This page explains what Minimalio is, what the free theme and the Premium Plugin include, who they are for, and what they cost.
What is Minimalio?
Minimalio is a free, minimalist WordPress theme for portfolio websites and blogs, available in the official WordPress.org theme directory. An optional Premium Plugin, $29 per year or $79 for a lifetime license, adds a dedicated portfolio section, video and gallery blocks, one-click demo import and personal support.
Minimalio is made by Mikulas, who started building it while studying at the Film Academy in Prague, to make simple portfolio websites for fellow students. It is designed for photographers, illustrators, designers, artists, architects, videographers and filmmakers who want a clean website that puts their work first.
- Free theme on WordPress.org since 2024, with 2,000+ active installations and a 5-star rating from 87 reviews (October 2026).
- The Premium Plugin is an add-on to the free theme with 1,000+ users, sold through Freemius, with a 7-day trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Built for the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg) and compatible with popular page builders.
- Developed and supported by one person, the creator, not a support team or a chatbot.
Free theme vs Premium Plugin
The free theme is a complete theme for a blog or a simple portfolio. The Premium Plugin is installed on top of it and adds portfolio, video and gallery features, demo import and support. You keep the same theme and add the plugin.
| Feature | Free theme | Premium Plugin |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $29 per year, or $79 lifetime |
| Theme settings in the Customizer: fonts, colors, font sizes, layout | Yes | Yes |
| Header styles: horizontal, centered, vertical, transparent, fixed | Yes | Yes |
| Blog page: grid or masonry, columns, gaps, category filter, loading on scroll | Yes | Yes |
| Responsive typography | Yes | Yes |
| Image lightbox | Yes | Yes, with color, caption and style settings |
| Separate portfolio section (not blog posts), with archive and categories | No | Yes |
| Portfolio layouts and hover effects | No | Yes |
| Video blocks: Vimeo and YouTube banners and embeds, portfolio items that open in a video lightbox | No | Yes |
| Gallery block with masonry, columns and gutters | No | Yes |
| One-click import of 22 demo websites | No | Yes |
| Personal support from the creator | No | Yes |
| Updates | Free, through WordPress.org | Included while the license is active |
Who Minimalio is for
- Photographers, illustrators, graphic designers, artists and architects who want a portfolio website without clutter.
- Videographers and filmmakers who show their work as Vimeo or YouTube videos (with the Premium Plugin).
- Anyone who wants a personal blog with a simple, minimal look.
- Beginners. The tutorials start from zero, and with the Premium Plugin you can import a finished demo and replace the images and text.
- People who build simple portfolio websites for friends or clients and want something quick to set up.
Who Minimalio is not for
Minimalio is deliberately simple. It is probably not the right choice if:
- You want a page builder. Minimalio is a theme: you build pages in the WordPress block editor, or in a page builder you install separately, such as Elementor.
- You need a large online store. A separate free plugin gives WooCommerce a minimalist look, but WooCommerce itself is not supported.
- You want a multipurpose theme with dozens of design styles, animations and landing-page sections. Minimalio focuses on a clean layout that keeps the attention on your work.
- You need personal support but do not plan to buy the Premium Plugin. Support from the creator is included only with the Premium Plugin.
Requirements and compatibility
- WordPress: a current version of WordPress. Minimalio is built for the block editor (Gutenberg).
- PHP: version 7.4 or newer.
- Page builders: works with Elementor, Beaver Builder, Brizy, Visual Composer, Divi and SiteOrigin.
- Languages: translation ready, compatible with WPML, with right-to-left (RTL) support.
- WooCommerce: minimalist styling through a separate free plugin, without WooCommerce support.
- Technical: lightweight code based on Tailwind CSS, posts loaded with AJAX, schema markup, mobile-first design with extra care for accessibility.
- Customization: a ready-made child theme is available from the free theme page, and the source code is on GitHub.
Pricing, licenses and refunds
- Free theme: free, licensed under the GPL and downloaded from WordPress.org. No time limit and no account needed.
- Premium Plugin, yearly: $29 per year. Includes updates and unlimited support while the license is active. The license renews every year at the same price, for as long as you keep renewing. If you cancel, the premium features stop working when the paid year ends.
- Premium Plugin, lifetime: $79, paid once. Includes updates with no expiry and 6 months of support. More support can be added for $29 per 6 months. Future major versions or new premium features may require an additional purchase.
- Websites per license: each Premium Plugin license covers one public website (one live domain) and unlimited staging or development websites. For another live website you need another license. The free theme can be used on any number of websites.
- Trial: 7 days, with all features and support included. A card is required to start the trial, and the yearly license ($29) is charged automatically when the trial ends, unless you cancel before.
- Refunds: you can ask for a full refund within 30 days of purchase, minus the payment transaction fee of about $1.
- Payments and license keys are handled by Freemius. You manage your license and invoices in your Freemius account.
Full details are in the terms and conditions.
Support
Premium Plugin customers get personal help from Mikulas, the creator of Minimalio. After the purchase you receive his contact details by email. Replies usually come within 12 hours, and always within 24 hours.
- Included: help with the design, with something the theme should do but does not, and with possible bugs.
- Also, whenever possible: general WordPress questions.
- Not included: problems with third-party themes, plugins or services.
Free theme users can follow the tutorials and use the theme’s support forum on WordPress.org. More about how support works.
Frequently asked questions
Is Minimalio really free?
Yes. The Minimalio theme is free and is published in the official WordPress.org theme directory. There is no time limit and no account is needed. The Premium Plugin is optional.
Is the Premium Plugin worth it?
It is worth it if you want a separate portfolio section, video or gallery blocks, a finished demo to start from, or personal help from the creator. If you only need a simple blog or a basic page of images, the free theme may be enough. You can try all premium features for 7 days, and refunds are possible within 30 days.
Is Minimalio good for photographers?
Yes, photography portfolios are one of its main uses. With the Premium Plugin you get a gallery block with masonry and column layouts and adjustable gutters, and a lightbox with adjustable colors, captions and style.
Can I make a video or film portfolio with Minimalio?
Yes, with the Premium Plugin. It adds blocks for video banners and embedded videos from Vimeo and YouTube, and portfolio items can open as a Vimeo player in a lightbox.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Settings are in the WordPress Customizer, pages are built in the block editor, and the tutorials explain every step, from installing WordPress to publishing the website. Custom CSS is optional.
Does Minimalio work with Elementor or other page builders?
Yes. It works with Elementor, Beaver Builder, Brizy, Visual Composer, Divi and SiteOrigin. It is designed primarily for the WordPress block editor, which needs no extra plugin.
Can I sell products with Minimalio?
For a small shop, yes. A separate free plugin gives WooCommerce a minimalist look that matches the theme. WooCommerce itself is not covered by Minimalio’s support, so for a large store a dedicated e-commerce theme is a better fit.
What happens if I stop paying for the yearly license?
When the paid year ends, the license is deactivated and the premium features stop working. The free theme keeps working and your content stays in WordPress.
Can I try the premium features before buying?
Yes. The 7-day trial includes all features and support. A card is required to start it, and the yearly license ($29) is charged automatically when the trial ends, unless you cancel before. If you change your mind after paying, you can ask for a refund within 30 days of purchase.
Can I use Minimalio on more than one website?
The free theme, yes, on as many websites as you like. A Premium Plugin license covers one public website, plus unlimited staging and development copies, so you can build and test before going live. For each additional live website you need another license.
How do I install Minimalio?
In WordPress, go to Appearance → Themes → Add New Theme, search for “Minimalio”, then click Install and Activate. The Premium Plugin is installed as a regular plugin from the file you receive after the purchase. The installation tutorial shows both steps.
Can I import a ready-made demo website?
Yes, with the Premium Plugin. You can choose from 22 demo websites, import one in two clicks, and then replace the images and text with your own. Some demos include extra CSS styling. Browse all demos.
Is Minimalio fast and good for SEO?
The theme is lightweight and mobile-first, and includes schema markup. How fast your website is also depends on your hosting and the size of your images.
Can I translate my website?
Yes. Minimalio is translation ready, compatible with WPML and supports right-to-left languages.
Who makes Minimalio?
Minimalio is made by Mikulas, an independent developer. He started it while studying at the Film Academy in Prague, to build simple portfolio websites for fellow students who could not afford expensive themes. He still develops Minimalio and answers support questions personally. Read his story.
Demos, tutorials and more
- Demos: 22 ready-made websites to preview and import.
- Tutorials: step-by-step guides, including a portfolio website from start to finish.
- Showcase: websites made with Minimalio.
- Free theme: features and download.
- Premium Plugin: premium features and pricing.
- Support: how premium support works.
- Changelog: what changed in each version.
- Minimalio on WordPress.org and on GitHub.
- Mikulas, the creator: the story behind Minimalio.