Highlights · computed from our daily tracking data
- Challenger currently ranks #6249 in the WordPress.org popular themes list.
- Its best position in our tracking is #6215, first reached on Jul 24, 2026.
- The latest release, v1.19, shipped on Sep 25, 2024 (682 days ago) — release #20 since the theme joined the directory in 2018.
Ranking history
Active installs
Downloads per day
Details
| Author | Ben Sibley |
|---|---|
| Current version | 1.19 |
| Versions released | 20 |
| Last updated | 2024-09-25 |
| Added to directory | 2018-07-13 |
| Requires WordPress | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.4+ |
| Type | Classic theme |
| First tracked here | 2026-07-23 |
Description
Challenger is a premium-quality theme for modern blogs, podcasts, and vloggers. As a fully responsive theme, your website will look awesome on laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. The design is simple and minimalist with special attention paid to the typography for maximum readability. The free Challenger theme includes a diverse feature set including 4 widget areas, 50+ social media icons, and a completely customizable header section for email list building. Use it for a business, niche news magazine, or professional blog. Challenger is also fully compatible with the new Gutenberg post editor. View the fully setup live demo here: https://www.competethemes.com/demos/?theme=Challenger
Frequently asked questions
Is Challenger a free theme?
Yes — Challenger is a free, open-source (GPL) theme distributed through the official WordPress.org directory.
Is Challenger a block theme or a classic theme?
Challenger is a classic theme: it uses the traditional Customizer/widgets workflow rather than WordPress Full Site Editing.
How many websites use Challenger?
WordPress.org reports 100+ active installs.
How popular is Challenger?
As of August 8, 2026, Challenger ranks #6249 in the WordPress.org popular themes list. Its best position in our tracking is #6215.
When was Challenger last updated?
Challenger was last updated on September 25, 2024 (version 1.19). It has shipped 20 releases in total.
Who makes Challenger?
Challenger is developed by Ben Sibley. It joined the WordPress.org theme directory in July 2018.
