12 best WordPress block themes for FSE (most are free!)

If you’re interested in leveraging the new WordPress Site Editor experience to build your next WordPress site, this is the post for you.

Below, you’ll discover our curated picks for the 12 best WordPress block themes, all of which are true block themes that actually use the new WordPress Site Editor experience.

Best of all, almost all of these themes are free to use, which means you can build your site with blocks without breaking the bank.

Beyond sharing our picks for the top block themes, we’ll also cover some other related information, such as how to tell the difference between block themes and classic themes and how to get started with your first block theme.

Let’s get into it…

What is a WordPress block theme?

A WordPress block theme uses the new WordPress Site Editor experience to let you customize every part of your site using blocks.

With a block theme, you’ll be able to use the block editor interface (AKA “Gutenberg”) for more than just the content of a post or page, which is how it works with “regular” WordPress themes. Using the Site Editor, you’ll be able to control what every single part of your site looks like, including your site’s header, navigation menus, footer, blog listing layouts, content layouts, and more.

In slightly more technical terms, you can use blocks to design your theme’s templates and template parts.

You’ll also sometimes see WordPress block themes referred to as Full-Site Editing themes, or FSE themes for short. However, WordPress has moved away from calling the concept Full-Site Editing, so this term isn’t as popular as it once was (and it will probably continue to decrease in popularity as time goes on).

WordPress block themes vs classic themes

Classic WordPress themes refer to WordPress themes that don’t use the new Site Editor experience. Currently, most popular WordPress themes still use the classic approach, and classic themes make up the vast majority of WordPress themes.

For example, there are over 12,000 themes available at WordPress.org, but only around 900 are block themes. The rest are all classic themes.

Some well-known classic themes include Astra, GeneratePress, Kadence, OceanWP, Divi, Neve, Blocksy, etc.

While classic themes still use the block editor as the editor for post and page content (unless you disable it), they don’t use blocks to control the design of your theme templates, such as your site’s header, footer, navigation menu, and so on.

Instead, many classic themes use the WordPress Customizer interface, which looks something like this:

Some classic themes also use their own custom theme settings areas.

How to tell if a WordPress theme is a block theme

The easiest way to tell if you’re using a block theme or a classic theme is to see if your theme supports the Site Editor.

If you’re using a block theme, you should see an Editor option listed under the Appearance tab in your WordPress dashboard.

If you’re using a classic theme, you won’t see the Editor option under Appearance. Instead, you’ll just see options like Customize, Widgets, Menu, Theme File Editor, and so on.

12 best WordPress block themes compared

Now, let’s get into our picks for the 12 best WordPress block themes.

These are not listed in any specific order, and we encourage you to read through the full list, as all 12 themes are high-quality options.

1. Ollie

Ollie is a flexible WordPress block theme from Mike McAlister and Patrick Posner. Mike is a well-respected WordPress developer who’s been in the theme space for a long time, having previously created the Array Themes shop.

Ollie is a multipurpose theme that you can use in a variety of different ways, but most of the patterns are focused on helping you create a business website or personal portfolio. For that reason, it’s probably best suited to those areas.

If you purchase Ollie Pro, you can access patterns for three different site designs:

• Creator — for writers, podcasters, video creators, and “trailblazers.”
• Startup — for business websites.
• Studio — for design studios and creative agencies.

Key features:

• Custom onboarding experience that makes it really easy to set up your site. However, you need to install the Ollie Dash plugin from GitHub, as the developer had to remove the onboarding system from the theme after some back and forth.
• 10+ different style variations, plus a fully customizable design system via the Global Styles feature.
• 66+ block patterns in the free version.
• Multiple patterns for important template parts, including 6+ header patterns, 6+ footer patterns, 4+ post listing layouts (including a nice card option), and 7+ single page templates.
• Ollie Pro adds a cloud-based pattern library that includes hundreds of patterns for multiple site designs, including Creator, Startup, and Studio designs.

