WordPress is one of the most popular and renown platforms for building websites in the world. However, a slow loading website can negatively impact your visitors user experience and also in the search engine rankings. Choosing a fast WordPress theme is one way to ensure your website loads quickly and getting in higher rankings and also user experience would be good enough. In this article, we will take a closer look at the worlds top 10 fastest WordPress themes for high-performing, better user experience, secure and reliable website.
Table Of Contents
- Summary of the Fastest Loading WordPress Themes
- Features to Consider in the Fastest WordPress Themes
- Our WordPress Theme Testing Methodology
- Top 10 Fastest WordPress Themes 2023
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Summary of the Fastest Loading WordPress Themes
In the internet speed is everything and in this post all of the themes has a high performing impressive turns of speed. This is how we have rated them:
- GeneratePress
- Astra
- Schema
- Neve
- OceanWP
- Genesis
- Zillah
- Salient
- Enfold
- TheGem
Features to Consider in the Fastest WordPress Themes
There are few things to consider in every WordPress theme, those are:
Speed
In this fast paced digital world, website speed is more important than ever. Slow loading websites can have a serious impact on user experience, it leads to increasing bounce rates and reduces conversions. Studies have shown that bounce rates increase by 40-50% for each additional 1 second increase in page speed and a 1 second delay in page load time can result in a 7% reduction in the conversions.
Now both “Google and Facebook” are now favor websites and web pages that loads faster.According to Google page speed is also an important search engine ranking factor for SEO.
Customization Features
As you create your own website and want to add more features to it, WordPress theme will give you the facilities to customize and personalize it according to your needs.
As your business scale your requirements will also change along side. It is important to choose a WordPress theme that is riched with different kinds of feature and which allows you to add more content and updates it easily.
Most WordPress themes usually include the option to download or create child themes. An advantage of using a child theme is that any changes will persist after updating the main theme. This is particularly helpful if you want to update your website constantly and adding new features to it.
Page Builder Compatibility
In the recent past, the process of website building was a tough and expensive task that it required the mastery of several coding languages like PHP, HTML and CSS. In some cases, the assistance of a skilled developer was needed.
However, with the rise of WordPress page builders, this difficulty is no longer the case. These tools in the WordPress theme have made it possible for web developers and designers to rapidly create and launch websites, resulting in increased customer base and revenue generation.
Many page builders are available in the market, and individuals tend to have their preferred choices. It is beneficial if your WordPress theme is compatible with your favored page builder, as it streamlines the design process significantly.
Plugin Compatibility
Additionally to the themes, it is important to use WordPress plugins to enhance the functionality of your website. Yoast SEO can certainly help optimize your website for search engines, WP Rocket can improve page load times with caching, and LearnDash is an excellent choice for creating and managing courses.
It is important to note that all the WordPress themes are not equally created when it comes to compatibility with plugins. So, make sure to carefully choose your theme that works along with the plugins you want to use.
Our WordPress Theme Testing Methodology
To begin with, we installed each theme on a fresh WordPress installation to eliminate any potential tendency that might have emerged from previous installations. We also took great care to remove all default plugins and themes before starting the tests, ensuring that there were no plugins or themes slowing down page load speeds.
Here is the speed test setup:
- All themes are completely bare bones.
- Remove all templates or template plugins apart from the one you’re testing.
- Keeping the out of the box setup intact, there are no change to the sidebars, headers, or CSS.
- Testing was done by a shared hosting server to imitate the setup of the majority of WordPress websites.
Your choice of hosting is most important that can affect in your websites loading speed. So along with a lightweight WordPress theme, choose the fastest hosting that you can go with.
Top 10 Fastest WordPress Themes 2023
Let’s get started with the comparison between the top fastest WordPress themes.
1. GeneratePress
GeneratePress is a responsive, fast-loading WordPress theme. It is optimized for speed and performance. It is a most popular choice for bloggers, online stores, and business websites.
It has a default page size of 50kb and loads in 535 milliseconds according to GTMetrix. GeneratePress was created and maintained by Tom Usborne and his team. It has more than 2.4 million downloads on the internet with 600,000+ live websites online.
Key Features
- Works with Elementor and Beaver website builder.
- It is Built using the WordPress coding standards, that why it will work with most the WordPress plugins.
- In the premium version it has additional customization options for WooCommerce.
- It is well responsive across all devices. Also, compatible with Auto optimize for caching and minification.
- real-time live-preview makes editing easier.
2. Astra
Astra is a popular WordPress theme worldwide. It is known for its flexibility, speed, and customization options. It is a lightweight and fully responsive theme and it can be easily customized to suit the needs of any website. Astra comes with a number of built-in templates that can be used to create a variety of website designs, such as blogs, portfolios, and online stores.
This theme has a default page size of 48kb and loads in 608 milliseconds according to GTMetrix. Astra was created and maintained by a team named Brainstorm Force. It has more than 2,600,000+ live websites online.
Key Features
- The theme supports a number of popular page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Gutenberg, which make it easy to create custom page layouts without any coding skills.
- It works with most of the WordPress plugins with additional Integrations for LifterLMS, LearnDash, and others.
- It has both paid and free version which are compatible with WooCommerce.
- This theme works well on mobile and tablet devices.
- it has real-time preview which makes it all easier.
3. OceanWP
OceanWP is a highly customizable and lightweight WordPress theme. It has gained immense popularity among website designers and developers. It offers a range of features and functionalities that make it an ideal choice for creating websites with professional-look, including e-commerce stores, blogs, portfolios, and more.
This theme has a default page size of 280kb and loads in 613 milliseconds according to GTMetrix. OceanWP is created and maintained by OceanWP LLC. It has currently 700,000+ live websites.
