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WordPress Guide → Theme → WordPress
20 simple WordPress themes for 2025 (easy to use)
Looking for a clean, clutter-free WordPress theme that just works? Whether you’re starting a blog, building a business site, or launching a portfolio, a simple theme can help you stay focused on your content without overwhelming your visitors.
We’ve curated the best minimalist WordPress themes that combine great design, speed, and usability—so you can get online faster.
Top 3 simple WordPress themes
1. Astra
Astra is a favorite because it balances simplicity with powerful design flexibility for any type of site.
Unique feature: Huge library of pre-built starter sites for blogs, businesses, and shops.
2. Neve
Neve stands out for its blazing speed and mobile-first design that works right out of the box.
Unique feature: AMP compatibility for lightning-fast mobile performance.
3. Kadence
Kadence makes the list for its beginner-friendly customization tools that don’t sacrifice performance.
Unique feature: Global typography and color controls that apply site-wide instantly.
Simple WordPress themes: An overview
A simple WordPress theme focuses on clean layouts, fast loading, minimal distractions, and intuitive navigation. It avoids bloated features and flashy design elements that can slow down your site or confuse visitors.
Key things that make a theme “simple”:
- Clean typography and layout
- Limited color palettes
- Minimal or no animations
- Fast performance
- Easy-to-use customization options
Comparison table: Top 20 simple WordPress themes
| Theme | Free Version | Page Builder Support | WooCommerce Support | Mobile Responsive | Speed Optimized | Demo Import |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astra | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Neve | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kadence | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GeneratePress | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes (Pro) |
| Blocksy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OceanWP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Zakra | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hello Elementor | Yes | Elementor only | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Sydney | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hestia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ashe | Yes | Limited | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hemingway | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Writee | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
1. Astra
Astra is one of the most popular WordPress themes of all time—and for good reason. It’s simple, fast, and customizable without needing to write a line of code. Astra works flawlessly with Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Gutenberg, and it includes starter sites for almost every niche.
Astra is also accessibility-ready and has a clean codebase that won’t slow down your site. Whether you’re launching a blog, a business site, or a WooCommerce store, Astra gives you a clean slate that’s easy to build on.
Pros:
- Extremely fast loading times
- Deep integration with page builders
- WooCommerce support
- Large library of starter templates
Weaknesses:
- Some templates and features locked behind Pro
- Learning curve if you use the customizer heavily
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $59/year)
Best for: DIY website owners who want power and simplicity
2. Neve
Neve is a lightweight, mobile-first theme built for performance and simplicity. Developed by Themeisle, it’s compatible with Gutenberg, Elementor, Brizy, Beaver Builder, and more. Neve is perfect for beginners thanks to its easy setup wizard and range of starter sites.
The design is clean and uncluttered, and it performs well even on shared hosting. It also includes accessibility features and follows SEO best practices, making it a great option for long-term use.
Pros:
- Extremely fast and lightweight
- Works with all major page builders
- Easy to set up with starter templates
- Regular updates and good documentation
Weaknesses:
- Some customization requires the Pro version
- Limited built-in styling unless using templates
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $69/year)
Best for: Beginners who want speed, simplicity, and room to grow
3. Kadence
Kadence is a lightweight theme known for its modern design and intuitive customization experience. It offers a visual header and footer builder, global color palette, and full support for both Gutenberg and Elementor.
Kadence also includes starter templates that are stylish and performance-optimized. Even beginners can create professional-looking sites without touching code, which makes Kadence a go-to theme for simplicity without sacrifice.
Pros:
- Great starter templates and layout controls
- Global design settings
- Works with Gutenberg, Elementor, and others
- Strong performance and accessibility
Weaknesses:
- Free version limited in WooCommerce features
- Some advanced features require Pro
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $79/year)
Best for: Beginners who want drag-and-drop freedom with pro-level results
4. GeneratePress
GeneratePress is a lightweight, stable, and developer-friendly theme that emphasizes performance and usability. It’s a favorite among minimalist bloggers and performance geeks.
Pros:
- Lightning fast
- Hooks and filters for developers
- Built-in accessibility support
Weaknesses:
- Limited design options in free version
- Pro version required for most features
Cost: Free; Pro starts at $59/year
Best for: Bloggers, developers, performance-focused sites
5. Blocksy
Blocksy is a feature-rich but clean theme with deep integration for Gutenberg and popular page builders. Despite its options, the interface is intuitive and uncluttered.
