The #1 Fastest WordPress Theme for most people is Kadence WP
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0.7-second load speeds
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Free plan available
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Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on WordPress.org
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3M+ active installations
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30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee
Are you tired of waiting for your website to load? Want a WordPress theme that won’t slow it down? If yes, then you’ve come to the right page. Check out my hand-picked list of the top 5 fastest WordPress themes for 2024.
Don’t have enough time to read the intro part? No problem. Click here to jump straight to the list of the fast-loading themes out there.
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Imagine this: you’re browsing the web, hungry for information, and…bam! You hit a website that takes forever to load.
Ugh, right?
In 2024, website speed is a dealbreaker. Why? Because a slow-loading website can not only affect the user experience but can also hurt your search engine rankings.
That’s why, if you’re building a WordPress site, you gotta pick a theme that is optimized for speed.
In this article, I will be sharing my top picks for the fastest WordPress themes based on my personal experience and research.
We’ll review each one, compare their features, and help you find the perfect match โ even if you’re a total WordPress beginner. So buckle up and get ready to build a website that loads in a blink and keeps your visitors glued to the screen.
Hereโs a table of contents for quick navigation:
What to Look For in the Fastest WordPress Themes?
When choosing a fast-loading WordPress theme, there are a few key things to keep an eye out for, such as:
- Speed: Obviously, speed is your top priority. Look for themes that are optimized for performance, with fast loading times.
- Features and Functionality: Even though speed is important, you don’t want to sacrifice important features and functionality. Make sure the theme still offers everything you need to build the website you want.
- Optimized Code: Clean, optimized code is crucial for speed. Look for themes that are well-coded and don’t have unnecessary bloat.
- Design: Your theme should look good and be easy to customize to match your brand or style preferences. A clean, attractive design can make a big difference in how visitors perceive your site.
- Lightweight: Opt for themes that are lightweight and don’t bog down your website with unnecessary code or features.
- Responsive: Your theme should be responsive, so it looks great on all devices, from desktops to smartphones and tablets.
- Regular Updates: Themes that get updated often tend to be more secure and compatible with the latest versions of WordPress.
- Support: Last but not least, consider the level of support provided by the theme developer. If you run into any issues or need help customizing your theme, it’s important to have someone you can turn to for help.
By focusing on these factors, you can find a fast WordPress theme that not only looks fantastic but also delivers outstanding performance and user experience.
Importance of Having a Fast-Loading WordPress Theme?
Did you know how fast your website loads can actually bump you up in search results? Google, the search engine giant, started caring about website speed all the way back in 2010.
That makes sense, right?
No one likes waiting for a website to crawl along, and Google wants to show you the best possible options, fast. Then in 2018, they decided mobile site speed mattered even more since we’re all glued to our phones these days.
But why does speed matter so much? Well, think about it from your own experience. If a site takes forever to load, what do you do? You bounce, right? That’s exactly what happens to your website visitors.
Studies show that if a page takes three times as long to load compared to just a second, there’s a whopping 32% chance people will hit the back button and leave.
But hold on a sec, it’s not just about keeping visitors happy. If you have an online store, website speed can actually boost your sales.
Imagine you have an awesome product you want to show off, but your website takes ages to load. By the time people get a glimpse, they might be too annoyed to even consider buying.
A speedy website, on the other hand, lets customers browse and shop with ease, leading to more satisfied customers and a happier you. Now that’s what I call a win-win.
Alright, we’ve covered the basics. Now, let’s roll up our sleeves and dig into finding out which themes snag the crown for the “fastest WordPress theme” title.
Top 5 Blazing-Fast WordPress Themes 2024 (Free and Paid)
Iโve spent some serious time testing out a bunch of lightning-fast WordPress themes and let me tell you, I’ve sorted through the cream of the crop just for you. Below, you’ll find my personal picks along with detailed reviews:
- Kadence WP — Fastest WordPress Theme Overall โฃ
- Astra — Best Lightweight and Fast-Loading WordPress Theme โฃ
- GeneratePress — Fastest WordPress Theme for Gutenberg Blocks โฃ
- Divi — Best For Flexibility and Customization โฃ
- Blocksy — Most Innovative WordPress Theme โฃ
I’ll walk you through each theme’s features, performance analysis based on real data, strengths, weaknesses, ratings, customer support, and of course, pricing details.
