What is ThemeForest?

ThemeForest is an online marketplace that offers a wide variety of digital products for web developers and designers, including WordPress themes, HTML templates, plugins, graphics, and more. It is one of the largest and most popular marketplaces for digital products in the world, with millions of users and thousands of items available for purchase.

ThemeForest is part of Envato, a digital marketplace network that includes several other marketplaces for digital products such as CodeCanyon, GraphicRiver, and AudioJungle. The marketplace offers a range of high-quality and affordable products created by independent developers and designers from around the world.

Customers can browse and purchase products on ThemeForest, and developers can sell their products on the platform and earn a commission on each sale. The platform also offers a range of tools and resources for developers and designers, including community forums, tutorials, and customer support.

How do I make money online with ThemeForest?

ThemeForest allows designers and developers to sell their creations to customers all over the world. ThemeForest is specifically designed for website templates and themes, which means you can create a design, upload it to ThemeForest, and then sell it to customers who are looking for a high-quality website template.

ThemeForest pros and cons

Like most solutions in the market, ThemeForest has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the pros and cons of to be aware of when using the site.

Pro: Lots of choices

Themeforest is home to more than 40,000 themes. That’s a lot of choices, and it almost guarantees that there’s a theme for just about any type of website out there. There aren’t a lot of theme marketplaces that offer these many choices under one roof, which makes Themeforest an attractive solution.

Pro: Ease of use and convenience

Themeforest is also incredibly easy to use. The themes are organized into different categories and you can use filters to narrow down and sort your choices. The purchasing process is quick and easy, so when you find something you like, you can buy it with just a few clicks. 

Con: Inconsistent coding

Pretty much any developer can submit a theme to the marketplace, and this results in a lack of consistency with how themes are made. You could encounter themes that are beautifully coded, but there’s an equal chance of running into themes with messy coding that could cause issues when it comes to site aesthetic and plugins.  

Con: There’s a chance that you won’t get ongoing updates

This particular disadvantage also stems from the fact that different developers can add themes to Themeforest’s marketplace. Some people may just sell a theme then leave. That said, this shouldn’t be an issue if you pick a solid template or if you purchase a theme from a supportive and committed developer.

How much do themes cost on Themeforest?

The prices at Themeforest range a gamut — you’ll find PSD templates for as low as $3, and there are premium (usually HTML 5) themes that cost over $1,000. These are extremes, though. The vast majority of the themes with a regular license range from $16 to $99. Extended licenses are much more expensive, and can cost several thousand dollars.

Evaluating ecommerce themes on Themeforest

Themeforest has a highly detailed page for each theme that contains the theme description, reviews, comments, and technical details. Be sure to review these components thoroughly before making your selection.

Here are some tips to help you vet a theme effectively.

Read the description

This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at how some people simply skim a theme’s description without fully comprehending it. Don’t make the same mistake. Thoroughly examine the item details of each theme that you’re considering. 

What are its key functionalities? Does it have all the features that you need? Would your products be compatible with the layout of the theme? The answers to these questions will help you figure out if a theme is right for your store.

Also, note that descriptions aren’t created equal. Some creators will put up a lot of effort into making their item page look as attractive as possible. Here’s an example from Porto, a responsive theme for Magento.

Preview the theme

Themeforest has a Live Preview feature which lets you see the theme in action. Clicking the button opens a new tab, in which you can view the theme live and check out different layouts and sample sites.

Check out the reviews

Themeforest also has a “Reviews” section on its item page, which contains star ratings and reviews from people who’ve purchased the theme. In many cases, people rate a specific aspect or component of the theme — such as feature availability, customizability, code quality, design, documentation, and customer support. 

Themeforest presents reviews in a straightforward manner and the page is easy to read and navigate. You can also sort review by date and rating.

View the comments

Themeforest has a discussion section, which contains comments and questions from users. Themeforest displays the comments from newest to oldest and doesn’t have a sorting functionality. But it does have a search box, which is handy if you’re looking for a specific term or issue. 

Theme creators can also respond to comments — and many do. You should take note of how long it takes for a developer to respond to comments. Do they reply within the next day or does it take longer? Needless to say, the more responsive someone is, the better.

Check the sidebar

Each Themeforest item page has a sidebar containing a wealth of information, so pay attention to it. Here are some things to keep an eye on:

Badges/Accolades – Themeforest displays any recognitions that a developer has received. For instance, if a theme was featured by Themeforest, you’ll see it indicated on the sidebar. Creators who are part of Envato Elite — a program for bestselling creatives — also get an accolade.

Portfolio – The portfolio section on the sidebar lets you see the other themes that an author has on the marketplace. It’s a great tool for viewing the other creations of the developer, and can also be an indication of their performance and activity level on the site. The more themes someone has in their portfolio, the more active and committed they are.  

Sales and comments – Themeforest gives you a quick snapshot of how many sales and comments a theme has received. 

Average item rating – This section of the sidebar sheds light on the average star rating of a theme. Do note that average star ratings are only available for themes that have gotten at least 3 ratings, so if this section isn’t on the sidebar, it means that not enough people have rated the theme. 

Updates and compatibility – Towards the bottom of the sidebar, you should see a box that provides an overview of the theme’s updates and compatibility. In it, you’ll see when the theme was updated last and when it was created. It also shows the theme’s compatibility with various browsers and software versions. This is important, particularly if you’re using a platform like Magento, which has several versions of the software. 

Themeforest also shows the types of files included in your purchase, so you know exactly what you’re getting. 

Taken all together, the various components of a theme’s page — from the item description to the comments and reviews — should give you an accurate idea of a theme’s quality and compatibility. As mentioned earlier, it’s critical to review everything thoroughly so you can make an informed decision.

Purchasing a theme

Completing the purchase on Themeforest is easy. The “buy” section is located on the left sidebar, and when you’re ready to buy a theme, simply select the license you need (regular vs extended), then click “Buy Now” if you want to proceed to checkout or “Add to Cart” if you want to continue shopping. 

On the checkout page, you’ll need to create an Envato account if you don’t have one yet, and then enter your billing and payment details.

Themeforest alternatives

If you can’t find the right theme on Themeforest or are curious about other resources, here are some of the top Themeforest alternatives on the web:

Template Monster

Template Monsters has a huge marketplace of more than 10,300 premium themes. Established in 2012, the site supports multiple web platforms, including WordPress, WooCommerce, OpenCart, and Shopify.

CreativeMarket

CreativeMarket offers multiple design assets, including photos, graphics, fonts, and yes — web themes. The selection may not be as massive Themeforest, but the assets are high quality. The themes in the marketplace support platforms like WordPress, Magento, OpenCart, and more.

MOJO Marketplace

MOJO Marketplace has thousands of themes for multiple platforms, including WordPress, Magento, OpenCart, and more. In addition to web themes, you can also access numerous products on the site. MOJO Marketplace offers plugins and even professional services, such as copywriting, design, marketing, and more.

The bottom line

Themeforest is an excellent resource for any ecommerce merchant who needs a theme for their site. They have a wide selection of templates that can fit just about any purpose, industry, and price range. 

Just bear in mind that Themeforest is a marketplace and not all theme sellers are created equal. So, make it a point to vet a theme thoroughly by reading the item description, checking out its reviews, and ensuring compatibility with your site. Taking the time to evaluate a theme before buying will help ensure that you get the best experience possible. 

Good luck and happy theme hunting!