Pros:
- Header/footer builder
- Dynamic content blocks
- WooCommerce features built in
Weaknesses:
- May feel too advanced for total beginners
- Some advanced features locked behind Pro
Cost: Free; Pro starts at $69/year
Best for: Designers, WooCommerce stores, advanced beginners
6. OceanWP
OceanWP is a fast, lightweight, and highly customizable WordPress theme that works well for almost any type of website. Its simple design is perfect out of the box, but it also includes a powerful set of features for developers or site owners who want to scale later.
OceanWP integrates seamlessly with page builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder, and its responsive design looks great on all screen sizes. You can start simple and gradually enable features as you need them—ideal for users who want flexibility without the clutter.
Pros:
- Pre-built demos for quick setup
- Deep integration with WooCommerce
- Developer-friendly with custom hooks
- SEO-friendly and accessibility-ready
Weaknesses:
- Settings panel can feel overwhelming
- Some features require premium extensions
Cost: Free (Paid extensions start at $43/year)
Best for: Users who want simplicity now and flexibility for future growth
7. Zakra
Zakra is a modern multipurpose theme built for speed and flexibility. It comes with over 80 starter templates and is optimized for the WordPress block editor as well as popular page builders like Elementor.
Zakra is also GDPR-ready, mobile-responsive, and AMP-compatible out of the box. It’s clean, easy to navigate, and well-suited for business sites, portfolios, or blogs where simplicity is key. It’s a no-fuss theme that doesn’t get in your way.
Pros:
- Clean design with many starter templates
- AMP support for fast loading
- Works great with block editor and Elementor
- WooCommerce compatibility
Weaknesses:
- Limited advanced styling in the free version
- Support and updates tied to paid plans
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $59/year)
Best for: Business sites and bloggers who want a simple yet polished look
8. Hello Elementor
Hello Elementor is the official starter theme for the Elementor page builder, and it’s about as minimal as a WordPress theme gets. It’s essentially a blank canvas—no styling, no widgets, no fluff—designed to load lightning-fast and let Elementor do all the heavy lifting.
This makes it an ideal choice for anyone who wants total design control without the bloat of a typical multipurpose theme. If you’re building with Elementor anyway, Hello is the perfect match.
Pros:
- Blazing fast performance
- Seamless Elementor integration
- Minimal code and zero styling conflicts
- Lightweight and SEO-optimized
Weaknesses:
- Requires Elementor for layout and design
- Not suitable without a page builder
Cost: Free
Best for: Designers and developers who want total control using Elementor
9. Sydney
Sydney is a simple yet business-ready theme from aThemes. It’s clean, responsive, and ideal for freelancers, agencies, or startups that need a strong visual presence without extra fluff.
The theme includes layout controls, Google Fonts, full-color customization, and built-in header options. It also supports Elementor, which makes it easy to personalize without touching code. Sydney is proof that a simple theme can still look bold and professional.
Pros:
- Business-focused starter templates
- Elementor integration
- Full color and typography controls
- Fast and responsive
Weaknesses:
- Limited layout options in the free version
- Customization requires some Elementor knowledge
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $69/year)
Best for: Freelancers and agencies that want a sleek, no-fuss business theme
10. Hestia
Hestia is a one-page WordPress theme built with simplicity and modern design in mind. Created by Themeisle, Hestia is great for startups, portfolios, and small businesses looking for a clean homepage with scrolling sections. It integrates well with WooCommerce, Elementor, and Gutenberg. You get a live customizer and some beautiful starter sites without any fluff—just the essentials for building a great site.
Pros:
- Smooth one-page layout
- Works well with WooCommerce
- Live customizer and clean UI
- SEO-friendly and responsive
Weaknesses:
- Limited design flexibility in the free version
- One-page format may not suit larger sites
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $69/year)
Best for: Startups and solo businesses needing a clean one-page site
11. Ashe
Ashe is a clean and elegant blog theme perfect for lifestyle bloggers, food writers, and personal content creators. Its minimalist aesthetic keeps the focus on your content, while the layout options make it easy to display posts in a stylish way.
Ashe supports WooCommerce, RTL languages, and most popular page builders. It’s also translation-ready and includes a responsive design that works great on mobile devices.