Price: Free and available at WordPress.org. Ollie Pro starts at $69 and adds hundreds of additional layouts, but the core block theme is totally free.

2. Spectra One

Spectra One is a WordPress block theme from Brainstorm Force, which is the same developer as the massively popular Astra WordPress theme.

While Spectra One is a multipurpose theme, most of its patterns are centered on helping you create a business or portfolio website. Therefore, you’ll get the best bang for your buck if you stay within those areas. For example, you’ll find patterns for pricing tables, team member lists, and so on.

Spectra One is designed to pair with the developer’s Spectra plugin, which extends the block editor with a number of new blocks and features. However, you aren’t forced to use the plugin if you don’t want to.

Key features:

• Tight integration with the developer’s Spectra plugin, which adds a number of enhancements to the block editor. These include new blocks, patterns, and design options, along with other useful features such as the ability to upload custom typography.
• 9+ different style variations.
• 80+ included patterns, including full-page layouts and patterns for parts of pages.
• Lots of patterns for template parts, including 8+ header patterns, 5+ footer patterns, and 4+ page template patterns.

Price: Free at WordPress.org. There is a premium version of the Spectra plugin that starts at $49, which you might want if you’re using Spectra One. However, the block theme itself is currently 100% free.

3. Frost

Frost is a WordPress block theme spearheaded by Brian Gardener. If you’re not familiar with Brian, he was the founder of StudioPress, the company behind the popular Genesis Framework for classic themes.

Frost doesn’t advertise itself as being for any specific niche, but its premade patterns are probably best suited for a business website or personal portfolio. The designs are pretty versatile, though, so you can easily adapt them to various blogging niches, as well.

Key features:

• 8+ different style variations.
• 48+ included patterns, including patterns for testimonials, pricing tables, call to actions, and more.
• Multiple patterns for key templates, including 4+ header patterns, 8+ footer patterns, 4+ page patterns, and 3+ post listing patterns.

Price: Free and available at WordPress.org.

4. Neve FSE

Neve FSE is the block theme version of Themeisle’s popular Neve theme. The original Neve theme uses the classic Customizer approach, but Themeisle created Neve FSE for people who prefer using the Site Editor.

With that being said, Neve FSE doesn’t give you access to as many starter sites as you would get with the classic version of the theme. Instead, Neve FSE’s patterns are mostly focused on helping you create a business website, or maybe a personal portfolio.

You do get lots of patterns to help you display your blog posts, though, so you also have a decent amount of flexibility for using Neve FSE for a blog.

Key features:

• Pairs well with the developer’s Otter Blocks plugin, though you don’t need to use the plugin. When you activate Neve FSE, it will prompt you to install Otter Blocks.
• 8+ different style variations.
• 48+ included patterns, including many section patterns for call to actions, pricing tables, feature boxes, team listings, service listings, and more.
• Patterns for important templates, including 4+ header variations, 5+ footer variations, 2+ page patterns, and lots of post listing patterns. For the post listing patterns, you get options for grids, cards, and more.

Price: Free and available at WordPress.org. While there is a premium version of the classic Neve theme, Neve FSE is currently 100% free. The optional Otter Blocks companion plugin has a free version as well as a premium version starting at $49.

5. Bricksy

Bricksy is a WordPress block theme from Anariel Design, an established WordPress theme shop based in Germany.

Unlike a lot of other block themes, Bricksy comes with premade pattern designs for four different blogging niches:

1. Travel
2. Food
3. Fashion
4. Wedding

This gives you a little bit more flexibility for building different types of sites, as many other block themes offer more generic layouts for business or portfolio sites. However, it’s important to note that you’ll need the premium version if you want to access all of the patterns for all 4 sites.

The free version does include patterns for all 4 niches, but only a limited selection. For example, there’s only one homepage pattern for each niche in the free version, but the premium version gives you more flexibility.

