21 Best WordPress Starter Themes for Developers in 2016

Are you just getting started with WordPress theme development? WordPress starter themes help you get started with a solid foundation. In this article, we have hand-picked the best WordPress starter themes for theme developers.

What is a WordPress Starter Theme

A WordPress Starter theme is a blank theme with minimum design, and a basic or absolutely no layout. These themes usually come with the most commonly used templates in a WordPress theme.

They have code to display posts, archive pages, single posts, comments, but with minimum or no styling at all. This allows theme developers to quickly start adding their own styles to build a totally new theme.

Starter themes are different than a parent theme or a theme framework. Parent themes are fully styled WordPress themes designed to be installed and used on live websites. Theme frameworks provide a lot of hooks and filters for usage in child theme development.

Starter themes do not come with styling, you are not supposed to use them as it is, and they are not frameworks with custom hooks, filters, and template tags.

Instead, you use a starter theme to build a parent theme.

Having said that, let’s take a look at some of the best starter themes for WordPress.

1. Underscores

Underscores is probably the most popular of all WordPress starter themes. Maintained by Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com blog hosting service), Underscores is a minimalist starter theme written in HTML5 and CSS. The clean code is meant to get out of your way and help you quickly build a standard compliant WordPress theme.

2. Components

From the folks behind Underscores comes Components. It is basically 6 starter themes for different kind of websites. Currently there is a base, blog, blog modern, portfolio, business, and magazine starter theme available for download.

3. Bones

Bones is a WordPress starter theme developed with a focus on mobile-first approach. It uses Sass and comes equipped with ready to use code for custom post types and custom dashboard functions.

4. Sage

Sage is a modern WordPress starter theme based on Gulp, Bootstrap, and Bower. It uses a Theme Wrapper which helps you avoid repeating the same code in every template. Sage is actively maintained and has a strong following among WordPress front-end developers.

5. FoundationPress

Based on Foundation 6 framework, FoundationPress is a modern WordPress starter theme. It comes with clean semantic code and powerful customization features that make it easier for you to rapidly build WordPress themes.

6. UnderStrap

UnderStrap is a WordPress starter theme based on Underscores and Bootstrap 4. It comes with a mobile first, responsive grid framework, and its super easy to customize.

7. Bootstrap Four

As the name suggests, Bootstrap Four is a WordPress starter theme based on Bootstrap 4 framework. It provides a clean code base for theme developer to do whatever they want.

8. WP RootStrap

WP Rootstrap is a Boostrap 3 based WordPress starter theme for developers. It uses Options Framework for theme options.

9. Generic

Generic is a simple WordPress starter theme. Generic is plain and just as minimal as you would like your starter theme to be.

10. BlankSlate

Blankslate is a simple and extremely flexible WordPress starter theme. It is designed with developers in mind. It is simple yet comes with powerful foundation for your themes to rely on.

11. CyberChimps

CyberChimps is a fully responsive WordPress starter theme built with Bootstrap. It comes with a touch-friendly drag and drop options panel which allows users to customize their site using touch devices.

12. Klasik Framework

Built with quicker theme development in mind, Klasik Framework is a simple starter theme for WordPress. Theme features 9 widget area, 8 custom widget and simple Theme Option for full CMS control

13. Start

Start is based on Underscores starter theme and Bootstrap framework. It inherits all the code of Underscores and adds Bootstrap magic for rapid front-end development.

14. A11Y’All

If accessibility is a main concern for you, then you will love A11Y’All. It is a WordPress starter theme designed from scratch with accessibility in mind. It includes page templates and customizable menus, header, widgets and background.

15. Cornerstone

Cornerstone is a modern starter theme for WordPress developers. It is based on the popular Foundation framework. It comes ready with custom header, sidebar, widgets, and navigation menu locations pre-defined.

