If you set up your own WordPress installation at your hosting provider, you can install any themes from the WordPress theme repo here.
There’s no need to purchase a theme and yes you can install any plugin.
Once you’ve installed WordPress you can even search for themes and plugins within your admin.
Thanks, Christine. Anyway, would you recommend going this route (a free theme from the wordpress archives)? I’m asking because I’ve seen that most people who are self-hosted go with a custom/premium wordpress theme. Is there something lacking with the free wordpress themes? Or are they just less flashy than what’s available if one goes the premium route?
I’ve noticed that a lot of premium themes seem to have different problems, bugs, etc, so are the themes provided on the wordpress site mostly bug free? Sorry for all the questions, but I’m trying to get as much information as possible before I make a decision. Others, also, feel free to chime in. Thanks.
There is nothing wrong with using a free theme from a reputable place like the official themes directory. Themes like twenty ten and twenty eleven are really very good and probably a good option to start with. On the other hand there are many dodgy free themes floating around on the web, so you should be very careful what free themes you use.
Not sure where you are reading about the problems with premium themes. But that’s generally not the case. If you buy from a reputable premium theme shop you will get a high quality product.
The main reason people choose a premium theme is the more unique designs, the features, the quality, the support and updates.
The free themes in the WordPress repo go through very rigorous testing. Most premium themes would never make it. In fact, there’s nothing premium about them, they are commercial themes.
The premium theme business seems to be exactly that: a business. Of course, I’ve seen some very good premium themes, but most of the time what I see is a lot of flash. I need something nice and clean, like the Coraline theme, etc. The premium theme companies are very concerned with outdoing one another, which worries someone like me, who is looking for reliability.