Pros:
- Clean layout with strong typography
- WooCommerce and RTL-ready
- One-click demo import
- Lightweight and fast
Weaknesses:
- Limited homepage customization
- No built-in header/footer builder
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $29.99/year)
Best for: Bloggers who want a simple, content-focused layout
12. Hemingway
Hemingway is a classic two-column blog theme that’s minimal, elegant, and fast. Designed for simplicity and legibility, it features clean typography, a parallax header image, and custom accent colors.
Hemingway doesn’t include fancy builders or starter sites—just a clean foundation for publishing content. It’s perfect for minimalist bloggers or writers who want a lightweight theme that doesn’t need ongoing maintenance.
Pros:
- Clean two-column layout
- Parallax header and custom accent colors
- Responsive and retina-ready
- No bloat or unnecessary features
Weaknesses:
- Very limited layout and widget options
- Not ideal for businesses or shops
Cost: Free
Best for: Bloggers and writers who want simplicity and speed above all
13. Writee
Writee is a clean, minimal theme designed specifically for writers and bloggers. It’s perfect for anyone who wants their words to take center stage. The typography is well-crafted, and the theme includes sidebar options, related posts, and a featured slider.
Writee is responsive, translation-ready, and supports WooCommerce if you plan to sell digital products or merch. For bloggers who don’t want distractions, this theme keeps it simple and sharp.
Pros:
- Focused on typography and readability
- Featured slider and related posts included
- WooCommerce support
- Responsive and translation-ready
Weaknesses:
- Minimal customization options
- Limited layout flexibility in the free version
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $34.99/year)
Best for: Writers and bloggers who want a no-frills publishing experience
14. Baskerville
Baskerville is a beautiful, grid-based theme designed for writers and content-heavy sites. Its minimalist layout is perfect for showcasing multiple post formats, including video, galleries, quotes, and links.
The grid system adapts well to mobile devices and presents your content in an elegant, Pinterest-style format. Baskerville also includes custom widgets and infinite scroll support, keeping your readers engaged with ease.
Pros:
- Masonry grid layout ideal for content-rich blogs
- Supports all post formats
- Custom widgets and full-width header
- Sleek, readable typography
Weaknesses:
- Few customization options without custom code
- No built-in support for page builders
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $34.99/year)
Best for: Writers and bloggers who want a no-frills publishing experience
15. Olsen Light
Olsen Light is a refined and elegant blogging theme that works beautifully for lifestyle, fashion, beauty, or travel writers. Its design emphasizes whitespace and typography, with built-in social sharing and multiple layout options.
Olsen Light is easy to configure and doesn’t require a page builder to look great. It’s visually polished but lightweight enough to run smoothly on shared hosting.
Pros:
- Clean, fashion-forward design
- Multiple post and sidebar layout options
- Built-in social media icons
- SEO-friendly and responsive
Weaknesses:
- Limited customization in the free version
- Not suited for business or ecommerce sites
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $49/year)
Best for: Lifestyle bloggers looking for a polished, simple layout
16. Twenty Twenty-Four
Twenty Twenty-Four is the default WordPress theme for 2024, designed specifically to showcase what’s possible with full-site editing. It offers a clean, universal design suitable for blogs, portfolios, and business sites.
With native support for global styles, patterns, and block-based templates, this theme is both modern and fast. No need for page builders or extra plugins—just use Gutenberg and go.
Pros:
- Full support for WordPress block editor and FSE
- Fast, accessible, and lightweight
- Clean typography and layout patterns
- Backed by the WordPress core team
Weaknesses:
- Limited appeal for users who prefer traditional Customizer themes
- Requires familiarity with block-based design
Cost: Free
Best for: Users who want a modern, no-plugin WordPress-native experience
17. Inspiro Lite
Inspiro Lite is a clean portfolio and video-focused theme designed with simplicity and style in mind. It features a fullscreen slideshow on the homepage that supports YouTube, Vimeo, and self-hosted video backgrounds.
Inspiro Lite is perfect for photographers, videographers, or agencies who want a minimal design that lets visuals shine. Despite the multimedia support, it stays lightweight and easy to manage.
Pros:
- Built-in video background support
- Fullscreen slideshow layout
- Simple and clean portfolio sections
- Lightweight and responsive
Weaknesses:
- Limited layout flexibility in the Lite version
- Some features require upgrade to Pro
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $69/year)
Best for: Visual creatives who want a simple but striking online presence
18. MinimalistBlogger
MinimalistBlogger is a stripped-down blogging theme that delivers exactly what the name suggests—a clean, simple space for writing. There are no sliders, no complex layout options, and no unnecessary elements.