16. WP-Flex

WP-Flex is a blank WordPress theme or starter theme. It adheres to WordPress coding best practices and guidelines provided by WordPress theme review team. This basic theme can be a good starting point for any custom WordPress design.

17. JointsWP

JointsWP is a rock solid WordPress starter theme. It is based on the Foundation 6 framework and comes in CSS or Sass flavors.

18. _tk

Themekraft’s _tK is modern responsive WordPress starter theme. It is based on Twitter’s Bootstrap framework and the Underscores starter theme.

19. Quark

Quark is an easy to customize WordPress starter theme. It is based on Underscores and Twenty Twelve WordPress theme. It uses Normalize to make sure that browsers render all elements more consistently and Mordernizr for detecting HTML5 and CSS3 browser capabilities.

20. Nebula

Nebula is an advanced WordPress starter theme that is more like framework but not completely a framework. It is a starter theme with lots of custom functionality like recommendation engine for 404 and no-search-result pages, and Autocomplete Search, etc.

21. HTML5Blank

HTML5Blank is a easy to use WordPress starter theme. It is based on clean HTML5 and CSS3 templates with ready to use code and template tags for you to utilize during your theme development.

We hope this article helped you find the best WordPress starter theme for developers. You may also want to see our guide on how to add dummy content for theme development in WordPress.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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9 Best PDF Plugins for WordPress

Do you want to add PDF files to your WordPress site? By default, WordPress cannot generate or embed PDF files in posts or pages. In this article, we have hand-picked some of the best PDF plugins for WordPress.

1. PDF Viewer

The PDF Viewer allows you to display PDF files inside your WordPress posts and pages. It uses Mozilla’s PDF.js script to render PDF documents beautifully with tools to scroll, search, jump between pages, print, and download PDF files.

For detailed instructions, see our guide on how to add a PDF viewer in WordPress.

2. WP Advanced PDF

WP Advanced PDF plugin allows your users to download your posts and pages in PDF format. You can enable the PDF download for all users or just for registered users. You can use custom fonts, logo, and even add a watermark to your PDF files.

3. PDF & Print by BestWebSoft

As the name suggests, this plugin adds a PDF download and print button to your WordPress posts, pages, and custom post types. You can add your website title, featured image, custom styles, and fonts. The plugin can also execute shortcodes when generating PDFs or creating a printer friendly version.

4. PDF Image Generator

PDF Image Generator creates a cover image for PDF Files you add in WordPress posts for download. The plugin can generate this cover image by either using the first page in the PDF or featured image. The download icon will then display the thumbnail image linked to PDF file.

For this plugin to work your WordPress hosting provider should have ImageMagick and GhostScript installed on their server.

5. PDF Thumbnails

Similar to the previous plugin, PDF thumbnail also generates a thumbnail of the first page of your PDF file during the upload. However, your PDF file and the thumbnail image remain as two separate files. You will need to manually insert the generated thumbnail and then link it to the PDF file.

6. DK PDF

This powerful plugin allows users to download your posts and pages in PDF format by clicking on a button. It comes with an easy interface to setup the placement of the PDF download button and create your own custom header and footer for PDF downloads.

The plugin also comes with shortcodes that allow you to control what content goes inside the PDF. You can also hide the content you don’t want to be included into PDF download.

7. PDF Embedder

As the name suggests, PDF Embedder plugin allows you to embed PDF files in WordPress posts and pages. The plugin uses JavaScript to embed files with a fully functional toolbar allowing users to zoom, navigate, and even download the PDF file.

8. WordPress PDF Light Viewer Plugin

WordPress PDF Lite Viewer plugin is particularly good at embedding very large PDF files. It uses Turn.js JavaScript library to display PDF files as flipbooks with thumbnail navigation. The PDF viewer comes with zoom, navigation, and fullscreen buttons. It is also fully responsive and can work on different device sizes.

9. BSK PDF Manager

BSK PDF Manager is a file manager for PDF files on a WordPress site. If you upload PDF files often, then you may want to categorize them, display them as lists, or a single download. This plugin makes it easier to manage PDF files in WordPress.

