Category: elegantthemes.com

10 Best WordPress Themes in 2023 (Compared & Ranked)

When creating a new WordPress website, selecting a suitable theme is a crucial step in the process. As important as hosting, the theme you pick determines the look and feel of your site and is an essential part of creating a fast, reliable source of information for your potential customers. In this post, we’ll review our top picks for the best WordPress themes so you can determine which one is right for your business.

What Features Should the Best WordPress Themes Include?

When searching for the best WordPress theme for your website, there are several factors you should keep in mind. You should consider customization options, performance, compatibility with your favorite page builder, and the level of support you need. Additionally, you should choose a theme that fits the specific needs of your business. For example, if you have plans to create an online store, make sure that the theme you choose is compatible with ecommerce software such as WooCommerce.

10 Best WordPress Themes

When researching the best WordPress themes, we considered several factors, including compatibility with popular plugins and customization options. Another thing that weighed heavily with us is how lightweight the theme is. All the themes on our list have a good reputation within the community, offer excellent features, and compatibility with popular page builders such as Elementor, Divi Builder, and Beaver Builder. So, without further delay, let’s dive into our list.

1. Divi

Let’s kick off our list of best WordPress themes with Divi, widely recognized as the most customizable theme on our list. Divi boasts various unique features that set it apart from its competitors. For instance, it offers a no-code design Visual Builder that allows you to make design changes on the front end, enabling you to edit your page designs in real time. With over 200 customizable elements available to design your website, Divi provides complete flexibility through modules like blurbs, accordions, sliders, carousels, and more.

Furthermore, Divi is fully responsive, ensuring your website looks great on all devices. It’s also incredibly capable of improving your workflow with bulk-editing modules, keyboard shortcuts, global style settings, and more, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to create a professional-looking website with ease.

Key Features for Divi

Front-end Visual Builder
Build page templates with Theme Builder
Over 200 design modules
2200+ professionally designed layouts
Integration with popular plugins

Divi layout packs

Divi has plenty of other features to make your website-building experience seamless. For instance, it comes equipped with over 2200 pre-made design layouts, making it easier to achieve your desired look and feel without needing a developer. Additionally, it’s fully compatible with WooCommerce, with over 20 Woo-specific modules to help you create stunning product and shop layouts. It also has a stellar support system with tech gurus available 24/7. Plus, you can enhance its already impressive capabilities with an extensive community support system offering tutorials, plugins, and other resources through the Divi Marketplace.

Perhaps one of Divi’s most impressive features is the Theme Builder, which allows you to create custom page templates, global headers and footers, and everything in between, ensuring your website is unique and accurately reflects your brand.

Divi is best for:

Anyone looking for a fully-responsive, highly customizable WordPress theme that makes it easy for beginners as well as tech-savvy developers to create a beautiful, functional website.

Divi
Starting Price	$89/year
Websites	Unlimited
Free Layouts	2200+
Theme Builder	âœ”ï¸
eCommerce Integration	âœ”ï¸
	Visit Divi

2. Hello Elementor

Next on our list of best WordPress themes is Hello Elementor, which uses the Elementor page builder plugin to help you create beautiful websites with a drag-and-drop editor. Elementor is fully responsive, allowing you to preview how your pages look on all screen sizes. Elementor also enables you to create templates for headers and footers, blog post layouts, and more if you upgrade to the pro version. For those looking to incorporate ecommerce into their sites, Elementor offers 100 design widgets, including 24 for WooCommmerce, to turn your site into a revenue-generating online store.

Key Features for Elementor

100+ design widgets
Support for WooCommerce
Drag and Drop page builder
300+ templates

Elementor ecommerce kit library

For those looking to build a website fast, the Elementor kit library provides you with more than 300 website templates for any type of site, including ecommerce, portfolio, blog, business, and more. For those looking to extend Elementor, you’ll have support for various third-party integrations such as MailChimp, ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, FontAwesome, Google Maps, and more.

Elementor is best for:

Those wanting to create a custom WordPress website without the need for coding or design skills will like Elementor. With Elementor template kits, even beginners can create a website for their business to help them stand out from the crowd.

Elementor
Starting Price	$59/year
Websites	1
Free Layouts	100+
Theme Builder	âœ”ï¸
eCommerce Integration	âœ”ï¸
	Visit Elementor

3. Astra

Our next best WordPress theme entry is Astra, one of the lightest themes on the market. Focused on performance, Astra boasts several performance-enhancing features to make it light and speedy, thanks to its optimized code, vanilla javascript (without jquery), and ability to self-host Google fonts. Astra has a built-in WooCommerce module, making it a great choice for those looking to display products on their site. However, it’s worth noting that a premium license is required to fully unlock Astra’s ecommerce potential.

Key Features for Astra

Gutenberg block page editing
WooCommerce ready (pro version)
Global style settings
Create web stories for showcasing content

Astra global settings

While Astra’s page editing is done through the Gutenberg block editor, which can sometimes be limiting, it offers seamless integration with the powerful Spectra page editor plugin. Spectra extends Gutenberg’s core functionalities with an intuitive front-end page builder, ready-to-use page templates, and pattern blocks that make creating web pages effortless and visually stunning.

Apart from this, Astra provides a global color palette, enabling you to control colors across your website. The integration with the Web Stories plugin also allows you to showcase your content in a popular format used by major social media platforms. With Astra’s dedicated support team available 24/7, you’ll receive assistance whenever needed. Moreover, Astra’s comprehensive knowledge base and video tutorials make it easy to start.

Astra is best for:

Those seeking a highly customizable, lightweight WordPress theme will like Astra. That said, lightweight comes with a caveat. You’ll need to install various other plugins to get the most out of Astra. Those looking for an all-in-one solution should consider other options, such as Divi or Avada.

Astra
Starting Price	$59/year
Websites	Unlimited
Free Layouts	240+
Theme Builder	âœ”ï¸
eCommerce Integration	âœ”ï¸
	Visit Astra

4. Themify Ultra

Our next best WordPress theme, Themify Ultra, is a highly customizable theme that uses a proprietary builder plugin, Themify page builder. It provides front-end page editing, so you can see your changes as you make them. The builder contains over 40 professionally designed layouts. You can also create your own with modules with 60+ animation effects and custom styling for backgrounds, text, spacing, and global styles. However, you won’t be able to edit the theme with it, as it’s strictly a page editor designed to work within the Themify Ultra theme.

Key Features for Themify Ultra

Premade demo layouts
Themify page builder
60+ animation effects
Global styling options

Ultra premade demos

Themify Ultra is one of the most straightforward WordPress themes to work with, thanks to its front-end drag-and-drop builder. Additionally, Ultra comes packed with 60+ premade design skins and demo layouts to help you create a website fast. You can easily import a layout, then use the builder to edit images, text, and more. Ultra is an excellent solution for those without design knowledge or coding skills. In addition to premade layouts, Ultra comes with builder add-ons to provide subtle movement to your pages with modules such as a countdown timer, a progress bar, and typewriter text effects and includes support for WooCommerce.

Themify Ultra is best for:

If you’re looking for a quick website solution with a pre-designed theme, Themify’s Ultra is a great choice. Its front-end visual builder allows easy editing of text, images, and other elements, making website creation a breeze. However, it’s important to note that, unlike Divi and Elementor, Ultra doesn’t offer a theme editing option. So, to create custom templates for 404, search, or category pages, you’ll need to explore other options.

Ultra
Starting Price	$59/year
Websites	Unlimited
Free Layouts	60+
Theme Builder	âœ”ï¸
eCommerce Integration	âœ”ï¸
	Visit Ultra

5. OceanWP

Our next WordPress theme, OceanWP, is a lightweight and versatile option compatible with Elementor and Gutenberg. With OceanWP, you can easily create your pages from scratch or choose from over 220 pre-made design layouts to build upon. OceanWP also offers seven customizable header styles and three mobile menu styles, allowing you to create a unique and personalized website. Additionally, you have complete control over your blog posts with nine elements for the title, metadata, author box, related posts, and more.

Key Features for OceanWP

220+ premade layouts
Compatible with Elementor and Gutenberg blocks
Multiple page, header, and blog layout options
Enhance functionality with OceanWP Extra plugin

OceanWP Extra control panel

For more features and customization options, the OceanWP Extra plugin allows you to customize your site with the OceanWP panel to install demos easily, enable SVG support, add Google reCAPTCHA, integrate Mailchimp, enable Adobe fonts, and add recommended plugins such as WP Forms, Elementor, and Hubspot, to name a few.

OceanWP page settings

OceanWP adds a handy meta box to posts, pages, products, and custom post types to control settings for headers, content and sidebar, padding, breadcrumbs, footer styling, and more at the page level.

OceanWP is best for:

For those who want to build their website with an easy-to-use, highly customizable, and free WordPress theme, OceanWP is a perfect choice.

OceanWP
Starting Price	$54/year
Websites	3
Free Layouts	220+
Theme Builder	âŒ
eCommerce Integration	âœ”ï¸
	Visit OceanWP

6. Hestia

Next up on our list of best WordPress themes is Hestia by ThemeIsle. Hestia is a full-featured theme that integrates with popular page builders such as Visual Composer, Elementor, and others, as well as native Gutenberg support.

Key Features for Hestia

Compatible with page builders
Control theme settings with the WordPress Customizer
WooCommerce-specific layouts (pro)

Hestia header layouts

Customization is controlled through the theme customizer. You can configure the header, footer, page layout settings, and global options for typography, colors, and more. For advanced WooCommerce options, you’ll need to upgrade to the pro version of Hestia. With it, you’ll get two highly configurable store layouts with options for product filtering and widgets for best-selling products and categories. Finally, the OrbitFox plugin is encouraged to extend Hestia’s functionality with additional modules for Elementor, social sharing buttons and icons, one-click page template imports, and more.

Hestia is best for:

Bloggers and small business owners who prefer configuring settings in the familiar WordPress customizer will like Hestia. It is compatible with Elementor and other popular page builders, making creating pages quick and easy for beginners.

Hestia
Starting Price	$99/year
Websites	1
Free Layouts	9
Theme Builder	âœ”ï¸
eCommerce Integration	âœ”ï¸
	Visit Hestia

7. Avada

Avada best WordPress theme

Next on our list of the best WordPress themes is Avada, a highly customizable theme with many options to create a truly unique website. With Avada, you can build custom mega menus, popups, and sliding bars using the off-canvas builder, choose from multiple header and footer layouts, and even build custom forms. Alternatively, you can select from over 120 professionally designed layout templates to create your site effortlessly.

Key Features for Avada

Fusion Builder for front-end page editing
Build custom menus with Avada mega menu builder
Built-in popup maker, form builder, and sliding bars
Performance wizard to boost site speed

Avada page builder

Avada utilizes a front-end page editor, Fusion Builder, which enables you to create pages, posts, and custom layouts for every aspect of your site, including global headers and footers, page templates, and more. It’s fully responsive and provides real-time previews for all screen sizes, so you’ll know exactly how your site will appear on multiple devices. Additionally, a handy performance wizard is used to eliminate features you aren’t using, manage fonts, and configure advanced optimization for CSS to speed up your website.

Avada is best for:

Overall, Avada is a comprehensive and versatile WordPress theme with a wide range of features, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to create a professional-looking website.

Avada
Starting Price	$69/year
Websites	1
Free Layouts	120+
Theme Builder	âœ”ï¸
eCommerce Integration	âœ”ï¸
	Visit Avada

8. Inspiro

Next up is Inspiro, a WordPress theme ideal for blogs and portfolio websites. Using the recommended WPZOOM portfolio plugin, you can easily create a stunning website to showcase your photography, projects, and other creative work. Regarding page editing, you can use Gutenberg, Elementor, or any other preferred page builder plugin. However, for optimal results, WPZOOM suggests using Elementor.

Key Features for Inspiro

Adds a portfolio custom post type
Works with Gutenberg or Elementor
Quick start guide
WordPress live customizer for theme options

Inspiro header options

Inspiro provides a quick start guide upon installing the theme that allows you to customize the homepage hero area, and site logo, import demo content, choose a header or footer layout, and set custom fonts and colors using the WordPress theme customizer. If you upgrade to the pro version, you can add image and video slideshows, integrate videos into portfolio items, gain WooCommerce support, import one of nine starter sites, and control site settings with a proprietary theme options panel. The lite and pro versions have a support suite but chat and email support is restricted to pro users only.

Inspiro is best for:

The Inspiro theme best suits photographers, artists, and creatives who want to showcase their work. Those looking for ecommerce functionality are better off looking for a more suitable option, such as Divi or Avada.

Inspiro
Starting Price	$79/year
Websites	3
Free Layouts	9
Theme Builder	âœ”ï¸
eCommerce Integration	âœ”ï¸
	Visit Inspiro

9. Generate Press

Our next WordPress theme, Generate Press, is a block-based theme that offers endless customization options for your website while being one of our list’s fastest themes. Weighing in at a mere 7.5kb on the front end, it has a minimal footprint, making it load webpages fast. Thanks to its block theme foundation, you can use Generate Press with any page builder plugin. Still, you don’t need to because it has all the features you need to build a website.

Generate Press comes in both free and premium versions, with the free version offering a great introduction to its capabilities. However, we highly recommend upgrading to the premium version for the best experience and access to its advanced features.

Key Features for Generate Press

Gutenberg block theme
Extend with the GenerateBlocks plugin
Lightweight for faster page loading times
Works with any page builder
Excellent support

GenerateBlocks plugin

While using any page builder with Generate Press is possible, Generateblocks is highly recommended for the best and most lightweight experience. Generateblocks allows you to create advanced layout containers and grids, custom headline effects, and more. If you upgrade to the premium license, you’ll benefit from unparalleled support, with most tickets resolved on the same day. Another advantage of upgrading is gaining access to the Theme Builder, where you can design and build templates using Generate Press’s dynamic block elements. Additionally, you’ll have access to the site library, which enables you to easily import a template and quickly customize it by changing out text and images to make it your own.

Generate Press is best for:

Generate Press is a good choice for people who prefer a block-based WordPress theme. It’s lightweight, expandable, and robust, which makes it an ideal theme for anyone looking to launch a blazing-fast website.

Generate Press
Starting Price	$59/year
Websites	500
Free Layouts	9
Theme Builder	âœ”ï¸
eCommerce Integration	âœ”ï¸
	Visit Generate Press

10. Neve

The final WordPress theme we’d like to highlight is Neve by ThemeIsle. It’s compatible with popular page builder plugins, including Divi Builder, Elementor, Beaver Builder, Site Origin, and Visual Composer. Additionally, it’s incredibly lightweight at just 28Kb for basic installs and offers extensive customization options such as global color palettes. Neve also has multiple blog layouts (pro) and a header and footer builder (pro), providing users with plenty of design flexibility.

Key Features for Neve

40+ starter templates
Compatibility with popular page builders
Enhanced WooCommerce features (pro)
Intuitive Neve control panel
White-label for client sites

Neve starter sites

Regarding design flexibility, Neve offers over 40 starter templates through their Cloud Templates & Patterns Collection plugin, some of which are available with Neve’s free version. These starter templates provide a quick and easy way to build your site, then edit pages as needed. Additional features include the Neve options panel, which provides quick links for theme customizer options, documentation, and the WooCommerce and block editor booster features (pro). Another cool feature of Neve is its white-label feature. You can easily remove ThemeIsle branding to replace it with your own, which is an excellent feature for those building client websites.

Neve is best for:

With a lightweight footprint, integration with virtually all page builder plugins, and white labeling, Neve is an excellent choice for freelancers wanting to build speedy client websites.

Neve
Starting Price	$59/year
Websites	Unlimited
Free Layouts	60+
Theme Builder	âœ”ï¸
eCommerce Integration	âœ”ï¸
	Visit Neve

Final Thoughts on the Best WordPress Themes

Of the ten best WordPress themes we’ve outlined for you, we feel Divi or Elementor have the most to offer. Both offer front-end drag-and-drop builders, the ability to create custom templates, and plenty of premade designs. If you need help deciding, go with Divi because of its superior customer support, documentation, and extensive global styling options.

	Starting Price	Websites	Free Layouts	Theme Builder	eCommerce Integration
ðŸ¥‡ Divi	$89/year	Unlimited	2300+	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸	Visit
ðŸ¥ˆ Elementor	$59/year	1	100+	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸	Visit
ðŸ¥‰ Astra	$59/year	Unlimited	240+	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸	Visit
Themify Ultra	$59/year	Unlimited	60+	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸	Visit
OceanWP	$54/year	3	220+	âŒ	âœ”ï¸	Visit
Hestia	$99/year	1	9	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸	Visit
Avada	$69/year	1	90+	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸	Visit
Inspiro	$79/year	3	9	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸	Visit
Generate Press	$59/year	500	9	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸	Visit
Neve	$59/year	Unlimited	60+	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸	Visit

No matter which theme you choose, each theme on our list provides excellent value, many customization options, and support for ecommerce websites.

Are you looking for more reviews? Check out our ultimate list of best WordPress plugins to research the next step of your WordPress project.