It uses a centered content layout with large headings and plenty of whitespace, which helps your writing shine. If you’re a personal blogger or writer who values focus and speed, this theme does the job without distractions.
Pros:
- Minimalist, content-first layout
- Easy to install and configure
- Fast loading and mobile-optimized
- No unnecessary features or bloat
Weaknesses:
- Very few customization options
- Not suited for image-heavy or business sites
Cost: Free
Best for: Personal bloggers who want a clean, ultra-simple writing theme
19. Bento
Bento is a lesser-known but highly capable free theme with an emphasis on simplicity and functionality. It offers flexible layout controls, responsive design, and built-in compatibility with WooCommerce.
Bento supports unlimited color combinations and multiple blog/post formats. While the design is straightforward, it offers a surprising amount of customization—making it a solid pick if you want something lightweight but not limiting.
Pros:
- Full-width and boxed layouts
- Works with WooCommerce out of the box
- Multiple content display options
- Retina-ready and translation-ready
Weaknesses:
- Not updated as frequently as top-tier themes
- Limited pre-made demos
Cost: Free
Best for: Bloggers and small business owners who want flexibility without complexity
20. Phlox
Phlox is a multipurpose theme that manages to stay lightweight while offering a polished, professional look. The free version includes 40+ pre-built templates and solid Elementor integration, making it easy to launch a site without extra tools.
Phlox’s visual appeal is higher than most free themes, which makes it great for freelancers, photographers, or agencies that want to look sharp without investing in a premium theme right away.
Pros:
- Dozens of pre-built templates
- Clean and modern design
- Elementor support
- Responsive and retina-ready
Weaknesses:
- Theme options panel can be a bit complex
- Best features are Elementor-dependent
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $39/year)
Best for: Creatives who want a simple but professional portfolio site
Bonus: Rishi
Rishi is a clean, performance-optimized theme built for speed, SEO, and flexibility. It scores high on Core Web Vitals and offers a modern design that works well for blogs, portfolios, or business sites.
Rishi integrates smoothly with Gutenberg and Elementor and includes a variety of starter templates. It also offers global typography and color settings for fast, consistent design updates. If you want a sleek look with minimal setup, Rishi is a top contender.
Pros:
- Excellent performance and fast load times
- Multiple starter templates
- SEO-optimized and schema-ready
- Built with Gutenberg and Elementor in mind
Weaknesses:
- Advanced customization requires the Pro version
- Starter site selection is still growing
Cost: Free (Pro starts at $59/year)
Best for: Speed-conscious site owners who want modern simplicity
How to choose a simple WordPress theme
When picking a simple theme, focus on:
- Speed: Look for lightweight themes that load fast out of the box.
- Mobile responsiveness: Ensure the layout works on all screen sizes.
- Page builder compatibility: If you plan to customize your site, make sure it supports your preferred builder.
- WooCommerce readiness: If you’re running a store, WooCommerce support is a must.
- Support and updates: Choose a theme with active development and reliable support.
- Clean design: Prioritize readability, whitespace, and intuitive navigation.
Getting started choosing the right WordPress theme for your site
Much of this seems like common sense to anyone who has spent time in the WordPress world, but it’s not so clear to those who are new to WordPress. If you take a little time to make sure a theme is right for you, you’ll have a more positive experience with WordPress.
Liquid Web has been leading the industry in WordPress hosting for decades. And if you select managed WordPress hosting, our team of experts will manage server IT for you — so you can focus on growing your brand.
Click below to explore options or start a chat with one of our WordPress hosting experts now to get answers to your questions and further guidance.
Additional resources
How to change WordPress themes the right way and avoid potential problems→
We’ll go over some reasons why you may want to switch to a new theme and how to prepare your website. Then, we’ll show you a few ways to change your WordPress theme.
Step-by-step guide to building custom WordPress themes →
You’ll have all the tools you need to build a website that’s not just functional but genuinely impressive!
Best free WordPress themes ranked by real performance→
We’ll show you how pairing the right theme with high-performance WordPress hosting – like the plans offered by Liquid Web – can transform your site into a speed machine!
