Best GPL Websites for WordPress (Compared)
WordPress offers endless possibilities for building or enhancing a website, thanks to its extensive library of themes and plugins.
However, these premium tools can often come with a hefty price tag.
That’s where WordPress GPL (General Public License) themes and plugins come in, providing a cost-effective alternative without compromising quality.
In this guide, we’ll explore what WordPress GPL is, its benefits for developers and users, and the best places to find GPL themes and plugins at a lower cost.
What’s GPL?
The GNU General Public License (GPL) is an open-source software license that allows users to freely use, modify, and distribute software. It guarantees four key freedoms:
- Freedom to use the program for any purpose.
- Freedom to study and modify the program’s source code.
- Freedom to redistribute copies.
- Freedom to distribute modified versions of the software.
These freedoms make the GPL a foundation of open-source software development, enabling a collaborative and adaptable approach to creating software.
How Does it Apply to WordPress?
WordPress is released under the GPL, meaning all derivative works, including themes and plugins, must also be released under the GPL. This aligns with WordPress’s open-source nature, fostering a community where software can be shared, modified, and redistributed freely.
What WordPress GPL Means for Developers and Users
For developers, the GPL license ensures that any WordPress-related software they develop remains open and accessible, aligning with the platform’s core values. However, this also means developers must accept that their work can be freely used and modified by others.
For users, the GPL offers several advantages:
- Freedom to Use and Modify: Users can adapt themes and plugins to better meet their needs without legal restrictions.
- Access to a Vast Library of Software: The GPL encourages a large collection of free and modified software, making it easier to find tools tailored to specific requirements.
The Essence of GPL Themes and Plugins Providers
GPL themes and plugin sites take advantage of the GPL’s freedom to redistribute WordPress software at a reduced cost.
These platforms offer access to a variety of WordPress themes and plugins, allowing users to download and use premium software without paying high prices.
Overview of the Best GPL Sites
To help you find the best GPL themes and plugins, we’ve compiled a list of top GPL sites. These sites have been carefully selected after using different platforms in the industry.
Note: You can check their review –
4 Best GPL Sites for WordPress Plugins and Themes
1. Pluginsforwp
Pluginsforwp is the top choice for the best overall GPL site. It offers a wide range of over 11,000 WordPress plugins and themes, making it most likely to find whatever you’re looking for.
For Plugins, they have the highest number and is suggestive of their name, Pluginsforwp. The platform has more in plugins that what they have in themes.
I have mostly found the items I need on the platform. Their library of plugins covers even rarely-used solutions.
On top of getting the label “the best overall GPL website”, we are also tagging it the “best one for plugins”.
The platform downloads GPL items directly from developers and redistributes them (by the help of the GPL license) at a significant discount.
With a plugin manager that supports automatic updates, Pluginsforwp makes sure you always have the latest version of your plugins and themes.
I have had a wonderful experience using the platform. The only difficult time I encountered is getting the free version of a plugin I downloaded instead of the advertised free premium version. Thankfully, their customer support was reachable and they quickly sort the issue.
That has occurred only once take note. When you don’t get what you want, they are always ready to offer a refund or make it available on their site with immediate effect.
Overall, Pluginsforwp is a good place to get wordpress solutions at a lower cost. For your short-term usage need like product testing or review, Pluginsforwp can be a huge money saver.
After using and reviewing the top GPL Marketplaces, it earned the #1 spot for the best overall GPL theme and plugin site. Plugin-wise, it is also the very best, therefore it’s the best GPL Plugin site.
Their pricing may seem higher than the rest, but you get exactly what you’re paying for.
Features
- Regular Updates
- WP Plugin Manager
- Automatic Upgrades via Plugin Manager
- Version control
Pricing
- $4.99 per item
- $14.50/month for unlimited downloads (20 downloads/day)
- $99.50/year for unlimited downloads (50 downloads/day)
- $399 for lifetime access (100 downloads/day)
Choose If:
- You want the best GPL website overall.
- You want a site with the highest number of plugins (i.e., high chance of finding what you need).
- You prefer direct integration with WordPress for automatic updates.
- You value responsive customer support and a clear refund policy.
