
Today, most students do their research online before choosing an institute. In case of preschoolers, parents pick up their devices and look up schools. There’s a reason why by 2030, the e-learning industry is expected to be worth a whopping $1 trillion.
So, whether you’re a preschool or a college, or even an online training center, having a great website is a must. And for that, you need to choose the best WordPress education theme for yourself.
A good website can help you build a strong reputation and attract new students. With education WordPress themes, it is easier than ever to build impactful and attractive websites.
In this blog, I will help you understand the significance of using education themes for WordPress, cover the top options with head-to-head comparisons, and explore the criteria for choosing the right theme for your site.
Why Use WordPress Education Themes?
It’s 2024. You’ve got to impress this generation with great user experience, fast performance, creativity, and originality on your website. This is exactly what education themes for WordPress are designed to do.
Education WordPress themes offer functionalities and features catering to the unique needs of schools, colleges, and even online courses.
Here’s why you should use one:
- Looks great: Education themes are designed to look professional but inviting.
- Has relevant features: Features like course listings, calendars, and faculty profiles make your site easy to navigate.
- Helps you rank higher in search results: SEO-friendly themes mean more people will find your site.
- Easy to customize: Make it your own with your institute’s colors, logo, and style.
- Compatible with other tools: Good education themes work great with other plugins you might use.
With the right education theme, you can create a website that’s not only informative but also engaging and impactful.
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Top WordPress Education Themes
Following are the best WordPress education themes based on multiple factors like their ratings, update frequency, and features.
Theme | System Requirements | Ratings Out Of 5 Stars | Update Frequency and Support | Plans and Pricing Model |
Eduma | WP 6.6x | 4.84 (2.2k) | Last update: 5 Oct 2024 | Regular license: $69
Extended license: $3200 |
WPLMS | WP 6.x | 4.49 (1.7k) | Last update: 22 Jun 2024 | Regular license: $75
Extended license: $3000 |
Masterstudy | WP 6.1x | 4.73 (790) | Last update: 7 Aug 2024 | Regular license: $59
Extended license: $1600 |
Coaching | WP 5.7x | 4.76 (236) | Last update: 13 July 2024 | Regular license: $43 (discounted at the time of writing)
Extended license: $2950 |
LMS | WP 4.9x | 4.69 (385) | Last update: 29 Dec 2023 | Regular license: $59
Extended license: $1600 |
University | WP 4.9x | 4.42 (301) | Last update: 16 Apr 2024 | Regular license: $45
Extended license: $2950 |
Course Builder | WP 6.5x | 4.74 (247) | Last update: 12 July 2024 | Regular license: $49
Extended license: $1600 |
Education Zone | WP 6.2x | 5 (39) on WordPress.org | Last update: 14 Aug 2024 | Free |
Education Hub | WP 5.6x | 4.6 (17) on WordPress.org | Last update: 5 Jan 2024 | Free |
Skillate | [couldnt find] | 4.8 (29) on G2.com | [couldnt find] | 1 site: $79/year
5 sites: $149/year Unlimited sites: $199/year |
Kingster | WP 5.9x | 4.81 (157) | Last update: 9 Apr 2024 | Regular license: $66 |
1. Eduma
Image source: Envato Market
Eduma tops our list. The theme allows you to display your courses right on the homepage to grab visitors’ attention to the right thing. There are several pre-made designs from which you can choose and start immediately. With an averge rating of 4.84 given by more than 2,000 users, it is easily one of the most popular choices.
Eduma is compatible with popular tools like Elementor and WPML making it more customizable and easy to use. Plus, it is trusted by thousands of educators.
Source: Themeforest.net
Eduma Key Features
- Performance optimized
- Megamenu for navigation bar
- 36+ demos
- GDPR ready
- Fully responsive
Pros
- No coding knowledge required
- Sells courses with or without WooCommerce
- SEO optimized with microdata
- You get unlimited color scheme
- Allows posting various formats like audio, gallery, and videos
Cons
- Customization options may be limited
- Some advanced features might be difficult to learn for some users
2. WPLMS
Source: Themeforest.net
WPLMS is one of the best education themes for learning management systems. It is a great choice for schools as it is easy to use for both students and teachers. It has several professional layouts so you can show your courses with a star rating system, making it easy for your users to make a decision.
With the theme package, you get multiple custom plugins that were built for WPLMS so you can build an exhaustive learning experience. Many WordPress users choose WPLMS since it works perfectly with default Gutenberg editor.