So, if you’re on the hunt for a WordPress theme that’s both fast and fabulous, stick around because I’ve got you covered.
Let’s jump right into it.
Here are my top-rated fastest WordPress themes to try this year:
1. Kadence WP
Fastest WordPress Theme Overall (Yes, Really)
Kadence WP
โ โ โ โ โ (5 out of 5)
Starting at $149 per year
Forget everything you thought about fast WordPress themes โ Kadence WP blows them all out of the water (including Astra and GeneratePress, but we’ll get to that later).
This multipurpose theme comes in free and premium flavours. The free option is surprisingly powerful for most users, but the premium version unlocks even more features like advanced menus and WooCommerce add-ons.
What makes Kadence WP stand out is its beginner-friendly approach. It comes with pre-built layouts/AI-powered starter templates (read my review on Kadence AI) that you can easily customize with fonts and colours to match your brand style.
Plus, the built-in header and footer builder lets you take complete control of your website’s design compared to many other free themes.
But wait, there’s more. You can ditch those bulky page builders โ Kadence WP has a free plugin (Kadence Blocks) that lets you create stunning pages visually, right within WordPress.
In short, Kadence WP is a feature-packed theme that won’t slow you down. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a fast, easy-to-use, and customizable website.
Kadence WP Key Features
Kadence WP offers a suite of features through its theme and plugin, both designed to work together for building WordPress websites. Here’s a breakdown of the key functionalities:
- Custom layouts: You can choose from different layout options for your pages and posts, such as with or without sidebars.
- Customizable typography and colors: Kadence Theme allows you to control the fonts and colors used throughout your website.
- Responsive design: Your website will look good on all devices, from desktops to smartphones.
- SEO optimized: The theme’s code is built with best practices for search engine optimization.
- Extends Gutenberg editor: Adds more functionalities and styling options to the standard WordPress block editor.
- Pre-built sections: Quickly add beautiful-designed sections to your pages using pre-made layouts.
- More block options: The plugin offers additional blocks beyond the standard WordPress ones, like video pop-ups and product carousels (the free version has limited options).
- Layout control: Provides granular control over row and column structures, spacing, and other layout aspects.
- On scroll animations (pro version): Add animations to your website elements as users scroll down the page (available in the pro version).
Kadence WP Performance
Let’s put Kadence WP to the test. I built a brand new website on Bluehost’s basic plan, activated the Kadence WP theme (pro version), and added some content with images. To keep things real, I even threw in a few other plugins.
The twist? No caching plugins here. Why? I want to see how Kadence WP performs on its own muscle. So, how fast did it load? I ran the website through GTMetrix, a popular speed-testing tool, and I’m excited to share the results…
Note: This is how I’ll be testing all the themes on this list.
As you can see, my site clocked in at a blazing fast 699 milliseconds. That’s without even using a caching plugin. It could be even faster with one, but I’m already pumped with the scores — a perfect 100% for performance and a rock-solid 97% for structure.
Curious about the details? Check out the full breakdown (but spoiler alert, it’s looking good):
Metrics Performance | Kadence WP Test Site Results |
---|---|
Performance Score | 100% |
Structure Score | 97% |
Time To First Byte (TTFB) | 484 ms |
First Contentful Paint (FCP) | 620 ms |
Time To Interactive (TTI) | 620 ms |
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) | 699 ms |
Fully Loaded Time | 699 ms |
Page Size | 298 KB |
HTTP Requests | 11 |
Kadence WP Pros
- Lightweight and fast loading: This is a major benefit for SEO and user experience.
- Feature-rich free version: Unlike many free themes, Kadence offers a surprising amount of customization options in the free version, including header and footer builders.
- Easy to use: Kadence is known for its user-friendly interface.
- Powerful design tools: Kadence Blocks (bundled with the theme) allows for great design flexibility.
- Starter templates: These pre-built templates can save you time in setting up your website.
- Reasonable pricing for pro version: The pro version unlocks even more features at a competitive price.
Kadence WP Cons
- Expensive lifetime plan: The lifetime plan, while offering great value, might be a barrier to entry for some users.
