Selecting the right theme for your Moodle platform is crucial for a better user experience. Moodle themes are more than just UI enhancements; they play a crucial role in defining the functionality, accessibility, and overall efficiency of the Moodle learning environment. When choosing a Moodle theme, ensure that your selection aligns with both technological requirements and educational objectives. From compatibility with different Moodle versions to responsiveness across various devices, customization options, user interface quality, and beyond that this article provides a guide to support your decision-making process. This article spotlights some top Moodle themes such as Edwiser RemUI, Adaptable, Boost Union, LearnR (Fordson), Lambda, Edumy, Space, New Learning, Klassroom, and Alpha insights into their unique features, advantages, and suitability for different educational needs of the Moodle LMS.
NOTE: These themes are selected based on their features, customization capabilities, and suitability for different types of Moodle sites. They cater to a range of needs, from university platforms to corporate training sites.
In this dynamic landscape, the collaboration between accounting and IT professionals emerges as a crucial factor in achieving operational excellence and client satisfaction. -Tara, Green Education
This blog post is designed to walk you through
What to look into Moodle theme?
Top Moodle Themes to Consider
Comparative Analysis of the Moodle Themes
Is hiring a Moodle Expert for theme selection worth it?
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
What to look into Moodle theme?
When choosing a Moodle theme, it’s essential to weigh various critical aspects to guarantee that the theme is not only visually attractive but also operationally efficient for your educational requirements. Before embarking on your search for the perfect theme, identify and prioritize the key attributes you require from the following considerations.
Compatibility
Ensure the theme is compatible with your version of Moodle. Themes developed for older versions may not work correctly with newer versions of Moodle.
Responsiveness
A responsive theme adjusts its layout across different devices and screen sizes. This is crucial for providing a good user experience on mobile phones and tablets.
Customization Options
Look for themes that offer flexible customization options. This includes the ability to change colors, fonts, layout structures, and add custom CSS.
User Interface and Experience
The theme should have an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Navigation should be simple, and the layout should be clean and uncluttered.
Accessibility
The theme should be accessible, complying with international standards like WCAG 2.0. This ensures that all students, including those with disabilities, can use the platform effectively.
Performance and Speed
A good theme should be optimized for speed and performance. Themes with heavy graphics and scripts can slow down your site.
Support and Documentation
Check if the theme comes with adequate documentation and support from the developer. Good documentation can help you in setting up and troubleshooting.
Educational Features
Some themes are designed with specific educational features in mind, like custom blocks for course layouts or integration with educational tools and plugins.
Regular Updates
Ensure that the theme is regularly updated to keep up with Moodle updates and security patches.
Reviews and Ratings
Look at user reviews and ratings to gauge the theme’s reliability and user experience.
Cost
While there are free themes available, paid themes often offer more features and support. Consider your budget and the value the theme provides.
Visual Appeal
Last but not least, the theme should align with your institution’s branding and aesthetic preferences.
Remember, the right Moodle theme can greatly enhance the learning experience, so it’s worth taking the time to choose one that fits your specific needs and preferences.
Top Moodle Themes to Consider
In the ever-evolving landscape of e-learning, choosing the right Moodle theme for your educational platform is crucial for a seamless user experience. Among the plethora of options available, four themes stand out for their unique features and usability: Edwiser RemUI, Adaptable, Boost Union, LearnR (Fordson), Lambda, and Edumy.
Edwiser RemUI
The Edwiser RemUI theme is a popular and highly customizable premium theme compatible with Moodle 4.4, designed to enhance the learning experience by providing a more user-friendly and engaging environment for learners, teachers, and administrators. It has one of the best drag-and-drop page builders. It is a robust and feature-rich theme that can significantly enhance the Moodle experience but comes with considerations of cost, complexity, and ongoing maintenance that potential users should weigh against their specific needs and resources.