Source: Envato Market
WPLMS Key Features
- Live chat
- Student activity tracking
- Zoom conferencing
- Offline functionality
- Compatible with WooCommerce, BuddyPress, and bbPress.
Pros
- Integrates easily into the site
- Push notifications even when offline
- Compatability with plugins makes it low-maintenance
Cons
- Some say updates are difficult to implement along with installation and setup
3. Masterstudy
Source: Themeforest.net
Masterstudy is another great WordPress education theme that is compatible with Elementor which makes it easy for you to build your website. With Masterstudy, you have the opportunity to display all your lesson types, advanced quizzes, and even completion certificates. The theme also lets you feature events.
Source: Envato Market
-
Masterstudy Key Features
- SCORM add-on
- BuddyPress integration
- Sequential drip content
- GamiPress integration
- Udemy affiliate
Pros
- Intuitive interface that is easy to use
- Offers a free version with a diverse pricing plan
- Translation for nine languages
Cons
- Advanced add-ons are only available in Pro version
4. Coaching
Soure: Themeforest.net
Coaching is the perfect education theme for coaches, mentors, and consultants. With more than 10 homepage layouts and custom widgets, you can build a stylish yet professional portfolio to display your services.
Like Edume, Coaching also integrates LearnPress to create and sell online courses, offering support for various payment gateways. For personal brands or businesses promoting the mentoring business online, Coaching is a great option.
Source: Envato Market
Coaching Key Features
- One click demo install
- Revolution slider
- Mobile-first and retina-ready
- WooCommerce support
- Optimized for SEO
Pros
- It is compatible with WPBakery Page Builder
- Effective support in timely manner
Cons
- Some have found Coaching to be very buggy
5. LMS
Source: Themeforest.net
This theme by designthemes has been developed for online learning platforms like online courses and training centers. With LMS, you can easily manage your lessons, assessments and quizzes. It also allows you to track course profess, host webinars and video hosting.
LMS is very customizable due to its compatibility with plugins like Elementor. It also plays well with YoastSEO.
Source: Envato Market
LMS Theme Key Features
- Supports Sensei plugin
- Quick user registration
- WooCommerce support
- Consistent on all devices and browsers
- NexGen documentation
Pros
LMS offers a very responsive customer support
With WPML you can translate pages on the go, attracting audiences internationally
Cons
- Some features require you to necessarily buy Sensei which is a premium plugin
- May have a steep learning curve for beginners
6. University – Education, Event and Course Theme
Source: Themeforest.net
University WordPress theme is trusted by more than 2000 educators. Even though it is an education WordPress theme full of features, it is still easy to use. Other than educational isntitutes, events and courses, you can also use it for LMS and business.
University includes 7 home page demos which can be imported in a few clicks and customized based on your brand’s needs.
Source: Envato Market
Key Features
- Compatible with LearnDash and bbPress
- Events and ticket selling
- Slider revolution
- Facebook and Disqus comments integration
- Parallax and CSS animation effect
- Auto updates
Pros
- LMS has flexible and powerful shortcodes
- You can build a multi-language site
Cons
- Code quality may not be as great
7. Course Builder – Online Course WordPress Theme
Source: Themeforest.net
Course Builder is a premium multipurpose education WordPress theme that is a good choice for education centers and teachers. It has pre-built demos for several niches like independent instructor courses, exam preparation, and corporate training too.
Built on LearnPress, it manages online courses with additional features like instructor collaboration and quizzes. It is compatible with different page builders and community forums which makes it a powerful solution.
Source: Envato Market
Course Builder Key Features
- Paypal, Stripe, offline payment methods integrated
- WooCommerce integration
- Co-trainers – multiple trainers support for each course
- Multilingual with WPML, Polylang, and Qtranslate
Pros
- Learners have access to personal dashboard which displays information about their course
- Lesson management with WordPress Core Editor, supporting videos, attachments, and any other media type
Cons
- Limited customizability
8. Education Zone
Source: WordPress.org
This one is one of the free education themes for WordPress. Education Zone offers a variety of features that can help you create an engaging online learning platform. These features include a course builder, a student portal, a calendar, and a blog. With these tools, you can easily manage your courses, interact with students, and promote your educational offerings.
The layout is well-organized and offers multiple options for personalization. Packed with modern features, this theme is user-friendly, with a secure code.
