Yes, Author is completely free to use. It is available on WordPress.org at no cost.

How many websites use Author?

Author has 3.0K+ active installations as tracked by WordPress.org.

What are the best Author alternatives?

Popular alternatives to Author include Twenty Twenty-Five, Astra, Twenty Twenty-Four. You can compare them on our theme directory.

Does Author work with the latest WordPress?

Author requires WordPress false+ and PHP 5.6.40+. Check the theme's WordPress.org page for the latest compatibility information.

Author — Reviews, Rating & Alternatives (2026)

As of April 2026, Author is a WordPress theme with 3.0K+ active installations and a 4.9/5 rating from 101 reviews. It has been downloaded 294K+ times in total. Requires WordPress false+ and PHP 5.6.40+. Available on WordPress.org since 2015. Top alternative: Twenty Twenty-Five.

4.9/5101 reviews

3.0K+active installs

294K+total downloads

11 yearssince 2015

Overview

Author is designed for publishers who want readers. That's why Author is fast, responsive, accessibility-ready, and optimally designed for reading. All scripts and stylesheets are minified, concatenated, and conditionally loaded to maximize performance. The layout adapts fluidly to all screen sizes to enhance usability. As one of few accessibility-ready themes, it performs well for users with wide ranges of disabilities. Based on the ancient Van de Graaf canon, Author features a layout that promotes readability. Use Author to create a simple blog, magazine, or news website. The simple and minimalist design works great for gaming, business, fashion, music, food, travel, and photography niches. Now with complete WooCommerce support for eCommerce stores and fully compatible with the new Gute…

Read full description on WordPress.org

Ratings & Reviews

4.9101 reviews

5 ★

94

4 ★

7

3 ★

0

2 ★

0

1 ★

0

Recent Reviews

Effortless & Perfect

by makinee·8 months ago

I’ve been using the Author Team for years. It’s effortless to use, doesn’t require frequent updates, and is perfect for static sites that can be left unattended for months without needing regular maintenance. For WordPress site owners managing multiple sites, Author Team is a great partner—it gives you peace of mind and frees up your time for other priorities. Truly effortless!

Quick & easy

by gustav.freudmann·1 year ago

Great theme for Blogs.
Easy to install and quick configured.
Looks decent and nice on all devices.

Great theme

by thomasberends·2 years ago

Great theme, simple to use

Very easy to install

by maryleemac·2 years ago

I’ve installed many WordPress themes over the years, but this was by far the easiest to set up. It had all the elements needed for an author site.

Clean, clear, neat!

by Erdinç Metin·2 years ago

Clean, clear, neat! I am happy with it!