The post 10 Best WordPress Themes in 2023 (Compared & Ranked) appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

25.04.2023

Get a Free Attorney Layout Pack for Divi
Hey Divi Nation! Thanks for joining us for the next installment of our weekly Divi Design Initiative; where each week, we give away a brand new Layout Pack for Divi.

This time around, the design team has created a beautiful Attorney Layout Pack thatâ€™ll help you get your next Attorney website up and running in no time!

This layout pack includes:

– 7 Premade page layouts strategically designed for any Attorney website (including a footer design)
– Original, royalty-free photos and graphics + customizable source file (see below)
– Plus, a large collection of pre-designed website elements that are customizable and reusable anywhere.

This layout pack is available right inside Divi for all Divi customers for FREE as the latest addition to our growing Divi library of hundreds of premade layout packs, thousands of page designs, and countless web design elements and resources.

Check Out The Divi Attorney
Layout Pack Below

Get it for free today!

Landing Page Design

View The Live Layout Demo

Home Page Design

View The Live Layout Demo

Services Page Design

View The Live Layout Demo

Service Page Design

View The Live Layout Demo

Blog Page Design

View The Live Layout Demo

About Page Design

View The Live Layout Demo

Contact Page Design

View The Live Layout Demo

Key Features

For legal professionals, having a professional website that accurately represents your firm is crucial. The Attorney Layout Pack for Divi provides a solution that showcases your law firm attractively and professionally. The pack features a strong serif font complemented by tasteful pops of gold, powerful imagery, and compelling testimonials that instill confidence in your brand.

Live Demos

Click the links below to see a live demo for each of the layouts included in the pack.
Access This Layout Right Now
Directly from Your Divi Builder

Since Version 3.0.99 of Divi, you can find and import any of the layouts included in this pack (along with ALL of Divi’s Premade Layout packs) directly from the Divi Builder. They are already waiting for you.

To access your new layout, simply activate the Visual Builder when editing a page and look for the “Load From Library” icon in the page settings bar (it looks like a plus symbol). Click this icon to launch the Load From Library popup. Under the Premade Layouts tab, you can easily find the new layout by scrolling through the list of layout packs. Once you find the Attorney Layout Pack, click on it. You will see all the individual layouts included in the pack. Select the layout you want to use and then click the “Use This Layout” button.

For more, check out this video to learn how you can get this layout pack up and running today.

Subscribe To Our Youtube Channel

Authentication Required

Before you can download Premade Layouts from the Divi Library you must authenticate your Elegant Themes Subscription. You can do this by navigating to Divi > Theme Options > Updates. There you can enter your username and API key and save changes.

You can find your API Key under your members area on the Elegant Themes site. After you enter the Username and API Key, you will gain immediate access to our library of hundreds of free layouts (including this one). If you haven’t done this, when you click to import a layout to your page, you will be prompted to enter your Elegant Themes Membership Username and API Key.

Use Layout Images for FREE with No Licensing Restrictions

The image assets included with these layouts (icons, illustrations, photos, etc.) have no licensing restrictions. This means you can use them in all of your commercial projects without having to worry about paying licensing fees or attributing the photographer. Use them in your commercial websites, sell them within your Divi child themes, include them in your own Divi layout packs or just use them on your blog. We know how challenging it can be to find good photos and how confusing and scary the licensing that governs those photos can be. We want to fix that problem for our users.

Download the Full Res Image Assets

New Layout Pack Every Week!

We hope you enjoy this layout pack. We look forward to hearing your opinions in the comment section below. Make sure you check out next week’s layout pack as well!

The post Get a Free Attorney Layout Pack for Divi appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.
24.04.2023

10 Best Church WordPress Themes in 2023

WordPress has several powerful themes for churches (free and paid) that can be used to build a beautiful and feature-rich church website. In this post, we’ll review the best church WordPress themes to give you some ideas about what is available for your website. With stunning page layouts, event calendars, sermon management, and more, these themes should have what you need.

What Features Should the Best Church WordPress Themes Include?

When it comes to building a website for your church, there are some features that you should note. Firstly, being able to customize your theme is mission-critical. Using your church’s fonts and colors will help solidify your brand with parishioners and new members. Secondly, consider if your theme can handle sermons. In a post-pandemic world, many churches turned digital. So providing sermons online is a great way to stay connected to your membership.

Thirdly, consider how your theme handles events. If it doesn’t have a built-in events manager, it should be able to integrate with popular event calendar plugins like The Events Calendar or Modern Tribe. Lastly, on integrations, see how well your theme will handle donations. Online giving is a great feature to have on your site and is something that you should be looking into when choosing your church WordPress theme.

The 10 Best Church WordPress Themes

Our list of the best church WordPress themes considers a few things. To begin, we look at the overall feature set of the theme. Next, we consider if there is a free version available. Finally, we see if it can integrate with popular plugins like GiveWP and Mailchimp, which are popular with many church marketing departments.

With these things in mind, let’s get onto the list!

1. Divi

Divi is a powerful WordPress theme and visual page builder that will give you complete control over the design and functionality of your church website. It has over 2,000 pre-made layouts that can be combined to build your church’s website, including a stunning Church Layout Pack. With modules like accordions, galleries, and more, you can adjust each layout to your liking.

Additionally, you can use the power of Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) and Divi’s Dynamic Content to build custom layouts for sermons, ministries, or whatever your church needs. Ultimately, those building for churches will be impressed by the degree to which they can build powerful church websites with this WordPress theme.

Divi’s Theme Builder is one of the most powerful features of the Divi theme. For a church website, this is where you build completely custom templates for pages, posts, and any custom post type that you create! You can design custom blog templates, headers, footers, 404 pages, and so much more from the Theme Builder. The possibilities for your creativity are unlimited.

Key Features of Divi:

Powerful frontend visual builder
40+ customizable modules
200+ customizable modules
20+ WooCommerce-specific modules for collecting online payments
Create custom templates for custom post types with Theme Builder
Includes access to Bloom, a powerful email opt-in popup plugin to grow your Church’s email list

There are also premium child themes for Divi that you can access from the Elegant Themes Marketplace. A popular premium child theme for Divi is Chrysalis. It has 32 layouts plus custom post types for sermons and events. Additionally, it has native styling for both GiveWP and The Events Calendar.

Chrysalis GiveWP styling

Divi is best for:

For those who want complete control over your church’s website, choose Divi. You can easily customize the page layouts found within man a layout pack to support your ministry needs. Furthermore, the power of Divi’s Theme Builder makes it simple to create custom templates for various pages and post types on your website. However, the learning curve may be more technical for Churches looking for a theme that requires a less hands-on approach.

Get Divi

2. Kadence WP

Kadence WP empowers you to quickly build a no-code website for your church. The theme prides itself on being built with the best SEO practices for markup and schema. Kadence WP also boasts of being a WordPress theme that is lightning-fast and performance-focused.

The Church Starter Template by Kadence WP is a great fit for Churches. Out of the box, it has beautiful default styling for both The Events Calendar and GiveWP plugins. You don’t need to worry about CSS classes or custom coding to be able to display your events and seamlessly collect donations on your website.

Church by Kadence, WordPress Church Theme

It is easy to select and set your brand colors and the typography you’ll be using on your site. The theme comes with styled dropdown menus and a bold homepage call-to-action featuring the late sermon above the fold. For the best church WordPress theme, the Church Starter Template will get your website up and running effortlessly and on brand.

Key Features of Kadence WP:

Drag and drop builder with live editing
Mobile-responsive with controls
Native styling and support for GiveWP and The Events Calendar
Header and footer builder
Global typography, button, and color controls
Custom post type support

Kadence's default styling for The Events Calendar

Many WordPress themes integrate well with The Events Calendar but fall short when styling the plugin. You’ll need to rely on finding its custom CSS classes and then use code to edit the plugin’s design to suit your site, not with Kadence. In addition to having well-designed modules for the plugin, Kadence also has extensive styling of the plugin to match your site’s design.

Pricing: Free, Paid plans start at $149 per year

Kadence WP is best for:

Organizations looking for a beautiful and feature-rich WordPress theme without learning the ins and outs of a page builder plugin will enjoy this theme. Its native support for GiveWP and The Events Calendar makes it stand out among the other themes in our list, as you have to do little styling or integration to have these two essential plugins for churches work and look great on your website.

Get Kadence WP

3. Astra

As a performance-focused theme, you can expect fast loading times for your church website with Astra. Astra is considered one of WordPress’ top-tier free themes.

The Church Starter Template by Astra is a great option for churches looking to build their church website in style. With a bold, dark color palette and exciting font selections, this template is for churches that want to be different.

Church by Astra

Plus, you have access to all the powerful core features of Astra for designing your church website.

There is a mega menu builder, global design options, multiple header and footer options, and much more. Astra also integrates with many high-quality WordPress plugins that can take your church’s website to the next level.Â It truly is a good starting point for the web designer who wants to build a quality, custom church website.

Key Features of Astra:

Compatible with leading page builders like Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, etc.
Customizable typography and color palettes
WooCommerce integration to collect donations and sell products
Display your logo on the left or centered
Set presets for buttons sitewide

Header builder by Astra

The drag-and-drop Header Footer Builder by Astra lets you pick and choose any element you’d like. With no coding required, you can design announcement bars, add a call-to-action for online giving, and more with just the wave of your mouse.

Pricing: Free, Pro version starts at $59 per year

Astra is best for:

Astra’s free version is powerful enough to build a good church website. With its pro version, you can add more features and get creative with your website. The Church starter template is suitable for organizations working within a budget but still want to have a solid base of features and options for their website.

Get Astra

4. Vestry

Vestry is a uniquely powerful church theme for WordPress. It is feature-rich and pays attention to the details that a church organization will need in its WordPress template. Vestry is the best church WordPress theme for the congregation that doesn’t want to depend on an external builder for their website. Nevertheless, Vestry does work with some of the big names in page builders, specifically Elementor and WP Bakery. It also has support for the Block Editor.

The theme comes with a full range of importable page layouts that you can use to start building your site immediately. Vestry has beautiful styling for the GiveWP and The Events Calendar plugins ensuring that your online giving and church events are showcased beautifully.

Key Features of Vestry:

Works with page builders Elementor or WP Bakery
Supports Gutenberg blocks
Native styling for The Events Calendar and GiveWP
Integrates with AudioIgniter for sermon player
Includes five blog post types

Page templates provided by Vestry

Vestry comes with more than 30 page templates. Easily create a blog page, about, features, organization, and event pages for your site without worrying about creating layouts from scratch. You can customize these templates with blocks or modules from your builder of choice. These templates are great starting points for you as you build your website. This is an excellent feature of Vestry. Lastly, you can access and import these layouts anytime from your WordPress dashboard.

Pricing: $138 per year

Vestry is best for:

If you prefer to use Elementor or WP Bakery as your page builder and want to build a website for your church, choose Vestry. Additionally, being able to import demo pages for standard features like sermons, ministries, and more makes creating your website faster.

Get Vestry

5. Elementor

Access to an extensive library of modules, third-party integrations, and an exhaustive template kit library makes Elementor a top choice for churches looking for more design tools for their website. As a page builder, Elementor has been integrated with many church themes, even some on our list, including Sacredo, Prayer, and Faith. All can be used in conjunction with Elementor.

With Elementor, you can build custom templates for various features on your website. Creating a custom header and footer is simple with the Elementor Pro theme builder. The pro version also comes with interesting modules that can help you create unique and interactive pages and posts for your ministry.

Key Features of Elementor:

Expansive library and modules and widgets
Lightweight and performance-focused
SEO-friendly
Integrates with popular plugins like MemberPress, Toolset and Rankmath
Native styling for donation plugin GiveWP
Native form builder

Elementor Full Site Kits

When it comes to building a website fast, Elementor has got your back. With its powerful builder and a large library of complete website kits, you don’t need to start building your church website from scratch. You can edit one of the kits available in the Elementor library and get a headstart on building any page or post that your church needs. From your blog for news to contact forms, a website kit from Elementor will be able to provide beautiful, mobile-responsive, and easy-to-edit resources to bring your vision to life.

Elementor is best for:

For church teams that want a visual builder with lots of features, Elementor the tool you need when building the church website of your needs. Powered by an incredible live editor and theme builder, take control of every aspect of your church’s website without having to learn a single coding language.
Get Elementor

6. OceanWP

OceanWP states that it is a “free WordPress theme with pro features,” This is fantastic news for churches looking to balance the budget with functionality for their website. Additionally, the theme is Gutenberg-enabled and Elementor-ready. So, if you’re not ready to invest in a separate page builder plugin, you can rely on these two with OceanWP to get your church’s website off the ground.

Out of the box, OceanWP gives you access to its theme builder, which allows you to set up global page, shop, product, and blog templates, all included in their free version. There are also 7 header styles and 3 mobile menu styles, empowering your church to fully customize its website.

Church by OceanWP

The Church Site Template has a friendly yellow theme which carries through the buttons, headings, and other areas of the template. It has three styles for your blog page, list, grid, and masonry. There are also four styles available for the WooCommerce plugin. While the Church Site Template works with GiveWP, if you want it to match your site perfectly, you must use some CSS to make your edits.

Key Features of OceanWP:

Header styling complete with header social menu
Footer widgets area with custom footer support
Global page layout, form, and button styling
Integrated with Google Fonts locally
Custom 404 page support and control
SERP page control combined with basic schema formatting

Ocean Images and Icons

Never worry about looking through scores of images on Google again. Ocean Images is a fantastic feature of select paid OceanWP plans. Through a collaboration with Freepik, you can import graphics, photos, and icons directly from the Freepik library! These assets are now uploaded to your WordPress Media Library for you to use anywhere on your site. So the next time you need an icon for your blurb module, you can quickly pick one from the expansive Freepik library to use on your site. And you don’t have to worry about attribution either; OceanWP has got you covered!

OceanWP is best for:

If your church uses a lot of photography, then The Church Site Template is a good fit for you. Having direct access to creative commons imagery right from your website’s dashboard can make content creation, blogging, and web design more manageable, especially for organizations trying to limit the number of platforms used in their content process.

Get OceanWP

7. Ultra

As a theme, Ultra is flexible, mobile-responsive, and deeply customizable. While you can build many pages and posts from scratch with Ultra, their library of elements and layouts makes it so that you can create effortlessly. For churches who want a simple approach to page building, the Themify Builder that powers Ultra is a benefit. By accessing the library of pre-made skins and sections, you can quickly build stunning pages for your site that are mobile-responsive and functional, meeting the needs of your congregation.

Church for Ultra, by Themify

Church is a skin for Ultra that focuses on providing a simple yet clean layout for your church. With a blue and yellow color palette, the theme has a fullscreen image on the homepage with a tagline and call-to-action button, which can be edited with the Themeify page builder plugin. For this skin, the homepage includes a custom-designed timeline module and a donations progress bar element that can track the progress of your fund. These modules and more are available through the 12 bonus add-ons provided through the Builder Pro Bundle that supplements Themify’s Builder Plugin.

Key Features of Ultra:

60+ pre-designed layouts for quick page builder
17 header styles
Five blog post layouts for a ministerial news blog
Six header background options
Global preset typography and color themes
Multi-column mega menu with widget functionality

Themify's page builder

A key feature that brings the Church skin to life is the toolbar of the Themify Builder. The builder itself is drag-and-drop, similar to other builders. However, the taskbar keeps your most used and needed tasks at the forefront. This can make building pages, posts, and different custom post types easier for those who may not have much experience using page builders and may prefer a familiar WYSIWYG UI.

Ultra is best for:

Churches that want an easy-to-learn, use, and implement page builder will love the Church skin for Ultra. The skin is easy to manage and implement, and the supplemental builder makes editing your website a breeze. The builder also makes it easy to customize elements like headers and footers, which other themes can sometimes make difficult.

Get Ultra

8. Sacredo

The Sacredo theme uses white space and a color palette based on varying shades of blue. The homepage features a hero section that uses typography, followed by an eye-catching button. The theme has a soft page transition that seamlessly takes you from one page to another.

As the theme is based on Elementor, you can rely on the page builder to give you the tools and modules to build stunning pages for your church. Customizing Sacredo with Elementors Pro means you can add widgets to your footer, create custom page headers, and more.

Key Features of Sacredo:

Supports the Elementor page builder
Includes a high-resolution image pack
SEO friendly
Multilingual support through WPML
It comes with pre-designed page sections for events, sermons, about us, and more

Sacredo fixed sidebar feature

The ministries, sermons, and events pages of the Sacredo theme feature a fixed right sidebar. This sidebar contains essential highlights of the post type it is on and follows the reader up and down the screen. This is an excellent way to draw attention to event specifics, sign-up links, and more for your church website.

Sacredo is best for:

Sacredo is best for the church that wants a modern website. Its use of typography and color makes it one of the more aesthetically pleasing templates on our list.

Get Sacredo

9. Prayer by CSS Igniter

Prayer by CSS Igniter is a church WordPress theme for those looking to build a church website fast but with attention to sermon management. The theme has a homepage slider you can customize with images, text, and a button. Next, the default homepage features a sermon widget putting your latest preachings directly on the homepage.

