Top HTML5 Blank Alternatives for Modern WordPress Development

HTML5 Blank has long been a go-to choice for WordPress developers seeking a lean, clean, and well-annotated starter theme. With its focus on minimal markup, adherence to WordPress Coding Standards, and pre-loaded time-saving functions, it’s been an excellent foundation for custom themes. However, as the WordPress ecosystem evolves, developers often look for more modern tools, frameworks, and workflows. This article explores the best HTML5 Blank alternatives that can supercharge your WordPress theme development process.

Top HTML5 Blank Alternatives

While HTML5 Blank provides a solid starting point, these alternatives offer enhanced features, different templating engines, and more robust development environments, catering to a wider range of modern development needs.

Underscores.me

Underscores.me, often referred to as _s, is a highly popular HTML5 Blank alternative directly from Automattic, the creators of WordPress. It's a free, open-source starter theme designed for hacking, not as a parent theme. Similar to HTML5 Blank, it provides a very minimal, semantic HTML5 foundation, but it's constantly updated to reflect the latest WordPress best practices. It's available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, and is built on PHP for WordPress, making it a seamless transition for developers familiar with HTML5 Blank's core principles.

JointsWP

JointsWP stands out as an excellent HTML5 Blank alternative for developers who leverage front-end frameworks. It's a free, open-source, and self-hosted WordPress theme built with Foundation 6, providing a powerful and flexible foundation for responsive and mobile-friendly websites. While HTML5 Blank offers a barebones HTML5 structure, JointsWP integrates a robust CSS framework, giving you a head start on complex layouts and components. It's ideal for those seeking a more opinionated yet highly customizable starter theme with a modern front-end workflow.

Sage (WordPress starter theme)

Sage is a sophisticated HTML5 Blank alternative that takes WordPress theme development to the next level with improved development tools. It's a free, open-source, and self-hosted starter theme that incorporates modern web technologies. Unlike HTML5 Blank's traditional PHP templating, Sage utilizes Blade as a templating engine, offers Browsersync for synchronized browser testing, and includes a Controller for passing data to Blade templates. Developers can choose between Bootstrap 4 or Bulma as an optional CSS framework, and it integrates modern JavaScript, Sass for stylesheets, and Webpack for asset compilation and optimization. Sage is a powerful choice for developers looking for a more advanced, framework-driven, and highly efficient workflow than what HTML5 Blank provides.

Each of these HTML5 Blank alternatives offers unique advantages, from minimalist foundations to integrated front-end frameworks and modern development workflows. Exploring them will help you find the best fit for your specific project requirements and preferred development style.