Download Request a DemoFeatures:
- Powerful dashboard
- Visual personalizer
- Intuitive page builder
- Custom Moodle pages
- Focus mode for distraction-free learning
- Course reviews and ratings
- Edwiser forms
- Language support
- RTL support
- Site announcement
Pros:
- Enhanced User Experience: The theme is designed with a user-centric approach, offering a clean, modern, and responsive design that improves navigation and accessibility across devices.
- Customizability: With Edwiser RemUI, administrators have extensive control over the look and feel of their Moodle site. This includes layout options, color schemes, and the ability to personalize various elements, making it adaptable to different branding and design preferences.
- Improved Learning Environment: The theme introduces an advanced dashboard and enhanced course formats that provide learners with an engaging and intuitive learning experience. This can lead to better course management and potentially improved learning outcomes.
- Support for Moodle Features: Edwiser RemUI is regularly updated to ensure compatibility with the latest Moodle versions, ensuring that users can take advantage of new features and improvements in the core platform.
- Additional Functionalities: Beyond aesthetic improvements, the theme adds functional enhancements like an improved course management interface, which can simplify the administration of learning content and activities.
Cons:
- Cost: Unlike the default Moodle theme or other free options, Edwiser RemUI is a premium theme. This means that institutions or individual educators will need to invest financially to use it.
- Learning Curve: With the added customization options and features, there might be a slight learning curve for site administrators and educators to fully utilize all the capabilities of the theme.
- Potential Overhead: More features and customizations can sometimes lead to a heavier load on the server, potentially affecting site performance, especially on less capable hosting setups.
- Update Dependencies: Regular updates are necessary to keep the theme compatible with the latest Moodle versions. This can be a double-edged sword, as updates need to be monitored and applied to ensure smooth operation.
- Support and Maintenance: While support is available, reliance on a third-party theme means that any issues or bugs need to be addressed through the theme’s support channels, which can vary in responsiveness.
Lambda
Lambda theme for Moodle is one of the best selling Moodle theme compatible with Moodle 4.0. It is stable, reliable with lots of features and is regularly updated with new options. The developers provide 6 months of free support. You can build modern and eye-catching websites using its easy to use features. The theme is fully customizable.
Lambda lacks an open forum or a system to display reported issues. Upon reviewing the Themeforest support platform, I did not come across any significant problems. While numerous tickets were generated, all of them have been closed, and there are no open tickets currently.
Download Request a DemoFeatures:
- Responsive Design
- Customization Options
- Slider Revolution Plugin
- Advanced Theme Options
- Pre-designed Layouts
- Moodle Blocks
- Font Awesome Icons
- Multi-language Support
- SEO Optimization
- Cross-Browser Compatibility
- Integrated Social Media
- Customizable Header and Footer
- Back-to-Top Button
- Custom CSS/JS
Pros:
- Customizability: Lambda offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the look and feel of their Moodle site to their preferences or branding requirements.
- User-Friendly Interface: The theme is designed with a focus on user experience, making it easy for both administrators and learners to navigate the platform.
- Responsive Design: Lambda is fully responsive, meaning it adapts well to various screen sizes, from desktops to mobile devices, ensuring a consistent experience across all devices.
- Integrated Plugins: It often comes with a range of integrated plugins, enhancing the functionality of the Moodle site without the need for additional installations.
- Regular Updates: Lambda typically receives regular updates, ensuring compatibility with the latest Moodle versions and incorporating new features or improvements.
Cons:
- Cost: Unlike basic Moodle themes, Lambda is a premium theme and requires purchase, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious institutions or individuals.
- Complexity for Beginners: Due to its extensive customization options, beginners might find it overwhelming or challenging to set up and optimize the theme initially.
- Potential Overhead: The multitude of features and plugins can sometimes slow down the site, especially if not well-optimized or if running on limited hosting resources.
- Learning Curve: Administrators might need to invest time in learning how to effectively use and manage all the features offered by the Lambda theme.
- Support Dependence: In case of issues or updates, users might need to rely on the theme developers for support, which could vary in responsiveness.