Or read Pluginsforwp.com Review.
2. Srmehranclub
Srmehranclub stands out for its extensive library of over 40,000 plugins, templates, and themes, covering not just WordPress but also other CMS platforms like Shopify, Joomla, and Magento.
The club exists as a marketplace where GPL products are redistributed for cheap. It doesn’t only cover wordpress but also other CMSes that use a similar license as WordPress GPL.
For WordPress, it boasts a countable number of 4,738 plugins, and 13,402 themes, totaling over 18,200 of WordPress Products.
Srmehranclub has more design templates and themes than they have in plugins; therefore web developers will find it especially useful. Combined with their Template kit plugin (which comes with full Elementor kits, themes, etc.,) and that of the Toolkit update (which lets you manage plugin/theme upgrades for all your sites), Srmehranclub is really the perfect choice for web developers.
Of course, you don’t have to manually download updates from their site. The Srmehranclub Automatic Upgrades plugin lets you have a close experience with the updates you get from actual developers.
Just like I have said, Srmehranclub wins it all when it comes to Themes and Templates which are suitable for web developers. Aside that, the platform is also the best place for single downloads owing to their lifetime update offer which comes with a product downloaded in that form.
Pricing
- Starts from $5 per item
- $19/month (150 downloads)
- $29/month (420 downloads)
- $59/half-year (2700 downloads)
- $75/year (5400 downloads)
- $99/lifetime (7200 downloads)
Choose If:
- You need a GPL site that offers solutions beyond WordPress, such as for Shopify or Joomla.
- You need the best GPL theme site
- You want the best offer for single downloads
Or read Srmehranclub Review.
3. GPL Vault
This is one of the oldest GPL platforms we have ever come across. It started in 2016 and because of that, they already know how to make their customers happy.
People who have long been exposed to the GPL freedoms perhaps download from there. It’s a popular club that has managed to stand the test of time.
During my review, I discovered that the platform strives to deliver the utmost experience through its API connection. With that, users get upgrades automatically on wordpress, replicating the same experience from actual developers.
I would like to call it a platform that focuses on top wordpress solutions. Their library mostly contains plugins that one can’t do without.
On the other way round, it lacks rare and uncommon plugins which users may need at any time. This is due to their small but mighty number of wordpress solutions.
It’s true that they have one of the lowest numbers. However, one special thing with GPL Vault is they wholly manage what they have available, releasing early updates and making sure that every item is in good condition.
Pricing:
- $16/month (20 downloads/day)
- $99/year (25 downloads/day)
- $299 lifetime (50 downloads)
Choose If:
- You only want top wordpress solutions and at their highest quality (i.e., better updates and all of them).
- You want automatic upgrades on WordPress
Or read GPL Vault Review.
4. WorldPressIT
WorldPressIT provides a solid selection of over 7,300+ plugins and themes for WordPress.
WorldPressIT is more than a GPL site; they also offer US-managed wordpress hosting. If you buy their hosting package, then they will automatically give you some sort of free GPL membership.
Just like the three other GPL websites, the platform operates under the umbrella of the GPL license. And as a result is legit and mostly safe to use.
To address a security concern, WorldPressIT integrated a vulnerability scan on their site. As you download stuff from the platform, you get a chance to scan it for 100% security.
My experience with the platform is 4 stars, as I got what I wanted for the number of times I tried.
A notable downside of the platform (as opposed to the competition) is that – It lacks a plugin manager or a medium through which it sends upgrades right on WordPress.
Pricing
- Starts from $4.99 per item
- $14.99/month (10 downloads/day)
- $119.95 lifetime (unlimited downloads)
Choose If:
- You didn’t find the desired item on Pluginsforwp.com, Srmehranclub.com, and GPL Vault.
>>> Visit WorldPressIT and save
Or read WorldPressIT Review.
Best GPL Sites Comparison: Decision Making
Pluginsforwp vs Srmehranclub vs GPL Vault vs WorldPressIT
Single-Download Preference:
If you prefer single downloads, Srmehranclub offers the best bargain as it comes with lifetime automatic updates. Therefore, assuming you purchased an item and an update comes out, you can download the new version again to install, without having to pay again. Mind you, it’s only the best bargain for single-download.