- Limited design options in free version: While the free version is good, you’ll need the pro version to unlock more advanced design features.
Kadence WP Reviews and Ratings
Kadence WP seems to have positive reviews overall. While there are not many reviews on Trustpilot, it has a claimed profile but no reviews yet.
On WordPress.org, the Kadence theme has a very positive rating with nearly all reviews being 5 stars, with only a handful of ratings being lower.
There is also a positive review from a blogger who considers Kadence WP the best theme on the market in 2024, praising its ease of use, speed, and features.
Kadence WP Customer Support
Kadence WP offers a few ways to get support, but doesn’t have traditional phone support:
- Support Tickets: This is the primary way to get help. They have a ticketing system where you can submit your question and receive a response from their support team.
- Knowledge Base: Kadence WP maintains a knowledge base with articles, tutorials, and FAQs that you can search to find solutions to common problems.
- Community Forum: They also have a community forum where you can post questions and get help from other Kadence WP users.
While they offer some support for free users, their premium plans likely come with faster response times or priority support.
Kadence WP Pricing
Kadence WP offers a freemium pricing model with several paid tiers that unlock more features and functionalities. Here’s a breakdown of their pricing structure:
- Free: This plan grants access to the basic Kadence Theme and Kadence Blocks plugin. It includes starter templates, design patterns, and 250 AI credits (for using their artificial intelligence design features). This is suitable for users who are new to WordPress or want to try out Kadence WP before committing.
- Essentials: For $149 per year, this plan unlocks Kadence Blocks Pro and Kadence Theme Pro, offering more advanced features and customization options. You’ll also get an increase to 4,000 AI credits annually.
- Full: This plan is priced at $219 per year and provides access to all Kadence WP products, including Kadence Theme Pro, Kadence Blocks Pro, Kadence Shop Kit (for WooCommerce integration), Kadence Cloud (their cloud storage for templates), and any future products they develop. This grants you 8,000 AI credits per year. This is considered the best value if you plan to use multiple Kadence WP products.
- Lifetime Full Bundle: For a one-time payment of $799, you get lifetime access to everything Kadence WP offers, including all current and future products, and 16,000 AI credits per year.
All plans include unlimited sites, one year of support and updates (except the Lifetime plan), and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
The Full Bundle provides the most value, offering access to all Kadence products at a discounted price compared to buying them individually. For more details, you can visit the Kadence WP pricing page.
2. Astra
Best Lightweight and Fast-Loading WordPress Theme
Astra
โ โ โ โ โ (5 out of 5)
Starting at $49 per year
Astra is the second fastest WordPress theme on my list, loved by over 1.6M+ websites worldwide. They are popular for speed, lightness, and customizable features.
With Astra, you get access to over 280 pre-designed website templates for various purposes, like affiliate marketing, portfolio showcasing, travel blogging, e-commerce, or restaurant management.
Plus, you can easily customize it further using Astraโs built-in WordPress customizer or your favourite drag-and-drop WordPress page builders.
It also integrates with LearnDash, a popular learning management system.
Astra Key Features
WP Astra packs a punch when it comes to features, but to keep it clear, here are the key highlights:
- Free Version Flexibility: While not as extensive as the paid plans, the free version offers a good amount of control over things like layouts, colors, and typography. You can still create a unique website without paying.
- No jQuery: Astra uses Vanilla JavaScript that prevents render-blocking jQuery to come in the way and affect performance.
- Header and Footer Builder: Astra’s header and footer builder allow you to easily customize the appearance and layout of your site’s header and footer sections.
- Self-Hosted Google Fonts: Astra offers functionality to fetch the Google Fonts on your website and store them locally on your server.
- Schema Markup: Astra includes built-in schema markup, which helps search engines understand the content of your website better.
- Seamless Mobile Experience: Astra ensures your website looks fantastic and functions flawlessly on all devices, desktops, tablets, and mobiles.
Astra Performance
Curious about WP Astra’s speed, I decided to test it out. I created a new website on Bluehost’s basic shared plan, added GeneratePress premium, and some content with images. I also included a few other plugins.
Importantly, I skipped caching plugins to see Astra’s raw speed.