Bonus Plugins

These plugins do not offer a way generate or embed PDF files. However, if you serve PDF files on your WordPress site, then you may find them helpful.

10. SearchWP

SearchWP is a paid WordPress plugin. It allows you to add a better search experience to your WordPress site. One of the features of this plugin is the ability to search the text inside PDF files. However, it cannot search PDF files that are encrypted, stored outside media library, or have images as text. See our guide on how to improve WordPress search with SearchWP

11. OptinMonster

OptinMonster is a powerful tool that helps you grow your email list. You can convert abandoning visitors into subscribers by using OptinMonster. You can ask users to signup for your email list in exchange for free download PDF resource.

You can also use it to offer content upgrades. See this list of 30 content upgrade ideas to 10X your subscribers.

We hope this article helped you find the best PDF plugins for WordPress. You may also want to see our list of 24 must have WordPress plugins for business websites.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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16 Best WordPress Plugins for Marketers

Are you a marketer trying to make the most out of WordPress? Recently, one of our readers asked us to recommend the best WordPress plugins for marketers. These are the plugins that can help marketers achieve their goals like increasing sales or traffic. In this article, we have hand-picked some of the best WordPress plugin for marketers.

1. OptinMonster

OptinMonster is the best lead generation tool available in the market. It allows you to capture email, boost subscriptions and conversions.

You can add beautiful signup forms without hiring developers. OptinMonster allows you to add signup forms in sidebar, after content, slide in forms, and lightbox popups.

It also comes with built-in analytics and A/B testing to optimize your lead generation efforts. It’s signature Exit Intent technology helps you convert visitors just when they are about to leave your website.

2. ThirstyAffiliates

ThirstyAffiliates is the best affiliate link management tool for WordPress. It allows you to manage your affiliate links inside WordPress, cloak links, and easily add them to your posts.

It also allows you to see how each affiliate link is performing on your site. You can also organize your links into categories. For more details see our guide on how to add Affiliate links in WordPress using ThirstyAffiliates.

3. WPForms

WPForms is the most beginner friendly contact form plugin for WordPress. It allows you to quickly create beautiful forms and add them to your WordPress site.

WPForms comes with an easy to use drag and drop form builder and ready to use templates. It is mobile friendly and highly optimized for speed and SEO. For more details, see our article on WPForms – the most beginner friendly WordPress contact form plugin.

4. Revive Old Post

Social media can be an important source of traffic for any website. Revive Old Post plugin allows you to engage users on social media by sharing your old content.

The plugin automatically shares links to your old posts to your social profiles. You can choose time between posts, use hashtags, include link backs and exclude specific categories or posts.

For detailed instructions, see our guide on how to how to automatically share your old WordPress posts

5. Subscribe To Comments Reloaded

Comments are probably the most powerful user engagement tool on any WordPress site. However, once a user has added their comment, there is no way for them to come back and checkout the discussion.

Subscribe to Comments Reloaded, allows your users to subscribe to comments on your posts. Users will get notification emails whenever there is a new comment on the post. It not only helps you gain more page views, it also helps users keep up with the conversation.

See our guide on how to allow users to subscribe to comments in WordPress for detailed instructions.

6. Inline Related Posts

Many websites display related posts after the end of an article. However, if you publish long form articles, then users will see related posts after scrolling the entire article.

Inline Related Posts plugin solves this problem by allowing you display related posts inside an article. Users are highly engaged during the middle of an article and are more likely click on similar content.

For detailed instructions see our guide on how to add inline related posts in WordPress blog posts.

7. Floating Social Bar

Social sharing buttons tend to slow down websites. Floating Social Bar allows you to add a social sharing bar on your website without compromising the speed.

It adds a horizontal sticky social bar to your WordPress posts. Floating Social Bar does not add tons of irrelevant social networks, it only supports the most popular social platforms.

