Our verdict: Genesis is still maintained in 2026, and the Genesis Framework itself is now free. It is a solid choice if you already run Genesis sites, host with WP Engine (which includes StudioPress themes), or are a developer who likes its hooks. For a brand new site, it is no longer the obvious pick. Genesis gets compatibility fixes, not big new features, and it has no full site editing. Most beginners will get more from a modern theme like GeneratePress, Kadence or Astra.

This review covers what Genesis is today, what it costs, how it fits with the block editor, and what we saw when we installed StudioPress’s free block tools on a test site.

Genesis Quick Facts

Facts below were checked on studiopress.com, wpengine.com, the Genesis developer changelog and WordPress.org in October 2026.

Item	Details
Made by	StudioPress, owned by WP Engine since June 2018
Latest Genesis Framework version	3.6.2 (released March 31, 2026)
Framework price	Free (download through a form on studiopress.com)
Genesis Pro	$360/year, unlimited sites, includes the 10 StudioPress-made child themes
With WP Engine hosting	Genesis, the StudioPress themes and Genesis Blocks are included; Genesis Pro is a $30/month add-on
Free plugins	Genesis Blocks 3.1.11 (40,000+ active installs), Genesis Custom Blocks 1.7.3 (10,000+)
Sites using Genesis	600,000+, according to StudioPress
Full site editing	No. Genesis and its child themes are classic themes
Refund window	30 days for theme packages, 60 days for Genesis Pro
Best suited for	Existing Genesis sites, WP Engine customers, developers who build custom child themes

What Is Genesis in 2026?

Genesis is a theme framework. You install Genesis as the parent theme, then put a child theme on top of it. Genesis handles the core code (layouts, SEO settings, schema markup, security updates). The child theme handles the design. Because your design changes live in the child theme, updating Genesis does not wipe them out.

A lot has changed since our first review in 2020:

The framework is free. StudioPress now calls it the “Open Source Genesis Framework.” It used to cost $59.95.
Single child themes are no longer sold one by one by StudioPress. The StudioPress-made themes we checked show no standalone price. You get them with Genesis Pro or with WP Engine or Flywheel hosting.
The old Pro Plus bundle ($499.95) is gone. Genesis Pro, a yearly subscription, replaced it.
The focus moved to block editor plugins. StudioPress now puts Genesis Blocks and Genesis Custom Blocks front and center on its home page.
There are fewer StudioPress themes. The Genesis Pro page lists 10 StudioPress-made child themes. Third-party shops still sell their own Genesis child themes separately.

WP Engine bought StudioPress, including Genesis, in June 2018, according to WP Engine’s press release. StudioPress says Genesis powers over 600,000 WordPress sites and has more than 260,000 customers.

Is Genesis Still Maintained?

Yes, but at a slow pace. The public changelog shows these recent releases:

Version	Date	What changed
3.6.2	March 31, 2026	Fixes for WordPress 7.0 and PHP 8.5
3.6.1	October 23, 2025	Security fix for a cross-site scripting issue in shortcodes (CVE-2025-10737)
3.6.0	March 20, 2025	Fixes for WordPress 6.7 and PHP 8.2 notices
3.5.0	January 22, 2024	Accessibility and PHP 8.2 fixes

That is one or two releases a year, mostly compatibility and security fixes. Genesis keeps working with new versions of WordPress and PHP, which matters if you already depend on it. But no recent release adds block theme support or other big features.

Genesis Blocks is updated more often. Version 3.1.11 came out in August 2026 and is marked as tested with WordPress 7.0.

How We Reviewed Genesis

We wanted to install the Genesis Framework and a child theme on a test site. The free framework download sits behind a request form on studiopress.com that asks for your details, so we did not use it. The review of the framework itself is based on StudioPress’s and WP Engine’s published details, the developer changelog, and the official Genesis Sample demo.

What we did install on a fresh test site (WordPress 7.1.2, PHP 8.3) were StudioPress’s free block tools, which need no account:

Genesis Block Theme 1.0.0, a free theme StudioPress offers as a public download.
Genesis Blocks 3.1.11 from WordPress.org.
Genesis Custom Blocks 1.7.3 from WordPress.org.

We added six sample posts with featured images, a few pages and a menu, then built a home page with Genesis Blocks.

Hands-On: Genesis Block Theme and Genesis Blocks

Test site home page built with the Genesis Blocks Slate Homepage layout on Genesis Block Theme

Our test site’s home page, built from the free Slate Homepage layout in Genesis Blocks 3.1.11 on Genesis Block Theme 1.0.0, October 2026.

Setup

Each of the three items installed and activated in about 4 to 6 seconds on our test install. The theme zip is about 345 KB. Neither plugin showed a setup wizard, asked for an account, or added a nag notice to the dashboard.

Genesis Block Theme is not a true block theme

Despite the name, Genesis Block Theme 1.0.0 is a classic PHP theme. It has no theme.json file and no block templates. Its readme says it was tested up to WordPress 5.7, which is several years old. It still loaded without visible errors on WordPress 7.1.2.