Key features:

• Premade designs and patterns for four different blogging niches — travel, food, fashion, and wedding.
• 52+ included block patterns with the free version, including patterns for all four use cases.
• Multiple patterns for important theme parts even in the free version, including 4+ header patterns, 3+ footer patterns, and 5+ blog layout patterns.
• Bricksy Pro adds many more patterns for all four starter site designs (if you’re willing to pay).
• 9+ different style variations in the free version.

Price: Free and available at WordPress.org. Bricksy Pro starts at $59 and adds a bunch of new patterns that you can use.

6. Gutenify

Gutenify is not just a single block theme. Instead, it’s a collection of 40+ different block themes all based around the companion Gutenify plugin, which extends the block editor with new functionality.

Each individual theme has its own niche focus — you can browse them all by searching for “Gutenify” at WordPress.org. For example, you can find Gutenify themes for health clinics, fashion stores, educational organizations, photography portfolios, logistics businesses, architects, and lots more.

You aren’t technically required to use the Gutenify plugin to use one of the Gutenify block themes, but you’ll get the best results when using both because they’re designed to work together. For example, if you want to import all of the demo content, you’ll need to install the companion Gutenify plugin.

Key features:

• There are 40+ different niche-specific block themes within the Gutenify umbrella.
• Each theme has multiple style variations — some have just two or three while others have 10+ different style variations.
• Each theme has dozens of block patterns that are specific to that theme’s niche.
• Built to work with the Gutenify plugin, which extends the block editor with new features.

Price: All of the 40+ Gutenify themes are free and available at WordPress.org. The Gutenify plugin comes in both a free and premium version, with paid plans starting at ~$60 for a one-year license or ~$180 for a lifetime license.

7. Raft

Raft is another WordPress block theme from Themeisle, the same company behind the Neve FSE theme from earlier on the list.

It offers a clean, minimal design that can work well for business websites, portfolios, or even a blog. Many of the included patterns support the business/portfolio use case, as you can find patterns for pricing tables, feature/service lists, CTAs, team member lists, testimonials, and more.

Like Neve FSE, Raft pairs well with the developer’s Otter Blocks plugin and encourages you to install it after you activate the theme. However, you are not required to use Otter Blocks to use the Raft theme.

Key features:

• 16+ different style variations, which is more than most other themes offer.
• 52+ included block patterns, including a number for various business use cases such as pricing tables and testimonials.
• A somewhat limited selection of template part patterns, with just 2+ header patterns and 2+ footer patterns.
• WooCommerce-ready if you want to create a store.
• Pairs well with the developer’s Otter Blocks plugin, though you aren’t required to use it.

Price: Free and available at WordPress.org.

8. UniBlock

UniBlock is a WordPress block theme that comes from WPZOOM, a well-established WordPress theme shop that’s been around since 2009. Side note — we’ve actually interviewed the WPZOOM founder on the Kinsta blog.

It’s a multipurpose theme that you can use to build pretty much any type of site. While many of the patterns focus on building a business website, UniBlock also offers WooCommerce support and multiple post/page templates, so you could easily adapt it to other areas.

However, you’ll need to purchase UniBlock Pro to access many of the theme’s patterns, so it might not be the most flexible option if you’re specifically looking for a free WordPress block theme.

Key features:

• 6+ different style variations.
• WooCommerce compatibility, which makes it a good option if you’re looking for a WooCommerce block theme.
• 18+ patterns included in the free version, most of which are focused on building a business website.
• UniBlock Pro adds more patterns for your site’s templates, including the header, footer, and page templates.

Price: Free and available at WordPress.org. UniBlock Pro gives you access to additional patterns for $69, which supports use on unlimited sites.

9. YITH Wonder

YITH Wonder is a dedicated WooCommerce block theme from YITH, the company behind a number of popular WooCommerce plugins.

There aren’t a lot of dedicated WooCommerce block themes, so this singular focus is definitely something that helps YITH Wonder stand out. If you’re specifically looking for a block theme for your WooCommerce store, this is probably one of the best options to consider.

