers |
| Thriving Artist by Automattic | Requires Business plan | No | No |
| TieBreak by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/tiebreak |
| Tomoni by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Tomoni | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Treehouse by Thunderstores | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Treehouse – WooCommerce themes |
| Trellick by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Trellick | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Tronar by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Tronar | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Tsubaki by Automattic | Requires Business plan | No | No |
| Tú by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Twenty Twenty-Four by the WordPress team | Free | Yes, at Twenty Twenty-Four | WordPress Theme | WordPress.org | N/A |
| Twenty Twenty-Three by the WordPress team | Free | Yes, at Twenty Twenty-Three | WordPress Theme | WordPress.org | N/A |
| Twenty Twenty-Two (Red) by the WordPress team (Free) | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Twenty Twenty-Two (Swiss) by the WordPress team | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Twenty Twenty-Two by the WordPress team | Free | Yes, at Twenty Twenty-Two | WordPress Theme | WordPress.org | N/A |
| Ueno by Automattic (Free) | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Uprising Next by OsomPress | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | No |
| Upsidedown by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Upsidedown | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Varese by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Vastra by ThemeGrill | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Vastra – Fashion and Clothing WooCommerce Theme |
| Vetro by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Vibrrrant by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | No | Yes, on GitHub https://github.com/Automattic/themes/tree/trunk/vibrrrant |
| Videomaker by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Videomaker | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Videomaker White by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Vignette by Viva Themes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Vignette – Minimal Interior Design WooCommerce Theme |
| Vivid by Nudge Themes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $69/year from Vivid – Nudge Themes |
| Vivre by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Vivre | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Vows by Automattic | Free with Personal, Premium or Business plan | Yes, at Vows | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Wardrobe by AgniHD | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Wardrobe – Minimal Fashion Block Theme for WooCommerce |
| Waverly by Nudge Themes | Requires Business plan | No | Yes, for $59/year from Waverly – Nudge Themes |
| Winkel by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Yuga by Automattic | Free with Premium or Business plan | No | No |
| Yuna by Anariel Design | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Yuna – Charity Organization WooCommerce Theme |
| Zaino by Automattic | Requires Business plan | No | No |
Hybrid themes
What are hybrid themes? According to Justin Tadlock of WP Tavern:
Hybrid themes are classic themes that have adopted one or more FSE components, such as the template editor or theme.json.
| WordPress.com theme & creator | Cost on WordPress.com | Available on WordPress.org? | Available elsewhere? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alves by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Baker by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Balasana by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Bantry by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Barnsbury by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Bradford by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Coutoire by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Dalston by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Exford by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Hever by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Leven by the WordPress team | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Mayland by Automattic | No | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Maywood by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Morden by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Rivington by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Rockfield by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Seedlet by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Seedlet | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Shawburn by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Stow by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Stratford by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Twenty Twenty by the WordPress team | Free | Yes, at Twenty Twenty | WordPress Theme | WordPress.org | N/A |
| Twenty Twenty-One by the WordPress team | Free | Yes, at Twenty Twenty-One | WordPress Theme | WordPress.org | N/A |
Universal themes
A universal theme is a block theme that also works in classic mode.
| WordPress.com theme & creator | Cost on WordPress.com | Available on WordPress.org? | Available elsewhere? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arbutus by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Geologist (Cream) by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Geologist by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Geologist | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Quadrat by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Quadrat | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Russell by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Zoologist by Automattic | Free | Yes, from Zoologist | WordPress Theme | N/A |
Classic themes
| WordPress.com theme & creator | Cost on WordPress.com | Available on WordPress.org? | Available elsewhere? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afterlight by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Afterlight | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| AltoFocus by Automattic | Free | Yes, at AltoFocus | WordPress Theme Directory (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Apostrophe 2 by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Apparel by Merchants’ Best Friends | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from Apparel – Fashion and Clothing WooCommerce Theme Classic theme |
| Baskerville 2 by Anders Norén | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Bass by Viva Themes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Bass – WooCommerce Marketplace |
| Bespoke by Press75 | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Bespoke – WooCommerce Marketplace |
| Blooms by Fuel Themes | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from Blooms – Green plants and flowers WooCommerce Theme |
| Boardwalk by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Boardwalk | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Business by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Button 2 by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Canapé by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Canape | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| Canard by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Canard | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Cerauno by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Cerauno | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Coherent by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Coherent | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| Colinear by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Colinear | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Copenhagen by Merchants’ Best Friends | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from Copenhagen – Minimal Furniture WooCommerce Theme |