The theme has a transparent and solid header option and four positions to place your main menu. The theme also comes with 6 page/post templates, including full width, sidebar, and narrow margin options. Also, the theme is compatible with popular plugins like ACF, Toolset, WP Forms, and Mailchimp for WordPress. While not the shiniest of the themes on our list, Prayer is suitable for those who value ease of use with features that get the job done.

Key Features of Prayer by CSS Igniter:

Works well with Gutenberg or Elementor for page building
Works well with Polylang and WPML for multilingual support
Custom post types for events, team members, and sermons
Compatible with WooCommerce
Built with SEO in mind and works with popular SEO plugins like Yoast

Sermon management in custom post type

The Prayer theme takes sermon management very seriously. The theme comes with a custom post type precisely for managing sermons. You can link to your sermon’s audio file, add a video URL, or even insert a transcript for each sermon. You can also determine whether you want users to be able to download the sermon to their devices.

Prayer is best for:

For churches who prioritize sharing their audio and video sermons, using Prayer would be to your advantage. Of all the themes in our list, Prayer takes sermon management seriously by enabling you to manage and share your sermons on your website easily.

Get Prayer

10. Faith by Dumitru Brinzan

Faith is the best church WordPress theme for those with budgetary concerns regarding web design. As a free theme, Faith is much more limited in its feature offering than other players on our list. However, the theme integrates with many page builder plugins like Divi, Beaver Builder, and more. This means you can still be flexible when creating your pages with Faith.

The theme has a homepage slider to upload up to 5 pages. You can also showcase up to 10 pages on the homepage. If you are looking for a genuinely free WordPress theme for your church, Faith is that theme.

Key Features of Faith:

Select custom colors for the background and fonts with the WordPress Customizer
Works well with popular builders like Divi, Elementor, Beaver Builder, etc.
Works with the Block Editor
Supports custom block patterns
Includes homepage slider

Better Blocks plugin

The Better Blocks plugin is an addon by the makers of the Faith theme. The plugin extends the WordPress Block Editor with numerous custom block patterns that you can use to add greater functionality to the Faith theme. If you feel that a page builder may be too much for your church to handle, this addon will be perfect for your use with Faith.

Faith is best for:

Churches that want a free and simple website theme will appreciate Faith. Its straightforward approach to church themes can benefit teams with non-technical users who still want a web presence built on WordPress.

Pricing: Free

Get Faith

Final Thoughts on the Best Church WordPress Themes

	Plugin	Price	Free Version
ðŸ¥‡	Divi	$89/year	âŒ	Visit
ðŸ¥ˆ	Kadence WP	$149/year	âœ”ï¸	Visit
ðŸ¥‰	Astra	$59/year	âœ”ï¸	Visit
4	Vestry	$138/year	âŒ	Visit
5	Elementor	$59/year	âœ”ï¸	Visit
6	OceanWP	$54/year	âœ”ï¸	Visit
7	Ultra	$59/year	âŒ	Visit
8	Sacredo	$134/year	âŒ	Visit
9	Prayer	$49/year	âŒ	Visit
10	Faith	$0	âœ”ï¸	Visit

To wrap it up, Divi is the most powerful theme that you can use to build a solid church website. Its Theme Builder puts all the power in your hands to develop your very-own church website that will scale to your needs. If you would rather have more built-in church features, the Chrysalis premium theme is top-notch.

For the church that wants to have a good WordPress theme for their church out of the box, theÂ Kadence WP would be a good choice. With its native styling for popular church features like calendars and online giving, Kadence’s theme gives ease of use without sacrificing aesthetics or functionality.

The WordPress theme Astra is built for the church that prioritizes performance and speed for their site. With optimized code, this lightweight theme will work well with congregations that want to have a website that loads fast, giving information quickly to users.

In Conclusion

Before embarking on building your church website, consider some of these themes. Get a good idea of the features that you want on your site. Then, consider which theme matches your requirements. Were there any themes that you think we missed? What’s your favorite church WordPress theme? Tell us below in the comments!

The post 10 Best Church WordPress Themes in 2023 appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

24.04.2023

Divi Product Highlight: Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit

Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit is an extensive compilation of Divi section and page layouts that can be used to build website layouts quickly. The product includes layouts for about sections, contact forms, pricing tables, timelines, tabs, FAQ sections, headers and footers, and much more. Each webkit in the collection is designed around a specific theme, such as digital agencies, gardening, and landscaping, fitness, and gym, among others. However, all layouts are adaptable and can be repurposed for any website you would like to build.

By utilizing Divi’s design settings, you can have complete control over the look of the sections and customize the designs to your liking. In this product highlight, we’ll look at the layouts you get with the Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit and help you decide if it’s the right product for your next web design project.

Let’s get started!

Installing Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit

Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit comes as a .ZIP file containing Divi Library .json files. The layouts are organized by webkit, and you can choose to import all layouts of a certain type or select the individual layout you would like.

To install the layouts, start by unzipping the .ZIP file in your file manager. Then, open your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the Divi Library page. Click Import & Export at the top, then select the import tab. Choose a .json layout pack file to import, then select Import Divi Builder Layouts.

Once the layout has been imported, open your page in the Divi Builder. Click the blue plus icon to add a new section, then select Add From Library.

Locate the layout you want to use, then click the Use This Section button to load the layout on your page.

Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit

Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit consists of webkits with different styles and website concepts. The Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit currently comes with 7 different webkits and has plans to add more webkits each month. In total, you can expect 900+ section styles, 28 detail pages, and more than 22 elements.

Section Layouts

Each webkit comes with several layouts for each section you might need on your website. Let’s take a look at some of the section layouts.

About Us

The first About Us layout we’ll look at is About Us layout 2 from the finance and consulting webkit. This layout consists of two images, some text to introduce the company, a quote, and the founder’s name in a signature-style script font.

This is About Us layout 4 from the fitness gym webkit. It features an image clipped into a shape on the left and some text and blurb modules on the right.

About Us layout 3 from the garden and landscaping layout features three images in a collage-style layout with a number counter in the middle. There are a couple of text sections, two buttons, and some number counters that count up when the page loads.

Blog

This is digital agency blog style 1. It has a simple and modern layout with card-style blocks displaying recent blog posts. The blog post date is highlighted on a red background at the top of the featured image.

This is blog style 7 from the wind and solar energy webkit. On hover, the image zooms in, the button changes to orange, and a box shadow appears behind the blog post.

Finally, this blog layout is style 3 from the fitness and gym webkit. On hover, the image zooms in, the block with the post date turns black, and the line under the Read More button turns black.

Contact Form/Info

The first contact form/info layout comes from the finance and consulting webkit. This is contact/info style 1, featuring a contact form on the left on an image background and a FAQ section on the right.

This is contact layout 3 from the fitness and gym webkit. It features three square blurbs with a box shadow, each highlighting important contact information. The card shifts up on hover, and the red circle behind the icon expands.

Style 6 from the wind and solar energy webkit features a unique layout with a fullwidth map and the contact information and form on a card that overlays the bottom of the map.

Counter

The counter module helps represent numerical data on your website with a count-up effect as the page loads. This first example comes from the garden and landscaping webkit. Style 2 features four number counters in a section with a rounded border.

Counter layout 1 from the fitness and gym webkit features four number counters and an image arranged in a grid.

Finally, counter style 5 from the finance and consulting webkit features three number counters with icons on a rounded orange background in the top left corner.

CTA

CTA layout style 2 from the wind and solar webkit features header text that shifts left and right and changes color from white to green, creating a subtle but eye-catching effect.

Next is CTA layout 2 from the fitness and gym webkit, which highlights an informational video. The play button has an opaque circle that pulses out from the center, encouraging the user to press play.

Finally, CTA layout 2 from the finance and consulting layout features a large image on the left, some text modules, a contact button, and a phone number displayed in a blurb.

FAQ

Moving along to the FAQ section layouts, let’s take a look at style 4 from the digital agency webkit. The layout has FAQ blurbs on the left, a collage of three images on the right, and a little square shape that fades in and out while rotating.

FAQ layout 3 from the finance and consulting webkit features a large image on the left and heading text and FAQ modules on the right.

FAQ layout 3 from the landscaping webkit features some text, the FAQ modules on the left, and a large image with a testimonial blurb on the right.

Features

The feature section is where you can highlight unique features or selling points for your services or products. Layout 3 from the wind and solar webkit features some text on the left, a button to play a video, and four blurbs on the right that highlight features.

Layout 3 from the fitness gym webkit has two images with unique border styles on the left, with one blurb overlaying the large image highlighting the fees. On the left are some text and three blurbs that highlight features.

This is style 2 from the finance and consulting webkit. It features two images, a number counter on the left, and some text, blurbs, and a button on the right.

Gallery

Gallery style 4 from the garden and landscaping webkit features a blur effect and icon on hover.

Next, gallery layout 4 from the digital agency webkit has a red overlay that expands over the image on hover.

Style 3 from the finance and consulting webkit features an interesting hover effect where the image pans over to the right, and a light overlay appears.

Hero

Hero section layout 10 for the wind and solar energy webkit features a bright orange layout with some text, a button, an image with a subtle floating animation, and a blurb highlighting the service starting price.

Style 3 in the garden and landscaping webkit features a large blurb with text and an image on a fullwidth image background.

Finally, hero style 3 from the digital agency webkit features a large image background, some text and a CTA button, and a section with three blurbs that reveal an image on hover.

Logo

Logo section style 4 from the wind and solar energy webkit features a grid of logos that decrease in size and reveal color on hover.

This is logo section 4 from the fitness gym webkit. The logos are displayed in a fullwidth section on a red background.

Layout 3 from the finance and consulting layout has a text section at the top and inverts the logo and background colors on hover.

Newsletter

This is newsletter sign-up section style 5 from the finance and consulting webkit. It features an image with a unique clip layout, some text, a divider, and a sign-up form.

Newsletter style 2 from the garden and landscaping layout features some text, an icon with a pulsing border effect, and a sign-up form on an image background.

Finally, newsletter layout style 3 from the fitness and gym webkit features a card with text and a sign-up form on a fullwidth image background.

Pricing

Pricing section style 1 from the wind and solar energy webkit features three pricing tables with a small blurb at the top right highlighting a discount.

Style 4 from the digital agency webkit also features three pricing blurbs. There is a text section at the top, the pricing information, a Buy Now button, and four blurbs to highlight features.

Pricing section layout 3 from the garden and landscaping webkit highlights each pricing tier with an icon at the top. The gradient in the button shifts on hover.

Projects

The projects section layout 5 from the fitness webkit features some text at the top and the projects listed below with a hover effect that adds an overlay and sets the title background to black.

Next is project section layout 2 from the garden and landscaping webkit. It features some text and some project categories at the top. The project details are listed over the project image, which zooms in on hover.

Finally, project style 5 from the finance and consulting webkit features categories at the top and the project information and an icon on hover.

Service

Service section 2 from the wind and solar energy webkit features three blurbs with an image and icon highlighting each service. On hover, a box shadow appears, and the icon background turns green.

This is service layout 3 from the fitness webkit. It features three blurbs with large icons. On hover, the blurb border turns red, and an arrow icon and border appear at the bottom of the blurb.

Service layout 2 from the finance webkit features four service blurbs with an icon, a circle shape, text, and a button. On hover, the colors invert, and the circle shape flips to add some visual interest.

Slider

Slider style 4 below is from the digital agency webkit. It features large red navigation icons and some underlines highlighting portions of the slider text.

Slider style 5 from the garden and landscaping webkit features two navigation arrows on the right. The slide features text and two buttons.

Slider 2 from the finance webkit has a split-style layout with text on the left on an orange background, and an image on the right.

Steps

The steps section layout highlights steps of a process. This is layout 1 from the wind and solar energy webkit. It features some blurbs with an icon and a number behind each blurb representing the step.

This is style 3 from the fitness webkit, highlighting steps for training. The blurbs surround an image with a red box shadow.

Steps section layout 5 from the garden and landscaping webkit highlights each step on an image background. The number for each step is presented on a green circle that overlays the bottom of the image.

Tab

Tab layout 6 from the wind and solar energy webkit features the tabs at the top and a tab content layout with an image on the left, some text and blurb modules on the right, along with the price and a CTA button.

Style 4 from the finance and consulting webkit features some large text in the tab content and three large tabs at the bottom you can use to switch the content.

This is tab style 5 from the fitness and gym webkit. It has four large tabs at the top with icons. Within each tab, you have some text, a couple of blurbs, a CTA button, and two images arranged together on the right.

Team

This is team layout style 3 from the garden and landscaping webkit. It features four team members in a fullwidth layout. On hover, a green overlay appears over the image and reveals the team member information and social icons.

Team layout 2 from the digital agency webkit features a team section with round icons and a dotted graphic that rotates on hover. The team member card also turns black on hover.

Style 1 from the fitness and gym webkit features an image on the left and the team member information on the right. On hover, an overlay and icon appear over the image, and the divider line turns red.

Testimonial

Testimonial layout style 3 from the garden and landscaping webkit features three testimonial blurbs with a customer image, name, position, testimonial text, star rating, and quote icon.

Style 3 from the finance and consulting webkit features testimonial blurbs with a large icon, a title, and a star rating at the top. The customer information is below, outlined with a border.

Testimonial layout style 10 from the wind and solar energy webkit has a large testimonial slider on a fullwidth image background.

Timeline

The timeline section layout can be used to highlight a history, tell a story, or demonstrate a process. This is style 3 from the agency webkit. It features an icon for each timeline object and a lien that connects each step.

This is timeline layout 3 from the garden and landscaping webkit. This layout features a blurb with a date, heading, and text on one side, and an image on the other side.

Timeline layout 2 from the fitness gym webkit is a vertical timeline with three steps. A line at the bottom connects each blurb, highlighted with a date.

Header and Footer Layouts

Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit also comes with some layouts for the header and footer.

Headers

This is fitness header layout 1. It features a left-aligned logo, a right-aligned menu, and a CTA button. The secondary menu above features two blurbs with contact information, a menu, and social media icons.

Agency webkit header layout 5 features a primary menu with a left-aligned logo and a right-aligned menu. On the very right is a blurb with a phone number. The secondary menu bar at the top features two blurbs with contact information and social media icons.

Garden and Landscaping webkit header style 3 has three different menu bars. At the very top, the secondary menu bar has a menu and social media icons. The middle menu bar features a logo and three blurbs with contact information. Finally, the third menu bar has menu items and a CTA button.

Footers

The wind and solar webkit footer style 8 is a three-part footer layout. The first section features four columns with some menu items. Below this is a section with a newsletter sign-up form and social media links. The last section displays the copyright information and a menu.

Finance and consulting webkit footer style 2 features a large email sign-up form at the very top of the footer. The primary footer area features a logo, text, and social media icons, two columns of menu items, and a gallery. At the very bottom is the copyright information.

Gardening and landscaping webkit footer style 4 comes as a two-part footer layout. The primary footer section features a logo, some text, and social media icons. There is a column with menu items and another column with contact info. On the right side is a contact form on a green background. The copyright information is at the bottom.

Detail Page Layouts

Each webkit included with the Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit comes with a few detail page layouts. Let’s take a look at a few.

Service Detail Page

This is the service page layout from the fitness and gym webkit. It features a large image and some buttons on the left highlighting some services. Also on the left side is a download section with a button to download a brochure and a call-to-action blurb with an image background. In the main section of the page, there is some text content with some blurbs to highlight some of the copy. The our benefits section features an image and three blurbs, followed by an FAQ section.

Team Detail Page

This team detail layout comes from the gardening and landscaping webkit. It highlights a single team member and features a card layout at the top with an image, contact information, social media icons, and a blurb over the image that highlights the years of experience. Below this section is some text, some graphs to represent skills, and blurb modules representing qualifications. Finally, there is a contact form at the bottom of the page.

Blog Page

This is the blog post layout from the finance and consulting webkit. Because it’s a blog layout, it should be imported through the Divi Theme Builder. The layout begins with a fullwidth image header with the blog post title. The blog post content is styled with orange accents. Below the post content are an author box and a comment section. The sidebar has a search module, categories, the latest posts, tags, and a CTA.

Project Page

The project page layout should also be imported through the Divi Theme Builder. This layout is from the digital agency webkit. It has a fullwidth header image with the project title, followed by a large image. Below this are two sections for project details and a project overview, with two blurb modules with icons. Key information about the project is presented on the right, surrounded by a red border. Finally, other projects are presented at the bottom. On hover, the project title and category are revealed on a white background.

Purchase Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit

Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit is available in the Divi Marketplace. It costs $19 for unlimited website usage and lifetime updates. The price also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Final Thoughts

Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit comes with a ton of modern, engaging website section layouts that can help you easily and quickly build a great-looking website. All the layouts seem to be of high-quality design and mobile-friendly. The product appears to be regularly updated with new webkit collections, and several new webkits are planned for upcoming releases. If you are looking for a collection of Divi section layouts to help jumpstart your design process, this product might be a great option for you.

