# Theme YAML – Use YAML instead JSON for your theme.json settings and styles

> Theme YAML has 10+ active installs, a 4.5/5 rating from 2 reviews and 37 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 29/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** Theme YAML shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 3 years ago, and scores 29/100 on our health check.

**Theme Yaml converts your theme.yaml file into theme.json so that you can configure your theme with YAML. It has the benefit of being able to add comments and is more concise than JSON. The generated theme.json is left…**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 10+
- **Total downloads:** 1,521
- **Downloads (30 days):** 37 (-37.3% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 4.5/5 from 2 reviews
- **Health score:** 29/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.3.0
- **Last updated:** Sep 22, 2023
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 6.3.13
- **Requires:** WordPress 5.8+, PHP 7.4+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** landwire (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/landwire/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/theme-yaml/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [settings](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/settings/) | #65 | 97 |
| [styles](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/styles/) | #37 | 58 |
| [theme](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/theme/) | >100 | 279 |
| [theme.json](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/theme-json/) | #2 | 6 |
| [yaml](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/yaml/) | #2 | 4 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| settings | >100 | 10,000 |
| styles | >100 | 10,000 |
| theme | >100 | 10,000 |
| theme.json | #59 | 133 |
| yaml | #44 | 149 |

## Version adoption

- 1.3: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [One Click Demo Import](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/one-click-demo-import/) | 1M+ | 4.3/5 (79) | Apr 22, 2026 | 73/100 |
| 2 | [CMB2](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/cmb2/) | 300K+ | 5/5 (91) | Oct 9, 2026 | 93/100 |
| 3 | [Import / Export Customizer Settings](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/astra-import-export/) | 50K+ | 4.7/5 (6) | Aug 24, 2026 | 81/100 |
| 4 | [Custom PHP Settings](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/custom-php-settings/) | 10K+ | 4.4/5 (15) | Nov 20, 2025 | 55/100 |
| 5 | [Custom Global Variables](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/custom-global-variables/) | 5K+ | 5/5 (10) | Mar 22, 2023 | 41/100 |
| 6 | [Catch Themes Demo Import](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/catch-themes-demo-import/) | 5K+ | 1/5 (1) | Jul 11, 2026 | 52/100 |
| 7 | [Starter Templates by Gradient Themes](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/gradient-starter-templates/) | 3K+ | — | Jun 22, 2026 | 56/100 |
| 8 | [Display HTML Sitemap](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/display-html-sitemap/) | 1K+ | 4/5 (4) | Sep 9, 2026 | 74/100 |
| 9 | [Custom Posts Per Page](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/custom-posts-per-page/) | 800+ | 4.8/5 (12) | Dec 11, 2014 | 38/100 |
| 10 | [ThemeKit For WordPress](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/themekit/) | 700+ | — | Apr 5, 2011 | 27/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Theme YAML free?
Yes. Theme YAML is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is Theme YAML safe to use in 2026?
Theme YAML shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 3 years ago, and scores 29/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use Theme YAML?
Theme YAML is active on 10+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 1,521 times since it launched in March 2022. It was downloaded 37 times in the last 30 days.

### Does Theme YAML work with WordPress 7.1?
Theme YAML is officially tested up to WordPress 6.3.13, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### What PHP version does Theme YAML need?
Theme YAML requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.

### When was Theme YAML last updated?
The latest version, 1.3.0, was released on September 22, 2023 (3 years ago).

### Who makes Theme YAML?
Theme YAML is developed and maintained by landwire.

### What are the best alternatives to Theme YAML?
The most popular alternatives to Theme YAML are One Click Demo Import (1M+ installs), CMB2 (300K+ installs) and Import / Export Customizer… (50K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/theme-yaml/ · Generated 2026-10-16 12:59 UTC by PageForge