36 Great Free WordPress Themes From 2011
There are probably a good amount of Noupe readers who would think little to nothing of paying money for a high quality WordPress theme if it was exactly what they were looking for. When compared to spending thousands of dollars on a unique design, a $40 investment in a premium theme for your website design is relatively painless. The number of premium WordPress theme stores and marketplaces has increased considerably over the last two years. Thankfully, many developers are still releasing quality designs for free.
Today we will be showing you 50 great WordPress themes that were released in 2011 for free. A few of the themes listed are the free version of a premium theme. Upgrading to the premium version usually gives you priority support and/or more features.
We hope you enjoy the list :)
1. Swatch
A free business and portfolio design that was developed to celebrate the release of the 100th theme from WooThemes. Features a custom homepage, featured slider, custom widgets, custom typography and multiple colour schemes.
Info & Download | Demo
2. Wootique
A free ecommerce design that was released in conjunction with the launch of the WooCommerce WordPress Plugin (which is a modified version of Jigoshop, the free ecommerce plugin we reviewed in Extending the Functionality of WordPress). With a featured slider, custom home page and custom widgets; Wootique is a great example of what can be achieved with Wootique.
Info & Download | Demo
3. Fungus
A Colourful blogging design that has social media links integrated in the sidebar and support for post image thumbnails.
Info & Download | Demo
4. WordPress Anniversary Theme
Released at the beginning of 2011 by Matt Mullenweg and 'The WordPress Crew', the anniversary theme has a traditional blog structure with a prominent header image.
Info & Download | Demo
5. BlueBubble
A simply minimal design that would be suitable for a blog or a portfolio. Includes an advanced option panel, 8 different colour schemes and social media integration.
Info & Download | Demo
6. Fotofolio Landscape
Designed for artists and photographers, Fotofolio Landscape automatically resizes uploaded images to fit the surrounding area and includes a useful slideshow option.
Info & Download | Demo
7. Big Square
A clean minimal design that is suitable for photo blogs. Perfect for travel blogs, personal blogs, portfolios and photography websites.
Info & Download | Demo
8. Balita
A brand new eCommerce designed for Smashing Magazine that was created to help sell children's toys and related products. It was designed using HTML5 and CSS3 and features a beautiful home page slider, custom shopping cart and Facebook integration.
Info & Download |
9. Parallax
A simplistic portfolio design that features a large homepage slider and a useful portfolio template page.
Info & Download
10. AutoFocus 2.0 Lite
Designed for photographers, AutoFocus lite is a simple HTML5 powered design that has a grid design and clean typography.
Info & Download | Demo
11. WordPress Diary Theme
A retro style design that was designed in HTML5 and CSS3. It uses Google web fonts, has built-in pagination and an AJAX powered contact form. Uploaded photos are displayed beautifully using lightbox.
Info & Download | Demo
12. Gynix Tema
A business design which places featured articles on the home page. The theme could easily be used for a blog as well.
Info & Download | Demo
13. Triton Lite
Triton Lite is a self-proclaimed 'All In One' design that features a beautiful home page slider, shortcodes for styling content and 3 built in widget areas.
Info & Download | Demo
14. Shuttershot
A portfolio design with a difference, Shuttershot shows photos in full screen in the background of the design. Even when a visitor views a blog page or page the background continues to change. A unique idea that has thankully been implemented well.
Info & Download | Demo
15. Bonpress
A colourful blogging theme that supports custom widgets. It includes custom widgets for social media services and comes in 4 colour schemes (blue, black, pink, orange).
Info & Download | Demo
16. MyPhoto
The first photography theme from WP Explorer is a minimal effort that uses Javascript to highlight photos when a user hovers over them. It's clean and fast loading, making it a good choice for a photo website.
Info & Download |
17. Shadows
A minimal blogging design that was created for WordPress 3.0+. It supports post thumbnails and includes built in pagination and an author information box on blog pages.
Info & Download
18. Divi
Divi helps you create a website from scratch with their page builder that enables you simply move the elements with your mouse to design your page.
Info & Download | Demo
19. Lefty
A fun blogging design that doesn't take itself too seriously. The home page has a featured post image slider and you can use custom fonts using Google fonts.
Info & Download |
20. PolarMedia
A multimedia friendly design that would be suitable for a blog, news website or online magazine.
Info & Download | Demo
21. Blissful Blog
A simple yet elegant WordPress theme that was created specifically for wedding related websites.