So, what were the results? I used the GTMetrix speed testing tool, and I’m eager to share them with you.
My website loaded in just 963 ms, even without a premium caching plugin like WP Rocket. Imagine how fast it could be with one. But honestly, I’m thrilled with the scores already — 98% for performance and a very strong 97% for structure.
Here’s the full breakdown if you’re curious (but trust me, it’s all good):
Metrics Performance | WP Astra Test Site Results |
---|---|
Performance Score | 98% |
Structure Score | 97% |
Time To First Byte (TTFB) | 563 ms |
First Contentful Paint (FCP) | 759 ms |
Time To Interactive (TTI) | 764 ms |
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) | 963 ms |
Fully Loaded Time | 963 ms |
Page Size | 317 KB |
HTTP Requests | 8 |
Astra Pros
- Great Starter Sites: Astra offers a library of pre-built starter templates that you can use as a jumping-off point for your website. This can save you a ton of time, especially if you’re not a design expert.
- Versatile Customization Options: While the free version offers some limitations, Astra allows for tons of customization with the paid add-ons.
- Integration with Page Builders: Astra is known for its excellent compatibility with popular page builders like Elementor, Gutenberg, and Brizy. This gives you even more freedom to design your website without needing coding skills.
- Stellar Support: Astra provides excellent support through its WordPress.org forum for free users and premium ticket-based support for premium users.
- Regular Updates and Improvements: The Astra team consistently releases updates and improvements to ensure compatibility with the latest WordPress versions, security patches, and new features.
Astra Cons
- Limited Free Version: While the free version is great for getting started, some of the more powerful customization options are locked behind the paid plans.
- Learning Curve for Beginners: Despite its user-friendly interface, beginners may find Astra’s extensive customization options overwhelming at first. It may take some time to familiarize oneself with all the settings and features.
Astra Reviews and Ratings
Astra gets positive reviews on other platforms besides its own website. On Trustpilot, Astra Pro has a 4.7-star rating out of 5, with users praising its ease of use, features, and value for money.
WordPress.org ratings are even more glowing, with over 5,300 users giving it 4.9 out of 5 stars, highlighting its speed, customizability, and excellent customer support.
Astra Customer Support
With Astra’s free version, you’re covered with support through the WordPress.org forum, where you’ll find quick responses from the Astra team and other users.
Need more personalized help? Grab a premium Astra theme, and you’ll have access to ticket-based support. Plus, Astra’s extensive knowledge base is a goldmine for finding answers to your questions.
And, don’t forget to check out their Facebook group. It’s a great space to mingle with other Astra enthusiasts, ask questions, and share feedback.
Astra Pricing
Astra offers a freemium model, so you can try it out for free. But if you want more features and customization options, they have paid plans:
- Astra Pro: This is their core paid plan, starting at $49 per year (with frequent discounts) and lets you build beautiful websites faster with advanced features and more design control.
- Essential Toolkit: This bundles Astra Pro with an Elementor addon, Spectra pro page builder, and premium starter templates, all starting at $79 per year (again, with discounts).
- Business Toolkit: This is their most comprehensive plan, giving you the best value for your money. It includes everything in the Essential Toolkit, plus additional plugins for conversions and growth, starting at $149 per year (with discounts).
Astra seems to run regular sales, so you can usually grab their plans at a discounted price. You can find all the details and compare the plans on their website.
While Astra doesn’t have a free plan or trial to test the waters, they do offer a 14-day money-back guarantee on all their plans. So, you can try it out risk-free for two weeks and see if it’s a good fit for you.
3. GeneratePress
Fastest WordPress Theme for Gutenberg Blocks
GeneratePress
โ โ โ โ โ (5 out of 5)
Starting at $59 per year
The third fastest WordPress theme on my radar is none other than GeneratePress, and let me tell you, this theme is downloaded like crazy — over 5 million times. That kind of popularity speaks for itself.
But, why is it such a hit?
Well, for beginners, it’s like the Swiss Army knife of themes โ versatile, adaptable, and ready for any website or blog you throw at it, even an affiliate marketing site.
Plus, it comes with a ton of pre-made designs (think of them as website starter kits) that you can import with just a click. And, customizing them is a walk in the park.
GeneratePress works great with the regular WordPress editor and all the popular page builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder.
Oh, and did I mention it plays nice with WooCommerce too? Yup, you heard me right. Setting up an online store? No problem, you can do it with the GeneratePress theme.
GeneratePress Key Features
Here’s a breakdown of GeneratePress’s most notable features:
- Multipurpose Functionality: GeneratePress isn’t restricted to a specific niche. You can leverage it to create various websites, from blogs and portfolios to e-commerce stores.
- Pre-built Demos and Templates: GeneratePress offers a collection of pre-designed website templates (over 80) that you can import and use as a starting point for your own project. This can save you time and effort in setting up the basic structure and design of your website.
- Page-Level Controls: GeneratePress provides granular control over individual pages. You can customize elements like sidebars, layouts, and header sections specifically for each page.
- Easy Customization: With GeneratePress, you’re in control. Tweak colors, fonts, layouts, and more right from the WordPress customizer. No need to mess with complicated code โ it’s all right there at your fingertips.
- Full Theme Building with GenerateBlocks: When paired with the GenerateBlocks plugin (purchased separately), GeneratePress transforms into a full-fledged theme builder. This powerful combination allows you to visually construct every part of your website using the familiar WordPress block editor, without ever touching a line of code.
GeneratePress Performance
I wanted to see just how fast GeneratePress is, so I decided to put it to the test. I set up a brand new website on Bluehost’s basic shared plan, activated the GeneratePress premium plugin, and added some content with images. I even threw in a few other plugins for good measure.
Now, the key here is that I didn’t use any caching plugins. This way, we could get a clear picture of how fast GeneratePress performs on its own.
So, how did it do? I ran the website through the GTMetrix speed testing tool, and I’m curious to share the results with youโฆ
As you can see above, my site was fully loaded in less than 1 second, and that’s without even using a caching plugin like WP Rocket. I could probably squeeze out even more speed with that. Overall, I’m happy with the performance and structure scores at 99% and 98% though.
Here is a full breakup of the test:
Metrics Performance | GeneratePress Test Site Results |
---|---|
Performance Score | 99% |
Structure Score | 98% |
Time To First Byte (TTFB) | 93 ms |
First Contentful Paint (FCP) | 585 ms |
Time To Interactive (TTI) | 622 ms |
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) | 972 ms |
Fully Loaded Time | 972 ms |
Page Size | 586 KB |
HTTP Requests | 21 |
GeneratePress Pros
- Lightweight and fast: GeneratePress is known for its minimalistic code and efficient performance, which can contribute to faster website loading times.
- Customizability: It offers extensive customization options through its settings and compatibility with page builders like Elementor and Thrive Architect (even in the free version).
- Gutenberg friendly: Works seamlessly with the native WordPress block editor.
- Excellent documentation: Comprehensive guides and tutorials for easy setup and troubleshooting.
- Regular updates: The developers consistently release updates to improve functionality, security, and compatibility with the latest WordPress versions.
GeneratePress Cons
- Limited free version: While GeneratePress offers a free version with basic features, some advanced customization options, and premium features are only available in the paid version.
- Design limitations: Although customizable, the design options in GeneratePress might not be as extensive or visually striking as some other themes.
- Pricing: The premium version of GeneratePress requires a yearly subscription fee, which might not be ideal for those on a tight budget.
GeneratePress Reviews and Ratings
Lots of people seem to love GeneratePress. It has a perfect 5-star rating on WordPress.org with over 1,000 reviews, which shows how popular it is. People also give it a thumbs up on Trustpilot with a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. This means most users are happy with it.
These ratings showcase GeneratePress as a reliable and well-regarded choice for users looking for a versatile and user-friendly WordPress theme.
GeneratePress Customer Support
GeneratePress is famous for its stellar support. When you reach out to them, you’re greeted by a team that’s not only quick to respond but also incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely helpful.
Plus, they’ve got a dedicated support forum exclusively for premium users, where you can ask questions, seek troubleshooting help, and interact with other members of the GeneratePress community.
But that’s not all. GeneratePress also provides thorough documentation, full of tutorials and guides, which can be immensely helpful for users looking to navigate the theme’s features and customization options on their own.
GeneratePress Pricing
GeneratePress offers both a free version and a premium version.
The free version of GeneratePress provides basic features and functionality and can be downloaded directly from the WordPress theme repository at no cost.
The premium version, known as “GeneratePress Premium (GP),” offers additional advanced features and customization options. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing for the premium version:
- Yearly plan: This costs $59 per year. You will get access to all premium features, the site library for one year, updates and support for a year, and the ability to use it on up to 500 websites.
- Lifetime plan: This is a one-time payment of $249. It grants you lifetime access to all features, the site library, updates, support, and the ability to use it on up to 500 websites.
Worried about trying it out? No problem. Both paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, if you give it a shot and decide it’s not what you need, you’ll get your money back.
4. Divi
Best For Flexibility and Customization
Divi
โ โ โ โ โ (4.8 out of 5)
Starting at $89 per year
Divi’s not your average WordPress theme. It’s a full-on website-building powerhouse created by Elegant Themes. It comes with a massive library of over 2,000 stunning, pre-made website layouts for all sorts of businesses โ from tech startups to flower shops.
But that’s not all. You can easily customize these layouts to perfectly match your vision.
Divi throws in tons of freebies to help you out such as royalty-free photos, icons, and illustrations to add visual flair. Plus, there are over 200 website elements you can drag and drop onto your pages, like blog posts, contact forms, and pricing tables.
Divi Key Features
Let’s take a look at some amazing features of Divi:
- Unmatched Design Customization: Divi doesn’t limit your creativity. You have complete control over fonts, colors, hover effects, shadows, and even animations for any element on your website.
- Global Modules & Settings: Divi lets you create global styles and layouts that can be applied across your entire website.
- A/B Testing: Divi allows you to run A/B tests on different versions of your website pages, so you see which version performs better with your visitors.
- Theme Builder: This powerful feature lets you go beyond just page design. You can use the Theme Builder to create custom layouts for different parts of your website, such as headers, footers, and blog posts.
- Extensive Collection of Modules: Divi offers a wide range of modules that you can add to your pages, including buttons, sliders, galleries, forms, and more.
Divi Performance
Let’s put Divi Theme to the speed test. I wanted to see its true potential, so here’s what I did:
- Built a brand new website on a basic Bluehost plan
- Activated the Divi theme.
- Added content with images to give it some weight.
- I even installed a few extra plugins to create a more realistic situation.
Most importantly, I left out any caching plugins. This way, we can see how fast Divi performs all by itself.
Curious to see the results? I ran the website through GTMetrix, and I’m excited to share the findings with you. Have a look below:
My test site loaded in under 2 seconds, which is excellent. Plus, it scored a perfect 100% on performance โ that’s practically unbeatable.
Want to see the nitty-gritty details of the test? I’ve got a breakdown for you if you’re curious:
Metrics Performance | Divi Test Site Results |
---|---|
Performance Score | 100% |
Structure Score | 92% |
Time To First Byte (TTFB) | 279 ms |
First Contentful Paint (FCP) | 512 ms |
Time To Interactive (TTI) | 511 ms |
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) | 569 ms |
Fully Loaded Time | 1.6 s |
Page Size | 941 KB |
HTTP Requests | 37 |
Divi Pros
- Visually intuitive builder: Divi’s drag-and-drop interface allows you to create a stunning website without any technical knowledge. This is a big advantage for beginners and those who are not comfortable with it.
- Pre-made templates: Divi comes with a library of pre-made website templates that you can use as a starting point for your own website. This can save you a lot of time and effort on design.
- Great for Non-coders: If you’re not comfortable with code, Divi lets you build a website without needing to know HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.
- Thriving Community: There’s a large and active Divi community online, which means you can easily find help and tutorials if you get stuck.
Divi Cons
- Can Slow Down Websites: Because of the visual editor and the many features crammed into one plugin, Divi can sometimes slow down websites, especially if not optimized properly.
- Limited Blog Post Customization: Although great for pages, customizing blog post layouts with Divi is more limited. You can add elements, but extensive design changes might require code.
- Not the Cheapest Option: While Divi offers a lifetime license, the one-time fee might be a turnoff for some users, especially if you’re only building one website.