Boost Union
The boost theme is the default theme in Moodle compatible with Moodle 4.5. Boost is lauded for its ease of configuration, utilizing Bootstrap presets and a built-in SASS compiler. It enhances the user experience by offering more screen space and a simplified editing process. Its strengths lie in industry-standard configuration options and ease of course navigation, though it is limited by a fixed content width on desktops. However, there are many child themes available on the default Boost theme and the most popular one is Boost Union. The Boost Union theme for Moodle is periodically updated by its developers to ensure it meets current needs.
The GitHub issues page for the Boost Union Moodle Theme lists various issues range from bug reports, and feature requests, to improvements in existing functionalities. You can explore these issues in detail by visiting the GitHub issues page for Boost Union Moodle Theme.
Download Request a Demo
Features:
- Enhanced Configurability
- Additional Features for Daily Operations
- No Initial Changes Upon Activation
- Possibility to Create a Grandchild Theme
- Targeted for University Campuses
- Easy Installation and Activation
- Customization Options
Pros:
- Enhanced Configurability: Offers more settings and customization options compared to the standard Boost theme.
- Additional Features: Includes functional enhancements like static pages, footnotes, and control over block displays.
- Ease of Use: Maintains the familiar layout of the Boost theme while adding new functionalities.
- Flexibility: Allows the creation of grandchild themes for further customization.
Cons:
- Complexity: Increased options might be overwhelming for some users.
- Compatibility: May require regular updates to stay compatible with new Moodle versions.
- Learning Curve: Admins may need time to familiarize themselves with additional settings and features.
LearnR (Fordson)
LearnR is the child theme for Boost and is based on the core foundation of the Boost Union theme. LearnR theme is compatible with Moodle 4.3 and it is the improved version of Boost Union theme and mainly focuses on styling, and integrations with other plugins. Also, the developers keep the popular features from the previous themes like Fordson and Evolve-D. The LearnR theme for Moodle is periodically updated by its developers to ensure it meets current needs.
The GitHub issues page for the Moodle theme Fordson lists various issues ranging from bugs, help wanted for the issues, questions, enhancement etc. You can explore these issues in detail by visiting the GitHub issues page for Moodle Theme Fordson.
Download Request a Demo
Features:
- Removal of drawers
- Teacher Course Management Dashboard
- Course Title Display Chooser
- Section Style Chooser
- Course Progress Bar
- Latest Course Drop Down
- Icon Navigation Menu System for Home, MyCourses, and Dashboard pages
- Course Activity List Drop Down
- Default Image on My Courses Page
- Additional Color Choosers
- Additional Page Selectors for Advertisement Tiles
- Hide Login Form (If using SSO like Google login)
- Tweaks to default installation settings to enhance styling out of the box
Pros:
- Enhanced User Experience: LearnR is designed to streamline the experience from “login to learning”, making it efficient for students to navigate the platform.
- Full-width Page Layouts: This feature offers a clean and consistent look across different pages.
- Customization Options: It provides various color choosers for key elements of the page, including the navigation bar, Bootstrap elements, and activity icon sets.
- Improved Course Management: Features like the Teacher Course Management Dashboard and Course Tile Display Chooser aid in better course organization and management.
- Integration with Other Plugins: LearnR supports integration with various Moodle plugins, enhancing its functionality.
- Additional Features: Other features include a Course Progress Bar, Latest Course Drop Down, Icon Navigation Menu System, and more.
Cons:
- Code Issues: Some users have noted code-related issues like unused statements in the core renderer and the need for optimization in settings and JavaScript.
- Front Page Customization Limitations: There might be challenges in customizing the front page, as indicated by some users who faced difficulties in modifying this aspect.
- Version Compatibility: It’s important to note that if upgrading from a previous version of LearnR, a clean installation of the new version is recommended due to significant changes and enhancements.
Adaptable
Installed on 18,613 Moodle Sites 9,000 downloads
Adaptable Moodle theme compatible with Moodle 4.5, derived from the BCU theme, owes its creation to the contributions of all those acknowledged within that theme. An adaptable Moodle theme refers to a customizable theme for Moodle, that provides educators with the tools to create personalized learning environments. An adaptable theme allows for extensive customization to meet the specific needs and branding of educational institutions or training organizations. Adaptable has asked to use Moodle Theme Forum for the theme support. This theme is regularly updated by the developers. Click here for advice on migrating from BCU to Adaptable theme.
