Custom vs. Premium WordPress theme

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WordPress powers some of internet’s top websites and has gained an immense fan following over the past decade. That is the reason you chose to start your website in WordPress with a free theme and no customization. Now that your website has taken off, you want to take it up a notch but cannot decide between a custom WordPress theme or a premium theme.

This article will provide you a breakdown between those choices and help you decide which one is better. Here’s the hint – the answer is a custom WordPress theme and you will understand why by the time you finish reading this article. Before we delve into the reasons why you need a custom WordPress theme and not just a premium one, let us first look at what each of these mean.

Common features between your custom and premium theme

Irrespective of the type of theme you choose, the basic functionality of your website will not change. All themes will enable you to log in, update your website, maintain security through the administrative function and in general contains all the code and feature necessary to run a bare bones website.

A theme is a “skin” that sits on top of this bare bones website that makes your site unique. Think of it as a pre-fabricated set of page templates that include visual elements. Allowing you to customize the color, font, text size and structure, a theme is what brands your website. Themes come in 3 different types and can be free, premium or custom. Free themes are just that – they are free. They have very limited options and only allow you to change the site color. Premium and custom themes are more appropriate for businesses and blogs looking to scale.

Introduction to Premium Based Themes   

Premium WordPress themes are a step above free themes in that they offer a few more customization features. These cookie-cutter themes are best used when you have limited functionality in mind for your website. Thousands of developers from across the world have devoted time to create premium WordPress themes. All you need is to download the theme from the WordPress store and customize it per your needs. Premium WordPress themes are best when you have a

·         Small website

·         Limited budget

·         Lack of development and designing skills

·         Limited need for advanced functionality

·         Need to purchase immediately

Keep in mind though that premium themes do not come with developer support in most cases. So, most developers are only interested in you till you make a sale and may not support you once you do.

The Custom Theme Difference

In case of custom WordPress theme, the theme is designed around your website and your brand identity, not the other way around.  You decide what color, font, structure and layout you want for your website and it is made to order specifically for your needs.

Do you run a data analysis blog and want integrated display for your charts? You are in luck. Custom themes can add any functionality or feature you want.  They are designed to make your site truly unique and are adapted to the style of the website owner rather than the designer. Let us now delve into why custom themes are the way to go when it comes to WordPress.

Why are Custom Themes Better?

Here are five reasons why custom themes are better than premium themes.

·         Brand Identity – By creating a theme that is uniquely suited to your goals and vision for the website, you are creating a brand identity for yourself. When you think of Facebook, think of how your mind leaps to the “Facebook blue”, that is how your readers will feel about your website with a custom theme.

·         Continuous Customer Support – Custom WordPress designers provide continuous support helping you not just install the theme for your website but also helping fix bugs and providing remote assistance when necessary.

·         Added Features and Functionality – Whether you want to add an integrated web chat or you want support for a specific tool from within your website, you can do so with custom WordPress themes. Add new features and functionalities with you theme instead of installing them as plugins.

·         Code ownership – Most custom WordPress providers will enter a contract that provides you with full ownership of the code. This means if for some reason, you are dissatisfied with their support, you can always switch companies without losing your website.

·         Avoid Feature Bloat – Custom themes are completely devoid of unwanted features that premium themes tend to have. When you create a theme to satisfy only your needs, your code tends to be less bloated with features you don’t need.

In the end, for just a little bit more money you build a truly safe and secure WordPress site that revolves around your brand identity and is instantly recognizable to your readers.