Info & Download | Demo
22. PhotoClick
One of the few one-column themes that was released in 2011. It comes in two colour schemes and includes short codes and custom widgets.
Info & Download | Demo
23. Minimatica
A fantastic looking minimal theme that has a beautiful image slider on the home page. This feature rich theme is perfect for blogs, portfolios or video websites.
Info & Download | Demo
24. Min
This is an extremely simple, clean and to the point theme. It has two widgetized footer areas to handle navigation or anything else you feel like sticking in there.
Info & Download | Demo
25. Grid
A fantastic fast loading minimal design that uses a 4 column grid layout to display posts. Perfect for a portfolio or blog.
Info & Download | Demo
26. Amphion Lite
A blogging design that comes with 2 theme skins, 2 custom widgets, 2 short codes and 2 WordPress menus. Featured articles are displayed prominently on the home page in an image slider.
Info & Download
27. Grid Portfolio
A beautiful minimal theme that was designed for illustrators, photographers and graphic designers. There are several custom home page layouts to choose from with most displaying posts in a grid layout.
Info & Download | Demo
28. WP Creativix
A nice corporate design that also features a basic portfolio template (which has jQuery lightbox support).
Info & Download | Demo
29. Steira
A boxy minimal blogging theme from the Automattic team.
Info & Download | Demo
31. HTML5Press
Created using HTML5 and CSS3, the theme lets you choose from over 40 Google fonts. It includes a featured posts slider, post image support, post format support and 6 colour schemes (pink, blue, green, red, orange, and bluish purple).
Info & Download | Demo
32. Liquorice
A beautiful vintage design that uses Google fonts.
Info & Download
33. Delicate
A clean minimal blogging design that was created using the NattyWP framework.
Info & Download | Demo
34. PressWork
An HTML5 WordPress Framework for designers, developers & publishers. The user friendly front page editor allows you to move things around and modify your website in a live environment.
Info & Download
35. Tungstenation
A good choice for a business or portfolio website. The home page features a beautiful jQuery slider. It also features post image thumbnails, social media integration, built in page navigation, custom font integration and much more.
Info & Download | Demo
36. SixHours
A great looking minimal blogging theme from Caroline Moore.
Info & Download | Demo
37. Busby
A clean blogging theme that was built using the UpThemes Theme Framework. It includes social media integration in the header and a featured post slider on the home page.
Info & Download | Demo
38. Blog-O-Folio
Last but not least is Blog-O-Folio, a great looking blog and portfolio design from Noupe. Features portfolio integration, built in advertisement options and an email subscription form.
Info & Download | Demo
Do you know of a great WordPress design that was released for free in 2011 that didn't make the list? If so, we encourage you to share it with fellow readers in the comment area.
(rb)
Info & Download | Demo
2. Wootique
A free ecommerce design that was released in conjunction with the launch of the WooCommerce WordPress Plugin (which is a modified version of Jigoshop, the free ecommerce plugin we reviewed in Extending the Functionality of WordPress). With a featured slider, custom home page and custom widgets; Wootique is a great example of what can be achieved with Wootique.
Info & Download | Demo
3. Fungus
A Colourful blogging design that has social media links integrated in the sidebar and support for post image thumbnails.
Info & Download | Demo
4. WordPress Anniversary Theme
Released at the beginning of 2011 by Matt Mullenweg and 'The WordPress Crew', the anniversary theme has a traditional blog structure with a prominent header image.
Info & Download | Demo
5. BlueBubble
A simply minimal design that would be suitable for a blog or a portfolio. Includes an advanced option panel, 8 different colour schemes and social media integration.
Info & Download | Demo
6. Fotofolio Landscape
Designed for artists and photographers, Fotofolio Landscape automatically resizes uploaded images to fit the surrounding area and includes a useful slideshow option.
Info & Download | Demo
7. Big Square
A clean minimal design that is suitable for photo blogs. Perfect for travel blogs, personal blogs, portfolios and photography websites.
Info & Download | Demo
8. Balita
A brand new eCommerce designed for Smashing Magazine that was created to help sell children's toys and related products. It was designed using HTML5 and CSS3 and features a beautiful home page slider, custom shopping cart and Facebook integration.
Info & Download |
9. Parallax
A simplistic portfolio design that features a large homepage slider and a useful portfolio template page.
Info & Download
10. AutoFocus 2.0 Lite
Designed for photographers, AutoFocus lite is a simple HTML5 powered design that has a grid design and clean typography.