Download Request a Demo
Features:
- Responsiveness
- Customization Options
- Improved Navigation
- User Engagement
- Accessibility
- Advanced Features
Pros:
- High Customizability: The Adaptable theme offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the look and feel of their Moodle site to match their branding and educational needs. This includes colors, fonts, layout, and much more.
- Responsive Design: It is designed to be fully responsive, ensuring that the Moodle site is accessible and user-friendly across all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
- Enhanced User Navigation: With improved navigation features, users can find what they need more quickly and efficiently, enhancing the overall user experience.
- Accessibility Features: Adaptable themes often prioritize accessibility, making it easier for users with disabilities to navigate and use the site.
- Advanced Features: These themes can include a variety of advanced features such as customizable dashboards, integrated analytics, and support for third-party plugins, which can enhance the functionality of the Moodle platform.
- Increased Engagement: By providing a more aesthetically pleasing and functional interface, adaptable themes can help increase user engagement and satisfaction.
Cons:
- Complexity in Setup and Customization: With the vast array of customization options, setting up and customizing the theme can be overwhelming for some users, especially those with limited technical skills.
- Performance Issues: Highly customizable themes, depending on how they are configured, can sometimes lead to slower page load times and reduced performance, particularly on less powerful hosting environments.
- Maintenance and Updates: Keeping the theme updated and compatible with the latest Moodle versions can require ongoing maintenance, which might be a challenge for some organizations without dedicated IT support.
- Potential Overhead Costs: While Moodle itself is free, developing, customizing, and maintaining a highly customized theme like Adaptable may incur additional costs.
- Learning Curve: For educators and administrators not familiar with web design principles, there might be a learning curve associated with effectively utilizing all the features offered by the theme.
- Compatibility Issues: There can be compatibility issues with third-party plugins and extensions if they are not designed to work seamlessly with the Adaptable theme.
Edumy
Edumy premium Moodle theme, a top-tier Moodle theme compatible with Moodle 4.4+, is tailored for online education and academic institutions. It provides unparalleled adaptability and control, complemented by an impressive fully responsive layout. Edumy allows for extensive customization through its unique block library and the Cocoon live customizer. It also enhances student engagement by featuring course-based star ratings.
Edumy is available only on trove learning. Edumy Moodle theme is solely subscription-based.
Features:
- Fully Responsive Design
- Custom Block Library
- Cocoon Live Customizer
- Course-Based Star Ratings
- Comprehensive Course Management
- User-Friendly Interface
- Multilingual Support
- Advanced Header and Footer Options
- Integration with Moodle Plugins
- Customizable Color Schemes
- Pre-designed Layouts and Templates
- SEO Optimization
- Regular Updates and Support
- Cross-Browser Compatibility
Pros:
- High Customizability: Edumy’s custom block library and the Cocoon live customizer allow for extensive personalization, enabling users to tailor the look and feel of their e-learning platform.
- Responsive Design: The fully responsive layout ensures that the platform is accessible and functional across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.
- Student Engagement Features: The inclusion of course-based star ratings can enhance student engagement, providing a platform for feedback and interaction.
- Sales and Ratings Track Record: With 4,984 sales and a 4.32-star rating, Edumy has a proven track record of popularity and user satisfaction.
- Designed for Educational Use: Being built specifically for online learning and educational institutions, Edumy is likely to have features and a user interface that cater to educational needs.
Cons:
- Learning Curve: The high level of customizability might come with a steeper learning curve, particularly for users who are new to Moodle or lack technical expertise.
- Performance Overload: With extensive features and customization options, there might be a risk of reduced performance or slower loading times, especially if not optimized properly.
- Cost: As a premium theme and solely subscription-based, Edumy may be more expensive than basic or free Moodle themes, which could be a consideration for budget-conscious institutions.