| Cubic by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Cubic | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| Cyanotype by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Cyanotype | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| Dara by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Dara | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Dyad 2 by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Edda by Mel Choyce | Free | Yes, at Edda | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Escutcheon by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Escutcheon | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| Folio by Press75 | Requires Business plan + £53/year | No | Yes, for $59/year from Folio – WooCommerce Marketplace |
| Franklin by Michael Burrows | Free | Yes, at Franklin | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (older version!) |
| Gateway by Rescue Themes | Free | Yes, at Gateway | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Gazette by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Gazette | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Heim by NordicMade | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Heim – Home and Furniture WooCommerce Theme |
| Hew by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Hew | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| Hexa by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Hexa | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Independent Publisher 2 by Raam Dev | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Intergalactic 2 by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Ixion by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Ixion | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Karuna by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Karuna | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| La Beauté by Merchants’ Best Friends | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from La Beauté – Cosmetics WooCommerce Theme |
| Libre 2 by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Libretto by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Libretto | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Lingonberry by Anders Norén | Free | Yes, at Lingonberry | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Lovecraft by Anders Norén | Free | Yes, at Lovecraft | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Lyretail by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Lyretail | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| Miniature by CSSIgniter | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Miniature – Kids and Toys WooCommerce Theme |
| Nucleare by CrestaProject | Free | Yes, at Nucleare | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Olymp by Viva Themes | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Olymp – WooCommerce Marketplace |
| Overline by Fuel Themes | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from Overline – Cosmetics, Health and Beauty WooCommerce Theme |
| Penscratch 2 by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Photos by Automattic | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Pique by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Pique | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Publication by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Publication | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Radcliffe 2 by Anders Norén | Free | No | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Recurring by Press75 | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | No |
| Resonar by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Resonar | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | |
| Restoration by Fuel Themes | Requires Business plan + £89/year | No | Yes, for $99/year from Restoration – Furniture, Home, Decor WooCommerce Theme |
| Revelar by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Revelar | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| Rhodes by CSSIgniter | Requires Business plan + £71/year | No | Yes, for $79/year from Rhodes – WooCommerce Marketplace |
| Rowling by Anders Norén | Free | Yes, at Rowling | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Saga by Justin Tadlock | Free | Yes, at Saga | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Sapor by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Sapor | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| Satellite by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Satellite | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (older version!) |
| Scratchpad by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Scratchpad | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Scrawl by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Scrawl | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| Shoreditch by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Shoreditch | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Sobe by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Sobe | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| TextBook by Automattic | Free | Yes, at TextBook | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Tonal by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Tonal | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download from the theme’s WordPress.com page (same version) |
| Toujours by Automattic | Free | Yes, at Toujours | WordPress Theme (This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years) | Download a newer version from the theme’s WordPress.com page |
| Twenty Nineteen by the WordPress team | Free | Yes, at Twenty Nineteen | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Twenty Seventeen by the WordPress team | Free | Yes, at Twenty Seventeen | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Twenty Sixteen by the WordPress team | Free | Yes, at Twenty Sixteen | WordPress Theme | N/A |
| Wilson by Anders Norén | Free | Yes, at Wilson | WordPress Theme | N/A |
Themes only available on WordPress.com
These are the themes I could only find on WordPress.com, which are not available to download or buy elsewhere:
- Amulet
- Annalee
- Baxter
- Blockstar
- Byrne
- Carnation
- Carter
- Cottage
- Cultivate
- Curriculum
- Enroute
- Gourmetto
- Greenstead
- Hevor
- Kerr
- Lincoln
- Munchies
- Natural Block
- Olsen FSE
- Outland
- Payton
- Peirao
- Podcasty
- Recurring
- Smithland
- StartAce
- StartFitter
- Tazza
- Thriving Artist
- Tsubaki
- Varese
- Videomaker White
- Yuga
- Zaino
If you use one of these and you’re moving to self-hosted WordPress, you’ll need to find another theme.
Downloading and using themes
If a theme exists in the WordPress.org theme directory, it will have a page like this, with a blue Download button on the top right:
Some themes – mainly classic themes – have not been updated recently. If they’re older themes you’ll see a warning on the theme page which says:
This theme hasn’t been updated in over 2 years. It may no longer be maintained or supported and may have compatibility issues when used with more recent versions of WordPress.
I would be very wary of using a theme that has this warning. The oldest theme that I found was the Saga theme by Justin Tadlock which has not been updated for over 10 years!
Downloaded WordPress.org themes are in .zip file format and have filenames with the theme name and version appended.
You can install the zip file of any WordPress theme by going to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress install and selecting Add New Theme then Upload Theme. Use the Browse button to find it in your file system, then choose Install Now.
Once the theme is installed, click Activate to use it.
An even simpler way to install WordPress.org themes is from your WordPress Dashboard – simply go to Appearance > Themes in your site and select the Add New Theme button.
