Highlights · computed from our daily tracking data
- Ascend currently ranks #985 in the WordPress.org popular themes list.
- Its best position in our tracking is #965, first reached on Oct 5, 2026.
- Active installs have held steady at 2K+ since we began tracking it in July 2026.
- It is averaging 13 downloads/day over the last 30 days, down 54% versus the month before (29/day).
- The latest release, v1.4.21, shipped on Sep 12, 2026 (34 days ago) — release #53 since the theme joined the directory in 2017.
Ranking history
Ranking history — data table
| Date | Ranking history |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-16 | #985 |
| 2026-09-30 | #978 |
| 2026-08-31 | #1011 |
| 2026-07-31 | #1039 |
Latest reading of each month from our daily snapshots; the chart holds the full daily history.
Active installs
Active installs — data table
| Date | Active installs |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-16 | 2,000 |
| 2026-09-30 | 2,000 |
| 2026-08-31 | 2,000 |
| 2026-07-31 | 2,000 |
Latest reading of each month from our daily snapshots; the chart holds the full daily history.
Downloads per day
Downloads per day — data table
| Date | Downloads per day |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-15 | 16 |
| 2026-09-30 | 16 |
| 2026-08-31 | 4 |
| 2026-07-31 | 6 |
| 2026-06-30 | 1 |
| 2026-05-31 | 5 |
| 2026-04-30 | 10 |
| 2026-03-31 | 28 |
| 2026-02-28 | 6 |
| 2026-01-31 | 4 |
| 2025-12-31 | 4 |
| 2025-11-30 | 2 |
| 2025-10-31 | 4 |
| 2025-09-30 | 5 |
| 2025-08-31 | 6 |
| 2025-07-31 | 4 |
| 2025-06-30 | 6 |
| 2025-05-31 | 8 |
| 2025-04-30 | 18 |
| 2025-03-31 | 8 |
| 2025-02-28 | 9 |
| 2025-01-31 | 11 |
| 2024-12-31 | 25 |
| 2024-11-30 | 5 |
| 2024-10-31 | 10 |
| 2024-09-30 | 4 |
| 2024-08-31 | 12 |
Latest reading of each month from our daily snapshots; the chart holds the full daily history.
Details
| Author | Nexcess |
|---|---|
| Current version | 1.4.21 |
| Versions released | 53 |
| Last updated | 2026-09-12 |
| Added to directory | 2017-05-25 |
| Requires WordPress | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.6+ |
| Type | Classic theme |
| First tracked here | 2026-07-23 |
Description
Ascend is a classic theme, built before the Gutenberg block editor was created. While some support has been added for the block editor it's a WordPress legacy theme. Ascend is amazingly versatile, easily customizable and loaded with features you will love. You can use with any page builder, like Elementor. We built this multipurpose theme with several fresh and original layout options for your website’s header and menus, including a very stylish vertical menu and a stunning transparent header that changes as you scroll.
Frequently asked questions
How many websites use Ascend?
WordPress.org reports 2K+ active installs.
How popular is Ascend?
As of October 16, 2026, Ascend ranks #985 in the WordPress.org popular themes list. Its best position in our tracking is #965.
When was Ascend last updated?
Ascend was last updated on September 12, 2026 (version 1.4.21). It has shipped 53 releases in total.
Who makes Ascend?
Ascend is developed by Nexcess. It joined the WordPress.org theme directory in May 2017.
