From Astra theme to Kadence Theme

Both Astra and Kadence themes are popular choices for WordPress websites. I have used them both, and they are lightweight and lightning-fast loading themes with no bloat. Both their free versions are sufficient for those who are starting out but still want a professional-looking and fast-loading website. Astra theme was founded by Brainstorm Force in 2017. The Kadence theme, which came out in 2020, was built by the Kadence WP team.

The purpose of this blog is not to provide an in-depth comparison of Astra and Kadence themes’ features but to let you know why I switched to the Kadence theme. That will come momentarily.

Here’s a brief feature comparison of the two themes:

1. Design and Customization: Design and Customization: Both themes offer various design options and customization features. Astra provides a library of starter templates that can be imported with a few clicks. It also integrates well with popular page builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder. Kadence, on the other hand, offers a similar template library and customization options but has its built-in page builder called Kadence Blocks. But it also fully integrates with popular builders such as Elementor and Beaver Builder.
2. Performance: Astra is known for its lightweight code and optimized performance. It’s designed to load quickly and is highly efficient, which can contribute to faster page load times. Kadence also focuses on performance and is known for being lightweight, ensuring a smooth browsing experience.
3. Features: Both themes offer comparable premium features, such as powerful header and footer builders, hooked elements, and a mega menu, to name a few. However, for the free versions, Kadence wins over Astra. The Kadence free version includes a sticky header and scrolls to top functionalities. However, Astra has a White Label feature for their Pro version, which the Kadence theme lacks. White Label Branding is the ability to rename and present a product as your own.
4. Integration and Compatibility: Astra and Kadence are compatible with popular WordPress plugins and integrate well with WooCommerce for e-commerce functionality, LearnDash, etc.
5. Support and Documentation: Both themes have active communities and provide documentation and support. They both have a support ticketing system for free and premium users. I’ve had good experiences with both companies.
6. Pricing: Both themes have active communities and provide documentation and support. They both have a support ticketing system for free and premium users. I’ve had good experiences with both companies.

My Experience with Astra and Kadence

I used to build websites with Astra theme and Elementor. While the page’s performance rating on a desktop is great, it could be better on mobile devices. I use the Google PageSpeed Insight tool to test this. It is a free tool to assess the performance of any website.

Then, I decided to try out the Kadence theme with Elementor and was still disappointed with the mobile’s rating performance using the same tool. If you pair the Astra theme with the Gutenberg editor, it will probably be a different story. The Kadence theme is also compatible with the Gutenberg editor; however, their page builder plugin, the Kadence Block, comes in free and premium versions. Moreover, the Kadence Block is also compatible with any WordPress theme.

Finally, I tested the Kadence theme with the Kadence Block and was extremely happy with the result returned by the Google PageSpeed Insight tool with the desktop and mobile versions. So, I have purchased their Full Bundle package and have been extremely happy with the product and service I receive from their support team. They are very knowledgeable about their products and provide help when you are stuck with anything.

One thing that threw me off with the Astra theme is their product could be more stable. I’ve had some elements in the header that displayed oddly and inconsistently on mobile devices. With Kadence, I still have to encounter these kinds of issues. My tickets are all about How To’s since there are many features to learn.

Wrapping Up

Ultimately, the choice between Astra and Kadence depends on your needs and preferences. They are both good choices, but Kadence is the winning theme that exceeds my expectations.

As a result, I have joined their affiliate program since then. I get a small commission if you purchase one of their products and click on the button below: