The 6 Best Gutenberg Compatible WordPress Themes in 2023

If you’re looking for a WordPress theme that uses blocks, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best Gutenberg-ready themes available for WordPress.

We’ll also discuss what Gutenberg compatible themes are, why blocks are important and what to look for when choosing a WordPress theme. By the end of this article, you’ll have all the information you need to choose the right theme for your website.

What are Gutenberg Ready WordPress Themes?

Gutenberg Compatible WordPress Themes have been designed to work seamlessly with the block editor, right out of the box.

These themes have been built with WordPress blocks in mind and allow users to easily add and arrange different types of content in a visual and intuitive way.

It’s really important to understand the difference between Gutenberg Compatible Themes and Block Themes. Gutenberg compatible themes do not necessarily support Full Site Editing (FSE). Whilst Block Themes are specifically built to be FSE compatible. FSE is relatively new to WordPress and is a slightly different approach to the traditional way of using WordPress. Learn more about Full Site Editing.

What are WordPress Blocks?

Before we get into the best Gutenberg optimised themes (non FSE), let’s first take a moment to discuss what blocks are and why they’re important.

WordPress blocks are modular content elements that can be used to build pages and posts. They offer a great deal of flexibility and can be used to create complex layouts with ease. Additionally, blocks are responsive, which means they’ll look great on any device.

There are a wide variety of blocks available, including text blocks, image blocks, video blocks, quote blocks, and so much more.

One of the best things about blocks is that they can be mixed and matched to create unique content. For example, you could use an image block followed by a text block to create an eye-catching header for your blog post. Or, you could use a video block followed by a quote block to create an engaging testimonial section on your website. The possibilities are endless!

Choosing a Gutenberg WordPress Theme

When choosing a block-based theme for Gutenberg, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.

First, make sure the theme is compatible with the latest version of WordPress.

Second, take a look at the theme’s features and make sure it includes everything you need.

Third, check out the theme’s demo site to see how it looks in action.

And fourth, read some reviews from other users to get an idea of what they think about the theme.

Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect theme for your website.

Now that you know what Gutenberg compatible themes are and understand more about blocks, let’s take a look at some of the best Gutenberg themes available for WordPress right now.

Popular Gutenberg WordPress Themes

Kadence Theme

Kadence Theme is a popular WordPress theme that offers a lot of features and customization options. One of the things that sets Kadence apart from other block themes is its focus on speed and performance.

Kadence is also mobile-friendly and responsive, so it looks great on all devices.

Another thing that makes Kadence stand out is its extensive documentation. If you need help getting started with Kadence, there’s plenty of documentation available to help you out.

And lastly, another great selling point is that Kadence offers a fantastic block plugin called Kadence Blocks which pairs beautifully with their theme.

Overall, Kadence is a great theme for those who are looking for a feature-rich, customizable theme that can work with popular page builders and provides built-in eCommerce support.

Here are some of the pros and cons of using the Kadence theme:

Pros

Offers a wide range of customization options and design tools, which makes it easy to create unique and professional-looking websites
Built-in integration with popular page builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder.
Comes with a variety of pre-designed templates and starter sites
Regularly updated and well-supported by the developers
Has built-in WooCommerce support which makes it easy to use for an eCommerce website
Has a dedicated theme options panel, which makes it easy to customise the theme without using a page builder
Drag and drop header and footer builder which can be configured for desktop and tablet/mobile

Cons

It’s a premium theme, which means you have to pay to use it
Some users may find the customization options a bit overwhelming
The theme’s design may not be suitable for all types of websites

Astra Theme

Astra is a popular WordPress theme that is designed to work with page builders like Gutenberg, Elementor, Beaver Builder, and more. Astra is lightweight and fast, and it’s easy to customise thanks to its customizable header and footer options.

Astra also includes a number of pre-built templates that you can use to get started with your site.

If you’re looking for a theme that’s easy to use and customise, Astra is a great option.

Here are some of the pros and cons of using the Astra theme:

Pros

Lightweight and fast-loading, which can improve the user experience and search engine rankings
Fully customizable with a wide range of options and settings
Comes with a variety of pre-designed templates and starter sites
Regularly updated and well-supported by the developers
Performance focused by using vanilla JavaScript, optimised code and self hosted Google Fonts.
WooCommerce ready with infinite scroll, dropdown cart, quick view and more
Header and footer
Mega menu, mobile headers, page headers and sticky header
Variety of blog layout options
Integrates with LifterLMS and LearnDash

Cons

The free version of Astra theme is quite limited in comparison to the pro version
Some users may find the customization options a bit overwhelming
The theme’s design may not be suitable for all types of websites

Blocksy

Blocksy is a popular, premium WordPress theme that is built to work seamlessly with the WordPress block editor.

