Highlights · computed from our daily tracking data
- HighNews currently ranks #189 in the WordPress.org popular themes list.
- Its best position in our tracking is #96, first reached on Aug 23, 2026.
- Active installs grew from 80+ when we started tracking it in August 2026 to 200+ today — it crossed the 200+ mark around September 2026.
- It is averaging 17 downloads/day over the last 30 days, up 15% versus the month before (15/day).
- The latest release, v2.0.0, shipped on Oct 15, 2026 (7 days ago) — release #12 since the theme joined the directory in 2026.
Ranking history
Ranking history — data table
| Date | Ranking history |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-22 | #189 |
| 2026-09-30 | #137 |
| 2026-08-31 | #111 |
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 |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-22 | 200 |
| 2026-09-30 | 200 |
| 2026-08-31 | 100 |
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 |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-21 | 14 |
| 2026-09-30 | 12 |
| 2026-08-31 | 9 |
Latest reading of each month from our daily snapshots; the chart holds the full daily history.
Details
| Author | AF themes |
|---|---|
| Current version | 2.0.0 |
| Versions released | 12 |
| Last updated | 2026-10-15 |
| Added to directory | 2026-08-07 |
| Requires WordPress | 4.0+ |
| Requires PHP | 5.0+ |
| Type | Classic theme |
| First tracked here | 2026-08-22 |
Description
HighNews makes it easy to build a professional news, magazine, blog, or publishing website without starting from scratch. With 50+ ready-to-import starter sites, you can quickly launch a complete website using the WordPress Block Editor, Elementor, or your preferred page builder. The theme combines flexible content layouts, customizable widgets, block patterns, engaging banner designs, light and dark modes, WooCommerce integration, RTL support, multilingual compatibility, and accessibility-friendly features to give you complete control over your site's design and content. Built for modern publishing, HighNews also integrates smoothly with popular WordPress plugins, helping you create a fast, flexible, and user-friendly website that is ready to grow with your audience. View Demo: https://afthemes.com/products/highnews/
Frequently asked questions
How many websites use HighNews?
WordPress.org reports 200+ active installs.
How popular is HighNews?
As of October 22, 2026, HighNews ranks #189 in the WordPress.org popular themes list. Its best position in our tracking is #96.
When was HighNews last updated?
HighNews was last updated on October 15, 2026 (version 2.0.0). It has shipped 12 releases in total.
Who makes HighNews?
HighNews is developed by AF themes. It joined the WordPress.org theme directory in August 2026.