See our article on adding a floating social share bar in WordPress for more details.

8. WP to Buffer

Buffer is an online service that allows you to schedule updates on your social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. WP to Buffer connects your WordPress site to Buffer and automatically adds your blog posts to Buffer.

This allows you to save time spent on sharing articles on social media after hitting the publish button. For more details see our guide on how to schedule WordPress posts for social media with Buffer.

9. Title Experiments Free

Writing attention grabbing titles is the key to good web content. However, how do you figure out which post titles work better with your audience?

Title Experiments Free allows you to run A/B split tests for post titles. You can add multiple titles for a single post and the plugin will randomly show one of the titles to your users.

The plugin calculates the click probability based on how many times a title is displayed, and how often it is clicked by the users.

For detailed step by step instructions, take a look at our guide on how to A/B split test WordPress post titles to get more clicks.

10. Featured Image Optimizer

Just like post titles, featured images also play a crucial role in getting more clicks. Featured Image Optimizer plugin allows you to run A/B split tests for featured images.

Simply edit a post or create a new one. You will notice two new boxes for featured image A, and featured image B. Upload two different featured images and the plugin will start showing different featured image to different users.

See our guide on how to A/B split test featured images in WordPress for more details.

11. Yoast SEO

Search engines are the most important source of traffic for most websites. Yoast SEO is the best SEO plugin for WordPress. It allows you to add meta tags, open graph tags, xml sitemaps, breadcrumb navigation, and so much more.

It can also import your Google Webmaster tools data and comes with a file editor tool to edit robots.txt and .htaccess files in WordPress.

Follow our guide on how to install and setup Yoast SEO plugin with step by step installation instructions.

12. Adsanity

If you run a website supported by ads, then you will need a better way to manage ads in WordPress. Adsanity offers an easier and better way to manage ads on your WordPress site.

You can create as many ad units as you want and then rotate them, group them, or schedule them to maximize your earning potential. You can use it with advertising programs like Adsense or sell your own ads directly.

Check out our guide on how to manage ads in WordPress with Adsanity plugin for more details.

13. Envira Gallery

Images are the most engaging form of content on the web. You can easily add images to your WordPress posts without any plugin. But if you are going to share a lot of photos, then you need Envira Gallery.

Envira Gallery is the best WordPress photo gallery plugin in the market. It allows you to create mobile responsive, SEO friendly, and faster loading image galleries in minutes. You can open up gallery images in beautiful lightbox popups with thumbnail navigations.

For details, check our article on how to easily create responsive WordPress image galleries with Envira.

14. upPrev

Have you seen animated slide in menus for next or previous articles on popular websites like NYTimes? UpPrev plugin allows you to display those animated previous post menus in WordPress.

As a user scrolls down while viewing an article on your website, the plugin displays a slide in menu with the previous post. You can go to Appearance » upPrev to configure plugin settings.

By default it will show the previous post. You can change that to show previous post in the same category or tag. If you are using YARPP related posts plugin, then plugin can show a related post as well.

15. Quick and Easy FAQs

FAQs allow you to quickly answer common questions asked by your visitors. Adding a FAQs section on your website not only reduces the pre-sales queries. It also increases user trust and boosts sales.

Quick and Easy FAQs plugin allows you to easily add beautiful frequently asked question section on your website. You can easily manage questions and answers from a single interface and display them anywhere on your website.

See our guide on how to add a frequently asked questions or FAQs section in WordPress for more details.

16. Testimonials Widget

Testimonials help you add social proof from your existing customers. It builds confidence in your website and service and helps potential customers make decision.

Testimonials Widget provides an easier way to beautifully display testimonials on your WordPress site. It is easy to use and you can add it to any sidebar or widget ready area.

We hope this article helped you find the best WordPress plugins for marketers. You may also want to see our list of 10 best affiliate marketing tools and plugins for WordPress.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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