Info & Download | Demo
11. WordPress Diary Theme
A retro style design that was designed in HTML5 and CSS3. It uses Google web fonts, has built-in pagination and an AJAX powered contact form. Uploaded photos are displayed beautifully using lightbox.
Info & Download | Demo
12. Gynix Tema
A business design which places featured articles on the home page. The theme could easily be used for a blog as well.
Info & Download | Demo
13. Triton Lite
Triton Lite is a self-proclaimed 'All In One' design that features a beautiful home page slider, shortcodes for styling content and 3 built in widget areas.
Info & Download | Demo
14. Shuttershot
A portfolio design with a difference, Shuttershot shows photos in full screen in the background of the design. Even when a visitor views a blog page or page the background continues to change. A unique idea that has thankully been implemented well.
Info & Download | Demo
15. Bonpress
A colourful blogging theme that supports custom widgets. It includes custom widgets for social media services and comes in 4 colour schemes (blue, black, pink, orange).
Info & Download | Demo
16. MyPhoto
The first photography theme from WP Explorer is a minimal effort that uses Javascript to highlight photos when a user hovers over them. It's clean and fast loading, making it a good choice for a photo website.
Info & Download |
17. Shadows
A minimal blogging design that was created for WordPress 3.0+. It supports post thumbnails and includes built in pagination and an author information box on blog pages.
Info & Download
18. Divi
Divi helps you create a website from scratch with their page builder that enables you simply move the elements with your mouse to design your page.
Info & Download | Demo
19. Lefty
A fun blogging design that doesn't take itself too seriously. The home page has a featured post image slider and you can use custom fonts using Google fonts.
Info & Download |
20. PolarMedia
A multimedia friendly design that would be suitable for a blog, news website or online magazine.
Info & Download | Demo
21. Blissful Blog
A simple yet elegant WordPress theme that was created specifically for wedding related websites.
Info & Download | Demo
22. PhotoClick
One of the few one-column themes that was released in 2011. It comes in two colour schemes and includes short codes and custom widgets.
Info & Download | Demo
23. Minimatica
A fantastic looking minimal theme that has a beautiful image slider on the home page. This feature rich theme is perfect for blogs, portfolios or video websites.
Info & Download | Demo
24. Min
This is an extremely simple, clean and to the point theme. It has two widgetized footer areas to handle navigation or anything else you feel like sticking in there.
Info & Download | Demo
25. Grid
A fantastic fast loading minimal design that uses a 4 column grid layout to display posts. Perfect for a portfolio or blog.
Info & Download | Demo
26. Amphion Lite
A blogging design that comes with 2 theme skins, 2 custom widgets, 2 short codes and 2 WordPress menus. Featured articles are displayed prominently on the home page in an image slider.
Info & Download
27. Grid Portfolio
A beautiful minimal theme that was designed for illustrators, photographers and graphic designers. There are several custom home page layouts to choose from with most displaying posts in a grid layout.
Info & Download | Demo
28. WP Creativix
A nice corporate design that also features a basic portfolio template (which has jQuery lightbox support).
Info & Download | Demo
29. Steira
A boxy minimal blogging theme from the Automattic team.
Info & Download | Demo
31. HTML5Press
Created using HTML5 and CSS3, the theme lets you choose from over 40 Google fonts. It includes a featured posts slider, post image support, post format support and 6 colour schemes (pink, blue, green, red, orange, and bluish purple).
Info & Download | Demo
32. Liquorice
A beautiful vintage design that uses Google fonts.
Info & Download
33. Delicate
A clean minimal blogging design that was created using the NattyWP framework.
Info & Download | Demo
34. PressWork
An HTML5 WordPress Framework for designers, developers & publishers. The user friendly front page editor allows you to move things around and modify your website in a live environment.
Info & Download
35. Tungstenation
A good choice for a business or portfolio website. The home page features a beautiful jQuery slider. It also features post image thumbnails, social media integration, built in page navigation, custom font integration and much more.
Info & Download | Demo
36. SixHours
A great looking minimal blogging theme from Caroline Moore.
Info & Download | Demo
37. Busby
A clean blogging theme that was built using the UpThemes Theme Framework. It includes social media integration in the header and a featured post slider on the home page.
Info & Download | Demo
38. Blog-O-Folio
Last but not least is Blog-O-Folio, a great looking blog and portfolio design from Noupe. Features portfolio integration, built in advertisement options and an email subscription form.
