When building a WordPress website, one of the most common questions beginners ask is: Should I use a theme or a template kit? Although both terms are related to website design, they serve very different purposes. Understanding their differences will help you select the most suitable option for your project.
What is a WordPress Theme?
A WordPress theme is a complete design framework for your website. It controls the overall look, layout, and sometimes even the functionality of your site. Themes define the structure of your website, including headers, footers, sidebars, typography, and color schemes.
Best for: Users who want a ready-made design that can be installed and used immediately.
Includes: Full layouts, templates for pages and posts, styling options, and sometimes built-in features.
Example: Astra, OceanWP, and GeneratePress.
Pros:
Provides a complete design solution out of the box.
Usually optimized for responsiveness and speed.
Ideal for beginners who want a quick setup.
Cons:
Less flexibility in design customization.
Changing themes later can affect your site layout significantly.
What is a Template Kit?
A template kit is a collection of pre-designed templates for individual pages, created for use with page builders like Elementor or WPBakery. Unlike themes, template kits don't control your entire website design. Instead, they give you page-level designs that you can import and customize.
Best for: Users who want creative freedom and flexibility to design their site using a page builder.
Includes: Pre-built templates for homepages, about pages, contact pages, blogs, etc.
Example: Elementor Template Kits from Envato Elements.
Pros:
Highly flexible and customizable.
Allows you to mix and match designs for different pages.
Great for modern, unique, and branded websites.
Cons:
Requires a compatible page builder.
It can be more time-consuming to set up compared to themes.
Key Differences Between Themes and Template Kits
Feature WordPress Theme Template Kit Scope Controls the entire website design. Provides templates for individual pages. Customization Limited customization options High level of flexibility Ease of Use Beginner-friendly Better for intermediate/advanced users Dependencies Works without page builders Requires a page builder (e.g. Elementor) Examples Astra, Ocean WP Elementor Kits from Envato Elements
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose a Theme if you want a quick, all-in-one design solution with minimal customization.
Choose a Template Kit if you prefer more creative control and are comfortable working with page builders like Elementor.
For many professionals, a hybrid approach works best: start with a lightweight theme and then enhance it with template kits for specific pages.
Final Thoughts
Both WordPress themes and template kits are powerful tools. The right choice depends on your goals, technical skills, and how much customization you want. By understanding the difference, you can make smarter decisions and build a website that's both functional and visually stunning.
Top comments (0)