Hey there Sea Changers. Today I am going to take a look at the old upgrade debate with my GeneratePress Free vs GeneratePress Premium review. I have been working with the GeneratePress WordPress theme for quite a while and have really found it to work really well with not only this website, but also others that I run across a number of different niches.
Recently on one of these sites, I was trying to make some changes to the menu structure and layout and realized that I couldn't do so without a theme upgrade which led me to a decision between:
- Finding another theme that allows me to do what I can do.
- Upgrade my current theme to allow me to make my changes.
So, if you use the GeneratePress theme and wondering whether an upgrade is for you, let's check it all out below…
What is a WordPress theme?
Ok, so the first thing we probably need to do here is quickly outline what we are looking at so we are clear on exactly what it is that we are comparing. So for those of you new the world of web development, WordPress is a website builder that allows for site creation via a visual editor without the need to write or edit code.
Part of this process includes the use of themes which, once loaded onto your site manage its overall appearance such as:
- Colours
- Layout
- Inclusions
- Speed
- Navigation
- Menus
- And so on
This again means that you can adjust the settings of the above – much as you would a word processing or graphic design platform – without having to know HTML code etc.
There are 1000s of themes available on which to base a WordPress site with many available in both free, and paid upgrade versions. One thing to keep in mind here however is that in general, most WordPress themes are created and sold by third party developers as compatible addons to the main website editor.
This means that the functionality included can vary greatly depending on the needs and intentions on the website including:
- Blog
- Ecommerce
- Education
- Entertainment
- Food & Drink
- Holiday
- News
- Photography
- Portfolio
In general, the rule of thumb is that if you choose a theme closely related to what your site is about, then you should be able to customise it to your needs.
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GeneratePress Free vs GeneratePress Premium
Ok, when it comes to the GeneratePress free vs premium debate, it really depends on the functionality that you need. So let's check it all out below…
Why upgrade to a premium theme?
Upgraded themes – generally referred to as ‘Premium' themes – provide access to greater customisation and functionality options. This is similar to most software platforms where basic functions are provided for free with advanced options available at a price.
These are not always required and are usually only considered as the site grows and more options are needed (such as in my case). Additionally, many new websites chop and change between themes are number of times until the owner settles on one they like. Only then would I recommend upgrading to the premium version of your chosen theme.
Note: In this instance we are discussing the process of paying for an upgraded version of your theme in order to add some extra functionality and customisation. This does not include theme updates which are implemented by the theme developer from time to time for reasons such as fixing bugs, improving functionality or enhancing user interfaces etc.- you should never be charged for a plugin update.
Let's now go back to our GeneratePress theme and highlight the differences between the free and premium versions below:
GeneratePress Free
Ok, so if you check out the Generate Press website (yes, most themes have their own website) we can see it described as “a lightweight WordPress theme that focuses on speed, stability, and accessibility”. It is considered a multipurpose theme – i.e. can be used for most of the purposes outlined above – and is one of the most popular themes available within the WordPress editor (3,474,685+ downloads).
Those downloading the GeneratePress Free theme for their website can expect the following functionality and customisation options:
Functionality
- Plugins
- Addition of any plugin compatible with free version of GeneratePress
- Base functions of Workpress Editor such as:
- Posts
- Pages
- Media
- Comments
- Customization – See below
- User Management
- Tools
- Settings
Customisation
- Site Identity
- Site title
- Tagline
- Logo
- Layout
- Page width etc.
- Header width and alignment
- Navigation location alignment
- Sidebar inclusion for site, page and post
- Footer width and alignment
- Blog page view
- Colours
- Background, text, link, title and hover colours
- Typography
- Fonts – Body and headings
- General
- Changes to site structure
- CSS caching
- Menus
- Main menu customisation
- Widgets
- Site-Wide Widget management
- Home page settings
- Pivot between static home page and blog page as home page
- Additional CSS
- Customised CSS management
All in all, in my experience, this is a very good base theme with enough functionality to build a professional looking website.
GeneratePress Premium
As mentioned above, upgrading to a Premium theme provides access to increased functionality and customization options. However, in many cases (this one included) upgrading also provides access to extra services and support. In regards to the Generate Press Premium version, this includes:
- All premium features
- Full access to the Site Library
- Updates
- Premium support
- Use on up to 500 websites
Additionally, added functionality is included as per below:
In terms of actual use, the main changes you will see here are:
- Ability to add more menus to the site (3 in total)
- Ability to change colours in more places such as menus, buttons, forms and so on
- Font and layout adjustment to individual website elements such as menus, footers, headers etc.