Info & Download | Demo
Do you know of a great WordPress design that was released for free in 2011 that didn't make the list? If so, we encourage you to share it with fellow readers in the comment area.
(rb)
Thanks for this great article, we are in the process of creating a new resources page for our website and we will link our visitors to this page. As you mentioned there are individuals and companies that do not have the budget or knowledge in design to create a great layout or design.
Thanks again.
Thanks Darren. Glad you found it useful. If you search the Noupe archives you will find a similar articles which I’m sure you will find useful.
awesome themes.
thnks
Insomnia apparently isn’t a free download, correct me if I’m wrong. Your link only redirects to DesignerThemes’ website where you have to buy an account in order to download their themes.
Please accept my apologies regarding Insomnia. I wrote this article a few weeks ago. When the theme was initially released the lite version was free and the pro version was $49.
It came to my attention a week or so ago when a review of the theme was published on my own site that the developer had changed the pricing structure and bumped the lite version up to $39 and the professional version up to $79. I updated my own article but I completely forgot that I included the design in this list -if I had I would have removed it.
I have replaced the design with Balita; a free ecommerce design from Smashing Magazine that was released last week.
Again, sorry for any inconvenience. Unfortunately, theme developers sometimes change the pricing of their themes from time to time and there’s little you can do :)
Same here… Insomnia doesn’t seem to be free.
Kevin great list, Thank you for including my theme..
I think http://www.wpshower.com should be on your list too, they released few Free themes in 2011
No problem.
Yeah WP Shower have released some great designs this year. I’ve actually included their designs on several lists on my own site though I unfortunately had to leave out some good designs from this list as I wanted to make sure I included something for everyone.
I love teh Blogum theme. I’m gonna use in my site…Thanks million!
These are always a good source of inspiration to look through, thanks for putting these together.
Thanks for this great collection excellent free themes
Great source of free themes!
Thanks for the mention, I appreciate it!!! (I’m the developer of the Ambrosia theme ;-)
Amazing collection themes. Thanks
Hi Kevin, thanks for include our free wordpress theme “Fungus”. Great!
Anyway, amazing list for free wordpress themes.
Awesome Roundup! All are really great themes!
These are really very creative n inspiring collection :)
Excellent themes, looks great!!! Will be good if you select themes collection for joomla too :)
fine collection! I think I will use some of these themes Thank you!
The first one with the guys by the pier is my favorite. Nice selection!
Thanks for this awesome list. I love WordPress Anniversary Theme :D
wow, nice collection, free but very beautiful.
Excellent collection of wordpress themes there!! I think I have FINALLY found one for my website redesign! thanks a lot for sharing guys.
Great themes ;)
Good job and thanks for providing the source of free WordPress themes.
Loved the 39. Platform, 45. Delicate, 46. PressWork and 49. Busby theme framework :)
Gracias por estos temas.
Muy bonitos.
Awesome list of real fresh & great WP themes !
But I’m jalous or yours :)
I’d just saw the footer I understand now why :) Smashing family member ;)
Thank’s anyway for this amazing list..
Robert
I would love to see a similar list for commercial themes
Hey great list dude….
I love the gapzo theme amazing free theme…..
thanks for this list. i always love these top lists, makes it easy to find some great themes to utilize.
woow, thanks for the great collection.
Really nice collection for wp template
Thanks- this list helped me put together my school blog!
Wonderful themes. Thanks.
A great collection of WordPress themes. There are some really inspiring examples, I love the Big Square example for its clean bold layout. I also really like the PolarMedia template for its use of colour and navigation. Overall a great collection of interesting templates that shows me what can be created.
What a list Kevin! Grabbed some nice ones (Diary/notebook looks sweeeeet). Have some photographer friends that would love a few of these slick themes.
awesome !! thank you very much!
Thanks João, for the heads up. Link has been corrected.
Noupe Editorial Team
Thank you so much for this post. These themes are great!
Thanks. stunning collection dude. Helped me a lot in one of my quick response to a client. Thank you again.
Great! I love it XD
Superb Collection. Thanks for share
Thanks for the collection. It’s one of the best ones out there.
Hey, thanks for the wonderful collection; it’s amazing!
In fact, you have me a list of wonderful ‘magazine’ themes.. and I wanted just one! :) See, you confused me which one to go for.
Good job, buddy!
Nice, I just needed a theme having realized my suffision is not doing it…
awesome themes thanks for share
Great list. I have chosen one template for my blog. Thanks.
Great collection of themes. Will probably use some of these as frameworks for upcoming projects.
