Layers vs Sydney

Layers is a free WordPress theme for building custom pages and site layouts. It uses WordPress's native editing experience, including the built-in Customizer, and lets users assemble pages from draggable widgets. A Design Bar provides controls for styling widget elements. The theme includes responsive controls and dynamic content, and its maker describes its layouts as mobile-friendly. Layers is WooCommerce-ready; the StoreKit extension adds WooCommerce widgets and controls for shop and product pages. The feature page also lists Google Fonts, Typekit, and Google Analytics integrations. The theme is released under the GPL 2.0 license and can be installed on as many websites as desired. StoreKit costs $29, paid once, with listed license options from $29.00 to $99.00; Showcase, a portfolio extension, costs $39, paid once, with options from $39.00 to $159.00. The FAQ says Layers was developed for WordPress 4.3 or higher and does not guarantee compatibility with third-party plugins, child themes, or extensions. It cannot be installed on WordPress.com. Technical support is handled through support forums.

Sydney is a multipurpose WordPress theme for business sites, freelancer pages, and creative portfolios. It works with the WordPress block editor and Elementor and is designed for self-hosted websites. The free theme includes three starter sites; Sydney Pro includes 17. Design controls include a header and footer builder, layout settings, prebuilt sections, and multiple sidebars. Sydney Pro adds seven blog layouts, post sharing, and displays for reading progress and time. Its store features include wishlists, product swatches, multistep checkout, and AJAX product search. Listed integrations include Toolset and WooCommerce, alongside Elementor widgets for MailChimp, Contact Form 7, WPForms, and Ninja Forms. Sydney supports WooCommerce, the block editor, and child themes. WordPress.org describes it as responsive, translation- and RTL-ready, and built with SEO-friendly code. The free plan costs nothing. Paid plans are $63/year for one website, $119/year for 10 websites, and $199/year for 100 websites; they include 12 months of premium support. Pro purchases have a 14-day money-back guarantee.