SocialNow WordPress Theme: Status and Alternatives
Looking for the SocialNow WordPress theme? SocialNow was a MyThemeShop magazine design with six advertised layouts, sharing buttons, sliders and ad placements. Its original product URL is not currently verifiable as a working purchase page, so do not rely on old price lists or a button that simply points to that URL. For a similar social-first magazine design, SociallyViral has a live product listing with a free edition and a paid option. If you are starting a new publication, compare it with a maintained general-purpose theme before choosing a legacy design.
Already running SocialNow? Keep a working copy and test updates on staging before replacing anything. Starting fresh? Do not buy from an unverified SocialNow checkout. Compare the currently listed SociallyViral option, or build a news site with a general theme and a separate social-sharing plugin.
View SociallyViral’s live product page →Treat old purchase links and scores as historical
An old review score or price is not evidence that the theme is currently available or supported. Verify the actual product and license before following a purchase link. If a link now leads to a different theme, compare that product on its own merits.
For an existing SocialNow site, record menus, ad positions, author boxes and sharing integrations. Test those functions in a maintained replacement rather than assuming the theme alone provides a growth strategy. Keep article URLs stable and check mobile navigation.
Our Mission News review offers a different editorial layout to evaluate. Use a staging copy and confirm the reading and subscription journey before switching.
What was SocialNow designed to do?
SocialNow targeted viral blogs and magazines: a featured-post slider, magazine-style homepages, social sharing, mega menus, widget areas and advertisements. Its original materials described six demos for news, fashion, health and other editorial categories. These are historical product features, not a confirmation that the theme currently receives security updates or supports the latest WordPress and WooCommerce releases.
A social-friendly layout is not a traffic-generation strategy by itself. Distribution, editorial focus, useful articles and measured page experience matter more than the presence of a share icon. Similarly, theme-provided schema markup cannot guarantee a rich result or better search rankings.
Can you still buy SocialNow?
The former seller URL, mythemeshop.com/themes/socialnow/, could not be verified as an accessible purchase listing during our check. That does not prove the product has been formally discontinued; it means its current availability, price, licence and maintenance record are unconfirmed. The old prices of $45, $69 and $87 referred to historical site-count licences and should not guide a purchase today.
Be cautious with third-party ZIP downloads described as “SocialNow Pro.” Without a trustworthy source and update path, you cannot verify what code is inside or whether security fixes are available. Existing owners should check their MyThemeShop account for entitlement, supported downloads and changelog information.
Current options for a social-first WordPress magazine
| Option | What you get | Before committing |
|---|---|---|
| SociallyViral | A live MyThemeShop listing with social buttons, magazine features and free and paid versions | Check its published WordPress compatibility and current support conditions |
| Astra | A free general theme with flexible publishing layouts | Social-sharing and ad-management functions may need separate plugins |
| Kadence | A free, block-editor-oriented base for a magazine or blog | It will not reproduce SocialNow’s exact homepage out of the box |
SociallyViral: closest option from the same seller
The live MyThemeShop page describes built-in social buttons, featured-post options, ad management, homepage sliders and related-post features. It currently advertises a discounted $39 paid option and a free version, but the vendor’s published compatibility summary only claims WordPress support through version 6.7.7. Check that limitation against your installed WordPress version and confirm the theme’s actual update history before buying; a functioning sales page alone does not establish recent compatibility.
Compare SociallyViral free and paid →
Astra or Kadence: a modular publication
If your new magazine will mostly publish articles, a general theme can keep the editorial experience simple. Astra and Kadence offer free starting points; add a social-sharing or advertising plugin only if you genuinely need it. That adds some configuration, but it also avoids selecting a theme solely for an outdated set of bundled tools. See WPNeon’s Astra review, Kadence review and AdSense plugin comparison for the separate decisions.
How to move an existing SocialNow site safely
- Back up files and the database. Make the first change on a staging copy rather than the live publication.
- Inventory theme-dependent features. Record menus, widget areas, homepage settings, ad placements, shortcodes, sidebars and any theme-specific SEO fields.
- Choose a replacement layout. Rebuild the homepage and one article template first, with the same categories, author information and navigation.
- Check monetization. Make sure ad units appear only in intended locations and that affiliate buttons still lead to the correct products. A theme switch can remove widget areas or custom button styles.
- Check search continuity. Preserve article URLs, titles where appropriate, canonicals and meaningful internal links. Verify author and category archives before launching.
- Test on a phone. Inspect navigation, font size, ad layout shifts, comment forms and the actual tap targets.
Do not combine a theme migration with mass permalink changes. Separating those projects makes it easier to find and reverse a problem.
Questions about SocialNow
Is SocialNow still available to purchase?
Its original MyThemeShop product URL could not be verified as an accessible purchase listing. Check your existing vendor account if you own a licence; do not assume old prices or third-party downloads are valid.
Is SocialNow the same theme as SociallyViral?
No. SociallyViral is another MyThemeShop product with its own live product page, paid licence and free edition. Treat it as an alternative, not a renamed version of SocialNow.
Does a social-sharing theme guarantee viral traffic?
No. Built-in buttons and featured-post layouts help presentation, but search demand, editorial value, distribution and reader behavior determine whether content reaches an audience.
What should I check before switching WordPress magazine themes?
Backups, staging, menu locations, widget areas, ad placements, shortcodes, article URLs, metadata, mobile layouts and all purchase links. Test the highest-traffic pages first.