What is Jobster?
To make it short, Jobster is a WordPress theme that allows you to run a service marketplace, similar to sites like fiverr.com and the like, where people can sell and buy services.
I was offered to test the service, so I had a run at both the front and back-end. I tested the loading speed of the demo theme, which obtained a fairly good score (77 on desktop) on Google PageSpeed Insights.
I also had a quick look at the code, it is well written, documented, and respectful of WordPress coding standards.
Features and pricing
Gorgeous design! One thing I instantly loved with Jobster – it looks good by default. Of course, if you have a website, you want it to look good, right? I haven’t tried to customize the front-end, but it totally looks like a very easy task for anyone with a little experience in WordPress, design and css.
Installation/configuration is included with each license purchase. That’s in my opinion a really good thing, especially for people with very little coding knowledge. Jobster is full of features, so it’s good to know that the team who created it will assist you to install and configure your marketplace.
Jobster is a complete solution that provides you everything you need (the theme itself + the plugins included) to start your online marketplace in just a few days. The cost of entry into this niche has been reduced a lot. That being said, the prices are still way above the average premium theme, which can be a turn-off for some potential buyers. Licenses start at $350 for the webmaster license.
Premium support is included: Jobster support technicians help with taking care of any technical problem that may arise, while you can concentrate on running the business.
One time fee: you pay once, and the theme is yours. No monthly or yearly subscription. Support is limited to 3, 6 or 12 months depending on your license type, but can be extended. Not to mention that the full code source is included, in accordance of WordPress GPL license.
It’s a WordPress theme, so you can extend its functionality with plugins, and if you’re already familiar with WP, running Jobster won’t be a problem at all.
Conclusion
There’s hundreds of WordPress themes released every day, and many of them are poor in terms of design, code or usability. Jobster clearly stands out on that point. It’s not the theme that everyone needs as its purpose is really specific, but if you want to create a service marketplace, I can’t think of a better option at the time I’m writing.
Coding your own would take forever, and other existing scripts don’t run in WordPress. As a devout WordPress user, I admit without any kind of hesitation that I love the fact that Jobster is a WordPress theme and not just a script or another obscure CMS. Using WordPress free plugins, you can implement SEO options, caching and whatever else you may need.
Jobster starts at $350. While this price is above the average price of a WordPress theme, it is incredibly lower than if you hired a coder to design and develop a similar theme.
Pros
- Good-looking design and solid code
- Support, installation and configuration included in the price
- Built within WordPress, so you get all the benefits of the platform
- Everything you need to create your own service marketplace
Cons
- Registration is needed to check the online demo
- Price above the average
And that’s not all, I have some good news for people interested in Jobster: just contact them and mention CatsWhoCode.com and you’ll get a 10% discount!