24 Best SEO Friendly WordPress Themes 2023
There is a 91% chance that you found this page by looking on Google for “best SEO WordPress themes.”
And since we are on top of SERPs for that keyphrase, we feel obligated to speak about SEO and how WordPress themes can help you achieve first-page rankings on Google and other major search engines.
What makes WordPress theme SEO friendly?
A fast code base that scores high on Google PageSpeed Insights properly used meta tags, good Schema markup, and additional SEO controls to change how your content appears on Google.
This post covers:
Features Of An SEO Optimized WordPress Theme
Let’s look at some of the main features that make a WordPress theme SEO friendly.
100% Responsive & Mobile Ready
A WordPress theme must be responsive and compatible with all modern mobile devices.
Since we all try to be the best palls with Google, it’s important to follow its official announcement about mobile-first indexing from 2018.
Web visitors from mobile devices are rising, way ahead of desktop use. So a theme needs to be responsive to enjoy the success you’re after.
Schema Markup
Google and other search engines receive more information with a well-sorted out Schema markup.
This helps with better rankings because you help G get familiar with your website and content.
Schema markup is also commonly known as a rich snippet that appears in search results before everyone else, taking a lot more real estate (better click-through rate).
Fast Page Loading
No one, I mean, NO ONE, likes slow websites. And especially not Google.
Thus, one of the mandatory features of an SEO optimized WordPress theme is excellent performance, which means fast loading speed.
Better loading means a lower bounce rate. Visitors won’t bounce because of staring at a white screen for too long. Having the fastest WordPress theme among competitors is critical to your SEO success.
This leads us to:
Clean Code
A WP theme with a clean code ensures better performance, which all of the tools we gathered below guarantee.
This is especially key in multipurpose themes, eCommerce and every other with many animations and special effects.
It’s hard to figure out whether a theme is well-coded or not as a beginner.
No worries, because that’s why we put each theme through a sequence of tests to ensure it has a valid and well-performing code.
Regular Updates
This one is easier to understand even as a beginner user because you simply check when the theme was last updated.
We do not recommend themes that haven’t been updated in many years.
A theme with regular updates means there’s always someone working on it. This could be fixing bugs and adding new theme features.
Theme updates matter!
Cross-Browser Compatibility
Unfortunately, we don’t all like the same web browser. Some fancy Google Chrome, some Safari, some Bing, you name it!
But an SEO optimized WP theme should also be compatible with different versions of the same browser (not all users update it immediately).
A great tool that we use for testing browser compatibility is BrowserStack. But you can also test it manually if you have the skills.
AMP Support
AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) goes hand in hand with the theme’s performance and loading speed. Google’s very own project focuses on making mobile experience even better.
And because it’s from Google, AMP pages have a special spot in its heart. You can add AMP support using the official AMP plugin for WordPress.
Note: This isn’t necessarily a feature you must turn on when you start. But it’s highly recommended when your website starts growing.
Everyone gets easily confused if you don’t have a proper header structure. Even Google.
Ensure your header tags are in order so users and search engines know better what your posts and pages are about.
While you’ll use H1, H2 and H3 the most, H4 and H5 are great for a detailed content structure. Luckily, themes that we hand-picked have you sorted with the right header tags structure.
Easy Integration With SEO Plugins
Every SEO friendly WordPress theme must be compatible with all the popular SEO plugins.
Hey, not everyone has advanced knowledge of SEO through coding. (Hint: We use Yoast SEO!)
And even if you do, there’s no need to complicate things and make your life hard.
You can enjoy the benefits of an SEO plugin (free versions are REALLY good!) and start with the optimization process immediately.
Best SEO Friendly WordPress Themes (Tested!)
But these are our ultimate 10 in case you need to choose fast:
1. Divi
Divi is an SEO WordPress theme that you can employ for any purpose. This prominent multipurpose theme follows all the latest trends and regulations, ensuring your website’s stable and smooth operation.
While utilizing its layouts and features out of the box, you can still customize everything to your branding needs.
And you do not need to change a single code string to modify Divi. The rules and limitations truly are none when you decide to start working with Divi.
Powerful and user-friendly theme settings, an endless collection of elements, demos, and the list of goodies go on and on. You can go as creative as you want with Divi.
Main features:
- 2,000+ layouts
- Easy online store creation
- User-friendly page builder
- Amazing support
- Endless customizations
- Drag and drop page builder
Best for: Web agencies, freelancers, online stores and small businesses.
