Full site editing has totally revolutionized how users manage WordPress sites, offering them complete control minus the technical complexities. It lets you edit the themes via drag and drop and fully customize them.
The full site editing themes use the block-based layout and are compatible with the Gutenberg block plugins to let you add widgets and add-ons. That said, the number of full site editing themes is quite limited; currently, the WordPress repository offers only 100+ such themes.
Since full site editing is still a relatively new concept, it might take you some time to get comfortable with, and you don’t want to complicate the onboarding with a troublesome theme.
So, to help you make the right WordPress full site editing theme selection, I’ve listed the best 15 contenders along with their features, daily downloads, and user ratings.
What Is Full Site Editing in WordPress?
Before I list the best full site editing themes, let’s quickly learn about the major upgrade. Skip this part to move directly to the list if you are already acquainted with the functionality.
Full site editing treats every part of your website as a block, making it easy for users to customize their sites via drag and drop functionality. It allows the users to work with the page and global elements on a single interface and introduces new development tools as well.
Wish to learn more? I have covered the concept of full site editing, the new changes, its activation, and theme building steps in a detailed blog. That blog also includes the WordPress community’s opinions on the pros and cons of FSE in that blog.
Why Do You Need a Full Site Editing Theme in WordPress?
You need a full site editing theme to enjoy the FSE experience, which is enabled when you use a block-based theme on the WordPress 5.9 version.
While the WordPress theme repository offers 11600+ themes, only a few themes support the full site editing feature, which gives them an edge over their competitors.
So, it is essential to get an FSE theme from the list of best WordPress themes to get started with full site editing on WordPress. Also, the FSE themes include new templates, blocks, and global styles, allowing you to play with blocks to build templates and much more.
Best Free WordPress Full Site Editing Themes
Now that you know about full site editing and the importance of installing a WordPress FSE theme, let’s list down the top 15 front-runners to help you make the right theme selection.
1. Wabi
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Wabi packs typography, a diverse color system, and cleanliness in one package to deliver everything you expect from an ideal WordPress theme.
You can enjoy full site editing feature compatibility on the new theme editor as well. You get multiple styles, including the dark, light, and dynamic color schemes to go with your brand’s theme.
Ideal for writers, its accent color feature separates it from its competitors and allows you to shine with the minimalistic layout and style.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Wabi gets 10 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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2. Aino
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Aino is a WordPress block theme that supports the full site editing functionality. It lets you create an advanced page layout via pre-designed blocks. You can use this theme to build an eCommerce website, a photography site, or even your personal blog.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Aino gets 8 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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3. Hansen
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Hansen is a WordPress full site editing theme that offers a good number of page templates and block patterns to facilitate users and let them experiment with the designs.
You can use the visual block editor to design all sections of your website with ease, thanks to the drag and drop editor.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Hansen gets 3 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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4. Twenty Twenty-Two
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Twenty Twenty-Two is the pioneer of all full site editing themes, as it was the first and official release along with the WordPress 5.9 version release. It revolves around the idea of building unique and creative websites with absolute simplicity.
Focusing on the theme of birds, it offers a nature-inspired color palette, coupled with its versatile layout elements and robust typography. You can customize the colors, layout, and typography of every page on your website. The editor lets you jump between different settings for your templates, site, and template parts.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Twenty Twenty-Two gets 6500 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository and is the most downloaded WordPress full site editing theme.
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5. WeCodeArt
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WeCodeArt is an SEO-optimized WordPress full site editing theme built primarily for a website’s performance boost. Its full customization feature allows you to set up your website’s design as you focus on achieving high PageSpeed scores.
You can use the full site editing functionality with this theme to take complete control of your website. The best part is that you can use this FSE theme with all major WordPress page builders, including Brizy, Elementor, Divi, and more, to beautify your website.
The easy drag-and-drop functionality lets all users experiment with their site’s design regardless of their technical prowess. And no, it’s not just for beginners; those of you who are more technically oriented can go one step further with this theme with its core blocks that are optimized via Bootstrap’s markup.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, WeCodeArt gets 4 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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6. Tove
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Tove is a vibrant and picturesque full site editing theme suited for restaurants, cafes, and animation-centric websites. However, you can customize it for any niche, thanks to its versatile layout features.
Tove requires you to have the 11.5 Gutenberg version (or any later versions) to use the full-site editing feature.
