Peachfin Themes

Independent magazine and publication themes

Independent magazine and publication themes need to make an editorial point of view visible before readers open a story. Decide whether the publication leads with photographs, numbered stories, or sections, then choose an archive structure that will remain useful as it grows.

Index Press (WordPress) opens with a giant masthead over a text-first numbered story index. The Dispatch (WordPress) pairs a full-width cover story with numbered issue contents and spacious features. The Dispatch (Astro) is coming soon with an issue band, cover story, and paginated section pages.

What to look for in an independent magazine theme

  • A masthead and opening story that establish the publication without hiding the rest of the issue.
  • Section navigation that helps readers move between related stories and browse older material.
  • Article openings with enough room for a standfirst, credits, or issue details when those are needed.
  • A deliberate choice between thumbnail-free indexes and photo-led layouts, based on the editorial material.
  • Clear publishing and discussion requirements, especially when comparing WordPress with a static Astro edition.

Themes in this collection

Every theme below is a $47 one-time purchase with instant download.

Field ManualWordPressHow-to guides, practice notes and reference libraries$47Index PressWordPressIndependent publications, newsletters and editors who file numbered stories by section rather than by picture$47Open TabsWordPressPersonal writers and independent journals$47Margin NotesWordPressEssayists, critics and independent writers who want a quiet, text-led publication$47The DispatchWordPressPhoto-led magazines and independent publications$47The DispatchAstroPhoto-led magazines and independent publications$47Open TabsAstroPersonal writers and independent journals$47Field ManualAstroHow-to guides, practice notes and reference librariesComing soon

How our independent magazine and publication themes are built

Index Press uses native WordPress blocks, local fonts, footnotes, and comments, with no theme JavaScript on the front end. The Dispatch for WordPress uses the native Site Editor. Its coming-soon Astro edition uses typed Markdown/MDX collections, locally served fonts, and static output without a bundled form or comment system.

FAQ

Which independent magazine and publication themes suit photo essays?

The Dispatch is intended for photo-led magazines and independent publications. Its WordPress edition has a cover story, issue contents, and feature openings with credits and wide photographs; the Astro edition is coming soon.

Should I choose WordPress or Astro?

Choose WordPress if you want native block editing in a dashboard. Choose an available Astro edition if file-based content and rebuilding suit your workflow; check availability separately because the Astro examples on this page are coming soon.

Can I use an edition for a client site?

WordPress editions are GPL-2.0-or-later. The Peachfin Themes Astro License allows unlimited personal, commercial, and client sites, with no resale of the template; see licensing for the terms.

What does a purchase include?

An available edition costs $47 once, with instant download and 180 days of downloads. Payment is handled securely through Stripe, and unused purchases have a 7-day refund window. Coming-soon editions are not available to purchase.