Divi Reviews and Ratings
As of the latest data available, Divi has a strong rating on Trustpilot and G2.
On Trustpilot, Divi has an impressive rating of 4.9 stars out of 5, based on numerous reviews (~23k+) from satisfied customers.
Similarly, on G2, Divi also boasts a high rating, with many users praising its user-friendly interface and robust features.
Divi Customer Support
Divi’s customer support is nice. They offer email and chat options to get you in touch with a real person. Plus, their team is known to be friendly and helpful, willing to dive right into your website to fix the problem for you (with your permission, of course).
For those in urgent need, there’s even a VIP support option available.
Divi Pricing
Divi comes with two pricing models:
- Yearly Access: This plan costs $89 per year and grants you access to all core Divi features, including the Divi Builder, Divi theme, Extra theme, Bloom plugin, and Monarch plugin. You can use it on unlimited websites.
- Lifetime Access: This is a one-time purchase of $249. It includes everything in the Yearly plan, but you pay only once and get lifetime access to updates and features.
Additional Considerations
- Divi Pro: There are upgraded versions of both the Yearly and Lifetime plans that include additional features like Divi AI, Divi Cloud, and Divi VIP support. These are more expensive options.
- 30-day Money-Back Guarantee: There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee on all Divi plans in case you’re not satisfied.
For more details and potential discounts, check out Divi’s official pricing page.
Want to join them? Sign up here to try it out.
5. Blocksy
Most Innovative WordPress Theme
Blocksy
โ โ โ โ โ (4.7 out of 5)
Starting at $69 per year
Blocksy is a WordPress theme built for speed and flexibility. It works great with the Gutenberg editor, which is what most people use to build WordPress sites these days.
And you can use it for almost any kind of website โ from a bakery blog to a lawyer’s portfolio. They say it’s innovative and lightning-fast, so let’s see if it lives up to the hype.
Blocksy Key Features
Blocksy shines with several features that make it a strong contender for your WordPress theme:
- Advanced Customization Options: Blocksy provides extensive customization options, including a built-in header and footer builder, customizable layouts, unlimited color options, typography settings, and more.
- WooCommerce Integration: If you plan to sell products online, Blocksy integrates well with WooCommerce, a popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress.
- Seamless Integration with Page Builders: Blocksy seamlessly integrates with popular page builders like Elementor, Stackable, and Gutenberg. This compatibility allows users to create stunning, custom layouts using their preferred page builder plugin.
- Header and Footer Builder: Blocksy comes with a powerful header and footer builder that allows users to create custom headers and footers with ease.
Blocksy Performance
To test Blocksy’s performance, I followed the same steps as I did for the above themes, and here are the results using GTMetrix.
The website performed well overall, scoring a solid 94% performance score. The Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) โ which measures how fast the main content loads โ came in at a snappy 1.2 seconds. And the entire page loaded in under 3 seconds, which is fantastic.
Here’s a breakdown of the test results for a closer look (see table below):
Metrics Performance | Blocksy Test Site Results |
---|---|
Performance Score | 94% |
Structure Score | 95% |
Time To First Byte (TTFB) | 787 ms |
First Contentful Paint (FCP) | 1.2 s |
Time To Interactive (TTI) | 1.4 s |
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) | 1.2 s |
Fully Loaded Time | 2.0 s |
Page Size | 1.11 MB |
HTTP Requests | 66 |
Blocksy Pros
- User-friendly interface: Blocksy is known for being easy to use, especially for those familiar with the Gutenberg block editor.
- Fast Loading Times: Blocksy is a lightweight theme that prioritizes speed.
- Regular Updates and Support: The developers of Blocksy provide regular updates and offer good support to users.
- Live Preview: Make changes to your website and see them instantly in the preview window — no need to refresh or wait around.
- Translation Ready: Blocksy is ready to translate into any language, so you can reach people all over the world.
- Fully Responsive: Whether someone visits your site on a computer, phone, or tablet, Blocksy will automatically adjust to look perfect on their screen.
Blocksy Cons
- Limited starter sites: While the quality of the pre-built starter sites is high, the overall selection is a bit limited compared to some other themes.
