Over time, a WordPress website can get slow and bloated, and a slow theme can contribute to that.
In this blog post, we are going to unveil the fastest WordPress themes that will take your site’s speed to the next level.
These days, website performance is crucial to help you rank higher, get more traffic, gain subscribers, and generate revenue from your website.
As you might know, Google likes fast websites and page speed is still a ranking factor.
Whether you’re a blogger, entrepreneur, or small business owner, a fast-loading website is essential for providing a seamless user experience and ranking higher in search engine results.
To save you some time we’ve done all the theme’s speed testing and you can find the results listed below. Mostly we tested free themes. This list will help you to pick the fastest WordPress theme. We ranked it by the PageSpeed Insights mobile score.
Top 12 Fastest WordPress Themes (Test Results)
| Theme | PageSpeed Insights | Pingdom load time |
|---|---|---|
| Hello Elementor | 100 | 324ms |
| Ona | 100 | 443ms |
| GeneratePress | 100 | 470ms |
| Kadence | 100 | 426ms |
| Margin | 99 | 399ms |
| Blocksy | 99 | 470ms |
| Astra | 99 | 476ms |
| Neve | 99 | 492ms |
| Zakra | 99 | 417ms |
| Customify | 99 | 441ms |
| OceanWP | 98 | 556ms |
| Sydney | 98 | 381ms |
Pingdom load time in milliseconds, the lower the faster.
The Importance of Fast Loading Websites
The fastest loading WordPress themes are vital for website owners looking to optimize their site’s performance.
With the growing importance of fast loading websites, these themes play a vital role in enhancing user experience and boosting search engine rankings. In today’s competitive online landscape, having a speedy website is not just a luxury but a necessity to stay ahead in terms of SEO and overall user satisfaction.
Impact on SEO
Using a fast loading WordPress theme can have a significant impact on SEO. A fast theme enhances site performance, resulting in quicker page load times and improved user experience.
Search engines like Google consider page speed as a ranking factor, so a faster theme can positively influence SEO rankings. Moreover, a fast theme delivers a smoother browsing experience, reducing bounce rates and increasing user engagement, both of which are important for SEO.
Overall, opting for a fast WordPress theme is a wise choice to boost your site’s SEO and provide a better experience for your visitors.
Better conversion rates
Fastest WordPress themes are crucial for optimizing website performance and improving user experience.
Studies have shown that the loading time of a website significantly impacts the bounce rate, with a 32% increase in bounce rates if a website takes 3 seconds to load instead of 1 second. Therefore, by choosing a fast WordPress theme, you can enhance the speed of your website, leading to better conversion rates and increased user satisfaction.
Tools for Testing Website Speed
Page Speed Insights
The importance of fast-loading websites cannot be overstated. A slow website not only frustrates users but also has a negative impact on SEO. Tools like Page Speed Insights can help you test your website’s speed and identify areas for improvement.
It uses Google Lighthouse under the hood and most of the speed testing tools are using it.
Pingdom
The fastest WordPress themes are designed with optimized code and streamlined features to ensure quick loading times and improved user experience.
One effective tool to measure their speed is the Pingdom speed test, which provides valuable insights into a theme’s performance and helps users make informed choices.
How We Tested Fastest WordPress Themes
To make the test fair we follow the criteria: default blog posts, no optimization WordPress plugins, no page builder, just a clean theme with no settings touched.
We picked some of the top WordPress themes available on the market. Each theme was installed on a clean WordPress installation and then tested with PageSpeed Insights and Pingdom speed test tools. We then compared all the themes and ranked them accordingly.
1. Hello Elementor
Hello Elementor has scored 100 with a speed index of 2.4s. Its load time is only 324ms with only 6 requests. This theme is created and maintained by the Elementor team.
It’s pretty clear why this theme beats any other theme on this list, it does not load any JavaScript files, and it includes only CSS styles for basic HTML tags, no grids, etc, it doesn’t even provide responsive navigation.
The main intent of this theme is to use it with page builders like Elementor and build all website elements and layouts with plugins instead.
We can confidently confirm that this is the fastest WordPress theme and it delivers the best scores on both PageSpeed Insights and Pingdom.
However, if you are not planning to invest some time and build the whole layout from scratch then check some other fastest WordPress themes in the list below.
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 100
Speed index: 2.4s
Pingdom score: A (97)
Load time: 324ms
Page size: 31.5Kb
HTTP requests: 6
2. Ona
Ona is one of the fastest WordPress themes that we tested. It’s a Full Site Editing theme that scores 100 on PageSpeed Insights with a speed index of only 2.7s. Its fully loaded time is 443ms based on the Pingdom test.
The free version of Ona theme includes various free child themes, and multiple blog layouts, and it is SEO-optimized.
Ona theme does not load any unnecessary scripts or assets. It’s a great free theme for beginners who want to start their blog or portfolio website. The premium version of Ona is great for building an online store, as it’s WooCommerce-ready, and comes with a great collection of blocks and a WooCommerce product builder.