Because it is a classic theme, WordPress treated it that way. The dashboard’s welcome panel even suggested we “discover” block themes. The Appearance > Design screen offered only Styles and Patterns. You cannot edit the header, footer or page templates there the way you can with a block theme.

WordPress Design screen showing only Styles and Patterns for Genesis Block Theme

The WordPress Design screen with Genesis Block Theme 1.0.0 active: only Styles and Patterns, no template editing, October 2026.

Customizer options

WordPress Customizer Colors panel with the Genesis Block Theme accent color set to green

Changing the accent color in the Customizer on Genesis Block Theme 1.0.0, October 2026.

The theme has very few settings. The Customizer’s Theme Options section holds one setting, a footer tagline. An Accent Color picker sits under Colors.

When we changed the accent color to green, it recolored links and the current menu item. It did not change the buttons inside our Genesis Blocks layout, because those blocks carry their own colors. You change those block by block in the editor.

In the page settings, the theme adds a “Hide Page Title” checkbox and a Full Width template. Our home page showed the word “Home” above the hero section until we ticked the checkbox and switched to the Full Width template.

The Genesis Blocks layout library

Genesis Blocks Layout Selector showing free full-page layouts including Slate Homepage

The Genesis Blocks Layout Selector with the free full-page layouts, version 3.1.11, October 2026.

Genesis Blocks adds a Layouts block that opens a Layout Selector with four tabs: Collections, Sections, Layouts and Favorites. In the free version on our test install, we counted:

1 collection (Slate)
26 sections, such as hero headers, team members, testimonials and contact boxes
9 full-page layouts, such as Business, Freelancer, Slate About and Slate Homepage

That is more than the Genesis Blocks product page lists for the free version (4 layouts and 8 sections), so the page looks out of date. Genesis Blocks Pro promises over 50 layouts and over 130 sections.

Inserting the Slate Homepage layout took under a second. It added 89 blocks to the page, including 13 Advanced Columns blocks, 7 buttons and 3 testimonials, with about 500 words of sample text.

Two things to know before you publish a layout:

The images load from StudioPress’s demo server, not your media library. Replace them with your own.
The sample text includes a sales line, “Go Pro to get our entire collection!”, inside one section. Rewrite all of the copy, not just the headings.

The plugin adds 22 block types in total, including Accordion, Call To Action, Testimonial, Pricing, Post and Page Grid, Container and Advanced Columns. Several of those are child blocks of the pricing table. The Email Newsletter block works only with Mailchimp. Its settings page asks for a Mailchimp API key and nothing else.

Upsells are mild. The Genesis Blocks admin page has a “Genesis Pro” tab, and the Custom Blocks menu has a “Genesis Pro” page. We saw no pop-ups or dashboard banners.

Genesis Custom Blocks

Genesis Custom Blocks builder screen with Builder, Template Editor and preview tabs

Creating a new block in Genesis Custom Blocks 1.7.3 on our test install, October 2026.

Genesis Custom Blocks is a tool for developers. You give a block a name, icon, category and fields (text, image, and so on), then write a template that controls how it looks. The builder has Builder, Template Editor, Editor Preview and Front-end Preview tabs. You can limit each block to posts, pages or both.

The free version covers the basic field types. Genesis Pro adds repeater, post, taxonomy, user, rich text and classic text fields, plus import and export of single blocks. If you do not write code, you can skip this plugin.

The Genesis Framework: What You Get

Official Genesis Sample demo home page with a mountain image and a Learn More button

The official Genesis Sample demo, the starter child theme StudioPress publishes for the framework, October 2026.

Since we could not install the framework, this section is based on StudioPress and WP Engine documentation and the Genesis Sample demo.

Layouts. Content and sidebar, sidebar and content, full width and more, set site-wide or per page.
Block editor sidebar. A Genesis panel in the editor lets you hide the title, breadcrumbs or featured image on a single page and pick a layout.
SEO and schema. Genesis has its own SEO settings and outputs schema markup. The changelog notes it turns off its own schema when Yoast SEO outputs JSON-LD markup, so the two do not clash.
Hooks and filters. Developers can add or move almost anything through Genesis hooks. This is the main reason developers have liked Genesis for years.
One-click theme setup. Supported child themes can import demo content, plugins and widgets in one step.
Breadcrumbs, numbered page navigation and custom body classes, according to WP Engine.

The Genesis Sample demo shows the default look: clean typography, plenty of white space, and WooCommerce pages for products, cart and checkout. Most StudioPress child themes follow the same simple style.

The FAQ is clear that child themes need Genesis: “you’ll need to have the Genesis framework in place to make the child theme run.” StudioPress also says its themes are translation-ready and work with WPML, including right-to-left languages.

Genesis and the Block Editor

Genesis works with the block editor. Child themes like Monochrome Pro and Essence Pro are block-based on the content side, and Genesis Blocks adds layouts and extra blocks.

What Genesis does not do is full site editing. Genesis and the StudioPress child themes are classic themes, so headers, footers and templates are still controlled by PHP and the Customizer. StudioPress’s Genesis Block Theme page says full site editing is “incoming.” The theme is still version 1.0.0, and its readme still says WordPress 5.7.