- Overdependence on Theme-Specific Features: Relying heavily on Edumy’s specific features could lead to challenges if switching to a different theme in the future, as some functionalities might not be easily transferable.
- Compatibility Issues: There’s always a potential for compatibility issues with Moodle updates or third-party plugins, which could affect the stability and functionality of the theme.
Space
The Space Moodle Theme is a versatile and feature-rich theme suitable for various educational settings. Introduced in 2018, it supports Moodle versions 4.5 , including a standalone legacy version (1.14 for Moodle 3.11 and older) for older platforms. This theme is fully customizable, allowing users to tailor branding elements like logos, colors, and fonts. It includes a child theme for further customization, supports RTL layouts, and adheres to GDPR regulations with self-hosted fonts.
Features:
- 23 in-build, fully customizable front page blocks
- Simple Front Page Builder
- Google Font Support, GPDR support
- Multi-language Support
- Support for RTL languages
- Fully Customizable
- Fully responsive
- Dark mode
- Custom alerts
- Google Analytics Support
Pros:
- High Customizability: Users can fully customize the theme’s appearance, including logos, color schemes, and fonts, tailoring the site to specific branding needs.
- Advanced Features: Supports a variety of course formats and plugins, enhancing functionality and user experience.
- User-Friendly Documentation: Extensive documentation and support make it easier for both beginners and professionals to use and customize the theme.
- GDPR Compliance: Options for self-hosted fonts ensure compliance with GDPR requirements.
Cons:
- Complexity: The wide range of features and customization options may be overwhelming for new users or those without technical expertise.
- Setup Time: Extensive customization capabilities might require significant time to set up and optimize, potentially delaying deployment.
- Cost: While offering a lifetime license, the initial purchase price may be higher compared to other themes, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious institutions.
New Learning
New Learning is a premium Moodle theme compatible with Moodle 4 offers a visually enhanced learning management system (LMS). It is known for its flexibility and ease of use, providing a range of layout and customization options to better align with the specific needs of Moodle users.
Features:
- Responsive Design
- Customizable Layout
- Ease of Use
- Theme Customization
- Support for Multiple Languages
- Integrated Payment Options
Pros:
- High Customizability: Allows significant visual customization, including a customizable login page and a front-page builder that operates via drag-and-drop.
- User-friendly Interface: The theme is easy to set up and use with minimal need for coding knowledge, making it accessible for users with varying technical skills.
- Versatile Language Support: Ideal for multilingual setups, supporting a variety of languages and accommodating diverse educational contexts.
- Quality Support: Offers detailed documentation and responsive support via ThemeForest, ensuring users can get help when needed.
Cons:
- Limited Dynamic Features: While it enhances the visual aspect of Moodle, it does not fundamentally change or enhance the backend functionality.
- Front Page Limitation: The page builder functionality is limited to the front page, which may restrict customization options for other areas of the site.
- Requires Some Technical Knowledge: Despite its ease of use, some level of Moodle knowledge is necessary for deeper customization.
- High Cost for Extended License: The extended license fee is quite high, which might be a consideration for those on a tighter budget.
Klassroom
Klassroom is a Moodle theme compatible with Moodle 4 emphasizes simplicity and efficiency. It’s designed to be fully responsive, making it suitable for a variety of devices. Its foundation in Bootstrap allows for robust customization options, especially with color schemes, enhancing the branding capabilities for educational institutions.
Features:
- Responsive design based on Bootstrap
- Multiple color schemes for customization
- Unique course category page layouts
- Teacher profiles
- Front-page customization options
- Support for Font Awesome icons and RTL languages
Pros:
- Ease of Use: Klassroom’s user interface is straightforward, and designed to be intuitive for both experienced users and newcomers to Moodle. This makes it easier for institutions to adopt and integrate the theme without a steep learning curve.
- Visual Customization: The theme includes options for sliders and multiple color schemes, allowing institutions to align the appearance with their branding.
