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Options Framework

By Devin Price

Design & Themes / Themes & Templates

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Options Framework Review - In-Depth Analysis

The Options Framework Plugin simplifies adding an options panel to WordPress themes. It allows developers to focus on theme design instead of creating options panels from scratch.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

7.11/10

User Rating

4.8/5 (based on 27+ reviews)

Active Installations

10,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

The Options Framework Plugin makes it easy to include an options panel in any WordPress theme. It was built so developers can concentrate on making the actual theme rather than spending time creating an options panel from scratch.

This plugin is free to use in both commercial and personal projects, just like WordPress itself. It includes various options such as text input, textarea, checkbox, select, radio button, image uploader, and more.

For a full description of how to define and use the theme options, please visit the official website.

Comparing to Alternatives

Options Framework stands out in its category with no close direct alternatives available, making it a unique choice for users seeking theme options plugins.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Highly rated with a 4.8 average from 27 reviews
Simple and easy to use, praised by multiple users
Saves development time, especially appreciated by developers
No known security vulnerabilities, ensuring safe usage
Long-standing reliability with consistent positive feedback

Weaknesses

No pro version available for advanced features
Limited to theme options functionality without broader customization tools

User Sentiment Analysis

With 92.6% of ratings at 5 stars and only one low rating, user sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting ease of use and development benefits.

Positive highlights

'One of the best theme options plugin out there' — tameroski
'Makes development simpler and easier' — Maruti Mohanty
'Great plugin. Follow the video from the dev and you’re good.' — Ishko
'Best Theme Option plugin for WordPress' — Saiful Islam
'It really is the best in the world.' — masterbip

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Lacks a paid version with additional features
No recent updates noted since last security scan in 2017

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Developers and WordPress users looking for a straightforward, reliable theme options plugin without the need for advanced premium features.

Not ideal for

Users seeking extensive customization options beyond theme settings or those wanting a plugin with active premium support and updates.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a robust set of theme options features that satisfy most user needs without cost.

Final Verdict

Options Framework is a highly regarded and reliable plugin for managing theme options, praised for its simplicity and developer-friendly approach. Its lack of direct alternatives highlights its unique position in the WordPress ecosystem.

While it does not offer a pro version or recent updates, its strong security record and overwhelmingly positive user feedback make it a solid choice for users needing basic theme option functionality without extra bells and whistles.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Options Framework plugin.

options

theme options

Screenshots

FAQ

Download the development version from GitHub https://github.com/devinsays/options-framework-plugin and copy the “options-check” folder into your themes directory.

The “Options Check” theme is a blueprint for how to work with options. It includes an example of every option available in the panel and sample output in the theme.

You can also watch the video screencast I have at http://wptheming.com/options-framework-plugin.