Then search for the theme, and hover over the theme screenshot and select Install.
Once the theme is installed, click Activate to use it as your active theme.
Some themes are not available to download on WordPress.org, but can still be used for self-hosted WordPress sites by downloading a copy from the theme’s WordPress.com page. If this is the case, you’ll see a download button like this if you scroll down the page:
Themes downloaded from WordPress.com have filenames with the theme name then wpcom followed by the theme version number, like so:
You may find that a theme that has not been regularly updated on WordPress.org is still used and maintained on WordPress.com. For example, the AltoFocus theme downloadable from WordPress.com is version 1.0.14, while the one on WordPress.org is 1.0.7. If you install both, you will have two installs, one from WordPress.com and one from WordPress.org. This is because the themes have different folder names.
Some themes are child themes, and require a parent theme be installed as well. For example, Mayland theme is a child theme of Varia, and you will need to download and install both.
Some premium themes are available to buy from WooCommerce.com, and they will have a page like the following. After you purchase the theme, you can download it.
Yet other premium themes are available to buy on the theme shop’s website. Again, you’ll get the download link after you’ve paid for it.
Finally, some of Automattic’s themes are on GitHub.com:
There is no straightforward way to download an Automattic theme from GitHub. You will need to go to the Automattic themes page and download all their themes in a zip file (over 350MB) by clicking on the green Code button, then Download ZIP in the pop-up menu:
Then you need to unzip the folder, then find the folder of the theme you want and zip that. You now have an installable theme zip file.
What about retired WordPress.com themes?
Some themes on WordPress.com are “retired” – no longer offered for installation.
This is usually because they don’t meet modern code standards.
Retired themes may still function, but won’t receive updates.
If your theme is retired, I recommend you look for another theme which will be better looking and future proof.
Read more about retired themes.
How are WordPress themes updated?
WordPress themes are continually updated to improve performance, add features and fix bugs or security vulnerabilities. You should therefore keep your themes updated when a new version is released.
Theme updates on WordPress.com
On WordPress.com, themes listed in the WordPress.org theme directory and themes included in your plan are automatically updated.
Themes not in the WordPress.org theme directory (e.g. a theme you purchased from a third party theme vendor outwith WordPress.com) will have their own update process.
Theme updates on WordPress.org
Themes in the WordPress.org theme directory or purchased themes
Updates on self-hosted WordPress are a little different.
If your theme is in the WordPress.org theme directory, you will get an update notification when a new version is available for download.
The same should apply for themes bought from WooCommerce.com or third party theme shops.
Here’s what that looks like:
To update a theme, check the box next to it and select Update Themes. You’ll get a message saying that the theme was updated. (It’s a good idea to take a backup of your site first.)
You can also set your themes to update automatically.
Themes downloaded from WordPress.com
For themes downloaded from WordPress.com, there are no automatic updates, so you will need to check back periodically on the theme’s WordPress.com page to see if there’s an updated version by clicking on the Download button.
You can find the version you have installed on WordPress by going to Appearance > Themes and clicking on the theme screenshot to view the theme details.
Here’s an example for the Nook theme – the theme version is just after the theme name:
Check the version number of the downloaded theme from WordPress.com. If there is a newer version, you can update the theme via FTP. Another option is uploading the theme’s zip file. If you have a newer version of an installed theme, WordPress will let you know and you can overwrite the existing one.
Themes downloaded from GitHub
Themes downloaded from GitHub do not have automatic updates, so you will need to check the readme.txt or the style.css of the theme to see if there is a new version number. In this case the Craftfully theme was updated to version 1.0.6 five months ago:
You will then need to do the same download process as before and upload the new version of the theme via FTP or by uploading the zip file.
Advice on keeping themes updated
Because it’s much easier using the WordPress update system, I recommend using a theme from the WordPress.org theme directory or a paid theme.
Checking for theme updates via the theme’s WordPress.com page or GitHub is much more time-consuming and updating a theme this way is more hassle.
Need more WordPress theme advice?
Further reading:
If you like this post, please share!
Thank you for the in-depth research into WordPress.com themes. One of the reasons I’ve started to look at the premium and free themes on WordPress.com is because I’ve gotten to know the theme authors. When I’ve asked about features or for support, they’ve been quick to respond.
That’s interesting, Deborah. My impression is that only the best theme authors get invited to submit themes to WordPress.com. Though I was surprised to find a few themes that weren’t sold commercially. For those, I don’t know if the author still supports them.
Thank you for this great post. I am running a self-hosted WordPress site and this is very useful.
Thanks, Salim. This question came from someone I know. I couldn’t find a similar post so I’m glad I wrote this one.
Hi Claire, nice article! Theme’s are still a headache for many people using wordpress.com and this’ll certainly help migration.