- Slightly above-average price for unlimited sites: The premium plan with unlimited website usage is a bit more expensive than some competitors.
Blocksy Reviews and Ratings
As of the latest data available, Blocksy Theme is highly rated on WordPress with an average score of 4.9 out of 5 stars. Users have praised its modern design, customization options, and fast loading times.
Blocksy Customer Support
Blocksy customer support seems to get a thumbs-up from users. They have a knowledge base and video tutorials you can browse through first to see if your question is answered.
If you still need help, you can submit a ticket and get a response within 24 hours on weekdays, though some users report responses as fast as 2-3 hours.
Blocksy Pricing
Blocksy comes in a free and premium version. The free version has basic functionalities, but for more advanced features, you’ll need Blocksy Pro. They have three pricing tiers, each with a yearly and a lifetime option:
- Personal: $69/year for 1 site license or $199 for lifetime support and updates.
- Professional: $99/year for 10 site licenses or $299 for lifetime support and updates.
- Agency: $149/year for unlimited sites or $499 for lifetime support and updates.
Blocksy offers a 14-day money-back guarantee with all their Blocksy Pro plans, including both annual and lifetime options. If you want to get on board, purchase Blocksy Pro here.
Comparing The Fastest Theme for WordPress
Now that we’ve covered the top five fastest WordPress themes for 2024, let’s shift our focus to the comparison chart to see how they stack up against each other.
Theme Name | Speed (Page Load Time) | Free Option | Ratings | Starting Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kadence WP | 699 ms | Yes | 5.0/5.0 | $149/year |
Astra | 963 ms | Yes | 5.0/5.0 | $49/year |
GeneratePress | 972 ms | Yes | 5.0/5.0 | $59/year |
Divi | 1.6 s | No | 4.8/5.0 | $89/year |
Blocksy | 2.0 s | Yes | 4.7/5.0 | $69/year |
**Please note that the page load times mentioned above are based on my actual tests.
**However, these times may fluctuate depending on various factors like your hosting server, page size, and optimizations that have been implemented.
The #1 Fastest WordPress Theme: Our Pick for 2024
After carefully reviewing all options, my #1 pick for the fastest WordPress theme is Kadence WP. It is lightweight, insanely customizable, and optimized for speed.
Plus, it offers gorgeous pre-built websites powered by AI design, seamless integrations with popular page builders, and requires minimal effort to set up. This is what I’m using on my niche and affiliate websites.
One more reason to pick Kadence WP is its superior performance. When I tested different themes on a brand-new website, Kadence WP outperformed the rest.
So basically, Kadence WP lets you create a website that’s both fabulous and blazing-fast, without compromising on design or functionality. Trust me, I’m a real person, and Kadence WP made a HUGE difference for my website. Give it a try, you won’t regret it.
Kadence WP
โ โ โ โ โ (5 out of 5)
Starting at $149 per year
Don’t worry, you’re fully secured with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If after purchasing you decide that it is not right for you, simply request a refund within a month and you’ll get your money back in full. To sweeten the deal, you can grab a 10% discount right now. Just use the code TAKE10 at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Before we wrap up, let’s address some common questions about the fastest WordPress themes. If you’ve got more questions, feel free to drop them in the comments below.
What is the fastest free theme for WordPress?
According to me, the fastest free WordPress themes are Kadence WP, Astra and GeneratePress.
These themes are lightweight, optimized for speed, and come with built-in customization options to help you create a professional-looking website without compromising on performance.
What is a good website speed?
Aim for a loading time of 3 seconds or less, as 40% of users abandon a site that takes more than 3 seconds to load. Google also considers page speed in its ranking algorithm, so faster sites rank higher.
Can faster websites improve your SEO?
Absolutely. Search engines love websites that load fast, just like you do. A speedy site keeps visitors happy and engaged, which helps you rank higher in search results.
And that’s it.
During the research for this article, I thoroughly reviewed a bunch of WordPress themes such as Neve, OceanWP, and Sydney. But with so many options, my mission was clear — to find the fastest WordPress themes out there.
Hopefully, this list has been helpful for you.
So, what do you think? Did this breakdown of the fastest themes help you out? Which one caught your eye, and would you recommend it to others? Let me know in the comments.
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