Source: WordPress.org
Education Zone Key Features
- Social media integration
- Customizable banner options
- Cross browser compatibility
- Easy legibility
- SEO-optimized
Pros
- The theme is lightweight
- It is free but has all modern features
Cons
- Free but some advanced features and support options may require paid upgrades
9. Education Hub
Source: WordPress.org
If you’re looking for a blog-style WordPress education theme, Education Hub could be the right choice. The theme offers 4 basic layout options. There is also a search bar that your visitors can use to look for specific information. Education Zone also allows social media integration mkaing it easy for you to market your institute.
Source: WordPress.org
Education Hub Key Features
- Theme Options panel
- Custom CSS
- Ticker feature in top header
- Post Meta options
- Pagination options
Pros
- Social media integration can help with an online presence that leads to more enrolments
- The featured area below the banner lets you show more pages
Cons
- Nothing to complain about
10. Skillate
Source: Skillate
Skillate is one of the most powerful eLearning themes. Powered by Tutor LMS, it helps you design a course platform. With a mobile-friendly design, the theme offers excellent user experience on all kinds of devices. You can also build a multi-instructor marketplace with Skillate. It also has an advanced search functionality.
The blog design from Skillate is modern and built to share updates and news. You can also display teacher profiles here.
Source: G2
Skillate Key Features
- Compatible with Gutenberg
- Catchy instructor badges
- Student dashboard
- Quiz builder
Pros
- Skillate offers automation features making your work efficient
- Incorporates AI technology keeping you up with the trends
Cons
- Some users have found it to have limited customizability
11. Kingster
Source: Themeforest.net
Kingster is another premium education theme for WordPress. Developed by GoodLayers, with more than 4,500 sales and a whopping 4.8 rating, Kingster becomes part of our top picks. It has great features like a dedicated course post type and search function like Skillate and Education Hub.
With Kingster, you can also make and sell online courses. There are several pre-built demo sites through which you can experience the feel of what your online presence could look like. With a single click, you can import the theme and start building your site.
Source: Envato Market
Kingster Key Features
- 19 header styles
- Maintenance/coming soon page
- Genius wrapper system
- WooCommerce integration
- GDPR tool
Pros
- Kingster is designed for high performance, making sure your website loads quickly and has good user experience
Cons
- Expensive
How To Pick The Best WordPress Education Theme?
Your website has to be as warm, vibrant, and welcoming as you would want an actual classroom in a school to be. It must also be equipped with all the necessary tools and anything your students and teachers need. To pick the best WordPress education theme, consider the following:
- Know your needs: What do you want your website to do? Do you need a course builder, a student dashboard, or something else? Pick a theme that is best-suited for your business needs.
- Check out the reviews: See what other people think about the theme, what problems they have been facing. It is a good idea to read the detailed comments people leave.
- Try before you buy. Most themes have demos so you can see if it’s a good fit for your style. Here, you can test out the features and functionalities enough to know what decision to take.
- Consider your budget. Education themes can vary in price. Choose one that fits your wallet.
- Make sure it’s up-to-date. A theme that’s regularly updated means it’s well-maintained and will stay compatible with the latest version of WordPress.
Wrapping Up
These are our top 11 picks for the best WordPress education themes. Whether you’re a teacher, a school administrator, or an online course creator, there’s a theme available online that is perfect for you. Remember to consider the criteria given above because what works best for you depends on your specific needs and goals.
Q. How to Make an Education Website with a Free Education WordPress Theme
- Select a free education WordPress theme that suits your website’s design and features.
- Upload the theme to your WordPress site and activate it.
- Use the theme’s built-in options to personalize the appearance and layout.
Q. How to Set Up an Education WordPress Theme
- Some themes may require additional plugins for specific functionalities so install them.
- Adjust theme settings related to header, footer, menus, and widgets.
- Set up pages for your homepage, about page, contact page, and course categories.
Q. How to Create Courses in MasterStudy – Education WordPress Theme
- Create categories to organize your courses.
- Add course details, including title, description, instructor, and price.
- Upload course materials like lectures, assignments, and quizzes.
- Determine course enrollment requirements and payment methods.
- Make the course available to students.
Hafsa Tahir
Hafsa is a content marketer who has been in the organic growth space for the past three years. With her background in Psychology and UX, she enjoys reading users' minds and is keen to try the most creative product marketing angles. Her copies scream: "you're not just a paycheck to us". Loves to crack unfunny jokes, pay gym fee and not go, and write psychologically disturbing short stories for some reason.