WordPress Page Builder Theme – Ultimatum Review PROS & CONS

Ultimatum Theme

9.2

Easy to use

9.0/10

Settings

9.3/10

Price

9.1/10

Overall quality

9.4/10

Pros

  • Assign mobile devices a separate theme
  • Share layouts through importing and exporting
  • WooCommerce, bbPress and BuddyPress compatible
  • 12 Premium plugins included
  • One time purchase
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Sliders don’t support custom post types
  • Form embedding too basic
  • Layouts need a lot of additional CSS work
  • Documentation is fairly light

Ultimatum is WordPress page builder theme. It is something not seen very often and you could call it ‘total design suite’ for WordPress. If you’ve some knowledge with building a WordPress themes, you know that it takes time and effort, especially if you have a limited HTML and CSS knowledge.

Ultimatum WordPress page builder theme takes care of your theme coding and make sure all functions work properly. The Ultimatum WordPress theme builder is one of the few tools to create your own themes, export them and even create on demand templates for your customers.

This means that it is competing with the many other WordPress page builders already on the market such as Headway, PageLines DMS, iThemes Builder, WPBakery (check WPBakery review), etc

The main selling point of this WordPress page builder is that it gives you the freedom to create the theme you want while providing every feature or setting you will ever need, including various popular WordPress plugins for free!

NOTE: It seems this theme is no longer updated and there are far better options available so it is not recommended to use it.

 

WordPress Page Builder Theme – Ultimatum Review

Ultimatum is a framework that you can use to build a custom WordPress theme from scratch. If you’re ever wanted to build a WordPress theme with bootstrap, then save your time with other tools and try the Ultimatum builder.

You can build powerful themes and export them as Ultimatum or Twitter Bootstrap templates. This drag and drop WordPress theme builder lets you create your own layouts which can be boxed, full width or custom dimensions.

You can drag and drop elements directly in the header or in the footer section in your template. The good thing is that you can enable or disable the responsive mode in your theme which will give you more control over the layout.

Ultimatum WordPress page builder theme is installed just like a regular theme. Either via FTP upload or through your WordPress admin dashboard.

Once it has been uploaded to your WordPress site, it can be accessed via themes control panel where it can be activated with your API key. Ultimatum also recommends the installation of a free plugin called the Ultimatum Library.

This plugin contains the fonts and images used by the theme. If you get 404 error when installing Ultimatum library plugin just download it and then upload before installing it.

Once the theme has been setup, and before you’ve done anything, you are presented with a blank canvas to build your designs on.

The settings page for Ultimatum allows you to set site wide items such as the default logo, a favicon and an image placeholder. You can also create the sidebars the theme will use by entering their names.

In the Advanced Settings section, clicking on Extra Settings allows you to turn on some of the features:

  • Powerful forms builder
  • Slideshows
  • Handful of shortcodes
  • Visual Composer page builder plugin
  • Layer slider
  • Revolution slider
  • ShowBiz Carousels
  • Post galleries
  • Post ordering
  • WooCommerce integration

NOTE: By default, most of these features are disabled and can be enabled via the Advanced Settings under the Theme Settings page.

 

Drag-and-drop-WordPress-theme-builder

Theme-page-builder-for-WordPress

wordpress-bootstrap-ultimatum-builder-theme

 

In the Layout Editor Options it is recommended to turn on the Elements at bottom option which you will use when building page layouts. Otherwise they will be displayed in the sidebar, creating a very long page.

The templates section allows you to create and import templates. When creating a template you can choose to use the Ultimatum grid framework or select the Twitter Bootstrap from the available options.

When selecting a template type you can choose from the following options:

  • Regular
  • Responsive
  • Mobile Web App

Each has their own settings such as element widths and margin sizes. These options show that Ultimatum WordPress page builder theme is a good choice for those wishing to build WordPress sites for different devices. Once you’ve created a template go on to design the layout.

Ultimatum also includes a Custom Post Type creator which makes creating additional WordPress post types and custom taxonomies easy. When creating a new post type you can easily choose what elements your posts type will have such as Titles, Comments, Categories and Tags.

 

Ultimatum-builder-custom-post-types

 

From the general settings menu you can access the library which contains the fonts and icons used by the Ultimatum theme builder. Fonts can be enabled form a range of sources including Google Fonts and Cufon. After installing the library plugin you get access to a very large selection of icons for use in your designs.

 

How To Build Pages With Ultimatum?

Ultimatum’s layout builder is very powerful yet very simple. If you’re familiar with the WordPress UI, the learning curve is pretty small. To get started, you simply create a template. After you select your settings for your template, you create site’s “layouts”.

The great part about this is that you can create both partial layouts (header and footer) and full layouts that can include your partial layouts. Layouts can be sectioned off into many different column variations like 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 2/3. etc.

 

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To fill in your layouts Ultimatum allows you to easily drag and drop any of the WordPress widgets or any of the Ultimatum widgets into the layout’s sections. To include posts and pages, you simply include the WordPress Default Loop widget and Ultimatum lets you customize even further.