We would love to hear from you! Have you tried Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit? Let us know what you think about it in the comments!

The post Divi Product Highlight: Ultimate Multipurpose Divi Webkit appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

23.04.2023

8 Best WordPress VPS Hosting Companies in 2023

Choosing the perfect hosting for your website can be confusing, especially when there are so many hosting options to choose from. However, if you’re searching for a cost-effective alternative to dedicated hosting and a more robust solution than shared hosting, then Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting could be the perfect fit. To help you make the right decision for your business, we’ll showcase our top picks for the best VPS WordPress hosting providers so you can determine which one is right for you.

Let’s get to it.

What is VPS Hosting?

Although VPS hosting is built on servers that are shared with other customers, it is very different from shared hosting. With VPS hosting, you’ll get a section of a shared server, complete with dedicated resources allocated for your website(s). This typically results in faster loading times, more storage, and bandwidth, making it a more robust option compared to shared hosting. Additionally, VPS is usually more affordable than dedicated hosting, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a balance between performance and affordability.

The Best WordPress VPS Hosting Companies

When we set out to create our list of the best WordPress VPS hosting companies, we considered a few factors, including customer reviews, the number of features, the level of security provided, and overall cost. So, whether you’re looking for a reliable VPS hosting partner for a personal blog or business website, our list will give you the information you need to make an informed decision.

1. DreamHost

DreamHost, known for its cheap shared hosting and WordPress plans, also offers affordable options for managed VPS hosting that are worth considering. With four plans to choose from, any business can benefit. The VPS Basic plan, starting at just $15 per month, includes 1GB RAM, 30GB SSD storage, a free SSL certificate, unlimited emails, and unlimited traffic and websites. It’s an excellent option for smaller sites that don’t expect a lot of traffic, but with easy plan upgrades available, adding RAM and storage is just a click away. This simplified approach to scaling makes DreamHost an excellent choice for those just starting out with aspirations to grow in the future.

Key Features for DreamHost:

One of the standout features of DreamHost’s VPS hosting is the all-inclusive onboard features. DreamHost has everything you need, unlike other VPS providers, where you might have to add multiple features for a secure and robust hosting experience. This means you can start creating websites within minutes of signing up.

DreamHost gives you a simple control panel to manage domains, monitor server resources, and quickly reboot the server. You’ll also get a dedicated IP address, automatic software updates for the operating system, WordPress, and PHP, unlimited SFTP users, and the ability to run numerous programming languages such as PHP, Perl, and Python. Plus, with the one-click application installer, WordPress can be installed quickly and easily.

DreamHost is best for:

Small to medium-sized agencies who require managed VPS hosting.
Those who want to scale their business over time.

DreamHost
Starting Price	$15/month
Storage	30GB
Bandwidth	Unmetered
Monthly Visitors	Unlimited
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit DreamHost

2. Hostinger

Up next on our list of best WordPress VPS hosting is Hostinger, another well-known hosting company known for its shared, WordPress, and cloud hosting offerings, and their VPS hosting plans are also worth considering. With eight plans, Hostinger’s VPS offerings start at an incredibly low price point of $8.99 per month. This entry-level plan includes 1GB RAM, 20GB of SSD storage, 1 TB of bandwidth, and a single-core CPU, making it an excellent option for smaller sites. However, upgrade to a more robust plan if you want to run multiple websites or need better performance.

Hostinger’s VPS 2 plan, priced at $12.99 monthly, offers 2 CPU cores, 2GB of RAM, 40GB of SSD storage, and 2 TB of bandwidth, which is still a great value for the price. So, if you’re looking for a more powerful setup, this plan is worth considering.

Key Features for Hostinger:

With each VPS plan, Hostinger offers weekly backups, a dedicated IP address, full root access, IP4V & IPV6 support, and 24/7 customer support, all built on a 100mb/s network. There is also an AI-powered firewall that uses machine learning to analyze network traffic and block malicious activity instantly, providing enhanced security for your server. You can also choose from three different operating systems, including CentOS, Ubuntu, or Debian. Finally, Hostinger offers snapshots and backups so that you can restore your sites within minutes should problems arise.

It should be noted that Hostinger’s ability to offer such low-cost VPS hosting plans stems from their servers being unmanaged. This means you’ll be responsible for server, OS, and WordPress updates, setting up your firewall, and handling security patches. That said, Hostinger’s VPS offerings aren’t for everyone. You’ll save a lot of money if you possess the technical prowess to address these critical tasks. However, those that want to be able to install WordPress or other applications easily should look elsewhere.

Hostinger is best for:

Those with the technical know-how to handle important updates and security issues.
Site owners looking for an affordable VPS hosting solution.

Hostinger
Starting Price	$8.99/month
Storage	20 GB
Bandwidth	1 TB
Monthly Visitors	Unmetered
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit Hostinger

3. IONOS

Our third-ranked WordPress VPS hosting provider is IONOS, which uses cloud-based servers to provide fast and reliable hosting at reasonable prices. All plans offer a choice of data center and boast a 99.9% uptime guarantee, unlimited traffic, and full virtualization. Each server is optimized for isolation, autonomy, and security. They offer standard, memory-optimized, and CPU-optimized plans starting at $2 per month, which can be automatically scaled up within their user-friendly control panel.

Key Features for IONOS:

All virtual machines run on the SSD San storage system, which protects your data even if a storage node fails. Plus, bandwidth is handled through a 400 megabit-per-second external server connection, which makes data transfer lighting-fast. You’ll also receive 24/7 expert support, a free wildcard SSL certificate, server snapshots, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack protection, and multiple operating system choices for Linux and Windows. As with other providers on our list, installing WordPress requires some technical knowledge unless you upgrade to the Plesk Obsidian for WordPress Toolkit at just $5 per month.

We suggest selecting the VPS M RAM plan to maximize your benefits from IONOS VPS hosting. This plan offers 2 CPUs, 6GB RAM, 80GB of SSD storage, and the Ubuntu 22.04 operating system. It costs $8 for the first six months, then $15 monthly. While you can include Plesk for $5 per month, DNS Pro for $1 per month, and backup and recovery through Acronis starting at $7 per month, you can add these features later.

IONOS is best for:

Those comfortable installing WordPress through Plesk.
Developers who want ultimate control over their server setup.

IONOS
Starting Price	$7/month
Storage	80 GB
Bandwidth	Unlimited
Monthly Visitors	Unlimited
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	ââââ Read the reviews
	Visit IONOS

4. GoDaddy

GoDaddy is our next entry for the best WordPress VPS hosting providers. Like others on this list, GoDaddy is known for its cheap, shared, and managed WordPress plans. That said, their VPS hosting is worth taking a look at. They offer both self-managed and fully managed services, depending on your needs. The self-managed option starts at $7.99 per month but isn’t adequate for running cPanel, which is required to install WordPress the easy way. For that, you’ll need at least their 2 vCPU plan, which boasts 2 CPU cores, 4GB RAM, and 100GB of storage for $29.99 monthly. It comes with the ability to add cPanel or Plesk for an additional $16 per month. This is the setup you should start with for those wanting to install WordPress with one click.

Key Features for GoDaddy:

GoDaddy has some notable features, such as on-demand snapshots, unlimited traffic, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and full root access, which can be configured to meet your business needs. However, some features, such as integrated SSL certificates, malware scanning, alerts, or a web application firewall, still need to be added. These features are available as add-ons but come at an additional cost of $5.99 per month. Additionally, GoDaddy does not offer free migration, meaning that WordPress users will need to use a dedicated migration plugin to move sites from another hosting provider.

GoDaddy is best for:

Those who want the ability to add features ala carte
Entry-level VPS consumers who are tech savvy

GoDaddy
Starting Price	$45.99/month
Storage	GB
Bandwidth	GB
Monthly Visitors	5,000
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit GoDaddy

5. MochaHost

MochaHost WordPress VPS hosting

Next up on our list is MochaHost, a VPS hosting provider that might not be as well-known as others but is certainly worth considering for its cost-effectiveness. MochaHost offers fast and secure web servers with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, 24/7 support, free migration services, and access to over 137 data center locations worldwide. MochaHost provides free unlimited SSL certificates for life, unmetered bandwidth, and malware and spam monitoring. These features come at a starting price of under $10 per month, making MochaHost a highly competitive option in the market.

Key Features for MochaHost:

MochaHost’s Perfecto 1 is a great starting point if you’re a WordPress user. For $20.95 per month, you’ll receive 2GB of RAM, a 60GB SSD hard drive, a 2.4GHZ CPU, SSH/Root access, and unmetered monthly traffic. This option is excellent if you’re comfortable managing your server and updates. However, if you’re looking for an easier way to install WordPress, add cPanel and Sofaculous for an additional $19 monthly. Other options include Imunify360 for $6 per user, which allows professionals to take care of malware, blacklist nefarious IP addresses, and maintain your server with real-time virtual and physical security patching. For a speed boost, you can add LiteSpeed for $10 per month and email spam filtering for $2.99, which provides a fully managed solution for under $46 per month.

MochaHost is best for:

Those looking for LiteSpeed server technology.
People who want a fast VPS server with all the options under $50 per month.

MochaHost
Starting Price	$20.95/month
Storage	60 GB
Bandwidth	Unlimited
Monthly Visitors	Unmetered
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit MochaHost

6. A2 Hosting

Next on our list is A2 Hosting, one of the top WordPress hosting companies available. They offer shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting plans for WordPress. Although A2 has decent speeds with its shared hosting plans, VPS takes performance to the next level. With A2’s VPS hosting plans, you’ll get a managed VPS setup complete with WordPress pre-installed, starting at $59 per month. Their managed VPS comes with cPanel, managed hardware and network, 24/7 support, root access, and managed server security. Plus, you’ll enjoy free account migration, SSD hard drives, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and developer-friendly tools for DIY’ers.

Key Features for A2 Hosting:

A2 offers a seamless experience for WordPress users with WordPress pre-installed on all their VPS plans. They have six plans, with prices ranging from $59.99 to $152.99 per month. Their lowest-tiered plan, the Lift 4, comes packed with an impressive array of features, including 4GB RAM, 150GB SSD storage, 2TB bandwidth, 2 CPU cores, a free SSL certificate, free Imunify360 for solid security, cPanel, CloudLinux OS, 1 dedicated IP address, and free migrations.

Furthermore, each plan is fully customizable, allowing you to choose the server’s location, add more dedicated IP addresses and additional cPanel accounts, and select from a range of pre-installed applications, including WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and Magento (Adobe Commerce).

A2 Hosting is best for:

Users who want optimized VPS hosting for WordPress.
Those looking for a managed VPS server on a budget.

A2 Hosting
Starting Price	$59/month
Storage	150 GB
Bandwidth	2 TB
Monthly Visitors	Unlimited
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	ââââ Read the reviews
	Visit A2 Hosting

7. LiquidWeb

Up next in our best WordPress VPS hosting list is LiquidWeb, offering fully managed VPS hosting for under $100 per month. As the only provider on our list to provide a 100% uptime guarantee, LiquidWeb is definitely worth considering. Their VPS servers come standard with 24/7 phone, chat, and email support, proactive server monitoring, off-server backups, and multi-level DDoS protection. They have the fastest network setup on our list with gigabit bandwidth and Cloudflare CDN. LiquidWeb lets you choose your preferred control panel from InterWorx, cPanel, or Plesk Web Pro.

Key Features for LiquidWeb:

Liquidweb’s 2GB RAM plan is an affordable option that includes 2 vCPU cores, 40GB SSD storage, 10TB bandwidth, and Linux OS for only $59 per month. If you want a fully managed server, you can easily add a server template such as CentOS with Interworx or choose from various cPanel and Plesk options for an additional $22-25 monthly. You can add 100GB of off-server storage for extra backup protection for just $12 more monthly.

Moreover, additional options exist, such as increased bandwidth, additional IP addresses, and cloud storage. If you choose these extra features, you will get a fully managed hosting solution with easy WordPress installation for under $100 monthly. This is an excellent choice for individuals, businesses, and medium-sized agencies seeking a comprehensive hosting solution.

LiquidWeb is best for:

Those wanting a highly configurable, fully-managed VPS server for under $100 monthly.
Individuals and businesses who require additional backup storage for peace of mind.

LiquidWeb
Starting Price	$59/month
Storage	40 GB
Bandwidth	10 TB
Monthly Visitors	Unlimited
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit LiquidWeb

8. Interserver

The last WordPress VPS provider – Interserver, is the most configurable host on our list, offering the flexibility to customize everything from CPU cores to storage at a very reasonable price. All WordPress VPS servers are powered by Nginx, with optimized WordPress cron, and include WP Fastest cache, which can help boost website performance. Additionally, Interserver’s servers come with OPcache PHP accelerator onboard, further enhancing website speed and performance. Plans start at $6 monthly and can be configured to meet your specific needs.

Key Features for Interserver:

To get started with Interserver, all you need to do is create a free account, and you’re off to the races. Their lowest-tiered plan comes with 1 CPU core, 2GB RAM, 30GB SSD storage, and 2TB of bandwidth for a reasonable $6 per month. However, Interserver’s plans are highly customizable. To meet your needs, you can easily add features like backup storage, email, advanced DNS, and more.

Moreover, Interserver offers pre-configured servers that you can deploy instantly if you require a more robust setup. These Rapid Deployment servers are powered with Intel Xeon or AMD Ryzen processors and come pre-configured with your choice of operating system, at least 30GB RAM, 1760GB SSD storage, and 8 cores for an unbeatable $45 per month.

Interserver is best for:

You want a truly customizable server optimized for WordPress.
You need VPS hosting but don’t have a big budget.

Interserver
Starting Price	$6/month
Storage	30 GB
Bandwidth	2 TB
Monthly Visitors	Unlimited
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âŒ
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit Interserver

Comparing The Top 3 Best WordPress VPS Hosting Providers

Based on the number of features, reviews, and options, we chose DreamHost, Hostinger, and IONOS as our best WordPress VPS hosting providers.

	ðŸ¥‡ DreamHost	ðŸ¥ˆ Hostinger	ðŸ¥‰ IONOS
Starting Price	$15/month	$8.99/month	$7/month
Storage	30GB	20 GB	80 GB
Bandwidth	Unmetered	1 TB	Unlimited
Monthly Visitors	Unlimited	Unmetered	Unlimited
Free Domain	âŒ	âŒ	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews	âââââ Read the reviews	ââââ Read the reviews
	Visit DreamHost	Visit Hostinger	Visit IONOS

Final Thoughts on VPS WordPress Hosting

When choosing a VPS hosting provider for your business, ensuring they offer the necessary features that meet your needs is essential. A good VPS host should provide excellent performance, scalability, robust security features, and reliable support. If you’re a developer, several VPS hosts on our list can suit your needs, with customizable options to tweak your servers. However, if you’re a beginner, you’ll want to choose a provider that is easy to use, with WordPress pre-installed for the best experience.

Are you looking for more hosting reviews? Check out our top picks for managed WordPress hosting.

The post 8 Best WordPress VPS Hosting Companies in 2023 appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

23.04.2023

Divi Meetup Community Update: Q1 2023
Hello, Divi Fam, and welcome to another Divi Community update!

As we end the first quarter of 2023, the Divi theme continues to innovate and evolve. We’re working tirelessly on Divi 5.0, which is set to be a game-changer for the WordPress theme market. This major release promises to deliver new and innovative features, improved performance, and a more intuitive user interface. With a focus on empowering web designers and developers to create exceptional websites, Divi 5.0 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting updates to the theme yet. Now’s the time to get involved with your local Divi MeetupPro group or start your own!

Check out our current stats and community updates below.

The Divi Nation Meetup Network by the Numbers
- Total Members: 11,313
- Total Groups: 38
- Total Events Hosted: 1,785
- Total RSVPs: 13,072
- New Members (Last 90 Days): 570
If you are passionate about building your local Divi community, locate a group near you here or use the button below to apply to become a local organizer.

APPLY TO BECOME A DIVI MEETUP ORGANIZER TODAY

Let’s Welcome Our Newest Meetup Host!

Please give a warm welcome to our new host! We just onboarded a new Divi host for Divi Toronto, and we’re thrilled to introduce you to her!

Divi Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Suzie Hernandez – Divi Toronto

Meet the host, Suzie Hernandez:

As the Owner & Lead Designer of Q7 Creative, Suzie specializes in WordPress Web Design, Hosting & Maintenance. She began using Divi in 2018 and never looked back. Her primary focus is not only to build her clients a better website with WordPress + Divi but to provide them with ongoing support through personal client relationships to grow their website alongside their business.

I feel that hosting meetups with other web designers and community members who use Divi will only increase my Divi knowledge and make me a better web designer. I also want to share my knowledge and help people realize, that no matter how far along they are in their Divi journey, they all have something of value to share. It’s not just the seasoned professionals who get to share, but even new members have a lot of experiences they bring to the table. I’d like to hear from everyone.

We’re so grateful to have you on board, Suzie!