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 100
Speed index: 2.7s
Pingdom score: A (95)
Load time: 443ms
Page size: 141.2Kb
HTTP requests: 12
3. GeneratePress
GeneratePress is another great lightweight theme with a solid 100 PageSpeed Insights score and an A (98) grade on Pingdom, making it one of the fastest themes available. This theme is packed with customization options and has more than 600,000 active installations.
With minimalistic features and efficient performance, GeneratePress is SEO friendly and prioritizes speed without compromising functionality or aesthetics.
Whether you’re building a personal blog or a business website, GeneratePress is a reliable choice for those seeking a fast and efficient multipurpose WordPress theme.
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 100
Speed index: 2.4s
Pingdom score: A (98)
Load time: 470ms
Page size: 38.5Kb
HTTP requests: 6
4. Kadence
Kadence WordPress theme is a fast and lightweight theme that offers a drag-and-drop header and footer builder. It is compatible with popular page builders, and comes with WooCommerce integration, making it a versatile choice for building websites and online stores.
Kadence theme is built using vanilla JavaScript and consists of clean structured CSS and JavaScript files.
It did pretty well on page speed tests, with a 100 score on PageSpeed Insights and a 2.5s speed index. On Pingdom, Kadence got an A (95) score with a load time of 426ms, 55.6Kb page size, and only 9 requests.
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 100
Speed index: 2.5s
Pingdom score: A (95)
Load time: 426ms
Page size: 55.6Kb
HTTP requests: 9
5. Margin
Margin theme scored third after the Sydney theme in Pingdom tests with only 399ms loading time. It’s a great lightweight Marketing and SEO WordPress theme based on Elementor page builder with an average rating of 4.89. Users who tried Margin love it for its simplicity, ease of use, and performance.
One of the remarkable features of Margin is Elementor header and footer builder which allows you to achieve any possible layout. It is also WooCommerce-ready and comes with premade Elementor templates and custom Elementor widgets.
The design on this theme is simple, great looking, and effective. It’s also conversion optimized. It’s not just filled up with random elements that make it look pretty.
The code quality is great and the site load speed is magnificent. This theme comes with Elementor which has been delightful so far with no issues and it’s very easy to use.
Margin User
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 99
Speed index: 2.3s
Pingdom score: A (96)
Load time: 399ms
Page size: 79.4Kb
HTTP requests: 10
6. Blocksy
With over 100,000+ installations Blocksy is another optimized and fast theme. It is compatible with Elementor page builder plugin and Gutenberg blocks editor. All the customization can be done via WordPress Customizer.
Blocksy default page size is 56.2Kb with a fully loaded time of 470ms and only 6 requests. It has a score of an A (98) on Pingdom.
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 99
Speed index: 2.9s
Pingdom score: A (95)
Load time: 470ms
Page size: 56.2Kb
HTTP requests: 6
7. Astra
Astra is a fully customizable and versatile multipurpose theme that offers exceptional speed and performance. It is the most downloaded theme on wordpress.org with over 1,000,000+ installations.
With its lightweight design and optimized code, Astra ensures quick page load times, resulting in a seamless browsing experience for users.
Its emphasis on speed makes it an ideal choice for individuals and businesses looking to create a fast and responsive website without compromising on design or functionality.
Astra theme scored 99 in PageSpeed Insights with a 3.0s speed index. Its page size is 54.2Kb with a load time of 476ms and 6 HTML requests.
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 99
Speed index: 3.0s
Pingdom score: A (98)
Load time: 476ms
Page size: 54.2Kb
HTTP requests: 6
8. Neve
Neve is a highly efficient WordPress theme known for its exceptional speed and performance, providing users with a fast and seamless website experience.
Developed by Themeisle, this theme is great for any type of website. It’s compatible with popular page builders and WooCommerce and SEO optimized.
Our page speed tests have revealed impressive results, showcasing its ability to deliver a seamless user experience. With a PageSpeed Insights mobile score of 99, a speed index of 3.0s, and a Pingdom score of A (98), Neve demonstrates its exceptional loading capabilities.
Additionally, it boasts a remarkable load time of 492ms, a compact page size of 43.7Kb, and a minimal number of HTTP requests at only 6.
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 99
Speed index: 3.0s
Pingdom score: A (98)
Load time: 492ms
Page size: 43.7Kb
HTTP requests: 6
9. Zakra
Zakra WordPress theme is a versatile and feature-rich theme that offers a wide range of benefits. With its sleek design and customizable options, Zakra allows users to create stunning websites that are visually appealing and user-friendly.
It is also highly responsive, ensuring that the website looks great on all devices. Additionally, Zakra offers excellent speed and performance, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a fast and efficient WordPress theme.
Here are the page speed test results for the Zakra WordPress theme: PageSpeed mobile score: 99, Speed index: 3.1s, Pingdom score: A (94), Load time: 417ms, Page size: 81.4Kb, HTTP requests: 12.
