Highlights · computed from our daily tracking data
- Author currently ranks #910 in the WordPress.org popular themes list.
- It is averaging 13 downloads/day over the last 30 days, down 33% versus the month before (19/day).
- The latest release, v1.57, shipped on Jun 29, 2026 (63 days ago) — release #66 since the theme joined the directory in 2015.
Ranking history
Ranking history — data table
| Date | Ranking history |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-31 | #910 |
| 2026-07-31 | #959 |
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 |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-31 | 3,000 |
| 2026-07-31 | 3,000 |
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 |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-30 | 4 |
| 2026-07-31 | 14 |
| 2026-06-30 | 302 |
| 2026-05-31 | 5 |
| 2026-04-30 | 10 |
| 2026-03-31 | 5 |
| 2026-02-28 | 8 |
| 2026-01-31 | 8 |
| 2025-12-31 | 10 |
| 2025-11-30 | 10 |
| 2025-10-31 | 16 |
| 2025-09-30 | 11 |
| 2025-08-31 | 18 |
| 2025-07-31 | 15 |
Latest reading of each month from our daily snapshots; the chart holds the full daily history.
Details
| Author | Ben Sibley |
|---|---|
| Current version | 1.57 |
| Versions released | 66 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-29 |
| Added to directory | 2015-03-18 |
| Requires WordPress | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.6.40+ |
| Type | Classic theme |
| First tracked here | 2026-07-10 |
Description
Author is designed for publishers who want readers. That's why Author is fast, responsive, accessibility-ready, and optimally designed for reading. All scripts and stylesheets are minified, concatenated, and conditionally loaded to maximize performance. The layout adapts fluidly to all screen sizes to enhance usability. As one of few accessibility-ready themes, it performs well for users with wide ranges of disabilities. Based on the ancient Van de Graaf canon, Author features a layout that promotes readability. Use Author to create a simple blog, magazine, or news website. The simple and minimalist design works great for gaming, business, fashion, music, food, travel, and photography niches. Now with complete WooCommerce support for eCommerce stores and fully compatible with the new Gutenberg post editor. Preview Author now on desktop, tablets, and mobile devices with the interactive live demo: https://www.competethemes.com/demos/?theme=author
Frequently asked questions
How many websites use Author?
WordPress.org reports 3K+ active installs.
How popular is Author?
As of August 31, 2026, Author ranks #910 in the WordPress.org popular themes list.
When was Author last updated?
Author was last updated on June 29, 2026 (version 1.57). It has shipped 66 releases in total.
Who makes Author?
Author is developed by Ben Sibley. It joined the WordPress.org theme directory in March 2015.