Go to Divi Toronto

Updates from Existing Groups

This is my favorite part. I enjoy sharing all about what our individual groups are doing in their respective parts of the world. We’re all different, and getting to learn about other cultures and groups is such a joy. See for yourself below.

Divi Cape Town in South Africa

Divi Cape Town January 2023

From the Host, Dirk Tolken:

Attendees: January – 10

We did a session about AI Tools and it was very well received. We had great engagement and some were left in awe of the capabilities of tools now available to us (some for free).

Yes, Divi Cape Town! ðŸ’¥

Go to Divi Cape Town

Divi Chicago, Illinois, USA

Divi Chicago February 2023

Divi Chicago March 2023

From the Hosts, Joan Margau & Scott Winterroth:

Attendees: February-7 & March-11

February 2023
Our very own Divi-Chicago member, Nancy Mikyska, gave us an in-depth presentation of the layout she created, the Responsive Comparison Chart for Divi. Nancy is the Founder of Cymatics Web Development. She showed us how the Comparison Chart works and how versatile it is. The layout is easy to use and all the CSS coding is built in. You can style the chart easily. Clients are very pleased with the way they can put comparison information into the chart with information and graphics. And, it looks great on desktop, laptop, tablet, and phone. Perfect responsive. Congrats to Nancy for developing such a much-needed addition to a website.

March 2023
The Divi ‘experts’ a/k/a those who use Divi, shared and exchanged their knowledge. There’s always a way to resolve a problem with WordPress and Divi because they work together so well. Divi has all the built-in features you just have to know how to use them. Ask us and we’ll show you how.

Join Divi Chicago give them your input. ðŸ”¥

Go to Divi Chicago

Divi Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Divi Dallas February 2023

From the Host, Tommy Lee & Kent Pilkington:

Attendees: February-18

This month, Divi DFW’s topic was an introduction to Divi and WordPress. We held a roundtable discussion, driven by our members, where we covered burning questions from people of all skill levels. Additionally, we covered some of our best tips for beginners, including how to use the visual editor and theme builder.

Yee, Divi DFW!

Go to Divi Dallas/Fort Worth

Divi Los Angeles, California, USA

Divi Los Angeles

From the Host, Julius Lopez:

It has been a busy Winter quarter forcing me to focus on clients which took time away from being able to create Divi events.

But with the calendar page turning to [Q2], I have found some open windows of time to put together a fresh batch of Divi Los Angeles Meetups!

Keep an eye out on Meetup for [an] event to be held late in the month. It will be a Q&A answering all of your questions about launching a website. If you have been hesitant about getting your website launched, this is a Meetup you won’t want to miss, and more coming online soon!

Are you a resident of the Greater Los Angeles Area? Do you love Divi? Would like to present, or become a co-host of Divi Los Angeles Meetup? Contact Julius via email at: julius@trivessa.com. ðŸ™ŒðŸ¼

Go to Divi Los Angeles

Divi Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Divi PHX January 2023

Divi PHX March 2023

From the Host, Dennis Dinsmore:

Attendees: January-9, February-8, & March-7

Divi Phoenix is growing steadily in attendance! We’re one of the few meetups that meet over the lunch hour and it’s working for our community!

I love us. ðŸ¥²

Go to Divi Phoenix

Divi Sacramento, California, USA

Divi Sacramento January 2023 – 1st event

Divi Sacramento January 2023 – 2nd event

Divi Sacramento March 2023

From the Hosts, Rosalinda Huck & Elizabeth Hahn:

Attendees: January-28 & March-19

January 2023
Our theme for January was New Year, New Practices, and we kicked off 2023 with two fantastic meetings. In our Divi Mix Online Discussion, members talked about new Divi plugins and products that they’ve tried, website maintenance and security procedures, and Divi and design skills they want to learn or improve this year.
For our Divi Deep Dive, Nathan Hall from Anchor Media was our guest speaker. He presented his workflow and approach to building Divi sites, including using Storybrand principles and how to streamline the time and effort to create content for a client’s website.

March 2023
Our theme for March was “Spring Cleaning”, and for both of our meetings, we talked about ways to spruce up our Divi websites. We had discussions and demos on how to clean up various styles, plugins, and content, as well as implement new marketing practices based on analytics and client needs. We look forward to our next few meetings as we round out Spring with more guest speakers!

Join Divi Sacramento for some continued Divi learning opportunities! â™¥ï¸

Go to Divi Sacramento

Divi Satkhira, Bangladesh

Divi Satkhira February 2023

From the Host, Delower Hossain:

Attendees: February-12

We discussed ai, Divi builder, Divi Marketplace, etc. Attendees enjoyed it very much!

Thank you for serving your community, Delower! ðŸ™ðŸ¼

Go to Divi Satkhira

Divi Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Divi Toronto March 2023

From the Host, Suzi Hernandez:

Attendees: March-10

Divi Toronto is excited to be back! Our first meetup of 2023 was all about Going Mobile with Divi. We discussed how to use Divi’s mobile customizer settings, how to adjust column stacking order on different devices, and numerous tips & css styles for working with mobile menus. We look forward to growing the Divi Toronto community as we discuss the many Divi Resources available at our next meetup in April.

Divi Toronto is back and at it! ðŸ’¯

Go to Divi Toronto

Want to Host Your Own Local Divi Network Meetup?

Great! We’re always on the lookout for people around the world who are passionate about Divi and building community and want to spread that enthusiasm to their local community. We take care of the monthly Meetup fees, and we provide all our hosts with tons of resources to help plan and promote their events, including help with finding a venue and coming up with topic ideas.

Starting a new Divi Meetup group is simple. Just apply by filling out this form or email eventcoordinator@elegantthemes.com. Once the form is complete, we will work together to get your group launched and linked to our Meetup Network. Easy as that!

Not sure if there’s already a Divi Meetup Group in your area? Just head to our Meetup Network page to see a map of our current locations.

Global Divi Meetup Network

The post Divi Meetup Community Update: Q1 2023 appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.
22.04.2023

16 Best AI Chatbots in 2023 (Reviewed and Compared)

Artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbots are revolutionizing how we get work done. You’ve likely heard about ChatGPT, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Millions of people leverage all sorts of AI chat tools in their businesses and personal lives. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best AI chatbots and what they can do to enhance individual and business productivity.

What Types of AI Chatbots Are There?

AI Chatbot platforms are built on some fantastic technology. Large Language Models have a knack for following complex instructions without breaking a sweat. Most AI bots are text-based, but some can generate images, video, code, and audio or even solve complicated math. They’re used in all sorts of applications, like image generators and article rewriting tools.

They help humans with just about anything related to information gathering, pattern-making, and generally tedious tasks. Because of these unique features, they can fill many holes in business and personal productivity.

Popular Use Cases for Business Chatbots

Chatbots schedule appointments and meetings, reducing the effort needed for staff and increasing efficiency.
Businesses can utilize chatbots to engage with website visitors, collect contact information, and qualify leads, resulting in easier identification of potential customers.
Chatbots can be used on company websites as live customer service agents. By directing users to relevant documentation, guides, and frequently asked questions (FAQs), chatbots enable customers to find the answers they need quickly.
Employees benefit from chatbot assistance in locating information, completing tasks, and accessing company resources, which leads to improved productivity and efficiency.
Chatbots also gather customer feedback, conduct surveys, and collect valuable insights and even come in WordPress chat plugins.

How You Can Use a Personal Chatbot

Personal chatbots can be valuable research assistants, delving into topics of interest and providing suggestions for further exploration.
Chatbots can enhance the experience by offering conversation prompts, vocabulary lessons, and grammar tips when learning a new language.
Personal chatbots ensure you have various entertainment options by recommending movies, music, books, or events tailored to your interests and preferences.
Meal preparation becomes more enjoyable and efficient with chatbots that suggest recipes based on dietary preferences, provide cooking instructions, and assist in planning weekly meals.

The Best AI Chatbots

1. Writesonic (Botsonic + Chatsonic)

Writesonic is a leading AI-powered platform that performs many tasks to help businesses with efficiency and creativity. Backed by Y Combinator, it has gotten a lot of attention and development. It offers different products using the same underlying AI technology to save businesses money. We’ll focus on two AI chatbot tools by Writesonic: Chatsonic and Botsonic. We’ll go over the key features and then explain who the whole Writesonic platform is for.

Writesonic Library of Use Cases

Chatsonic is an AI-powered chatbot by Writesonic that is a powerful ChatGPT alternative. It is built on top of GPT-4 but introduces other proprietary technology to bring even more capabilities for those used to the text-only output of ChatGPT. Botsonic is another integrated product from Writesonic that can create conversation AI experiences for your website users. It can connect your sales and support data to develop AI automated conversations with your customers and leads.

Writesonic’s free plan includes 10,000 monthly words and access to nearly all of Writesonic’s features (including Botsonic and Writesonic)

Key Features of Chatsonic:

Connected to the internet using Google Search technology
Generate AI art and images in the same chat flow
“Personality Avatars” can be set to help with different tasks (math teacher, translator, general AI, etc.)
Chrome extension to bring AI to all the places you write
Enter prompts using a voice command (you speak, and it listens)
Can cite sources (but still need to verify)

Key Features of Writesonic:

No-code, website chatbot builder
Built leveraging GPT 4, arguably the most advanced AI model on the market
Brand customization is available and allows for changing chat window colors, logo, and avatar
Simple embed script + API that makes it usable on almost any website

Best For:

Chatsonic is ideal for businesses needing AI-powered personal assistants. Its personality avatars make it adept at performing specific tasks while still being able to do just about anything. As helpful as ChatGPT has been for teams, Chatsonic tries to be even more valuable by doing what it can’t. Botsonic is perfect for website owners who offer online customer support. Powered by GPT 4, Botsonic can leverage your customer support material and provide dedicated support to your customers 24/7.

Pricing: Free plan with paid plans starting at $19/mo (30% discount for non-profits and students)

Get Writesonic

2. Chat by Copy.ai

Chat by Copy.ai is a versatile chatbot that works like ChatGPT but has access to more data and is trained for marketing and sales tasks. But it is also great as an all-purpose AI that can help with creativity, solving problems, and any writing task. Chat by Copy.ai is built for the workplace, and paid plans can be used across teams, starting with five users per account.

Key Features of Chat by Copy.ai:

Access to the web so it can talk back with live information
Prebuilt prompts to save you time and get consistent results for routine queries
Go from a chat conversation to a long-form editor to create content with your AI assistant

Chat by Copy.ai Screenshot

Best For:

Chat by Copy.ai is perfect for businesses looking for an assistant-type chatbot for internal productivity. It is built for sales and marketing professionals but can do much more. Since it can access Live-data on the web (and through API), it can be used to personalize marketing materials and sales outreach.

Pricing: Free plan available with paid plans starting at $49/mo

Get Chat by Copy.ai

3. ChatBot

Chatbot by LiveChat is an AI chatbot provider focused on allowing businesses to provide excellent customer service using a live chat widget. It enables companies to create web chatbots and reduce dependencies on a 100% human support team. Its robust integration capabilities make it easy to incorporate into existing workflows and communication channels, including social media.

Key Features of ChatBot:

Integrates with several chat services (WhatsApp, SMS, Email, etc.) to create a unified support platform
Provides customer support based on the integrated HelpDesk and can create support tickets
Display product cards in chat to develop leads and even customers through Conversational AI
Tag visitors for powerful marketing and CRM segmentation campaigns
Ten high-powered SaaS integrations + Zapier

Best For:

ChatBot is an ideal solution for businesses that want a customer-facing virtual chatbot solution for sales and customer support. It integrates with LiveChat’s other products, LiveChat and HelpDesk, to offer a 306-degree support system for any business. If your business is poised to scale into the major leagues, the LiveChat ecosystem is something to consider.

Pricing: Starting at $65/mo

Get ChatBot

4. Jasper Chat

Jasper Chat is an AI chat platform built into one of the best AI writing software tools on the market. It is a prompt or command-based AI chat toolâ€”put in a query or prompt, and Jasper will get to work. Built into Jasper Chat is a refining experience where you can slightly modify your prompt to optimize for a preferable generated output. It’s an ideal AI assistant with an easy-to-use chat interface.

Jasper AI Chatbot

Key Features of Jasper Chat:

Jasper is trained on data from as late as 2021, so it is behind the ball compared to Chatsonic
Quickly transfer chat outputs into Jasper’s long-form editor
Built for business use cases like marketing, sales, and business writing

Best For:

Jasper Chat is a decent chat assistant that can help you with writing tasks. Not the most advanced AI chatbot on our list, but it will likely mature as the rest of the Jasper platform has.

Pricing: Starts at $24/mo for Jasper subscription, including Jasper Chat

Get Jasper Chat

5. Tidio+

Tidio is a customer service chatbot platform. Most of its plans help people build traditional chatbots based on workflows, but with their Tidio+ plan, users can get the power of AI incorporated into advanced chatbots that help reduce customer churn and improve retention.

Key Features of Jasper Chat:

Tidio+ comes with unlimited chat interactions
Chatbot can handle conversations with customers but fallback onto live agents for a human touch when needed
It comes with a ticketing system when solutions will take a little bit of time
Ran from the cloud allowing operators to interact with customers on mobile device apps or using desktop applications

Best For:

Tidio is great for any business that has either a chat-based customer support organization or an inbound sales team. It integrates with major website platforms, including WordPress, as well as several popular messaging channels so you can deploy high-level chat solutions where ever your customers are. The AI tool is best suited for customer support for any business and automated sales chat with connected eCommerce stores.

Pricing: Tidio+ starts at $329/mo, with non-AI chatbot plans starting Free

Get Tidio+

6. Liveperson

Liveperson Homepage April 2023
LivePerson is an advanced conversational AI chatbot platform. They built their platform to improve the old “rule-based” chatbot model that was limited to providing programmed responses based on keywords entered by the user. This was clunky and didn’t fit the nature of how language works. The new Conversational AI technology by LivePerson is much more powerful. It is based on natural language understanding (NLU) and natural language processing (NLP) to handle complex interactions and deliver natural-sounding responses. This allows companies to enhance customer experience, engagement, and support.

Key Features of LivePerson:

Conversational AI technology for natural responses
Past AI chat interactions power and inform future conversationsâ€”Liveperson is always learning your business needs
Understands user intents to craft the best possible responses
Can connect with eCommerce platforms for conversation commerce experiences powered by AI chat

Best For:

LivePerson is for enterprise-sized businesses that want to leverage conversational bots across their business. It can be used in customer and eCommerce sales support and provide a casual chat experience across multiple mainstream messaging platforms.

Pricing: Pricing not available; contact Liveperson for a custom quote

Get LivePerson

7. You.com

You.com is an AI-based search engine that also has a chatbot (YouChat) connected to it. Its powerful search algorithms enable it to understand conversational user queries and deliver accurate, context-aware answers. It can also interact with the prompter as it surfaces web results and creates custom answers in chat.

Key Features of You.com:

Advanced AI-powered search capabilities
Context-aware chat responses
A great alternative to Bard or Bing AI
Includes AI search tools for generating various types of content including images, videos, code, and more.

Best For:

You.com is excellent for anyone surfing the web, especially those trying to avoid the obvious search giants (Google, Bing) and use something else.

Pricing: Free search engine

Try You Chat

8. Ada

Ada Homepage April 2023
Ada is a customer experience-driven chatbot platform that streamlines support processes while delivering personalized interactions. The platform’s AI technology enables it to understand complex user requests and respond conversationally. It can connect with your operational technology to create a deep and relevant customer experience.

Key Features of Ada:

Cross-channel AI chat conversations
Measure performance and iterate on how your chatbot works over time
No-code chatbot builder that is easy to deploy on a website
Multilingual (50+ languages) so you can deliver customer support at scale more accessible than ever
Integrates with 28 platforms (from eCommerce to appointment booking and more)

Best For:

Ada is the perfect solution for businesses that want an integrated chat solution that can pull from multiple business-critical data sources. Have it connect with your order management solution, helpdesk, or booking software to automate business processes at scale.

Pricing: No public pricing; contact for a customized quote for your business

Get Ada

9. Laiye Conversational AI

Laiye AI Chat Homepage April 2023
Laiye Conversational AI is another cutting-edge AI chatbot solution that excels in automating customer service and sales processes. The platform offers comprehensive tools for designing, training, and deploying AI chatbots across multiple channels.

Key Features of Laiye Conversational AI:

The AI assistant can collect information and qualify a customer before sending them to a human agent
Multi-channel deployment and integration so you can help people on your website and beyond
Real-time analytics and performance tracking to see just how much time and money you are saving
Rates and learns from its conversations, so it gets better at supporting your unique customers over time
SaaS and On-site versions of Laiye are available to fit the most complicated use cases that enterprises have

Best For:

Laiye is an enterprise AI chatbot and automation platform for businesses delivering support at scale. This platform should only be considered for large companies with large budgets. These companies stand to benefit from a lot of cost savings once deployed.

