Highlights · computed from our daily tracking data
- Shift currently ranks #2978 in the WordPress.org popular themes list.
- Its best position in our tracking is #2898, first reached on Aug 3, 2026.
- The latest release, v1.26, shipped on Feb 11, 2025 (543 days ago) — release #28 since the theme joined the directory in 2016.
Ranking history
Active installs
Downloads per day
Details
| Author | Ben Sibley |
|---|---|
| Current version | 1.26 |
| Versions released | 28 |
| Last updated | 2025-02-11 |
| Added to directory | 2016-11-04 |
| Requires WordPress | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.4+ |
| Type | Classic theme |
| First tracked here | 2026-07-23 |
Description
Shift is a simple and customizable theme made for businesses and bloggers. Present your best content in a beautiful and responsive design across mobile devices, tablets, and widescreen monitors with Shift. With a minimalist design, Shift is great at highlighting your content. That means you’ll get higher engagement whether you’re publishing videos, podcast, photographs, or blog posts. It’s suitable for niche niche from travel and food blogs to corporate business websites. Use Shift for a small, personal content site or publish a ton with an online magazine. Shift is also fully compatible with the new Gutenberg post editor. Preview Shift now on desktop, tablets, and mobile devices with the interactive live demo: https://www.competethemes.com/demos/?theme=shift
Frequently asked questions
Is Shift a free theme?
Yes — Shift is a free, open-source (GPL) theme distributed through the official WordPress.org directory.
Is Shift a block theme or a classic theme?
Shift is a classic theme: it uses the traditional Customizer/widgets workflow rather than WordPress Full Site Editing.
How many websites use Shift?
WordPress.org reports 700+ active installs.
How popular is Shift?
As of August 8, 2026, Shift ranks #2978 in the WordPress.org popular themes list. Its best position in our tracking is #2898.
When was Shift last updated?
Shift was last updated on February 11, 2025 (version 1.26). It has shipped 28 releases in total.
Who makes Shift?
Shift is developed by Ben Sibley. It joined the WordPress.org theme directory in November 2016.
