Top WordPress Development Frameworks for 2024

WordPress emerged as a content management system in the 2000s but later with its growing popularity developers needed an efficient solution for a seamless development process. WordPress contributes 11.8% of all the tools used by developers in the world in 2024. The numbers show that WordPress development frameworks provide a robust web development solution. These frameworks have a modular base code that helps to simplify the WordPress development and design process. These frameworks allow the reuse of base code in multiple ways to create beautiful websites with unique designs and exceptional functionality.

In this post, we will understand the concept of WordPress development frameworks and introduce a list of the top popular frameworks. 

Let’s start.

What’s a WordPress Development Framework?

WordPress development framework is a pre-defined code library used as a foundation source to build new WordPress themes. You don’t need to start your development process from scratch. Use the prebuilt code structure of the framework to unlock your creativity in development.

The pre-defined code library packs some core functions that can be reused every time we create a new WordPress theme. The new elements can be developed and added to the foundation code to extend the design and functionality giving birth to a new child theme. 

What are the Benefits of the WordPress Development Framework?

WordPress development framework comes with various benefits that streamline the development process and help to create websites with appealing designs and outstanding functionality. Let’s quickly overview them.

1. Quick Development

The prebuilt codes, templates, and structure can be reused many times. This helps developers to focus on the integration of new additional features reducing the time to create repetitive codes. 

2. Built-in SEO Optimization

Some popular WordPress frameworks already have integrated SEO optimization features that improve search engine rankings without using any additional plugins.

3. Clean Modular Code

These WordPress frameworks adopt the modern approach of modular coding, which helps developers to debug, update, and manage code easily.

4. Customization Flexibility

The predefined hooks and functions make it easy for the developers to add new unique features without disturbing the core structure.

5. Extend Functionality with Plugins and Addons

The framework happily integrates custom plugins, addons, and child themes to add new features without affecting the core database.

Now that you have a solid grasp of WordPress development frameworks, let’s explore the popular ones.

Top WordPress development Frameworks for 2024

1. Genesis

This is the topmost framework used by developers to build more than 600,000 WordPress websites. Genesis is known for its robust performance, SEO-friendly features, and security. Genesis offers a lot of attractive child themes to be used as a base and design your custom theme. The customization includes styling colors, changing elements, and other design attributes. Developers can easily customize theme elements and add new features using predefined hooks and filters. 

Features

• It has a clean and SEO-optimized code.
• Easy customization options for developers.
• The design is built responsive using  HTML 5.
• Comes with the best security to keep your website safe.
• Active community support.

You can experience the Genesis framework using its free version but its pro version comes with reliable StudioPress support.

2. Divi

Divi is another big name in this framework list that comes under the category of a WordPress theme. It not only offers unlimited customization options but a plethora of design settings and configurations that streamline the entire web design and development process. Be it the images, page layouts, or templates, it has a mammoth stock that can design a professional website within a few minutes.  

Features

• Drag n Drop page builder helps in creating layouts more quickly.
• Outstanding design control to customize every part of your website.
• Easily integrates with WooCommerce to design online stores and e-commerce websites.
• Global elements to speed up the design process.
• You can use additional code to add new features. 
• Active forum and community.

If you want to explore Divi’s design and experience its features, its licensed version is available.

3. Gantry

Gantry is somewhat similar to Divi. It fulfills the purpose of a theme and acts as a design framework.  The exciting part is that it can be used for Joomla websites in addition to WordPress websites. Gantry has a modular architecture that offers easy customization for the developers and designers. This makes it possible to reuse the base code and create or remove new elements on a website. 

Features

• Intuitive visual page builder with easy drag-and-drop options.
• Fast lightweight and open-source.
• Provides a fully responsive design for websites.
• Visual menu editor to structure your website menu. 
• The modular architecture of Divi lets you add or remove website elements when required.

• Twig templating engine helps create new design templates with its clean code approach.
• The Particle system offers a wide range of pre-designed blocks such as sliders, buttons, and galleries. 
• Its cross-platform nature enables developers to use it for WordPress and  Joomla.

This framework is growing popular as it is open-source and can be used freely for personal and commercial projects. 

4. Cherry 

Cherry framework is a versatile WordPress framework used to develop beautiful-looking websites. It has various built-in tools and options that let developers build new child themes, integrate plugins, and many other options. 

Features

• Cherry framework offers a modular structure to offer a flexible design approach.
• Drag and drop builder, custom widgets, and easy theme options let designers customize the website’s overall look and feel. 
• Some essential prebuilt cherry plugins such as portfolio management, testimonials, and services come with additional functionality.
• A wide range of shortcodes are made available to add elements such as buttons, and columns without using custom codes.
• Its clean code and built-in SEO optimization feature ensure the website performs well in the search results. 

Cherry framework is completely free for users who want a brilliant theme and customization framework for their website.

5. Redux 

Redux WordPress framework also works on the same concept of building WordPress themes on the foundation code to avoid complex development and coding. It has an extensive field library, validation options, and a user-friendly interface to assist WordPress developers in avoiding creating things from scratch.

• Developers can easily create custom options panels for users.
• Redux offers multiple field types(text, color picker, checkbox, etc.) to create different kinds of input.
• Prebuilt templates help developers to configure settings and speed up the development process. 
• Redux has clear, brief documentation which makes it developer friendly.
• The basic features are offered in the free version.

Redux framework is open source and you can experience it using its free version.

Which WordPress Development Framework Should You Pick?

Choosing the right WordPress framework for a simplified website design and development is very crucial.  You can consider some important points that can help to decide which one will be the perfect one for you. Let’s see what those are.

1. Project Size 

If you are dealing with large-size projects, Genesis and Gantry would be a good choice. They have a robust foundation code, scaling possibilities and active community support.

For small-size projects, Sage would be a good option. It comes with simple coding and is perfect for beginner developers to start building website templates.

2. Customization and Flexibility

Almost all the WordPress development frameworks offer customization possibilities but when we talk about quick customizations Redux framework is best. It is mainly focused on developing custom theme options panels, which makes it a good choice for Theme custom development and design. 

3. Performance Requirements

The projects where speed is crucial, the Beans framework would be a good choice. It is designed to provide fast loading with a minimum design bloat. These frameworks make a big difference when speed is prioritized along with design over every other factor. 

Apart from these frameworks there are some more tools like Elementor, WPBakery and Beaver which offer prebuilt templates and modules to create wonderful websites quickly.

Final Takeaway

Each framework listed in this post comes with its unique features and handles WordPress development and design differently. But in the end, the fundamental crux is that they make the complete web development process fast by offering prebuilt components to the developers. After going through this post, selecting the perfect WordPress development framework for your website will become easy. Feel relaxed if you’re a developer looking forward to building a new website as these WordPress frameworks will surely speed up and simplify your WordPress development process.