Blocksy is a great theme for those who are looking for a feature-rich, customizable theme that can work with the WordPress block editor and provides built-in eCommerce support.

Here are some of the pros and cons of using the Blocksy theme:

Pros

Built to work seamlessly with the WordPress block editor, which allows users to create custom pages and posts with ease
Offers a wide range of customization options and design tools, which makes it easy to create unique and professional-looking websites
Regularly updated and well-supported by the developers
Comes with a variety of pre-designed templates and starter sites
Has built-in WooCommerce support which makes it easy to use for an eCommerce website
Has a fantastic Header & Footer Builder
Mega menu and custom sidebar options
Advanced Hooks System
Custom Fonts, Adobe Typekit Fonts or local Google Fonts

Cons

A lot of its great features are only available in the premium theme
Some users may find the customization options a bit overwhelming
The theme’s design may not be suitable for all types of websites

Monochrome by StudioPress

Monochrome is a premium WordPress theme developed by StudioPress that is designed to be a clean, simple, and professional-looking theme

Monochrome is powered by the Genesis theme framework which has been battle tested and has proven itself for many years.

Its minimal and clean design is something that sets it apart from its competitors and what attracts a lot of people to the theme.

This theme boasts full-width templates and sidebar layouts. Plus, it has a custom header builder, theme options panel, fully responsive design and has eCommerce support out of the box.

It’s also geared up for accessibility which is something that some themes do not prioritise and it’s nice when a theme makes the effort to ensure everyone has a great experience.

Here are some of the pros and cons of using the Monochrome theme:

Pros

Has a clean, minimalistic design that is suitable for a wide range of websites
Built on the Genesis framework which is known for its security and performance
Regularly updated and well-supported by the developers
Has a variety of customization options that can be easily accessed through the theme options panel
Compatible with the WooCommerce plugin, which makes it easy to use for an eCommerce website

Cons

It’s a premium theme, which means you have to pay to use it
Some users may find the customization options a bit limited when compared to other premium themes
The theme’s design may not be suitable for all types of websites

Neve

Neve was built for the Gutenberg block editor. It is lightweight, flexible and highly customisable. Some of its best features to note are its custom header options, background choices, page builder support, and its AMP support.

Not to mention it supports mega menus, translations, SEO tools and is WooCommerce ready, right out of the box! This theme truly packs a punch.

Neve is a great theme for those who are looking for a slick, well built theme.

Here are some of the pros and cons of using the Neve theme:

Pros

Lightweight and fast-loading, which can improve the user experience and search engine rankings
Fully customizable with a wide range of options and settings
Comes with a variety of pre-designed templates and starter sites
Regularly updated and well-supported by the developers
It has built-in AMP support to make mobile-friendly pages
Neve is compatible with WooCommerce, which makes it easy to use for an eCommerce website

Cons

Some users may find the customization options a bit overwhelming
The theme’s design may not be suitable for all types of websites
Some of the customization options are only available in the Pro version

Block Shop Theme

Block Shop is a premium WooCommerce-compatible theme that’s perfect for setting up an online store. Block Shop includes several pre-built pages and templates to help you get started with your store.

It also includes support for multiple payment methods and shipping options, so your customers have no problem buying from your store.

Block Shop is a great theme for those who are looking for a premium theme that is designed to work seamlessly with the WooCommerce plugin and the WordPress block editor.

Here are some of the pros and cons of using the Block Shop theme:

Pros

Built-in integration with the WooCommerce plugin, making it easy to create an online store
Designed to work seamlessly with the WordPress block editor, which allows users to create custom pages and posts with ease
Comes with a variety of pre-designed templates and starter sites
Regularly updated and well-supported by the developers
Has a clean, minimalistic design that is suitable for a wide range of eCommerce websites
Choose between 3 different pagination styles (infinite loading, classic pagination, load more button)
Customization and Live Previews via the native WP Customizer

Cons

It’s a premium theme, which means you have to pay to use it
Some users may find the customization options a bit limited when compared to other premium themes
The theme’s design may not be suitable for all types of eCommerce websites

In this article, we’ve taken a look at some of the best WordPress themes on the market that pair perfectly with the block editor. Each of these themes has its own unique features and benefits. So, whether you’re looking for a fast and lightweight theme, an easy-to-customise theme, or a WooCommerce-compatible theme, there’s sure to be a block compatible theme that’s perfect for you.