Cons:
- Performance Issues: Some users report that Klassroom can be slow to load, which might affect the user experience, particularly on less powerful devices or slower internet connections.
- Limited Flexibility: While Klassroom offers some customization options, they are relatively basic. This can be a drawback for organizations that need more sophisticated or specific customizations to meet their educational goals.
Alpha
The Alpha Moodle Theme is designed specifically to enhance the Moodle experience, offering a modern and user-friendly interface for e-learning platforms. It’s compatible with Moodle versions 4.5 LTS, and also offers legacy support for versions as old as 3.8 through 4.0, though with limited updates.
Features:
- Customizable Front Page and Dashboard
- Dark Mode
- Comprehensive Course Page Design
- Enhanced Calendar and Documentation Support
- RTL Support
- SEO and Font Customization
Pros:
- User Experience: The Alpha Theme is praised for its sleek and intuitive design that enhances the user interface and overall user experience.
- Support and Updates: It comes with 6 months of support, which can be extended, and offers free lifetime updates to ensure compatibility with the latest Moodle versions.
- Customizability: High levels of customization are possible, from the front page to the login page, allowing institutions to tailor the site to their needs.
- Accessibility Features: Includes features that meet WCAG 2.1 standards, enhancing accessibility for all users.
Cons:
- Compatibility: The theme is not backward compatible with older Alpha versions without adjustments, meaning users upgrading from an older version may need to reconfigure their sites substantially.
- Support Costs: While initial support is included, extended support comes at an additional cost, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious institutions.
- Complex Setup for Some Features: Some users might find the array of customizable options overwhelming, which could complicate the setup process without adequate technical skills.
Analysis of Top Moodle Themes
| Features | Rem UI | Adaptable | Boost Union | LearnR (Fordson) | Lambda | Edumy | Space | New Learning | Klassroom | Alpha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| User Experience and Accessibility |  |  |  | |  | | | | | |
| Drag-and-Drop Page Builder | | | | | | | — | | — | |
| Customization and Flexibility | | | | | | | | | | |
| Integration with Moodle Plugins | | | | | | | | | | |
| Performance and Security | | | | | | | | | | |
| Feedback from Educators and Students (Reviews) | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cost and Licensing | | | | | | | | | | |
Is hiring a Moodle Expert for theme selection worth it?
Hiring a Moodle expert for theme selection can be beneficial, especially if you have specific needs or goals for your Moodle site. Here are some points to consider:
- Expertise in Usability and Design: A Moodle expert will have a better understanding of how different themes impact user experience. They can advise on the most user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing options.
- Customization: If you need custom features or a unique look for your Moodle site, an expert can help tailor a theme to your specific requirements.
- Compatibility and Performance: Experts can ensure that the selected theme is compatible with all necessary plugins and works efficiently without slowing down your site.
- Responsive Design: With a variety of devices being used to access online courses, an expert can ensure that the theme is responsive and provides a good user experience on all devices.
- Time-Saving: Selecting and customizing a theme can be time-consuming. An expert can streamline this process, allowing you to focus on content creation and other aspects of course management.
- Future-Proofing: An expert can choose a theme that not only meets current needs but also is flexible enough to accommodate future changes and updates.
- Cost vs. Benefit: While hiring an expert is an additional cost, it might be a worthwhile investment if it significantly improves the functionality and user experience of your Moodle site.
Ultimately, whether hiring a Moodle expert for theme selection is worth it depends on your specific situation, including your technical expertise, budget, and the complexity of your needs. If you have the resources and want to ensure a high-quality, professional appearance for your Moodle site, hiring an moodle expert can be a valuable decision.
Ultimately, the right Moodle theme can substantially enhance the quality of online learning experiences. It’s about striking the right balance between functional needs and aesthetic preferences, ensuring that the theme you choose aligns perfectly with your educational goals and technological infrastructure. Remember, in the dynamic landscape of e-learning, your Moodle theme is not just a background element; it is a critical component that shapes the user’s journey through the learning process. The process of theme selection involves careful considerations.
