Do I need a Kirby license to use themes from getkirby-themes.com?

Updated

Yes. Every theme listed on getkirby-themes.com runs on Kirby CMS, and Kirby CMS itself requires a license — no matter which theme you buy or download. The site is a directory of themes, not a seller of Kirby. So your total cost is the Kirby license plus whatever the individual theme costs (some are free).

Why the license is separate from the theme

Kirby is a file-based CMS: it stores content in files rather than a database, which is what makes setup simple and keeps the content focus high. That CMS is the thing being licensed. A theme is just a set of templates, styles, and blueprints layered on top of it.

getkirby-themes.com describes itself as "one place for all Kirby CMS themes" — a list of what's available. It links out to live demos and purchase or download pages for each theme. It does not include or resell the Kirby license.

So the two purchases are independent:

What you're paying for Who provides it Required?
Kirby CMS license Kirby (getkirby.com) Yes, always
Theme The individual theme author Depends on the theme

What the theme prices on the site actually cover

The listed prices are for the theme only. From the current directory:

  • Tablo Arc — $43 (Kirby 5)
  • Tablook — $33 (Kirby 4)
  • Kreate — $49 (Kirby 3)
  • Tablog — $11 (Kirby 4)
  • Zero One — $75 (Kirby 5)
  • Frobox — $25 (Kirby 2)
  • Koncrete — $29 (Kirby 2)
  • MIRON — $15 (Kirby 2)
  • Kirby Project Hub Theme — $19 (Kirby 2)
  • typewriter — $12 (Kirby 2)
  • Vessel - Portfolio — $20 (Kirby 2)

Some themes are free downloads: Lemmon Portfolio (Kirby 3), Kompact (Kirby 2), and Frisk (Kirby 2). Even for those, the Kirby license requirement still applies — a free theme does not make the CMS free.

Check the Kirby version before you buy

The directory tags each theme with the Kirby version it targets, and the counts show how the catalog splits:

  • Kirby 2 — 8 themes
  • Kirby 3 — 2 themes
  • Kirby 4 — 2 themes
  • Kirby 5 — 2 themes

This matters because a theme built for Kirby 2 will not simply drop into a current Kirby install. If you're starting fresh, match the theme to the Kirby version you intend to run, and confirm the license you buy covers that version.

Practical order of operations

  1. Pick a theme and note its Kirby version tag.
  2. Confirm the theme's price and whether it's paid or a free download.
  3. Obtain the matching Kirby license from Kirby directly.
  4. Install Kirby, then install the theme on top.

The common mistake is budgeting only for the theme. The Kirby license is a fixed prerequisite that sits underneath every option on the site, free or paid.