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 99
Speed index: 3.1s
Pingdom score: A (94)
Load time: 417ms
Page size: 81.4Kb
HTTP requests: 12
11. Customify
Customify is one of the lightweight themes that is also compatible with the most popular page builder plugins such as Elementor, WPBakery page builder, and Beaver builder.
Customify WordPress theme is a remarkable choice for individuals seeking a highly efficient and customizable solution for their websites.
This theme stands out due to its exceptional speed, ensuring optimal performance and an excellent user experience.
With its extensive range of customization options and custom layouts, Customify empowers users to effortlessly tailor their websites to their unique preferences and requirements.
It’s scored 99 in PageSpeed Insights with a 3.1s speed index. Pingdom results for Customify are A (97), total load time 441ms, page size 149.9Kb, and 8 requests.
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 99
Speed index: 3.1s
Pingdom score: A (97)
Load time: 441ms
Page size: 149.9Kb
HTTP requests: 8
11. OceanWP
With its clean and modern design, OceanWP provides a seamless user experience across different devices. Not only does it offer a wide range of customization options, but it also prioritizes speed and performance.
Through our speed tests, OceanWP demonstrates the following results: 98 PageSpeed Insights score, 744.8Kb total page size, 556ms load time, and 23 requests. OceanWP theme demonstrated 1.9s for First Contentful Paint which requires improvements.
Overall, OceanWP is a reliable and efficient WordPress theme suitable for a broad audience.
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 98
Speed index: 3.1s
Pingdom score: A (91)
Load time: 556ms
Page size: 744.8Kb
HTTP requests: 23
12. Sydney
Unfortunately, Sydney delivered the worst performance scores. It was one of the few themes on our list that showed some orange marks, 3.5s for Speed Index, which means it needs improvement. It is still a great flexible and multipurpose theme packed with many starter sites.
As for Pingdom, it did pretty well, with an A (97) score, 41.1Kb page size, 381ms load time, and only 7 HTTP requests.
Sydney is a great choice for freelancers and small businesses who are looking for a simple theme to create professional websites.
With its sleek design and customizable features, Sydney offers a seamless user experience and a polished online presence.
Whether you’re a small business owner, freelancer, or blogger, Sydney’s responsive layout and extensive theme options make it an excellent choice for showcasing your content and engaging with your audience.
PageSpeed Insights mobile score
Pingdom score
Theme Scores:
PageSpeed mobile score: 98
Speed index: 3.5s
Pingdom score: A (97)
Load time: 381ms
Page size: 41.1Kb
HTTP requests: 7
Conclusion
Based on our tests we found out that Hello Elementor is one of the fastest WordPress themes followed by the Ona and Margin themes.
In conclusion, when it comes to choosing the fastest WordPress theme, it is important to consider various factors such as good hosting and website optimization. To achieve a fast-loading WordPress site, it’s crucial to consider more than just opting for a quick theme.
In addition to choosing the fastest WordPress theme, it is equally important to select high-performance WordPress hosting, caching plugins, and implement performance best practices. These steps are essential in ensuring that your website loads as quickly as possible.
While there may be slight differences in speed among different themes, the overall variation is not significant. Ultimately, the choice of the fastest theme depends on individual needs and preferences.
By the end of the day, your website loading speed is not the only thing you should care about. Many people are sometimes obsessed with perfect scores, forgetting about User Experience, good design, customization, etc.
We hope you enjoy this post and feel free to comment if we miss anything. Soon we will publish a similar list of the fastest WordPress eCommerce themes. Stay tuned 🙂
Fastest WordPress Themes FAQ
What is the fastest free Elementor theme?
The fastest free Elementor theme is Hello Elementor. It is a bare-bone theme that loads only basic styles for HTML tags. With only 6 requests and a load time of 324ms, it is the fastest free WordPress theme for Elementor.
What is the fastest free WordPress theme?
The fastest free WordPress theme is Ona. It is a Full Site Editing WordPress theme with many styles available. Ona is fully optimized for SEO, speed, and user experience.
What is the fastest Elementor theme?
The fastest Elementor theme is Margin. It is coded with the best coding practices and loads only necessary assets. It beats any other Elementor theme in both PageSpeed Insights and Pingdom.
What Is the Most Lightweight WordPress Theme?
GeneratePress, Kadence, Astra, and Zakra are some of the fastest WordPress themes available, offering lightweight and efficient design to ensure optimal website speed and performance.
How Can I Make My WordPress Theme Faster?
You can make your WordPress theme faster with plugins. Many optimization plugins offer CSS and Javascript minification and image compression which can drastically increase your website speed. Some of the popular optimization plugins are Autoptimize, WP Rocket, and Lightspeed.
Which Elementor theme is best for speed?
Hello Elementor and Margin are the most speed-optimized themes for Elementor.
Their lightweight design and optimized code contribute to their exceptional performance, allowing websites to load quickly and efficiently.
With their compatibility with Elementor, Hello Elementor and Margin provide a seamless integration for designing and customizing websites while maintaining an impressive loading speed.
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