With more than 40 block patterns, and various header & footer designs, you can use this flexible theme to decorate your brand’s site. It blends its layout with clear typography to present your content in a visually impressive manner.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Tove gets 13 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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7. Bricksy
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Bricksy is another block-based full site editing WordPress theme that offers a modern layout. Its block patterns allow non-technical and technical users to create their pages via drag-and-drop. With just a few clicks, design layouts, and moving blocks here and there, you can have your website ready right from scratch.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Bricksy gets 15 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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8. Ona
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Ona by DeoThemes is a minimal WordPress full site editing theme. Like other FSE themes, it offers multiple pre-defined block patterns that let you build your site with exciting designs.
Specially built for users seeking fast speeds, this optimized theme revolves around the Core Web Vitals in mind and offers an excellent user experience. Ona requires you to have the Gutenberg plugin active (11.7 or a newer version).
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Ona gets 100 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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Additional info: I asked Eric Karkovack, a WordPress designer and developer, about his favorite full site editing themes, and here’s his opinion:
Hi Sarim! So far, my favorites are @frostwp, Tove, and Bricksy
— Eric Karkovack (@karks88) March 7, 2022
9. Frost
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Frost is a WordPress full site editing theme that transforms the website building experience via WordPress block editor. This modern theme offers ready-to-go patterns and design elements to build your site in a jiffy.
Designers and developers favor Frost’s user-friendliness and intuitiveness to create optimized sites instantly.
10. Allele
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Allele is a modern WordPress full site editing theme offered by DesignOrbital. This clean theme offers pre-defined block patterns and full-page templates to help you create attractive websites.
Even though it is a free theme, it also offers a Pro version that unlocks features like all patterns, email support, company page, and support forum. Allele pro is priced at $79.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Allele gets 5 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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11. Blockbase
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Blockbase is a full site editing theme built by Automattic. It offers various minimal templates and designs that you may customize via global styles to create stunning websites.
The dynamic elements allow you to change the layout of your page according to your likings. Also, you can add pre-defined block patterns and template parts and save the customized settings to use again. Also, Automattic offers a child theme called Mayland (Blocks) that was recently released.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Blockbase gets 40 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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12. Gutena
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Gutena is a free WordPress FSE theme created by ExpressTech Systems. This block-based theme offers many block patterns and full-page templates to ease your work in website creation.
Gutena combines the functionalities of block themes and the classic dashboard to give its users an optimum solution.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Gutena gets 3 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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13. WOWMALL
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WOWMALL is a clean WooCommerce full site editing theme. The theme features a notice page and an admin-side welcome page and is currently being offered in an experimental state.
It ships more than 30 block patterns and many custom block styles. You need to have at least an 11.6 Gutenberg version (or newer) to use the WOWMALL theme on WooCommerce.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, WOWMALL gets 2 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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14. Stewart
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Stewart is a modern WordPress full site editing theme offered by Automattic. Mainly created for content-focused sites, it eases your website’s navigation via its left sidebar and increases user-friendliness via its responsiveness.
This theme’s simple design allows your content to shine out, and you can also stylize it via the customization options. The default color scheme of orange and gray gives your blog a clean look.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Stewart gets 4 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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15. Skatepark
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Skatepark is yet another full site editing theme offered by Automattic (the force behind WordPress and WooCommerce). This contemporary theme gives a bold look to your website.
With features like the graphic color scheme, duotone support, and playful grid, you’re all set to build a stunning website that is not only responsive but also easy on the eyes. Moreover, the customization options allow you to optimize the design per your liking and create your own look.
User Ratings
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Daily Downloads
On average, Skatepark gets 3 downloads per day on the WordPress theme repository.
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Summary
Choosing the right WordPress full site editing theme is crucial for a smooth editing experience; otherwise, you will become entangled in the technicalities.
FSE has totally transformed the way users interact with their website, meaning you can only benefit from the functionality using WordPress full site editing themes that offer seamless services and are trusted by users worldwide.
This blog mentions the best themes as per their popularity and user reviews so that you can choose from any that best suits your requirements. Have I missed your favorite FSE theme? You’re welcome to notify us in the comments below.
Sarim Javaid
Sarim Javaid is a Digital Content Producer at Cloudways. He has a habit of penning down his random thoughts and giving words and meaning to the clutter of ideas colliding inside his mind. His obsession with Google and his curious mind add to his research-based writing. Other than that, he's a music and art admirer and an overly-excited person.
