To optimize your load time, you need to carefully select your WordPress theme. The right theme will be coded to the highest standards, lightweight, and SEO-friendly.
To help you make this decision, we’ve collected some of the fastest-loading WordPress themes available in the WordPress directory and third-party marketplaces.
Fast Loading WordPress Themes Ranked
In addition to design, functionality, price, and template selection, load time is an important factor to consider when choosing a WordPress theme.
30 Fastest Loading WordPress Themes
The themes described below can help you create a fast and customized WordPress website, regardless of the technical experience, budget, or business goals you may have.
Note that load time data is included for each theme. This data was gathered by running the demo site of each theme through the WebPageTest, GTmetrix, and Pingdom tools. The values listed are the fully loaded results for each tool.
1. Astra
Astra is a multipurpose WordPress theme designed for speed and ease of use. Its compatibility with WordPress plugins and integrations gives you a chance to build lots of different types of sites, from a learning space to an online store.
2. SociallyViral
This theme is a great option for online magazines and informative blogs, as it offers all the customizations needed to build an online presence. With its unique interface, the theme allows you to showcase your content and create an engaging experience to keep visitors on your site.
3. SocialNow
SocialNow is the go-to theme for businesses that focus their marketing efforts on a strong social media presence. The theme has Megamenu compatibility and a clean layout that you can easily adapt to your brand’s needs. This SEO-optimized and fully responsive website theme is a good option if you want to build a strong social media strategy.
4. GeneratePress
GeneratePress is one of the most tech-compatible options in the theme market. With its modern coding work, it achieves a 100% speed score. You will also find a lot of options regarding customizations, plugins, and functionalities.
5. Customify
This theme is known for its user-friendly approach and options to personalize its header and footer with the WordPress Customizer. Use Customify to take advantage of all the UX and brand design facts that you know. You can create an accessible website in just a few clicks.
6. Schema
Schema is created with a fast loading rate as the main goal. With its JavaScript code, the few elements displayed on the screen and a short amount of HTTP requests, this is one of the most speed-optimized themes that you can find. It is based on shortcodes and offers a full panel for easy customization. SEO is another of its strong points, as it offers snippets that make search tools better understand what your content is about.
7. Parallax Pro
Parallax Pro is a beautiful package of templates specifically built for the Genesis framework.
As the name suggests, Parallax Pro comes with a stunning parallax effect to add depth to your website. The layout also clearly divides the page into sections, so you can organize large volumes of content. This vertical design encourages readers to scroll to the bottom of the page and click the call-to-action button.
8. Blocksy
Blocky is another great option that minimalist creators will love. This free theme offers a clean design for you to create a fast-loading website. It is fully customizable, and it has a 100% GTMetrix page speed load score.
9. Elementor
This theme is the best option for websites that need a simple design with fewer features. The Elementor theme has complete compatibility with all upcoming updates of this page builder. This light theme is compatible with all the WordPress plugins, gives you the chance to easily build a multilingual site, and allows you to create a fast and responsive website with a clean design.
10. Writee
Available in a free and premium version, Writee is one of the fastest-loading themes for blogging. Writee loads so quickly because it’s lightweight, defers loading JavaScript, and has a cacheable favicon, among other reasons.