If you build for WordPress, getting your work in front of the right people is half the battle. A good set of wordpress theme submission sites and plugin directories does exactly that. It puts your theme or plugin where millions of site owners already browse, and most of these listings hand you a backlink that lifts your own site in search. This guide covers more than 20 places to submit, from the official repository to popular marketplaces and showcase directories.
Every option below is worth a spot on your launch checklist. Some are completely free, some are marketplaces that take a cut on sales, and all of them send real developer and user traffic. Pick the ones that fit whether you give your work away free or sell it, and submit with a clean demo and clear screenshots.
Why wordpress theme submission sites matter for developers
Discovery is the hard part of shipping a theme or plugin. The official WordPress directories bring huge organic traffic because that is where users search from inside their dashboards. Marketplaces add buyers who are ready to pay for polish and support. Showcase and review directories add a third layer, sending readers who trust curated picks. Being present across all three means far more installs than relying on your own site alone.
Backlinks come along for the ride. Directory and showcase listings point back to your product page, which builds authority and helps you rank for your own theme or plugin name. That is compounding value from a one time submission.
How to submit so your listing gets approved
Follow each platform coding and quality guidelines before you submit, since the official repositories reject anything that breaks their rules. Prepare a working live demo, clean screenshots, a clear feature list, and a short honest description. Reply quickly to review feedback, keep your changelog updated, and support your users, because active, well reviewed products get featured and climb the rankings.
Best wordpress theme submission sites and plugin directories for 2027
Start with the official free repositories, then add the marketplaces and showcase directories that match your goals.
| Site | Type | Why Submit Here |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress.org Themes | Free | Official theme directory, massive user reach |
| WordPress.org Plugins | Free | Official plugin directory, installs from dashboard |
| ThemeForest | Marketplace | Largest paid theme market by Envato |
| CodeCanyon | Marketplace | Envato marketplace for plugins and code |
| TemplateMonster | Marketplace | Popular template and theme marketplace |
| Creative Market | Marketplace | Design focused market for themes and assets |
| Mojo Marketplace | Marketplace | Themes and plugins with host integration |
| Freemius | Marketplace | Sell and license premium plugins and themes |
| Gumroad | Marketplace | Simple storefront for selling digital products |
| GitHub | Free | Host open source plugins and themes with docs |
| WP Hive | Directory | Plugin insights and listing directory |
| WPExplorer | Showcase | Theme roundups and review coverage |
| aThemes | Showcase | Theme collections and reviews |
| Colorlib | Showcase | Popular theme roundups and features |
| WP Newsify | Showcase | WordPress news and product coverage |
Add these to reach even more users: WordPress plugin and theme review blogs like WPBeginner and WPKube for coverage, ProductHunt for launch day buzz, AlternativeTo for discovery, SaaSHub, your own changelog on WP Tavern community threads, and niche directories for page builders or WooCommerce extensions. Each listing is a fresh backlink and a new stream of installs.
Simple rules for a smooth launch
Never submit copied or nulled work, because it gets removed and can ban your account. Keep one clean listing per platform, use the same product name everywhere, and link back to a single canonical product page. Update your listings whenever you ship a new version so users see an active, maintained product, which is what earns featured spots and better rankings.
Want more link building sources beyond dev directories? Browse the full Sites List collection for SaaS directory, product launch, and profile creation sites that suit any software maker. For the official rules on listing a theme, the WordPress Developer resources walk through requirements step by step.
Are wordpress theme submission sites free?
Many are. The official WordPress.org theme and plugin directories are completely free, and GitHub is free for open source. Marketplaces like ThemeForest are free to submit to but take a commission on sales.
Do theme and plugin directories help with SEO?
Yes. Listing your product on directories and showcase sites gives you backlinks to your product page, which builds authority and helps you rank for your theme or plugin name in search.
Where should I submit a free WordPress theme?
Start with the official WordPress.org theme directory for the largest reach, then add GitHub for open source visibility and showcase blogs like Colorlib or WPExplorer for extra coverage and links.
How many directories should I submit my plugin to?
List on the official WordPress.org plugin directory first, then add five to ten marketplaces and showcase sites that fit your product. Keep every listing accurate and updated so users trust it.