Upgrading a Moodle site isn’t a one-click job. It takes planning, testing, and careful execution to make sure everything runs smoothly afterward. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth moving to Moodle 5, this post will walk you through the key benefits of the latest version and show you how using the right theme can make the transition much easier.
What’s New in Moodle 5?
If you’re not yet familiar with Moodle 5, it introduces several updates that improve performance, usability, and long-term support. Some of the biggest changes include:
- Bootstrap 5 support for modern frontend development
- Improved performance and accessibility for all users
- AI integration with the new Moodle AI features, including generative tools that can assist educators with content creation and feedback (watch video)
- UX enhancements for course creators and learners, including streamlined interfaces and better activity workflows (watch video)
We’ve covered these features in more detail here:
Moodle 5: What’s New for Course Creators and Why Bootstrap 5 Matters
And if you’re a course creator or designer, don’t miss this practical follow-up post:
How to Use Bootstrap 5 Components in Moodle 5 to Improve Course Design
Why the Theme You Choose Matters
Upgrading your Moodle version without a compatible theme can lead to:
- Broken layouts or UI glitches
- Inconsistent branding or missing components
- Admin frustration trying to fix front-end issues
A theme designed for Moodle 5 and Bootstrap 5 will give you a smoother experience and allow you to take full advantage of what Moodle 5 offers.
How Our Moodle Themes Help with the Upgrade
All of our Moodle themes are now fully compatible with Moodle 5. However, if you’re looking for the best options to support your upgrade or build a new site, our top three recommended themes are Lumo, Edutor, and Maker — each offering a strong balance of design flexibility, modern UX, and ease of setup.
Lumo – Built for Moodle 5 and Bootstrap 5
Lumo is our newest theme, developed from the ground up for Moodle 5. It’s sleek, modern, and takes full advantage of Bootstrap 5.
Key benefits:
- Designed specifically for Moodle 5
- Clean, modern frontend with excellent UI and UX
- Supports homepage section reordering via the theme admin settings – no coding needed
- Includes a flexible pricing table section to promote course plans or subscription tiers:
How and Why to Use the New Pricing Table Section - Offers WordPress blog integration to dynamically show external blog posts on the Moodle homepage:
Show WordPress Blog Posts in Moodle 5 Using the Static Pages Plugin (Lumo Theme) - Fully supports ready-styled static pages using the Static Pages plugin, including:
Edutor and Maker – Moodle 4.x Ready and Moodle 5 Compatible
Still using Moodle 4.x? Edutor and Maker are great options if you’re not quite ready to upgrade but want a theme that will carry you into Moodle 5 when the time is right.
Edutor
Maker
Key benefits:
- Fully compatible with both Moodle 4.x and Moodle 5.x
- Actively maintained and tested on the latest Moodle releases
- Support the use of the Static Pages plugin to create attractive, ready-styled pages including:
- Course landing page (Udemy-style)
- Course landing page (standard)
- Course catalog page
- Static Blog page
- Contact form pages and more
Planning to Upgrade?
If you’re preparing to upgrade to Moodle 5, here are a few quick tips:
- Set up a staging site
Test the upgrade process and compatibility before applying changes to your live Moodle site. - Use a Moodle 5-ready theme
Avoid issues with outdated themes that aren’t built for the new Bootstrap 5 structure. - Review plugin compatibility
Not all plugins may be Moodle 5-ready. Be sure to check the plugin directory or developer notes.
Final Thoughts
Moodle 5 is a solid upgrade that brings real performance and usability improvements, including new AI tools, enhanced accessibility, and modern frontend flexibility. But to take full advantage of it and avoid headaches during the transition, you’ll need a theme that’s up to date and built for the new structure.
Whether you’re already on Moodle 5 or planning to upgrade soon, our Moodle themes can help:
- Lumo is the ideal choice for new Moodle 5 sites with homepage layout control, pricing sections, WordPress blog integration, and custom static pages.
- Edutor and Maker are reliable options for Moodle 4.x sites preparing to upgrade, with support for modern layouts and pre-designed content pages.