Pricing: No public pricing is available; contact Laiye directly for a customized quote

Get Laiye Conversational AI

10. Botsify

Botsify AI Chatbot Homepage April 2023
Botsify is an easy-to-use chatbot platform that allows small-to-medium-sized businesses to create, deploy, and manage AI-powered chatbots for customer support and engagement. It is built to help automate sales processes and customer support and balance growing workforce needs with AI.

Key Features of Botsify:

Multilingual AI chatbot
Whitelabel platform for agencies to offer chatbot building services
Integration with popular messaging apps and platforms
Integrates with WooCommerce and other eCommerce platforms
Agent fallback for when AI has done its job, but it is time for a human to step in

Best For:

Botsify is an excellent option for smaller businesses. It has most of the tools they’d need at pricing that matches their budgets. They offer a do-it-for-you development team that can help build you an AI-automated chatbot for business and help deploy it.

Pricing: Starting at $49/mo for 5k chat interactions

Get Botsify

11. Bard

Bard Homepage April 2023
Bard is an innovative chatbot platform that leverages advanced natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) technologies to deliver engaging and intelligent conversations. Built by Google, Bard aims to be a helpful collaborator with whatever you bring to it. The platform focuses on providing human-like interactions and understanding complex user queries.

Key Features of Bard:

Advanced NLP and machine learning capabilities
It acts as a personal assistant where you can ask it to follow prompts
Trained with internet data newer than ChatGPT

Best For:

Bard is perfect for anyone wanting help with anything that comes to mind (that can be expressed in text, at least).

Pricing: Free to use

Try Bard

12. ChatGPT

OpenAI's ChatGPT Homepage April 2023
ChatGPT is the AI-driven chatbot of the hour. Created by OpenAI, it excels in providing contextual and meaningful conversations across various industries and topics. It is easy to use for countless personal and professional tasks like planning events, writing emails, and generating code. The paid version is based on GPT-4 which is trained on 45 gigabytes of data, making it one of the most prominent and valuable Large Language Models (LLMs). Paid users of ChatGPT have access to GPT-4 in its chat, but GPT 3.5 is available for all users (free and paid).

ChatGPT Code Output Example

Key Features of ChatGPT:

State-of-the-art AI models that are used as a base technology for many of the tools mentioned in this article
Context-aware conversationalist that remembers what has previously been stated to inform current responses
The gold standard of basic chat functions with very sophisticated responses
It can help write and fix multiple coding languages

Best For:

ChatGPT is a great companion assistant. This AI chatbot is great for fleshing out ideas and performing text-based tasks. It is usable in almost any domain with enough context and prompt engineering.

Pricing: Free to use with the paid plan at $20/mo; API access costs are separate

Try ChatGPT

13. Zendesk Answer Bot

Zendesk Answer Bot Homepage April 2023
Zendesk Answer Bot is an AI-powered chatbot solution built into the popular Zendesk ecosystem of products. As another customer support-focused AI, Zendesk Answer Bot is excellent at taking support materials in Zendesk and leveraging those in conversational live chats with customers.

Key Features of Zendesk Answer Bot:

AI-driven support automation that works 24/7
Bots can triage interactions and transfer customers without manual sorting
Multiple messaging channels such as Slack, website, and Facebook Messenger
Can collect personalized customer data for segmentation and issue tracking

Best For:

Zendesk Answer Bot is perfect for businesses already using Zendesk products and looking to enhance their customer support processes with an AI-powered chatbot solution.

Pricing: Pricing is based on chat resolutions starting at $1 per resolution

Get Zendesk + Answer Bot

14. Landbot

Landbot is a versatile chatbot platform that enables businesses to create engaging, interactive chatbots for customer support, lead generation, and more. Their core product is more of a traditional chatbot though they’ve launched Landbot AI as a beta experiment for their chatbot platform.

Key Features of Landbot:

No-code chatbot flow builder
Wide range of customization options and integrations
It can be used for customer support and lead generation

Best For:

Landbot is ideal for businesses with more minor chatbot needs. This can include wanting to automate your business’s most common customer interactions. Its intelligent chatbot features are in their infancy but will show a lot of promise once they are out of beta.

Pricing: Free plan with 100 monthly chats and paid plans starting at $39/mo

Get Landbot

15. Drift Conversational AI

Drift Homepage April 2023
Drift Conversational AI is an effective enterprise chatbot platform that delivers personalized, engaging interactions to drive customer engagement and generate leads. The platform uses advanced AI technology to understand user queries and respond based on connected data sources. It goes beyond a chatbot by providing advanced landing pages and engagement options that bring even more data into your business.

Key Features of Drift Conversational AI:

Real-time, AI-driven customer interactions via chat
Schedule meetings automatically by connecting Google or Microsoft calendars
Use conversational engagement to gather actionable data and to de-anonymize critical data
Conversational landing pages that sell and interact

Best For:

Drift Conversational AI is for enterprises wanting to bring conversational bots to live chat and marketing flows. It excels at filling a CRM with actionable data through automated conversations. It’s a high-growth platform for large-scale businesses.

Pricing: Starting at $2,500/mo

Get Drift Conversational AI

16. Socratic

Socratic - Homepage April 2023
Socratic is an AI chat app that helps students with their learning goals. It uses AI to understand questions submitted by a wondering student and matches that query with the best online resources to help find an answer or to dig further into the topic. Users will need to download the Android or iPhone app, type a question into the chat, and surf the supplied resources related to the question. It works like a specialized version of Google Search, only completely tailored toward common learning objectives.

Key Features of Socratic by Google:

Free chat app available on Android and iPhone platforms
Step-by-step help with math problems so you can break them down instead of giving the answers
Provides practice test questions so you are prepared for any subject with realistic questions
Surfaces helpful content and sources (including videos and diagrams) to help you learn complex concepts

Best For:

Socratic is for life-long learners and students. It’s best used for general academic subjects, and your mileage may vary when you get into graduate-level academics focusing on very narrow topics. If you are looking for a study partner, Socratic is always available and can even tutor you in a wide range of subjects. This is best for students who want to learn more efficiently and not just those who want to get the correct answers without putting in the work.

Pricing: Free

Get Socratic

Conversational AI Chatbot FAQ

What is the best AI chatbot?

Many other chatbot services use ChatGPT’s underlying technology (GPT 3.5 and GPT 4). ChatGPT itself is one of the best personal chatbots out there. If you are using an AI chatbot for business, Writesonic and Chat by Chat.ai are some of the best to consider.

Which AI chatbot is right for you?

If you need AI-powered writing software + chatbots, check out Writesonic. Small businesses can try Botisfy or Zendesk Answers Bot for customer support, while enterprises may prefer Drift or Ada. For personal chat AI, try Socratic for students or ChatGPT/Bard for general use.

What is an AI chatbot?

AI chatbots are software applications that use artificial intelligence to simulate human-like conversations via messaging applications. These chatbots can understand natural language and respond to user inquiries, making them valuable tools for providing customer support and sales assistance around the clock without human intervention. Whether integrated into a website or used as standalone applications, AI chatbots can help businesses engage with customers conversationally and interactively, improving customer satisfaction and overall experience. With the ability to handle a wide range of inquiries, from basic FAQs to complex product and service inquiries, AI chatbots can be a valuable addition to any customer support or sales team.

What is the Best AI Chatbot?

There are all types of AI chatbots available online. Here’s a quick overview of our top choices.

	Tool	Languages	Starting Price	Free Plan
ðŸ¥‡	Writesonic	24	$19/mo	âœ”ï¸ Yes	Visit
ðŸ¥ˆ	Chat by Copy.ai	27+	$49/mo	âœ”ï¸ Yes	Visit
ðŸ¥‰	ChatBot	48	$65/mo	âŒ Trial	Visit
4	Jasper Chat	30+	$29/mo	âŒ Trial	Visit
5	Tidio+	8	$329/mo	âŒ Not w/ AI	Visit
6	Liveperson	28+	Must Request Quote	âŒ Trial	Visit
7	You AI Search	English	Free	âœ”ï¸ Yes	Visit
8	Ada	100+	Must Request Quote	âŒ No Trial	Visit
9	Laiye Conversational AI	2	Must Request Quote	âŒ Trial	Visit
10	Botsify	100+	$49/mo	âŒ Trial	Visit
11	Bard	English	Free	âœ”ï¸ Yes	Visit
12	ChatGPT	100+	Free	âœ”ï¸ Yes	Visit
13	Zendesk W/ AI Bot	18+	$1/Resolution	âŒ Trial	Visit
14	Landbot	5+	$39/mo	âœ”ï¸ Yes	Visit
15	Drift Conversational AI	100+	$2,500/mo	âœ”ï¸ Yes	Visit
16	Socratic	6	Free	âœ”ï¸ Yes	Visit

Our Recommendations

Writesonic arguably has the most comprehensive AI chatbot solution. Not only is it a powerful AI writing software, but it also includes Chatsonic and Botsonicâ€”two different types of AI chatbots. All of these are available in its free plan.

For businesses wanting to bring conversational AI to their support and sales operations, Botisfy and Zendesk Answers Bot are both within reach for most small businesses. Enterprises will want to look atÂ Tidio+ or Drift/Ada.

There’s no doubt that personal Chat AI is helpful as well. We recommend Socratic for students and ChatGPT or Bard for general-purpose AI chatting.

Looking for other tools to increase productivity and achieve better business results? Check out all our recommended tools for website owners.

Featured Image by Irina Strelnikova / shutterstock.com

The post 16 Best AI Chatbots in 2023 (Reviewed and Compared) appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

21.04.2023

10 Best WordPress Hosting Options in 2023 (Handpicked)

Choosing a hosting provider for your WordPress website is a difficult decision. There are so many options that it can be challenging to weed through them. In this post, we will give you the tools to decide which hosting provider to choose based on your specific needs, so you can decide which is the best WordPress hosting company for your business. Let’s get started.

WordPress Hosting Requirements

One of the reasons that WordPress is so popular is because of its limited requirements. To successfully run it, you’ll need a server with supported versions of PHP, MySQL, or MariaDB and support for HTTPS.

Thankfully, most WordPress hosting providers will have no problem meeting these requirements. It’s important to note that running an outdated or unsupported version leaves your site vulnerable to hacks and other security concerns. If you’re about to embark on a PHP update, read The Complete Guide on How to Update PHP in WordPress to get some valuable pointers.

Things To Consider When Choosing the Best WordPress Hosting

The world of WordPress is vast, so hosting options are plentiful. Above all, it’s essential to determine what your specific needs are. That being said, knowing some key points is vital before choosing your website’s new home.

Domain Hosting

Domain hosting and WordPress hosting are two different things. Your site’s URL is your domain name. Domains can be purchased either through a registrar or a hosting company. Keeping the two separate is a good idea because having your domain and site’s files in the same location can make you more vulnerable to security issues. Consider choosing a domain name first, then select a hosting company to host your site’s files.

Reseller Hosting

Some hosting providers, such as SiteGround, Flywheel, and Cloudways, offer the option to buy hosting packages in bulk, then sell them off individually for a profit. Reseller hosting is attractive to agencies because it allows them to offer competitive pricing for hosting to their clients yet make a healthy profit.

Budget Hosting

There are cheap hosting options for those who can’t afford to spend much. There are a few hosting providers who offer their services for free. Providers such as Google Cloud, Wix, and Weebly all offer free hosting packages – with a caveat. With the free plans, you won’t be able to use a custom domain, or you might have to display ads, which may or may not be a deal breaker for you.

Email

Even though WordPress has a built-in mail handler to its platform, it could be more reliable. It utilizes PHP mail(), which may result in lost emails. WordPress users must use a good email provider and an SMTP provider, such as SendinBlue, to successfully send and receive emails through WordPress.

Bandwidth

Understanding the differences in hosting plans and bandwidth allowances can be daunting. Most hosts use bandwidth as a differentiator between plans, with higher-priced plans offering more. Determining how much you need can be difficult, so it’s crucial to research hosting providers to choose your options.

Performance and Speed

A slow website can impact search results, bounce rate, and conversions, so speed and performance must be at the forefront when choosing a hosting provider. There are various factors involved, which all start at the server level. The type of server, PHP version, server configurations, and type of hosting can all play a role.

Types of WordPress Hosting

Regarding WordPress hosting providers, there are several types to consider. Each has its merits, but ultimately it depends on your needs. Let’s take a look at each type so you can determine which is right for you.

Free WordPress Hosting (Not Recommended)

A free WordPress hosting provider generally offers the ability to host a WordPress site free of charge. Hosting providers such as 000WebHost and WordPress.com provide such services. Free may sound like an incredible deal, but it’s generally not a good idea to go this route because of the limited options associated with free hosting. You won’t find any security features, backups, or support that paid plans offer. There are other caveats to the free price tag. For example, bandwidth and storage will be abysmal. Additionally, certain free hosts require that you place ads on your site, which may be a deal breaker.

Shared WordPress Hosting (Best For Low Traffic Sites)

Most WordPress hosting providers offer shared hosting. It consists of one server that is shared amongst many WordPress installations. In a shared environment, all websites on the server share all available resources, such as ram, bandwidth, and hard drive storage. One benefit of shared hosting is one-click installs, making it perfect for those without server configuration knowledge. Bloggers and small businesses are best suited for this type of hosting plan.

VPS WordPress Hosting (Best For Ecommerce Sites)

Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is a type of shared hosting sectioned off into pieces and functions as a private server. The main difference between shared and VPS is that it gives you more control over server configurations. You do share the physical hardware like bandwidth, ram, and storage space, but using VPS provides more security and faster load times. This is great for business owners who have ecommerce sites, as it can lead to higher conversion rates because of the speed bump.

Dedicated WordPress Hosting (Best For Large Agencies)

With dedicated WordPress hosting, you’ll have your own server rather than sharing one with other customers. This results in a more secure and speedier website. Those with high-traffic websites, multiple WordPress installs, or a more customized server configuration can significantly benefit from dedicated hosting. That being said, you should expect to pay more than with shared or VPS hosting plans.

Cloud WordPress Hosting (Best For Speed-Loving & Tech-Savvy)

Some hosting providers, such as Cloudways and AWS, utilize multiple servers in varying locations to store and transmit website data. This is different from traditional hosting, which typically uses one server. One of the benefits of cloud hosting is its ability to deliver content faster and more securely. Additionally, you can control costs by only paying for the needed resources rather than a tiered cookie-cutter hosting plan.

Managed WordPress Hosting (Best Overall Option)

Some hosting providers throw you to the wolves, leaving you to fend for yourself regarding security, updates, and backups. Managed WordPress hosting takes the burden off by handling these things for you. All of this comes at a cost, however. Managed WordPress hosting is pricier than other options but can provide a more seamless experience for less tech-savvy people.

Managed hosting can be any type, including shared, VPS, dedicated, or cloud, depending on the options offered by the provider. For example, Flywheel is a managed hosting provider that offers VPS. In contrast, Cloudways managed hosting offers dedicated, VPS, and cloud options.

One potential drawback is not having complete freedom over which plugins you can use. Security, backup, and caching plugins are either disallowed or highly discouraged. Although this isn’t necessarily bad, those wishing to control their server settings should note it.

If you like the idea of managed hosting but want more control over server configurations, then optimized WordPress hosting is worthy of consideration. With this option, you can control backups, plugin updates, and performance tweaks as you see fit. With optimized hosting, you’ll gain perks like staging, caching, and beefy security features already in place.

If you think Managed WordPress is suitable, check out our picks for the 6 best managed WordPress hosting companies.

The Best WordPress Hosting Providers

We’ve compiled a list of the best WordPress hosting providers available to make your choice easier based on our hands-on experience. Each has pros and cons, but the following providers are among the best WordPress hosting providers based on performance and features.

1. SiteGround

SiteGround is one of the more popular choices for managed WordPress hosting, and in our opinion, the best. With plans for every budget, stellar customer support, and abundant features at your disposal, it’s worth considering. Siteground offers shared VPS hosting to its clients, complete with the Site Tools dashboard to make navigating the interface a breeze.

Key Features for SiteGround

Intuitive Site Tools dashboard
Impressive security features
SG Optimizer plugin to boost page speed results

SiteGround dashboard

You’ll have tools such as one-click WordPress installs, file manager access, information about your site’s speed and performance, security, domain, and email tabs. With plans starting at $14.99 for single-site installations and $24.99 for unlimited sites, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal. With every SiteGround plan, you’ll get a free domain, site migrations, daily backups, SSL, CDN, free business email, and more.

SiteGround is best for:

WordPress users who have one or even hundreds of sites will get their money’s worth from SiteGround. They offer a fast environment, easy site management, and the best customer support on the market.

âž¡ï¸ Read Our Complete SiteGround Hosting Review.

SiteGround
Starting Price	$14.99/month
Storage	10GB
Bandwidth	Unmetered
Monthly Visitors	10,000
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit SiteGround

2. Hostinger

Our next best WordPress hosting provider – Hostinger – offers shared, managed, and optimized WordPress hosting for a reasonable cost. Plans start at $9.99 per month for their lowest-tiered plan, usually offered at a deeply discounted price for budget-conscious people. All plans are built upon LiteSpeed webserver software, considerably boosting page loading times.