Key features:

• Built specifically for WooCommerce stores.
• 8+ different style variations.
• 33+ block patterns in total.
• 6+ header patterns and 3+ footer patterns.
• 4+ premade homepage templates, plus lots of additional page templates for other pages that WooCommerce stores need.

Price: Free and available at WordPress.org.

10. Basti

Basti is another WordPress block theme from Anariel Design, the same company behind the Bricksy theme from earlier on this list. Anariel Design has really embraced the Site Editor, so it’s no surprise to see them have two popular themes on this list.

Like the YITH Wonder theme above, the most unique thing about Basti is that it’s built specifically for WooCommerce. That makes Basti another good option for people searching for a WooCommerce block theme. It also includes patterns for four different ecommerce-focused designs, which gives you a good amount of flexibility for setting up your store:

1. Fashion
2. Marketplace
3. Yoga
4. Outdoors

Basti only comes in a premium version, though, so it’s not going to be an option if you’re searching for a free block theme.

Key features:

• Built specifically for WooCommerce stores.
• Four different starter site designs for various ecommerce niches.
• 85+ patterns in total, including multiple patterns for your store’s header, footer, and other templates.
• Custom onboarding wizard to help you set up your site.

Price: $79 for one year of support and updates or $179 for lifetime support and updates. Both licenses allow you to use the Basti theme on up to 10 websites.

11. Björk

Björk is a minimalist WordPress block theme from Anders Norén, a prolific creator of free themes at WordPress.org. In addition to his large library of free themes, Anders was also the design lead for the Twenty Twenty default theme.

Anders offers several quality free block themes, but Björk seems to have generated the most traction. It’s a minimalist theme that can make a great option for blogs or personal websites. It includes multiple patterns to let you control how to display blog posts, along with other patterns for elements like testimonials and a “work with me” CTA.

Key features:

• Designed for blogs and personal websites.
• 8+ different style variations.
• 15+ included patterns.
• 4+ different patterns for your site’s blog listing page, including 2 different list styles, a 2-column grid, and a 3-column grid.

Price: Free and available at WordPress.org.

12. GreenShift

GreenShift is a WordPress block theme that’s designed to pair with the GreenShift block plugin, though you aren’t required to use the plugin to use the theme.

It’s a multipurpose theme that you can use for any type of site, though most of the patterns are focused on creating a business website. For example, you’ll find multiple patterns for feature/service lists, pricing tables, reviews/testimonials, and so on.

It also offers full WooCommerce compatibility, which can make it a good option if you’re looking to build a WooCommerce store with blocks.

Key features:

• While it is a standalone theme, it’s designed to pair with the developer’s GreenShift plugin.
• 5+ built-in style variations, including light and dark designs.
• 46+ block patterns, including patterns for important section areas such as feature/service lists, FAQs, pricing tables, and more.
• Multiple block patterns for important template parts, including 7+ header patterns, 6+ footer patterns, and 9+ query patterns for your blog listing page.
• Full WooCommerce compatibility, including optimized loading for WooCommerce scripts.

Price: Free and available at WordPress.org. If you’re using the companion GreenShift plugin, it comes in a free version at WordPress.org as well as a premium version that starts at ~$40 for a one-year license or ~$140 for a lifetime license.

How to choose a block theme for your site(s)

Because block themes use a different approach to classic themes, you’ll also want to employ a slightly different approach to choosing the best WordPress block theme for your site.

For example, because all block themes use the Site Editor, it’s a lot easier to customize your theme templates without code. Therefore, it’s not quite as important that the theme includes the exact layout that you need, because you can always tweak things using the Site Editor.