- Addition of background images to pages and posts
- Greater CSS management
- Greater efficiency via the use of the Generate Blocks plugin templates and buttons
Why did I upgrade?
My original reason for upgrading was to allow for greater control over the layout of my site. As it had grown, I wanted to enhance the navigation and formatting to allow for greater management of monetization options such as landing pages and buttons (for sales and CTAs).
Since the upgrade has been installed however, I have really been able to enhance the overall look of the site via the adjustment of colours and fonts at a more granular level (posts, menus and headers etc.).
How much does it cost
Costs to upgrade to the Premium version of GeneratePress are as follows:
Conclusion
And there it is – my outline of the difference between the Generatepress premium vs free WordPress themes. I hope it was helpful and gives you the information you need as you ponder your own theme upgrade however as usual, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, need some advice or have any experiences to share.
Oh, and especially comment if you have installed the GeneratePress Premium WordPress Theme on your website – I would love to hear about your experiences.
Until next time
Have fun
Paul
Note: If you make a purchase from this page, there is a very good chance that I make a commission from it – these commissions do not increase your sale price. This may include sales made via Wealthy Affiliate or GeneratePress.
Do you want further assistance with any of the above or need help to build your own WordPress website?
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The Hub
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Wealthy Affiliate Training
Then as you continue your journey, the Wealthy Affiliate Hub is there for you with the most comprehensive training package I have ever seen – And I have used a few in my professional career trust me.
Above we discussed the use of the Hub to set up a website. Once you have done this, you will be able to access the “Step-by-Step Core Training”.
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Member Training
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Great, What Else Does Wealthy Affiliate Have To Help You?
So, let’s keep this short, Wealthy Affiliate is a one-stop-shop platform that provides:
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You Can Try it Yourself For Free
Now of course I can tell you all about how Wealthy Affiliate works (because it does) until I am blue in the face. But every other program out there – including the shams and scams – will tell you the same thing!
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With the starter membership, you get:
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Look, in the interest of transparency, whilst Wealthy Affiliate does offer a free starter membership, this is designed to give you a look around, have a practice and see if it is worthwhile for you – which is a really great option.
However, as with all new businesses, you will need to make some investment so if you are serious about making money online , you will need to upgrade to a premium membership as this will give you access to all the tools you need in the one spot to succeed!
Afterall, every business needs tools to grow!
So How Much Does This Really Cost?
Wealthy Affiliate does not use upsells once you join – but as I mentioned in the video, to succeed here you will need to invest in a membership. There are a couple of options that provide access to all the tools, training and assistance that you could need – and a free domain as well.
Wealthy Affiliate offers a trio of membership tiers, as detailed on their pricing page.
You can opt for the Starter membership at no cost, the Premium membership for $49 per month or the Premium Plus+ membership for $99 per month. That’s the full extent of it – and you can absolutely build your website without having to spend another cent.
You won’t encounter any unexpected additional charges or covert fees and as a Premium member, you’re equipped with all the essentials to initiate, develop and expand a thriving online enterprise.
Those who opt for the Premium membership are provided with
- Hosting for their websites
- A complimentary domain name
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And for those of you who want to make a serious investment into your future, there are some yearly options as well below to give you peace of mind that you have a whole year ahead of you to get stuff done!
And Don’t Forget the Personal Coaching
Once you join, not only do you get plenty of assistance from me, but you also have access to expert coaching, support and mentorship from real industry experts.
I mean, you can have access to all of the top-tier affiliate marketing training in the world, but inevitably, questions arise, particularly during the initial stages.
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Wealthy Affiliate Works: Real Results From Real People
As I have mentioned a number of times, Wealthy Affiliate has helped me make real money online though its training and tools.
I have made money each month as well as a sale for $17,000.
But again, those promoting other programs will tell you the same thing!
So let’s get away from me and see what others are saying:
To start with, Wealthy Affiliate has a 4.9 out of 5 Star TrustPilot rating, which is a remarkable accomplishment in any industry, let alone the online business industry.
And here are some of those reviews:
And this is what people are saying within Wealthy Affiliate as well:
So, Let’s Make a Decision!
Let’s be frank, you have read this far so why not go all in, click on the button below to get started on the way to your very online business.
And once you are in and have had a play around with the hub, look for the little envelope on the top right and there will be a message from me. It is of course automated so respond to let me know you are there and we can start this journey together.
(oh, and the profile is mine so you can find me that way as well)
See you there
Paul
