Flywheel offers the Genesis Framework and many StudioPress themes for free with your hosting subscription!

The Genesis Framework serves as the foundation for more than 1 million WordPress® sites.¹ It combines the ability to create beautiful designs, layouts, and SEO with flexibility, modularity, and performance. With Genesis, it’s also super simple to update and switch between themes and keep your sites secure.

You also have several StudioPress themes at your fingertips. The themes are built using the Genesis Framework, plus they’re mobile-responsive and professionally designed. These themes will make it easy to create zippy, beautiful experiences for your users!

How do I download Genesis or StudioPress themes?

How do I use the framework and themes?

Once you’ve downloaded the .zip file for the framework and themes, you can upload them into WordPress. First, you’ll install Genesis following the below steps and then you’ll install the theme following the same steps. We highly recommend you start by copying your live website to a staging or development environment like Local. It’s best to change themes in an environment where your live website users will not see the “under construction” phase!

FAQ

I’VE HEARD ABOUT “STUDIOPRESS” AND “GENESIS.” WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

You may hear people use these terms interchangeably, which can be confusing because they’re two separate things.

Genesis refers to a website framework, a powerful type of WordPress theme. A “super theme,” if you will.

A child theme (StudioPress themes), is a pure design element that sits on top of that framework (Genesis) and handles the look, feel, and layout aspects of a website.

The Genesis Framework is needed for those who want to develop their own theme using Genesis as the foundation, or for those who want to run a StudioPress theme on top of it.

WHAT THEMES ARE INCLUDED IN THE FLYWHEEL + STUDIOPRESS INTEGRATION?

The Genesis Framework and all StudioPress themes (themes created by StudioPress) are included with a paid hosting plan. Third-party themes that are part of the Pro Plus package are only available through StudioPress.com and aren’t included with Flywheel hosting.

If you do wish to purchase the Pro Plus package ($499.95) in order to acquire all the additional 3rd party themes, this is a separate transaction from your Flywheel hosting plan. At this time, there are no discounts that apply to such a purchase.

WHAT KIND OF USERS CAN DOWNLOAD A THEME?

Site owners and members of Organizations can download themes. Collaborators do not currently have access.

IF STUDIOPRESS THEMES COME FREE WITH A PAID FLYWHEEL HOSTING ACCOUNT, WILL FLYWHEEL HANDLE BILLING FOR STUDIOPRESS PURCHASES?

If you have any billing-related questions around a previously purchased product from StudioPress, you will need to ask the question directly to StudioPress support via the “Get Help” page within your my.studiopress.com user portal.

ARE FLYWHEEL ACCOUNTS LINKED TO STUDIOPRESS ACCOUNTS IN ANY WAY?

No, they are not. You can only have a StudioPress.com account if you have a Genesis or theme purchase through StudioPress.com. We encourage you to direct purchase questions to [email protected].

WHAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT DO YOU PROVIDE?

The types of questions that we can provide assistance with are related to:

• Setting up the themes as shown on the demo
• Using the features of Genesis
• Any technical issues you may run into regarding the default code of the theme

When it comes to specific design or functionality customizations you may want, you will need to hire a designer or developer for the work. Still, we’ll try to point you in the right direction if we can!

IS IT REALLY FREE?

Yes. As long as you have a paid hosting subscription, the Genesis Framework and StudioPress themes just come with it! :)

Need help?

If you have any questions our Happiness Engineers are here to help!