There is no match with Pagelines.
Great themes.. good work
Thank you very much for the templates. I have to do a project and needed an urgent soon. Many thanks.
Hi kevin, thanks for share.. it’s very usefull for me. i really need a free wordpress theme but looks like a premium one, and you answer my dream. thanks :))
Very nice collection. I really love that. Thank you very much for such free collection.
Best collection of WordPress themes. Thanks for share
Great Themes… Will also link to them from my blog, and i just live the creativix theme.. It makes me think,, my site needs an upgrade :D
woww.. thats funny :D i want to download “MyCorp”. Thank you for sharing these.. :D
Hi, nice template collection..btw i’am in search of template for perfume kinda things, any helps on where can i find the good ones? any helps would be appreciated, thanks
Nice compilation!
Nicest collection of themes. carry on. i will definitely install one from them. just confused to pick which one
Thank you for this great collections. i will definitely use one
Thanks for the collection of free themes!
thank you… So many awesome themes. ;)
Thanku
Some excellent piece of innovative work ! Thanks !
Excellent post! You listed several themes I had not seen before. Just an FYI, but the “demo” link for #39 Platform goes to the Pagelines site where the theme is not free… it’s actually $197! But the Platform link itself does go to the WordPress.org theme link. I’m kind of confused how the free version differs from the paid version so I’ll have to check it out.
all themes are clean and professional design, really good job. specially page line theme..
i like theme on number 19
This is a great list to get good ideas and free themes from. Love WordPress! ; )
Impressive work, the only problem is what template to use for my new site!
This is definitely the best list of free wp themes for 2011 I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot. Triton and My corporation are my top picks!
great and excellent free themes, this has been useful. thanks!
Sweet themes bra!!!
Thanks,
Chris
I had used the slider theme for my blog…………….. it is AWESOME…………………!
thanks for help . . .!!
HTML5Press is simple but ok. I like the presentation of the HTML 5 and CSS3.
And you are sure… All this themes are free???
Good list.
Wow..Great collections…thanks a lot….
Gooooooooooooooooooooood!
very good, thank you…
wow! most of the WP thees you have posted here are not usually seen in the other user’s collection. Great selection I must say!
Good List !
great ! .. thanks :)
Great themes! Free but very beautiful!
Thank for this themes
Wow, best compilation of wordpress themes!! Thank you so much!! :D
wow all are awesome but sad i cant use every themes coz i have only one site..but thx a lot .im going to set one from here
Very good post, I am planning to shift to WP. Sooner the better.
Very impressive collection of themes i really loved it
Great free ones. Thanks.
43. Portfolio Press is best i use it for photo blog
Great choice of themes, I’ve worked with few of them so far and they were really good if that matters. :)
The theme 20. MyCorp is a best theme. I like the theme.
Thanks Kevin for a nice collection of wordpress theme. I Like the Grid Theme very much and will be using in one of my Website
Haha proper….
Great themes, love them. Thanks for sharing them.
Are they all free? Some are really cool though most miss device responsiveness
If themes come with no device responsiveness – it is a waste of time and money now.
Great list of free theme here is another free theme
http://dynamicweblab.com/2012/09/easy-press-free-wordpress-theme/
great list .
Check this free theme also
http://dynamicweblab.com/2012/09/easy-press-free-wordpress-theme/
Great list, some themes are simple but very nice
Very nice themes. Thanks for all themes
Wow, great theams. Thanks
Greats , Nice theames
really nice themes ,,,beautiful
Great Theme . Downloaded . Thanks admin
Very Nice themes . Thanks Admin
In my search for a new professionel theme I came across your site. Even though the article is a year old you have found a nice selection of Word Press themes for free. I will definitely use of these.
Awasome Template… I Looks Great
Thanks alot
Very nice collection. Thank you so much!
A great collection of WordPress themes. There are some really inspiring examples, I love the Big Square example for its clean bold layout.
Awesome themes! Very interesting and useful! Thanks for sharing! :)
Kevin great list, Thank you!!
good free themes !
Thanks for all themes
Thank you!!
good free themes !
thanks sir, I choose wootique for my online shop. Thanks for information sir :D
Themes are simple but very nice ! Thanks very much !
With havin so much written content do you ever run into
any problems of plagorism or copyright infringement?
My website has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it appears a lot of it is popping it
up all over the web without my authorization.
Do you know any techniques to help stop content from
being ripped off? I’d genuinely appreciate it.