Key Features for Hostinger:

Generous amount of storage, even on smaller plans
Hosting built with LiteSpeed
PHP version control

All Hostinger plans come well-equipped with plenty of tools to get the job done, including a staging tool, automatic WordPress updates, one-click application installs with Softaculous, automated daily or weekly backups, and several pro features like WP-CLI, PHP version control, and Git integration.

Hostinger pricing

Hostinger offers four plans for entry-level WordPress users, to WP pros, with prices ranging from $9.99 – $24.99 monthly. Their lowest-tiered plan, Single WordPress, gives you more than enough power to host a small WordPress site. Features include 50GB of storage, 100GB of bandwidth, Cloudflare, a malware scanner, free SSL, and more. However, it only provides .75GB of RAM, which is unsuitable for larger sites.

Hostinger is best for:

Hostinger has plans for most WordPress users. While their lower-tiered plan is best for WordPress beginners with smaller sites, their high-end WordPress Pro plan offers enough hosting prowess to accommodate even the largest agencies with space for 300 websites.

Hostinger
Starting Price	$9.99/month
Storage	50GB
Bandwidth	100GB
Monthly Visitors	Unmetered
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit Hostinger

3. Cloudways

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting provider that gives you a big bang for your buck. You can start with a lower-tiered plan and pay for what you need now. As your business grows, you can add more features, bandwidth, and storage at a reasonable cost. Like SiteGround, Cloudways doesn’t limit the number of sites you can have on your server. That being said, there are differences between the two.

Key Features for Cloudways

Advanced security features
Staging, cloning, and automatic backups
Free migration, SSL, and Cloudflare

Cloudways dashboard

The dashboard could be easier to navigate for beginners. Still, you’ll find everything you need, including backups, a free SSL, staging, and cloning management, advanced security features such as bot and malware protection, migration tools, and integrations with Rackspace, Cloudflare, and Git, amongst others. With plans starting at only $11 per month, you’ll get a full-featured hosting solution that’s fast, secure, and scalable.

Cloudways is best for:

Those who want to manage their own server, control which plugins can be installed, and need fast cloud hosting will find Cloudways an excellent choice. As previously mentioned, the tools with Cloudways are a bit cumbersome. Still, once you’re past the learning curve, you’ll find it capable of handling any number of WordPress websites.

âž¡ï¸ Read Our Complete Cloudways Hosting Review.

Cloudways
Starting Price	$11/month
Storage	25GB
Bandwidth	1TB
Monthly Visitors	Unlimited
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit Cloudways

4. Pressable

Pressable offers managed VPS hosting and has one of the most simple interfaces of any hosting provider on our list. You can access your sites with one click and manage them with ease. You can change the PHP version, assign domains, see performance metrics, add SFTP users, and manage backups, all within a click or two. Pressable’s ease of use stems from its deep integration with WordPress. They are owned and operated by the folks that brought us WordPress, Automattic, so they know WordPress.

Key Features for Pressable

Easy-to-use dashboard
Proprietary CDN
Free SSL, migration, and staging

Pressable dashboard

Additional tools allow easy access to the WordPress dashboard, phpMyAdmin, cloning, migration, staging tools, and password management. Plans start at $19 monthly for one site and include a proprietary content delivery network (CDN), a free SSL, built-in caching, and free migrations.

Pressable is best for:

If you’re looking for a hosting company that is more than familiar with WordPress, Pressable is a good fit. They have excellent server redundancy since they host all of the WordPress.com websites on the planet. They host WordPress well in a multi-server environment, so you’ll never have to worry about downtime.

âž¡ï¸ Read Our Complete Pressable Hosting Review.

Pressable
Starting Price	$19/month
Storage	10GB
Bandwidth	Unlimited
Monthly Visitors	5,000
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit Pressable

5. A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting is a popular choice amongst WordPress users. Their shared and managed hosting options are on par with others on our list in terms of features. Every plan comes standard with an SSL certificate, on-site backups, unlimited emails, and 25 free site migrations, more than most providers.

Key Features for A2 Hosting

Fast hosting with LiteSpeed
Continuous server monitoring
SSL, backups, unlimited emails, and site migrations

A2 Hosting managed plans

A2 touts the speed of their Turbo hosting plans, stating that they offer speeds up to 20x higher than their lower-tiered plans. This is primarily due to their server-side integration of LiteSpeed Site Accelerator, which you can install on hosts without cache plugin restrictions. Besides their generous money-back guarantee and ability to migrate multiple websites for free, there aren’t many glaring differences between A2 and other hosting providers, except speed. That said, the performance of A2 is entirely dependent on whether you choose the shared or VPS option. Managed plans boast Redis and Memcached object caching, a CDN, are optimized for Google Core Web Vitals, and include round-the-clock server performance monitoring.

A2 Hosting is best for:

Those looking for a good managed WordPress hosting provider should give A2 Hosting a try. Their turbo plans offer a faster option than others on our list, according to Pingdom. Plus, with continuous server monitoring, problems are assessed and corrected before downtime occurs.

A2 Hosting
Starting Price	$11.99/month
Storage	50GB
Bandwidth	Unlimited
Monthly Visitors	50,000
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	ââââ Read the reviews
	Visit A2 Hosting

6. WP Engine

Next up, WPEngine offers managed WordPress hosting with many bells and whistles. Daily backups, a free SSL, automatic plugin updates, staging, and easy domain setup are just a few features you’ll get when you sign up with WPEngine. It boasts speedy page load times due to its SSD hard drive storage, bandwidth allotments, and hearty VPS environment.

Key Features for WP Engine

Daily backups
Automatic plugin updates
Staging, dev, and production environments
Excellent security

WP Engine dashboard

WP Engine gets its speed thanks to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud infrastructure, making it a fast option for managed WordPress hosting. Plans start at a reasonable $20 per month for one site, with higher-tiered plans starting at $40 per month for 3 sites. WP Engine’s servers are specifically tailored for WordPress, with optimizations for speed and security, making it a popular option for managed WordPress hosting.

Security features include automatic core WordPress updates, daily backups, site maintenance, and automatic emails that notify you of plugin vulnerabilities. Plus, you’ll rest easy knowing that your site is protected by a multi-layer security suite that includes a web application firewall (WAF), DDoS attack mitigation, Cloudflare CDN, and a free SSL certificate through Let’s Encrypt.

WP Engine is best for:

Those looking for well-managed hosting for WordPress built on AWS and Google Cloud will find WP Engine an excellent choice. With plans starting at a reasonable $20 per month, you can rest assured that your website will be fast and secure with WP Engine.

âž¡ï¸ Read Our Complete WP Engine Hosting Review.

WP Engine
Starting Price	$20/month
Storage	10GB
Bandwidth	50GB
Monthly Visitors	25,000
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit WP Engine

7. Green Geeks

Green Geeks refers to itself as an eco-friendly hosting provider by offsetting the energy used by their servers by purchasing wind energy credits. Their WordPress hosting plans are built on shared servers with SSD hard drives and offered in three tiers ranging from $10.95 to $25.95 monthly. Standard features include email, quick launch WordPress wizard, free migration, automatic updates, a free SSL certificate, a free domain for 1 year, and more.

Key Features for Green Geeks

Automatic WordPress updates
At least 50 free email accounts
Free SSL, backups, CDN, migration, and domain for 1 year
LiteSpeed LS cache onboard

Green Geeks dashboard

There’s nothing flashy about the Green Geeks customer portal, but it gets the job done. You can manage your hosting plans, domains, and security settings, set up an affiliate (reseller) program, and create support tickets through email, messaging, or chat. Plus, at Green Geeks, sharing is caring; with a handy refer & earn section, you can earn discounts for referring their hosting services to a friend or colleague.

Green Geeks is best for:

Green Geeks is worth consideration if your business model involves lowering your carbon footprint. Their WordPress plans are geared more towards small sites or small-ish businesses. Agencies needing more storage, power, and speed are better off looking at their VPS or dedicated hosting plans. Keep in mind that more muscle equals a higher cost. Their bottom-level VPS hosting plan costs $40 per month, while their entry-level dedicated plan costs $169 monthly.

âž¡ï¸ Read Our Complete Green Geeks Hosting Review.

Green Geeks
Starting Price	$10.95/month
Storage	50GB
Bandwidth	Unmetered
Monthly Visitors	Unmetered
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	ââââ Read the reviews
	Visit Green Geeks

8. InMotion Hosting

InMotion hosting provides shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting plans. For their WordPress-specific plans, you’ll get WordPress pre-installed, an optimized server stack specifically for WordPress, a free SSL, SSH access, a CDN, and Jetpack pre-installed. If you require other features, such as backups, you’ll need to add those separately at additional cost.

Key Features for InMotion Hosting

Optimized WordPress-specific server
Free SSL & dedicated IP address
Server caching
Fully isolated server

InMotion hosting dashboard

InMotion’s WordPress shared hosting plans use cPanel. You’ll have complete control over your website’s files, software, and preferences via the account manager, with monthly plans starting at $4.49. It should be noted that they don’t offer monthly payment options on lower-tiered plans, which may be offputting to some.

For managed hosting plans, InMotion takes care of the details for you, so you must contact customer support to make changes to your server. However, they are set up as VPS, so they are faster. With plans starting at $20 per month for managed VPS hosting, they are one of the more affordable options on our list. These robust VPS plans are geared more towards those with more than one website, such as freelancers with multiple clients or agencies. They use InMotion Central, a simple way to create, launch, and manage WordPress websites and add team members with whom you wish to collaborate.

InMotion Hosting is best for:

InMotion has been revamping its WordPress hosting options to include more robust offerings through managed VPS and WooCommerce VPS plans. With dedicated resources, InMotion Central, and large amounts of storage and bandwidth, InMotion is a good option for WordPress users who need a capable hosting partner to manage multiple websites.

âž¡ï¸ Read Our Complete InMotion Hosting Review.

InMotion Hosting
Starting Price	$20/month
Storage	75GB
Bandwidth	3TB
Monthly Visitors	Unlimited
Free Domain	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	ââââ Read the reviews
	Visit InMotion Hosting

9. HostGator

HostGator is another big name in the WordPress hosting realm. Their WordPress hosting plans are built on shared servers and offer features such as automatic updates and daily backups, and they come with WordPress pre-installed.

Key Features for HostGator

Beginner-friendly dashboard
100’s of WordPress themes
Unlimited POP3 email accounts with SMTP

HostGator dashboard

HostGator is well-suited for beginners because of its easy-to-use dashboard. Hosting plans, emails, billing, and marketplace offerings are all easily accessible. Plus, you’ll have access to 24/7 support should you encounter a problem. Other notable features include 1 site migration, a free domain, one-click WordPress installs, unlimited POP3 email addresses, and 100’s free WordPress themes for automatic installation.

HostGator is best for:

HostGator will be a good fit for small websites or personal blogs because of their low cost, that is, if you choose one, two, or three-year terms. If you pay monthly, you’ll pay a much heftier price, even for the lowest plan. Those looking to host more significant sites with high traffic requirements should look elsewhere.

âž¡ï¸ Read Our Complete HostGator Hosting Review.

HostGator
Starting Price	$17.99/month
Storage	Unlimited
Bandwidth	Unmetered
Monthly Visitors	100,000
Free Domain	âœ”ï¸
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	ââââ Read the reviews
	Visit HostGator

10. Bluehost

Bluehost offers shared, managed, and WooCommerce WordPress hosting plans with several features for WordPress users. First and foremost, they use solid-state drives (SSD) on their servers, allowing for faster page-loading speeds. Although it is a shared environment, Bluehost is popular with those with single, small websites. Benefits include a free one-year SSL, daily backups, a staging environment, and security features such as CodeGuard and automatic updates.

Key Features for Bluehost

One-click WordPress installs
Easily build a website with one of 100’s WordPress themes
Daily backups, staging, and free SSL

Bluehost dashboard

The dashboard is relatively simple to navigate, giving you quick access to your websites, a migration tool, the BlueHost marketplace for add-ons, and more. One feature that makes Bluehost stand out is how easy they make it is to build a website. Beginners have plenty of WordPress themes that install with one click. This is useful for creating a simple blog without design experience. One downside to their shared plans is that they don’t offer monthly payment options. So, if you want to pay only $2.95 monthly, you must sign up for at least a 12-month term.

Bluehost is best for:

Even though Bluehost allows for more than one WordPress install in your plan, it isn’t recommended due to its shared server resources. Bluehost states no bandwidth restrictions, but those with more than one site should opt for a provider better suited to handle the extra bandwidth required for multiple sites.

âž¡ï¸ Read Our Complete Bluehost Hosting Review.

Bluehost
Starting Price	$2.95/month
Storage	10GB
Bandwidth	Unmetered
Monthly Visitors	Unlimited
Free Domain	âœ”ï¸
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	ââââ Read the reviews
	Visit Bluehost

Final Thoughts on the Best WordPress Hosting

SiteGround and Hostinger are at the top of our list of best WordPress hosting because of their exceptional performance, advanced security features to keep your website(s) safe and secure, and reliable customer support. Additionally, they both offer a range of hosting plans that cater to different needs and budgets, giving you the flexibility to choose the best plan for your website.

	ðŸ¥‡ SiteGround	ðŸ¥ˆ Hostinger	ðŸ¥‰ Cloudways
Starting Price	$14.99/month	$9.99/month	$11/month
Storage	10GB	50GB	25GB
Bandwidth	Unmetered	100GB	1TB
Monthly Visitors	10,000	Unmetered	Unlimited
Free Domain	âŒ	âŒ	âŒ
24/7 Support	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸	âœ”ï¸
Trustpilot Rating	âââââ Read the reviews	âââââ Read the reviews	âââââ Read the reviews
	Visit SiteGround	Visit Hostinger	Visit Cloudways

Additionally, our top choices are all user-friendly, offering intuitive control panels and installation processes for WordPress. They are excellent for WordPress users looking for reliable, high-performing, secure hosting solutions.

Are you looking for more reviews? Check out our top picks for VPS hosting and dedicated hosting providers if you need more choices.

The post 10 Best WordPress Hosting Options in 2023 (Handpicked) appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

20.04.2023

Divi 5 April Progress Update: Strengthening The Foundation

Every month, I update the community about our progress on Divi 5. Divi 5 is the next big version of Divi that will introduce a new foundation for the builder, focusing on improving performance, stability, scalability, and extendability. It won’t come with many new features. It will, however, give our team and the development community the tools to push forward into the future. It will also make Divi much faster, among many other things!

If you want to learn more about Divi 5, check out my original announcement.

What We Accomplished Since My Last Update

Last month, we announced the release of Divi 5 Dev Alpha, the first phase in the Divi 5 beta program. This phase is focused on solidifying the new API and working with Divi creators to make sure we give them the tools they need to create great modules and convert their existing modules to take advantage of what the new version of Divi has to offer.

Over the past month, we released many significant updates to our new Divi developer documentation, including long-form tutorials that walk you through creating Divi 5 modules and converting Divi 4 modules to the new API. This new developer documentation is incredibly in-depth and will eventually dig into every function and hook in the new version of Divi.

We improved backward compatibility with Divi 4 modules and are working towards our initial promise that nothing will break when you update to Divi 5. We also fixed random bugs found by participants in the beta program related to features and functionality already existing in Divi 5. That’s one of the great parts of releasing these very early alpha versions; by the time we get to the final release, there will be no surprises.

The most significant update in this release was work involving Divi’s element style components, which significantly streamlines the process of assigning design settings to individual module parts, making creating Divi modules faster for our team and the team community. It also opens the door for nested option groups.

Finally, we filled in many user-facing features, including the Global Elements, Divi Help Modal, Save to Library functionality, Section Divider settings, and more.

A Deep Dive Into Divi 5’s Progression

I want to take some time to explain the five phases of the Divi 5 beta program and how we are approaching Divi 5 development so that you can put our monthly progress updates into perspective.

First, let’s put this project as a whole into perspective. What is Divi 5?

Well…we are essentially recreating everything related to the builder from scratch! Iterating on the Divi 4 codebase isn’t sustainable forever, and it’s time to build a new foundation. So, how do we approach such an enormous project with such a daunting roadmap?

That’s where the five phases of Divi 5 come in.

The Five Phases Of Divi 5

We are building Divi 5 piece by piece in a modular fashion, starting from a functional base. Every two weeks, Divi 5 gets a new version (we are currently on version 3), and a few new pieces of the puzzle are filled in. Everything that gets merged into Divi 5 is finished, and even now, Divi 5 works! It’s just missing features.

This allows us to get Divi 5 into the hands of the community sooner because even though it’s missing features, it works, and it’s fast. You may even find that using an upcoming public beta version of Divi 5 is preferable to using Divi 4 if the missing features aren’t features you use.

The first two phases of Divi 5 are Dev Alpha and Dev Beta. These versions will only be available to developers while we focus on solidifying the module API and getting feedback on the technology stack; all the while, we’ll also be filling in features in preparation for the upcoming public phases.

