WordPress® All-in-One For Dummies®

Getting Started with Free Themes

With thousands of free WordPress themes available, and new ones appearing all the time, your challenge is to find the right one for your site. Here are a few things to remember while you explore (also see the nearby sidebar, “Are all WordPress themes free?,” for information about free versus premium themes):

• Free themes are excellent starting places: We encourage first-time WordPress users to find a couple of free themes and use them as starting points for understanding how themes work and what you can do with them. Testing free themes, their layouts, and options helps you identify what you want in a theme.
• You'll switch themes frequently: Typically, You'll find a WordPress theme that you adore and then, a week or two later, You'll find another theme that fits you or your site better. Often, you won't stay with your initial choice. Something new will pop up on your radar screen. Eventually, You'll want to stick with one that fits your needs best and doesn't aggravate visitors because of constant changes.
• You get what you pay for: Although a plethora of free WordPress themes exist, largely, you receive limited or no support for them. Free themes are often a labor of love. The designers have full-time jobs and responsibilities and often release these free projects for fun, passion, and a desire to contribute to the WordPress community. Therefore, you should not expect (or demand) support for these themes. Some designers maintain very active and helpful ...