If you want to design your whole site, including the header and footer, with blocks, you need a block theme. Kadence, GeneratePress and Astra all have options that lean further into blocks than Genesis does.

Genesis Pricing in 2026

Genesis Pro page on studiopress.com showing the $360 per year price

The Genesis Pro page on studiopress.com, October 2026.

There are four ways to get Genesis. Prices are as of October 2026.

Option	Price	What you get
Genesis Framework	Free	The parent theme only, plus the free Genesis Sample child theme
Genesis Pro	$360/year	Genesis, all 10 StudioPress-made child themes, Genesis Blocks Pro, Genesis Custom Blocks Pro features, support, unlimited sites
WP Engine hosting	Plans from $28/month billed annually (with a first-year discount when we checked)	Genesis, the StudioPress themes and Genesis Blocks included; Genesis Pro is a $30/month add-on
Third-party child themes	Set by each seller	Themes from shops such as Feast Design Co, Restored 316 and BizBudding, sold separately

You do not have to host with WP Engine to buy Genesis Pro. StudioPress offers a 60-day refund on Genesis Pro and a 30-day refund on theme packages.

Two licensing points worth knowing. StudioPress does not limit the number of sites you can use its themes on. And you can build and sell client sites with Genesis, but your clients do not get access to StudioPress support unless they buy from StudioPress themselves.

If you are comparing hosts, see our Kinsta vs WP Engine and WP Engine vs SiteGround comparisons.

Genesis Pros and Cons

Pros

The framework is free, and you can use it on any number of sites.
Still updated for new WordPress and PHP versions, including a 2025 security fix.
Clean, hook-based code that developers know well, with a large back catalog of tutorials.
StudioPress themes and Genesis Blocks are included with WP Engine hosting.
Genesis Blocks is free, easy to use, and light on upsells.

Cons

No full site editing. Headers, footers and templates still need PHP or the Customizer.
Slow release pace with few new features.
Only 10 StudioPress-made child themes, and most look the same as they did years ago.
Getting all the themes means $360/year for Genesis Pro or WP Engine hosting.
Real design changes need CSS and PHP, which is hard for beginners.
The free download sits behind a form instead of a plain download link.

Genesis Alternatives in 2026

If you are starting a new site, these themes are worth a look first:

GeneratePress: A lightweight theme with a strong developer following, much like Genesis was in its prime. It has a free version and a paid add-on. See our GeneratePress review and our direct comparison of GeneratePress and Genesis.
Kadence: A fast theme with a strong free version on WordPress.org and block-based starter templates. See our Kadence review.
Astra: A popular lightweight theme with a free version on WordPress.org that works with both the block editor and page builders. See our Astra review and Astra vs GeneratePress.
OceanWP: A free multipurpose theme with optional extensions. See our OceanWP review.
Divi: If you want a visual builder instead of code, Divi bundles a theme and a drag-and-drop builder. See our Divi review.
Beaver Builder: A page builder that has long worked well alongside Genesis child themes. See our Beaver Builder review.

Verdict: Is Genesis Worth It in 2026?

Genesis is not dead. WP Engine still ships fixes for new WordPress and PHP versions, the framework is free, and Genesis Blocks is a decent free block library. If your site already runs on Genesis, there is no urgent reason to switch.

For new sites, it is harder to recommend. Genesis has not moved to full site editing, the theme catalog is small, and the best themes cost $360/year unless you host with WP Engine. Beginners will find it easier to start with a modern theme like GeneratePress, Kadence or Astra.

Genesis still makes sense for three groups: WP Engine customers who get the themes included, developers who build custom child themes and like the Genesis hooks, and agencies that already have a Genesis workflow.

FAQ

Is the Genesis Framework free?

Yes. As of October 2026, StudioPress offers the Genesis Framework for free through a request form on studiopress.com. The premium StudioPress child themes are not free. You get them with Genesis Pro ($360/year) or with WP Engine or Flywheel hosting.

Is Genesis still supported in 2026?

Yes. The latest version, 3.6.2, came out on March 31, 2026, with fixes for WordPress 7.0 and PHP 8.5. Updates come once or twice a year and focus on compatibility and security rather than new features.

Does Genesis support full site editing?

No. Genesis and the StudioPress child themes are classic themes. You can use the block editor for page content, but headers, footers and templates are not editable with blocks. Even the free Genesis Block Theme is a classic theme.

What does Genesis Pro include?

Genesis Pro costs $360/year. It includes the Genesis Framework, all 10 StudioPress-made child themes, Genesis Blocks Pro with more layouts and sections, extra Genesis Custom Blocks fields, support, and use on unlimited sites. WP Engine customers can add it for $30/month.

Do I need WP Engine hosting to use Genesis?

No. Genesis and Genesis Pro work on any WordPress host. WP Engine hosting simply includes the StudioPress themes at no extra cost.

What is the best alternative to Genesis?

For most new sites, GeneratePress, Kadence or Astra. All three have free versions on WordPress.org, are lightweight, and work well with the block editor. GeneratePress is the closest in spirit to Genesis for developers.