Library Size:
For the largest selection of WordPress Plugins, Pluginsforwp is the top choice (6,700+).
For the largest selection of WordPress Themes, Srmehranclub is the top choice (13,400+).
For a broader range including non-WordPress items, Srmehranclub is the best option (40,000+ items)
For the best overall for WordPress alone, Pluginsforwp takes the cake.
GPL Vault which merely has 4100+ (both plugins and themes) also had a trophy. In the area of indispensable wordpress solutions, it wins out other platforms for its dedication in releasing updates for what they have.
WorldPressIT library size spans over 7,300+ plugins and themes.
Note: All the numbers here are accurate. I have counted the numbers from the end user’s side and it comes out that the values used in their home page’s are identical or mostly nigh.
You can check out the reviews of the platforms to know all they have in numbers – Pluginsforwp Review, Srmehranclub Review, WorldPressIT Review, GPL Vault Review.
Customer Support and No-Questions-Asked Refund:
Pluginsforwp stands out with responsive customer support and a straightforward refund policy.
There was a time I received a free version of a software (which can be easily gotten from WordPress.org) instead of the premium version, I emailed them and they refunded me with no stress for that single download.
WordPress Plugin for Automatic Updates:
Pluginsforwp, Srmehranclub, and GPL Vault offer dedicated plugins for automatic updates directly within the WordPress admin area.
WorldPressIT doesn’t come with that.
Conclusion
While GPL clubs can be a life-saver when it comes to testing and making use of WordPress solutions for a short time, it’s not morally right to use them if you plan to have the plugin or theme for long. For instance, assuming you’re getting a product that will make up an essential part of your site, you should be patronizing actual developers not GPL clubs.
At the end of the day, if developers decide not to keep a plugin/theme again, these GPL clubs would die and so to the beauty of WordPress.
That being said, a careful knowledge of when and when not to use a GPL club is important.
Above all, a product gotten from actual developers will give you the best experience.
here is the list of the GPL sites we have explored and their /Best For/ tags for swift decision-making.
- Pluginsforwp — Best overall, Best GPL Plugin site, Best for rare item availability, Best for customer support.
- Srmehranclub — Best for non-WordPress solutions (aside from WordPress, it has GPL products for open-source CMS like Shopify, Magento, Joomla, etc), Best GPL Theme site, Best for web developers, Best deal for single download.
- GPL Vault — Best for top WordPress solutions (i.e., if you only need core WordPress Themes and Plugins, GPL Vault will give you the best quality and upgrade experience).
- WordPressIT — Another great GPL website to consider.
FAQs
I couldn’t find what I was looking for! What should I do?
If you can’t find your desired product on any of the GPL sites provided, simply check the others in our list.
Chances are critically high that you would find it.
What is the best GPL site for WordPress themes and plugins?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best site depends on your specific needs, such as library size, pricing model, and automatic updates on WordPress.
But for the question – “best overall GPL website for themes/plugins”, then I can confidently point out Pluginsforwp.
Why don’t people talk about GPL themes and plugins?
The topic is sensitive, especially among developers who may feel their work is undervalued when redistributed freely. However, many WordPress users are aware of GPL and use it to their advantage.
Can I use GPL software on my website?
Yes, GPL software can be used freely on any website, with the freedom to modify and redistribute it.
Can I sell software with a GPL license?
Yes, as long as the redistributed software remains under the GPL license.
Are GPL Clubs safe to use?
Yes, the GPL clubs in my list are mostly safe to use. If you’re talking of others, then I have no clear answer to give.
The best approach is to always exercise caution by rescanning the items (you can use VirusTotal, it’s free) before uploading them to your site, as even reputable GPL platforms can pose some risks at times.
Why don’t owners of GPL clubs show their identity?
Some may prefer anonymity due to the controversial nature of redistributing others’ software, even if it’s legal under GPL.
What’s your advice? Should I use a GPL site or the developer’s site?
It depends on your needs. For testing or short-term use, GPL sites can be useful. For long-term use, consider buying directly from developers to support their work.