Ultimatum WordPress page builder theme also works great with WooCommerce. Create an eCommerce site with WooCommerce and make revenue. Ultimatum is connected to WooCommerce with many features.

Just create a layout for your shop pages and you’re good to go. Ultimatum theme is also optimized for BuddyPress and bbPress.

 

Ultimatum WordPress Page Builder Theme Features

Ultimatum comes with a unique layout builder in which you are able to drag and drop native WordPress widgets. Unlike other frameworks you are not bound to specific add-ons.

You can use any plugin or any widget in Ultimatum with just dragging and dropping them in to your desired position of layout.

Ultimatum’s CSS editors makes you to set your desired styling with ease. Each element defined in back-end can be styled with just filling the forms and setting the options. You can also type in your custom CSS in live editor and see results on-screen right away.

In addition to classic 960 grid system, popular grid framework choices were also added to Ultimatum with all features and Bootswatches. Since Ultimatum 2.7  support for Bootstrap 3 is added.

Now creating Bootstrap Powered WordPress themes is just matter of clicks. Ultimatum can create responsive web sites with few easy steps. However sometimes you want to show your visitors a different website for different device.

That will lower your bandwidth and increase visitor reach to content. This is only available when you use mobile web apps and Ultimatum gives you the freedom for it.

 

Front End CSS Editor

Ultimatum’s front end CSS editor is very simple to use. Changes display immediately. Between Firefox’s inspect element and Ultimatum’s CSS editor, customizing the CSS of your site can be handled entirely from the front-end of your website.

 

Image Slider Integration

You’re not limited when it comes to which sliders you can use to display slideshows on site using Ultimatum. It integrates with most popular sliders for WordPress like Layer Slider, Slider Revolution (check Layer Slider vs Slider Revolution comparison) and ShowBiz Slider. The best part it that you don’t need to buy slider plugin. They already come in package with Ultimatum. It also comes with its own slideshow generator.

 

Visual Composer

The WP Bakery is one of the most popular drag and drop editors for WordPress. It lets users create layouts and add all sorts of elements to their pages and posts. Ultimatum includes the plugin as a standard part of the theme and can even be turned off if you don’t want to use it.

 

Navigation Menus

Ultimatum lets you design your site using seven different menus. Regular menus, drop-down and mega menus are available in both vertical and horizontal layouts. You can also use a Twitter Bootstrap menu. You can even create multiple menus for theme.

 

Custom Post Types

Using Ultimatum page builder, you can create your own custom post types. You could also try using a plugin to create custom post types so that your post types aren’t theme-dependent. Custom Post Types UI and WP-Types are both good ones.

 

Mobile Friendly

Ultimatum allow you to create highly responsive designs. It is possible to design your own web apps for website. Created theme will work great on any handheld device.

 

Lifetime Updates

Once purchased, Ultimatum comes with lifetime updates. That means you don’t have to pay each year to continue receiving updates.

 

Support

Since purchasing Ultimatum, it has been updated a few times to fix bugs and add features. It is good to know theme is constantly maintained. I’ve heard that the overall support for Ultimatum can be sketchy at times due to health reasons from the developer. This isn’t from my experience so I am not counting this as a weakness.

 

Which Premium Plugins Are Included?

Ultimatum with its core features also comes with ~$240 valued Premium Plugins for FREE. All plugins included are customised and tested to work with Ultimatum and together with no issues.

 

Premium plugins included:

1. WPBakery Page Builder – WPBakery is drag and drop front end and back-end page builder plugin that will save you tons of time working on the site content. You will be able to take full control over your WordPress site. No programming knowledge required.

2. Slider Revolution – Create a responsive or full-width slider with various effects and also keep or build your SEO optimization.

3. Layer Slider – LayerSlider is a premium multi-purpose slider for creating image galleries, content sliders and mind-blowing slideshows. It uses cutting edge technologies and comes with more than 200 preset 2D and 3D slide transitions.

4. Essential Grid – Essential Grid is a premium plugin for WordPress that allows you to display various content formats in a highly customizable grid.

Possible applications range from portfolios, blogs, galleries, WooCommerce shops, price tables, services, product sliders, testimonials and anything else you can imagine.

5. Showbiz PRO – Showbiz Pro is a responsive teaser displaying solution that allows you to show WordPress Posts or any Custom Content with a set amount of teaser items.

You can define everything via CSS or HTML in optional Template Skin Editor which gives you Unlimited Layout possibilities.

6. Go Responsive Portfolio – This plugin is the ideal solution for creating portfolios, showcases or teasers. You can create new custom post types or use your existing blog posts, custom post type posts or products.

If you would like to create a portfolio or looking for a complete solution managing portfolios, this product is a useful tool for you.

7. Ultimate Addons for WPBakery – This plugin adds new premium elements for WPBakery on top of the built-in ones given by WPBakery.

8. Intense Shortcodes – Intense includes a list of 100+ shortcodes and 17 custom post types (FAQ, Portfolio, Project, News, Coupons, Snippets, Templates and many more).