Key Features
- OceanWP works with most page builders such as Elementor, Brizy, Visual Composer, Divi, Thrive Architect, Beaver Builder, King Composer and more.
- It works with most of the major plugins and it has also a direct integration with MailChimp.
- It comes with a range of pre-built templates and widgets, making it easy to create stunning web pages without any coding knowledge.
- The theme is also highly customizable, with options to change colors, fonts, layouts, and more.
4. Schema
Schema is a modern and flexible WordPress theme designed for bloggers, writers, and online publishers who want to create a professional-looking website. This theme comes with a variety of customizable options, including layout choices, color schemes, and typography settings.
This theme has a default page size of 201kb and loads in 621 milliseconds according to GTMetrix. Schema is supported by a online marketplace named MyThemeShop.
Key Features
- Works really good with Elementor.
- Compatible with most of the 3rd party plugins.
- The theme also includes built-in support for popular plugins like Yoast SEO, WPForms, and WooCommerce.
- It is emphasized on the search engine optimization (SEO), making it easy for your content to rank high in search results.
- This theme is 100% responsive, ensuring that your website looks great on all devices, from desktops to smartphones.
5. Neve
Neve is a lightweight and flexible WordPress theme designed to provide a fast and customizable website building experience. It comes with a range of features to enhance website functionality and user experience. Neve is optimized for speed, mobile responsiveness, and compatibility.
This theme has a default page size of 28kb and loads in 670 milliseconds according to GTMetrix. Neve is developed by Themeisle. It has currently 285,000+ live websites online.
Key Features
- It is compatible with many popular page builders such as Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Gutenberg.
- Mostly works with almost every WordPress plugin.
- It supports breadcrumbs for WooCommerce, making it simple and easy.
- Neve is a reliable and versatile WordPress theme that cares to the needs of different types of website owners and developers.
6. Genesis
Genesis is a popular WordPress theme that offers a solid foundation for building professional-looking websites. The theme is designed to be fast, secure, and flexible by using child themes, making it an excellent choice for bloggers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.
This theme has a default page loads in 686 milliseconds according to GTMetrix. Genesis Framework was created by Brian Gardner in 2009 as a marketplace for premium WordPress themes. It has currently 258,000+ live websites online.
Key Features
- Genesis include a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes, customizable page templates, a wide range of color schemes and typography options, and SEO-friendly code.
- This theme also supports a variety of plugins and widgets across WordPress.
- It supports social media integration and E-commerce functionality.
- Its easy to use interface and comprehensive documentation, Genesis is a great option for anyone looking to create a high-quality website quickly and efficiently.
7. Zillah
Minimal and clean, Zillah is a stunning and elegant WordPress theme there. It is perfect for bloggers, photographers, and writers who want to showcase their content in clean and stylish manner.
This theme has a default page loads in 793 milliseconds according to GTMetrix.
Key Features
- Zillah is compatible with most of the popular editor.
- It comes with a range of customization options, including custom widgets, unlimited colors, and Google Fonts integration.
- It will stay free for life, No paid add-ons, no upsells.
- It is a fully responsive theme and it works great on smartphones and tablets.
- This theme is simply great for a simple and stylish website.
8. Salient
Salient is a popular WordPress theme that is known for its powerful features and flexibility. It is a versatile theme that can be used for a variety of websites such as corporate and business websites, creative portfolios and also for personal blogs.
This theme has a default size of 365kb and the page loads in 435 milliseconds according to GTMetrix. It has currently 271,000+ websites online.
Key Features
- Salient has its impressive page builder that allows users to create custom layouts and designs with ease.
- It also comes with a wide range of pre-built demo websites that can be imported and customized.
- Other notable features include a responsive design that can load pages in different devices easily.
- It has multiple header and footer layouts, custom widgets, and support for popular plugins like Yoast SEO.
- It supports WooCommerce to improve your business.
9. Enfold
Enfold is a popular and versatile WordPress theme that offers a wide range of features and customization options for creating a professional and engaging website. It can be used in varieties of website like personal blogs, e-commerce website and many more.
It was created and maintained by Kriesi since its initial launch.
Key Features
- Enfold includes drag and drop page builder that makes it easy to create unique layouts and designs.
- It has the ability to create custom post type, like a powerful theme options panel.
- It has integration with popular plugins like WooCommerce for e-commerce.
- Enfold is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a flexible and powerful WordPress theme.
10. TheGem
TheGem is a creative multi-purpose & WooCommerce WordPress Theme. It offers a wide range of features and customization options to help users create a professional and unique website.
It was created and maintained by CodexThemes. This theme has a default page loads in 1.3 seconds according to GTMetrix.
Key Features
- It comes with more than 400 pre-built templates and that can be easily imported and customized using the drag-and-drop page builder.
- TheGem include its responsive design like SEO optimization and compatibility with popular WordPress plugins.
- WooCommerce and Contact Form 7 both are supported.
- This theme also offers excellent customer support and regular updates to ensure that your website stays updated and running smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest free WordPress theme?
The fastest free WordPress theme according to our test is GeneratePress. This theme is designed as a framework to build web pages.
What is the fastest Elementor theme?
GeneratePress has the fastest Elementor theme of all above. You can use the elementors with real ease in this theme.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a WordPress theme that is reliable, fast-loading, SEO-optimized, ranks well with customers, based on WordPress reviews and customer testimonials. You can use any of the above themes. In 2023, this is also a competitive world for WordPress themes.
If you want the best of them we recommend you to use the GeneratePress. Neve also offers a similar customizability. It is a fast theme with a lot of customization options and a great alternative for GeneratePress.
Which theme do you like the most? Comment us below about your thought.