RocketTheme, one of the most well-known template providers for Joomla, has announced it will permanently shut down on June 30, 2025.
If you’ve ever used one of their popular themes or rely on the Gantry framework, this change affects you directly.
But what’s really happening? Why are they leaving Joomla behind?
What will happen to the old templates and support?
And most importantly — what should you do next?
You’ll find all the answers below, explained in a simple, question-and-answer format.
September Update
As of June 30, 2025, RocketTheme has officially shut down. The website, forums, and support services are gone, leaving many Joomla users without access to their purchased templates. Anyone who didn’t download their files in time, unfortunately, can no longer retrieve them.
Gantry 5, however, continues to evolve.
Tiger12 is now the official steward of Gantry and gantry.org. In August 2025, version 5.5.23 was released, bringing improvements for Joomla and WordPress, along with better performance and stability. The community has kept the project alive, providing fixes and new ideas. It’s worth noting that only the Helium and Hydrogen templates receive official support, while older templates may require manual adjustments.
Useful links for Gantry documentation and support
Why did RocketTheme shut down?
Has RocketTheme officially closed?
Yes, RocketTheme announced it will officially close on June 30, 2025. Until then, they’re still selling their Joomla, WordPress, and Grav templates—now with a 50% discount.
Why did they stop supporting Joomla?
They had already shown signs of slowly stepping away:
- No new templates or extensions in recent years
- Community forums left unanswered
- Many users felt abandoned
These issues led many to believe RocketTheme had lost interest in Joomla—something now confirmed.
Are the old products still available?
No, they were available until the end of June 2025. You could still buy and download templates, extensions, and RocketLaunchers at a 50% discount.
After that, the site and all support services went offline.
What is RocketTheme doing now?
According to them:
“On June 30, 2025, the RocketTheme mission officially concluded. Our deepest thanks to every member of our community for the incredible journey. Thank you for being a part of our story.
However, the journey continues with Grav CMS, which is a powerful and flexible platform for building modern websites. Grav has the backing of Trilby Media, the same folks who brought you RocketTheme.”
Are there updated versions for Joomla 5?
Yes. In May 2025, RocketTheme released 15 RocketLaunchers compatible with Joomla 5.5.1. But these were more of a maintenance effort—not a sign of returning to full development.
Will they release new templates?
No. There are no signs that new products will be released. RocketTheme is simply closing out its final phase.
What about Gantry 5?
Is Gantry 5 also ending?
No.
Gantry 5 is an open-source framework licensed under MIT/GPL and not dependent on RocketTheme’s business.
It’s still active and maintained by the community. Actually is under the umbrella of Tiger12 company.
Will it continue to get updates?
Yes.
Developers have already confirmed that Gantry 5.5.20 is in the works, and there’s strong interest in keeping the project alive.
How does this affect the Joomla community?
Is this a big loss for Joomla users?
Yes, in several ways:
- Fewer high-quality templates for Joomla 4 and 5
- Some users may move to other platforms like WordPress
- Greater reliance on third-party developers and template providers
Are there reliable alternatives?
Yes. Some trusted Joomla template providers include:
- JoomShaper
- YOOtheme
- Astroid Framework
- TemplateMonster (with quality control)
And of course, there’s still Gantry 5, which continues with community support.
What should you do now?
Do you use a RocketTheme template?
Make sure to download anything you need before June 30, 2025. After that date, the site and access to files will be gone for good.
Want to stay with Joomla?
If yes, consider moving to a different trusted template provider or even rebuild your site using Joomla 5 or another CMS, depending on your needs.
You can use our free Joomla template Nostos (from the Greek word Νόστος meaning The yearning for one’s homeland), which is based on Gantry5.
Demo |Download
Joomla’s community is still active. With the right moves, you can continue your site’s future with stability and flexibility.
Move to other CMS
There is the option to migrate your websites to another CMS platform like WordPress, Drupal, etc.
If you choose WordPress, you can use the free themes we have created:
A Brief History of RocketTheme
RocketTheme traces its roots back to 2004, when developer Andy Miller launched MamboDev to provide templates for the Mambo CMS (you can read a really interesting interview of Andy Miller).
After the Joomla fork in 2005, the project rebranded as RocketTheme and quickly became one of the most popular theme providers in the open-source community.
Its subscription club model, offering members access to a growing library of designs, helped RocketTheme stand out in a competitive market.
PROTECT YOURSELF
Hide your IP address and your online traffic with reliable VPN solutions:
- Safeshell VPN,
- Surfshark VPN,
- NordVPN -one of the most powerful tools in its category.
The gantry5 Framework
A major breakthrough came in 2009 with the release of the Gantry Framework.
Unlike traditional templates, Gantry provided a flexible and modular system for building websites. It introduced responsive design, layout controls, and extensive customization options, which gave developers and agencies more freedom at a time when CMS design was still restrictive.
Another key element of the framework was that it offered developers the ability to use the same theme, with minimal modifications, on different CMS platforms.
Furthermore, the documentation that accompanied the framework and themes was —and still is— rich in content and well-written, so that even the novice could understand technical terminology and practices.
Peak Years and Success
By the time RocketTheme celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2014, it had produced over 90 original designs and nearly 250 templates and styles across platforms such as Joomla, WordPress, Magento, phpBB, and later Grav.
Its community grew to more than 45,000 active members, with annual revenues surpassing $2 million.
RocketTheme’s designs were widely used for businesses, portfolios, and community sites, cementing its reputation as one of the most successful theme clubs of its era.
Closure and Reasons Behind It
In early 2025, RocketTheme announced it will shut down on June 30, 2025.
Andy Miller explained that the decision was driven by unsustainable costs, including server infrastructure and staff support.
At the same time, the broader web development landscape has shifted toward page builders, block-based design, and SaaS solutions, reducing the demand for traditional theme clubs.
These changes made it increasingly difficult for RocketTheme’s business model to remain profitable.
Legacy and Impact
Although RocketTheme is closing, its influence remains significant.
Under Andy Miller’s leadership, it pioneered frameworks, set high standards for template quality, and shaped the workflow of thousands of developers.
For nearly two decades, RocketTheme helped define how websites were designed on Joomla, WordPress, and beyond.
Its legacy continues as a landmark in the history of web development and the evolution of CMS theming.