9. DHVC Form – Powerful form manager for Visual Composer which allows you to create and manage forms easily. Build complex forms as Booking form, simple Contact form or Login/Register form.

10. Easy Tables – Table manager for Visual Composer which allows you to create and manage tables with drag and drop interface.

11. Templatera – Templatera allows you to create, manage and set control access to your templates based on user roles or page post types.

12. Ether Forms – Ether Form Builder WordPress Plugin is a form building tool aided with visual composer for creation of complex form layouts. It comes equipped with all commonly used form elements accessible via interactive Drag and Drop interface.

 

Ultimatum Reciew Summary

Ultimatum WordPress page builder theme makes custom designs much simpler and reduces production time. The value it provides is one of the best value in the WordPress market. It’s a very powerful tool that is worth every penny.

ADVANTAGES:

  • Simple to understand
  • Quick and easy to get to a basic design
  • Build responsive or fixed themes
  • Assign mobile devices a separate theme
  • Target components to specific device types
  • Automatic creation of child themes
  • A great prototyping tool
  • Share layouts through importing and exporting
  • WooCommerce, bbPress and BuddyPress compatible
  • 12 Premium plugins included
  • One time purchase
DISADVANTAGES:

  • Sliders don’t support custom post types
  • Many operations lack feedback
  • No access to individual fields for custom post types
  • Form embedding too basic
  • Easy to get caught out
  • Custom WordPress Loop component doesn’t paginate
  • Layouts need a lot of additional CSS work
  • Documentation is fairly light
  • No granular control on post, page and custom post type layout

I like the simplicity of Ultimatum WordPress page builder theme. The model is mostly intuitive and easy to get to know with. Various premium plugins included with Ultimatum is huge plus and major bonuse.

 

ultimatum-wordpress-theme-pricing-plans

 

If not sure buyer can opt in for free “test drive.” You just enter email and name and you will instantly receive login data to demo site where you can try to see if Ultimatum theme is really worthy investment for you.

Price is $65 for starter license and $125 for professional license. You can use Ultimatum starter license on unlimited number of domains. However support will only be given for one domain. Payment is one time and you get lifetime updates.

Have you used Ultimatum or any other WordPress page builder theme? Do you think it is worthy investment? Let me know in comments below!


DISCLOSURE: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, I might get a small commission, without any extra cost to you. Read more about it here.

10 thoughts on “WordPress Page Builder Theme – Ultimatum Review PROS & CONS”

  1. I used this theme builder for five years, now using Astra/Elementor.
    It is now barely supported, aside from very occasional updates to fix critical compatibility issues with new WP versions. Over 3 years ago the developer trumpeted a new version 3, for which many users paid significant dollar amounts in advance. But the upgrade never appeared. I don’t think they are out-and-out crooks, but I wouldn’t advise anyone to buy their theme builder at this time.

    1. Hi Ceejay,

      Thank you for sharing your experience with Ultimatum. Yes, I have also received some info that this theme builder doesn’t receive new features and only occasional update.

  2. What is the next best alternative for Ultimatum? Support is really poor and topics in the forum do not get answered for many days. I have doubts about its future, and even though I paid for Ultimatum 3, I have yet to see it even after 3 years (and counting). I don’t think the developer is really interested at this stage. Yet I have not found anything quite like it yet. Maybe you know of a suitable alternative?

      1. I think Ultimatum can be used to create or model after almost any site, and it can do really simple or dull designs very well, something that others cannot because they try to be too smart and add on many unneeded features. Depending on your skill, you can start with a blank template and work your way up to whatever level you want. Ultimatum can do simple old fashioned 3 column themes well, which others cannot. But if the support is poor and the future is uncertain, then I don’t know if it’s safe to build any more sites with Ultimatum.

        1. Hi Zoinks,

          I purchased Ultimatum lifetime deal 5 years ago if I am not mistaken. I never contacted support nor do I know how often are updates. I never ended actually using Ultimatum and its features but I did test it. You can achieve what you mentioned using many other themes, especially taken into consideration there are many page builders available too.

          I thought you maybe like that Ultimatum offers many premium plugins already integrated.

          1. I bought Ultimatum years ago after checking out the market, and other frameworks like Genesis, etc, did not particularly cut it. Things may have changed since then, and they may have improved. What theme frameworks can you recommend as an alternative to Ultimatum?

          2. Well, I would rather recommend themes I have used and tested this year rather than mentioning frameworks. Take a look at Deep theme, OceanWP or Astra. Great themes which are free with additional options in their premium forms.

          3. I have built countless websites with Ultimatum, but currently am forced to get out of it. Their feedback and update policy is completely shady, which I am indeed sad about, because I liked the framework.

            WordPress 5.3 produced an error which persists for many Ultimatum users. It has been out now for three weeks, and still not much word and no solution in sight by the makers of the framework. It is better to get on your feet and learn to code – I learned my lesson using WordPress frameworks. And I am not angry here, just totally disappointed. Cheerio.

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