The third and fourth phases of Divi 5, Public Alpha and Public Beta, will be the versions we release to everyone. These versions will be like a “Divi Lite” version of Divi 5. They won’t be feature-complete, but they will have enough features to make them worth testing and using. From there, we’ll keep filling in more features as we work towards the final version, which will be a regular update in the WordPress Dashboard on all Divi websites.

While it’s hard to estimate when we will reach each phase, our goal is to get into the public beta stages this year so that everyone can get their hands on Divi 5 and come along for the ride as it gets better and better with each update. Divi 5 and Divi 4 will exist in tandem during the beta phases, receiving their own regular updates, and you will get to decide which version is right for you.

Stay Tuned For More Updates

I hope this post gives you a clear picture of how we plan to manage this massive project in the most advantageous way for Divi users. Even though this is a big project, you won’t have to wait until the end to get your hands on Divi 5 and enjoy its benefits.

Right now, we’re focused on ensuring the backend is solid during these first two development phases, and we’re working towards the public beta phases as fast as possible.

We’re also working on some great non-Divi 5 features that I think are exciting, so stay tuned for those as well. If you have any questions, be sure to leave a comment. Stay tuned for next month’s update, and I’ll see you in the next one!

The post Divi 5 April Progress Update: Strengthening The Foundation appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

20.04.2023
How to Use AI to Create Amazing Web Design with Divi (Using ChatGPT & MidJourney)
It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a significant part of our day-to-day lives, from Netflix recommendations to chatbots, and facial detection to text editors. Today, the impact of AI is not only seen on screens but is felt. An arena that is now seeing an influx of AI’s presence is digital design and art. Conversations are sprouting up about the power and people – or lack thereof – participating in this medium. Is it possible to use AI to create amazing artwork while still supporting artists? Can AI be used as a tool to help facilitate better digital creations? We’d like to think so, so we’ll explore using ChatGPT and MidJourney with Divi.

In this tutorial, we’ll use two AI tools â€” MidJourney and ChatGPT â€” to help influence a homepage design in Divi. We will use the MidJourney bot to create the visual aspect of our design. Then we will use ChatGPT to create the copy that we’ll use in our test. Finally, we will recreate the design, using the design from MidJourney and the copy from ChatGPT in Divi.

Let’s get into it!

Using MidJourney to Inspire Amazing Web Design

MidJourney, according to their website, “is an independent research lab exploring new mediums of thought and expanding the imaginative powers of the human species.”. The MidJourney Discord bot allows you to use your Discord account to create four, custom AI-generated images from simple text prompts. You can then use other commands to modify and interact with the images created.

Create a MidJourney Account

Before we start using the AI, you will need to create an account on the MidJourney Discord server.

If you already have a Discord account, you can log in to your existing account and begin using MidJourney right away.

Enter the MidJourney Discord

Once on the MidJourney Discord, take a quick read through the quick start guide. This will help you familiarize yourself with the server’s guidelines. You will also gain insights into how the bot works and the other cool things you can do once you are comfortable using the bot.

Remember that the free version of MidJourney allows you to do 25 queries. Once you enter the MidJourney Discord server, you want to look to join a newbies channel. You can see the available channels on the server by looking in the menu on the left-hand side.

Click on any newbies channel to start generating images.

Begin Creating with MidJourney

Now that you’re in your newbies channel on MidJourney, the real fun begins… creating some images!

Issue Initial Command

We want to generate some inspiration to create a clean homepage design. To issue your first command, click in the textbox at the bottom right of your screen. You can be as descriptive or concise as you’d like. In our case, we entered, “create a clean, modern and material design homepage template. Included the CN tower. Use the colors white, grey, gray, and gold.”

This is what was generated from that command.

Here’s what it looks like outside of Discord.

Refine Initial Command

While these layouts are a good jumping-off point, let’s see what happens when we try to refine our AI-generated web design layouts. To do this, we’re going to refine the fourth option from our list.

Rework AI-Generated Design

Once you’ve created your first design, MidJourney allows you to upscale (make larger) or create variations from one of your four options. We decided that we wanted to see some variations of the fourth option and to make it bigger.

These are the results of MidJourney making variations of our fourth design.

Let’s take a closer look.

Notice the addition of elements such as menus, icons, titles, and social media icons. From this layout, we’re going to use the fourth option. This is the design that we are going to emulate in Divi.

Using ChatGPT to Create AI-Generated Web Design Copy

Now that our design has been created, we’re going to use AI to create the copy to go into our design. We will use ChatGPT to create a headline, a short paragraph, and a call-to-action to use on our button.

Create a ChatGPT Account

To begin, we create an account with ChatGPT. If you already have an account, you can log in.

To save time, you can also use your Gmail or Outlook account.

Issue Initial Command

Once you are logged in, you’ll be presented with this screen. This is the dark mode version, but there is also a light mode version.

Let’s start by creating our first request. In the text box, we’re going to ask ChatGPT to “create a short slogan for a Toronto-based web design firm.”

This is the result of that request.

Refine Copy with ChatGPT

The beauty of ChatGPT is that we can ask many questions and get some great options to use in our copy. Let’s ask for 5 other variations, but let’s ask that each variation is, at most, 5 words. In the textbox, enter, “Make the slogan only 5 words. Create 10 different variations.”

These are the variations that ChatGPT came up with for our slogan.

Let’s use option 5 for our slogan. We’re going to repeat the process for our paragraph of text. Let’s enter into ChatGPT, “Craft a 5-sentence paragraph promoting web design services to Toronto business owners.”

This is the result that was created. It’s pretty good!

Instead of asking for more versions of this paragraph, let’s ask ChatGPT to change the tone of the welcome paragraph. Let’s ask ChatGPT to “Make this paragraph more casual, leaning toward light and fluffy.”

Notice that the tone of the paragraph has become more casual and is still on track with what one would need to introduce their web design company.

To complete our copy, let’s create 10 different versions of call-to-action text that we can use on our button. Our next command for ChatGTP is, “Come up with 5 versions of call to action text that I can use on a button.”

While these options are great, they’re a little long for a button.

As our final request to ChatGPT, let’s ask it to make our text shorter by saying, “make them shorter.”

We will use the last option Launch Now as the CTA for our button.

Using ChatGPT and MidJourney with Divi

Now, we have both our design inspiration and the content to use within this design. We can bring these findings to Divi and start building a real-life working homepage layout. Let us proceed to begin using ChatGPT and MidJourney with Divi.

Create a New Page in WordPress

Let’s start by creating a new page in WordPress. From the WordPress Dashboard, we hover over Pages from the left-hand menu. Then, we click Add New. This will create a brand new page.

When your new page has been created, add a title. Then, publish the page by clicking on the blue Publish button. Lastly, activate the Divi Builder by clicking on the purple Use Divi Builder button.

With the Divi Builder activated, click the blue button that says Start Building. We’ll build our page from scratch but use assets from the layout generated by MidJourney.

Creating Sections and Rows

Once the visual builder has loaded, we are now presented with several column structures that we can add to our default row and section. We will delete this section and use a Special section layout instead. Firstly, we click the X button to exit the row selection menu.

Then, we click on the blue button at the bottom of the section. This will allow us to add a new section. We want to click the Speciality section icon. This will allow us to add a section that is similar to the layout that MidJourney generated.

From the options of Specialty sections, we click the second option.

With our section selected, we now have the option to start adding rows to our section. When we refer back to the layout generated by MidJoureny, we see a row containing the headline, paragraph, and call-to-action button. Then, we notice that there is a decorative set of columns. So, let’s add a one-column layout that will hold our copy.

Next, we’re going to add another row beneath this by clicking on the green plus icon. We’ll add a two-column row underneath the initial one-column row. This will function as our decorative columns.

With our Specialty section layout now complete, we can now delete the default section from our page. Click on the trash can icon from the section’s menu to delete it.

Adding Divi Modules

This is what our base layout looks like in Divi.

We’re now going to add Divi’s native modules to the layout to create our homepage. This will act as a low-fi wireframe.

Adding the Image Module

To begin, let’s add an Image Module to the first column of our section. Click on the gray plus icon within the column. Then, select the Image Module icon.

Click the green checkmark to save the Image Module in place.

Inserting the Text Modules

Next, we’re going to move over to the second column of our section. In the first row, we’re going to add two Text Modules. The first one will hold the headline, and the second will hold our paragraph copy. Both of which were generated in ChatGPT. Click on the gray plus icon within the first row. Then, select the Text Module. This is going to be our Text Module holding our headline.

We’re now going to add our heading content. However, we’re going to format it to look like our MidJourney design. To do this, break up the text and use the h3 tag to highlight a keyword within our headline. This is an important step, as we’ll be applying separate styling to that part of the text. Click on the green check mark to save our content.

Now, we’re going to add a second Text Module for our paragraph content. Click on the gray plus icon again, and select the Text Module icon.

This time, however, add the paragraph copy from ChatGPT and click the green check mark to save our content. To complete this row, we can add our last module, which is a Button Module.

Add Button Module

We’re going to add a Button Module to this row. To do that, we click on the gray plus iconÂ and select the Button Module.

Add the text from ChatGPT to the button’s textÂ and click the green check mark to save our content.

Inserting the Social Media Follow Module

If you look closely at our AI-generated design, you’ll see some icons underneath the image. We’re going to use the Social Media Follow Module to add a few social media icons under our image module.

With our Social Media Follow Module added, let’s add a few social media networks to this module. I’ve added 5 to emulate our AI-generated image.

Click the green check mark to save your social networks. Now, with all our modules in place, we can begin styling our homepage layout!

Implementing Visual Branding and Design Elements

For this next section of our tutorial, we will need some external tools to help us utilize the assets generated by MidJourney. While we are using ChatGPT and MidJourney with Divi, these aren’t the only software we’ll use. You will need a tool that will allow you to select the hex codes from the AI-generated image. You will also need an image editor to crop the photo from the image to use in our design. We will also use Google Fonts to replicate the fonts created by MidJjourney.

The tools that I used to do this were:
- ColorZilla: An eyedropper Chrome extension that allows you to select and save hex codes from web pages.
- Photoshop: To crop and make photo edits. You can also use Photoshop to select the hex codes from your MidJourney image.
Ultimately, use whatever tools are available to you.

Uploading Your Image

Open your image editor of choice, and crop the focal image from the original MidJourney image.

Save this image to your hard drive.Â Then in Divi, edit the Image Module.

Click on the gear icon to open the Media Library. This is where you’ll upload your image.

Upload your image from your hard drive and insert it into the module.

With our image uploaded, we can now move to the Design tab of the Image Module. In the Design tab, click on the Sizing tab. From there, select Yes next to the Force Full Width toggle.

Next, on the docket, let’s style our social media icons.

Styling the Social Media Module

To begin, we click on the gear icon of our Social Media Icon Module.

Once we have all our social media links presented to us, we will go into each one and remove the background. To do that, click on the gear icon next to each network.

Then, click on the Background tab and delete the background color present. Click the green check mark, then repeat this for all the social media networks you have added to this module.

After removing the backgrounds for each social media network, click on the Design tab. Set the alignment of the icons to the right-hand side, exactly as it is in the MidJourney image.

Now, let’s add some color to our icons. Click on the Icon tab, and set the icon color to #000000.

Finally, we click on the Spacing tab to add some padding to the right of our module. Add a right padding value of 25px. Then, click on the green check mark to save our edits.

Styling Our Text

At this time, we have styled our modules on the left-hand side. We will now move onto the right-hand side, beginning with our headliner Text Module. Click on the gear icon so that we may enter the Text Module settings.

We navigate straight to the Design tab. Next, click on the Text tab. We can slightly make out that the headline text is in all caps. So, let’s set the text font style to All Caps.

Then, we set the alignment to center and the text color to Dark.

We used the H3 tag to draw attention to the middle word in our headline. So, we now click on the Heading Text tab. Then, we click on the H3 heading to begin to style it. Let’s set the font for the heading to Cantarell.

Next, let’s increase the font size to 63px. Finally, we’ll set the letter spacing to -5px. Then, we can click the green checkmark to save our text changes.

For the paragraph, the default Divi settings a similar to that which MidJourney created. As such, we will simply change the alignment of the text. Enter the text settings by clicking on the gear icon.

Then, select the Design tab. Finally, from the Text tab, set the alignment to the center. Save your changes by clicking the green checkmark.

Customizing the Button

For our Button Module, we’ll use our color picker tool to find the button color from MidJourney. I used the picker in Photoshop and discovered that the background color’s hex code is #c1aa85.

With this information, we can move into Divi and begin designing our button. As always, click on the gear icon to enter the module’s settings.

Then, click on the Design tab and then click the Button tab. For the Use Custom Styles for Button Option, select yes.

These are the settings that we’ll be using to style our button.

Button Design Settings:
- Button Text Size: 14px
- Button Text Color: #ffffff
- Button Background Color: #c1aa85
- Button Border Width: 0px
- Button Border Radius:Â 15px
- Button Font Style:Â All Caps
- Spacing:
  - Top and Bottom Padding: 10px
  - Left and Right Padding: 35px
This is what our Button Module now looks like after using MidJourney to inspire our design using Divi’s tools.

Creating Decorative Columns

The final design piece of our layout is the decorative columns underneath our copy. To create these, we will need a Divider Module in each column. To begin, click on the gray plus iconÂ and select the Divider Icon.

While in the Content tab of our Divider Module, de-select the Show Divider option under Visibility.

Next, move to the Design tab. From there, click on the Spacing tab. Set the left and right padding to 100%. While it looks like there isn’t much happening with this module, all will be revealed when we add our colors and padding to our sections, rows, and columns. Click on the green check mark to save your changes.

Duplicate the Divider Module and move it into the column next to it.

Adding Backgrounds, Spacing, and Padding

Now that all our modules are styled and designed, we can add the finishing touches to our homepage layout. For reference, this is where we stand.

A far cry from the design that MidJourney created for us. However, with a bit of color and spacing, we will be successful at using ChatGPT and MidJourney with Divi.

To start, let’s click the gear icon of our Specialty section.

Next, click the Background tab.Â Using our color picker, we deduced that the background color for our section will be #e7e6e4. So, set the background color for our section to #e7e6e4.

Now, let’s move to the Design tab. From here, click on the Sizing tab. Here are the settings that you’ll need in the Sizing tab.

Sizing Design Settings:
- Equalize Column Heights: Yes
- Use Custom Gutter Width: Yes
- Gutter Width:Â 1
- Width:Â 100%
- Inner Width: 100%
- Inner Width Max:Â 100%
Now, we move to the Spacing tab. We want all the padding and module within the section to be set to zero. Here are the settings that we’ll be using there.

Spacing Design Settings:
- Margin:
  - Top and Bottom:Â 0px
  - Left and Right:Â 0px
- Padding:
  - Top and Bottom:Â 0px
  - Left and Right:Â 0px
- Column 1 Padding:
  - Top and Bottom:Â 0px
  - Left and Right:Â 0px
- Column 2 Padding:
  - Top and Bottom:Â 0px
  - Left and Right:Â 0px
Once these settings are in place, remember to save them by clicking the green check mark. With these settings, we can already see that our design in Divi is spacing up to look very similar to that which MidJourney generated.

Spacing, Backgrounds, and Padding for the Second Column

We now move on to the second column of our section. We begin editing the first row within this column by clicking on the gear icon for the row.

While in this row, click on the Design tab. Next, we move to the Spacing tab. Set the padding for the top, bottom, left, and right to 50px. We finish off this section by saving our work.

We move onto our final row, again, clicking on the gear iconÂ to enter the row settings.

For the two columns that are a part of this row, we will use the background colors #b0b2b1 and #bfb192 for the first and second columns respectively. Click on the gear icon next to each column.

Then, set the background color to each column’s respective color.

With both columns styled, notice that we are getting closer to our end product. To tie it all together, we need to add some final spacing edits to the row where these decorative columns reside. To start, click on the Design tab of the row. Then, set the Custom Gutter Width to Yes. Set the width of the gutter to 1. Also, activate the Equalize Column Height option.

Next, move to the Spacing tab and set the margin and padding to 0.

And with that, we’ve successfully used ChatGPT and MidJourney to create a homepage layout in Divi. Here’s our finished product!

Closing Thoughts on Using ChatGPT and MidJourney with Divi

Using ChatGPT and MidJourney with Divi can help you to brainstorm ideas for your web design faster. Using AI in web design does not necessarily mean the end of digital design as we know it. It is possible to allow AI into your workflow to help speed up processes. AI can also help to bring things to the forefront in terms or concepts that may not have been highlighted. With Divi, it is easy to re-create AI-generated layouts and designs. If you aren’t a natural writer, creating copy for your business or your client’s websites could be difficult. Tools like ChatGPT can help you cover a blind spot you may not have realized you had. Consider using ChatGPT and MidJourney with Divi for your next project.

Have you started to use AI in your web design business? Would you consider using tools like ChatGPT or MidJourney in your design process? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. Let’s get a discussion going!

The post How to Use AI to Create Amazing Web Design with Divi (Using ChatGPT & MidJourney) appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.
19.04.2023