With that being said, here are some of the most important things to look at when choosing a block theme:

• Theme template patterns — having multiple theme template patterns (header, footer, blog listing page, etc.) can save you time if you want to customize parts of your theme, even if you don’t technically “need” them.
• Content patterns — tying with the point above, having a good selection of patterns for various content elements can also be useful. For example, elements such as a pricing table, testimonials, feature/service lists, and so on.
• Style variations — premade style variations make it easier to switch up the style of your site without needing to do the work of choosing your own colors and typography.
• Compatibility with other plugins — make sure your chosen theme plays nice with other essential plugins that you’re using. For example, if you’re building a WooCommerce store, it’s essential that your theme offers full WooCommerce compatibility.
• Developer support and longevity — because block themes are still somewhat new, a lot of developers are experimenting with them. If a theme is experimental, that increases the chance that a developer might abandon it once the experiment is done. For that reason, you’ll want to pay special attention to the developer behind your block theme and whether you think they’ll be in it for the long haul.
• Performance — as with any WordPress theme, you’ll want to make sure that your chosen theme is optimized for performance so that you can create a quick-loading website.

How to choose a WordPress host that sets you up for success

In addition to choosing the right block theme, you’ll also want to make sure that you’re choosing a WordPress host that sets up your block-powered site for success.

With Kinsta’s managed WordPress hosting, you can be confident that you have fast, secure, and reliable hosting powering your WordPress site.

This means that you’ll be able to work quickly in the Site Editor when you’re customizing your theme and that, once you’re finished, your site will load just as fast when people visit it.

If you want to learn more, check out Kinsta’s managed WordPress hosting here. And if you want to make the switch, Kinsta will migrate your sites for free.

Where to find WordPress block themes

While we’ve done our best to highlight the best WordPress block themes in this post, you still might want to browse an even larger library to see what else is out there.

However, if you browse a niche-specific post like our collection of the best blogging themes, you’ll quickly notice that most of the themes still use the classic approach.

So — where can you find more WordPress block themes?

The best place to start is the WordPress.org Theme Directory. If you select the Block themes filter, WordPress.org will only show themes that use this new approach. You can then refine your search by adding keywords or using the other available filters.

How to use a WordPress block theme

To finish things out, let’s go through a quick rundown on how to use a WordPress block theme, because it’s a little bit different from the older “classic” approach that many WordPress users are familiar with.

We’re not going to cover every single step here — just the basics so that you know how to get started.

We’ll use the Björk theme from Anders Norén as our example, but the same concepts will apply to any block theme.

How to open the Site Editor

Once you install and activate your block theme, you’ll customize pretty much everything from the Site Editor interface. You can launch the Site Editor by going to Appearance → Editor in your WordPress dashboard.

If you don’t see the Editor option under Appearance, you’re probably using a classic WordPress theme. You will only see this interface if you’ve activated a block theme on your site.

How to choose your theme’s style

One of the first things you might want to do is choose which style variation you want to use for your site.

To access these, click on the Styles option in the Site Editor.

On the next screen, you can choose from the available styles. You can also click the pencil icon to further tweak your selected styles in the full editor.

How to customize your theme templates

To customize all of your theme templates — header, footer, blog listing page, single post template, and so on — you can click the Templates option in the Site Editor sidebar.

This will open a list of all of the templates associated with your theme. You can then edit any of the existing templates or create your own template by clicking the Add New Template button in the top-right corner.

How to customize your navigation menu

With a block theme, you can no longer manage your navigation menus from the classic WordPress menu interface (Appearance → Menus). Instead, you can do it by clicking the Navigation option in the Site Editor sidebar.

By default, WordPress will automatically add all the pages on your site to the menu. If you want to customize this, you can click the “3 dots” icon and select Edit to make changes to your navigation menu.

Then, you can edit your navigation menu using the full block editor interface.

Summary

That wraps up our big guide to the best WordPress block themes, along with some other tips on how to choose and use block themes for your site.

Almost all of these themes have free versions at WordPress.org, so you can experiment with any themes that you find interesting before you make your final decision. If you don’t want to install them on a live website, you can always use DevKinsta to easily create test websites on your local computer.

If you’re looking for optimized WordPress hosting to go with your new block-powered WordPress site, you can then use Kinsta’s managed WordPress hosting to ensure a fast, secure, and reliable foundation for your site.

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