Price: $89 per year, but you can also pay a one-time fee of $249 and unlock yourself lifetime access.
2. Jevelin
Jevelin is a modern and responsive WordPress multipurpose theme. It supports all major SEO plugins such as Yoast SEO, Rank Math SEO, and All in One SEO.
But Jevelin can create any website even if you’re a beginner. It comes with WPBakery Page Builder plugin integration for drag and drop page building.
It comes with WooCommerce for an easy eCommerce store setup. Enjoy!
Main features:
- AMP support
- 40+ predefined demos
- 1-click import
- Visual page building
- RTL friendly
Best for: Professional and modern websites.
Price: You can get Jevelin on ThemeForest for $59.
3. Gillion (Trending Item)
Gillion is a flexible magazine and blog WordPress theme. You will get it with 15+ demos of one-click install.
Gillion uses the Unyson framework, but it is Bootstrap compatible too. Its live customizer allows you to change things in real-time!
You can also show how friendly you are through social icons. Gillion is SEO-ready and supports Google Analytics.
What else do you need? Come on and try out this awesome specialized tool and make an instant difference.
Main features:
- 50+ modular elements
- WPBakery page builder
- 15+ home demos
- WooCommerce integration
- Child theme support
Best for: Blogs and magazines.
Price: You can get Gillian on ThemeForest for $55.
4. Soledad
Soledad is a modern, SEO-ready blog and magazine theme (great if you want to expand it with an online store).
A one-stop-shop solution for everyone to quickly design SEO-friendly websites across many interests and fields.
Start making moves with Soledad!
Main features:
- 220+ ready-to-use websites
- Social media
- Header & footer builder
- Autoloading next posts
- GDPR policy
Best for: News websites with an eCommerce section.
Price: You can get Soledad on ThemeForest for $59.
5. MagPlus
MagPlus is a modern and responsive SEO-friendly WordPress blog and magazine theme.
Customization is effortless, with a visual design interface and 150 deployable elements. Impress your audience with 20 slick sliders, 25 article layouts, and 12 headers.
MagPlus offers many layout styles to mix and match to your heart’s content. You don’t need to know about coding to get professional results with MagPlus.
MagPlus is a competent performer across the major search engines. Extensive SEO optimization makes MagPlus a perfect platform to drive traffic home. Broaden your audience and reach a massive, global crowd with MagPlus.
Main features:
- 40+ demos & unlimited layout possibilities
- Mega menu
- Fast loading
- Video tutorials & documentation
- 30+ shortcodes
Best for: Online magazines.
Price: You can get MagPlus on ThemeForest for $59.
6. Webify
With Webify’s versatility, you can expect it to be a top-notch SEO-optimized WordPress theme.
You can employ Webify for all and any website you want to bring into being. This could be a page for a lawyer, a freelancer, a small business, an agency, or an online store. The options are there.
Out of the box, Webify comes with 20 remarkable demos for a quick start of a fresh new website. No need to complicate, stick with the sample that fits your taste, as it is already a full-blown solution.
You are ready to execute a first-class, SEO-ready page with Webify. The customization capabilities also go through the roof, allowing you to edit any Webify section. Webify and the Yoast SEO plugin are an outstanding combination to dominate Google SERPs.
Main features:
- 50+ website demos
- Layouts for every niche
- Great modular system
- One-page option
- 200+ shortcodes
Best for: Businesses, blogs, portfolios and online shops.
Price: You can get Webify on ThemeForest for $59.
7. SEO WP
Look no further than SEO WP if you are looking for a WordPress theme with a high degree of flexibility created explicitly for SEO companies, digital marketing agencies, and social media expert websites.
It is intuitive and easy to use, as it was designed for everyone, not just coders.
You can modify pages in the front-end by simply moving things around and dragging and dropping them.
One of the most incredible things about this product is that it never stagnates or becomes outdated. The developers constantly tweak and improve it.
It is speedy, ensuring excellent performance on all devices. It also integrates PPC management, Web development and design, and 8 illustrations for SEO services.
Main features:
- 100% translatable
- Google ranking tracker
- Booking system
- 30+ page designs
- 90 premium illustrations
Best for: SEO and digital marketing.
Price: You can get SEO WP on ThemeForest for $59.
8. GoodLife
GoodLife is a customizable SEO-friendly WordPress theme to meet and exceed the demands of modern magazine websites.
Additionally, there are many outstanding functionalities, from interactive and fast-loading video playlists to delightful AJAX pagination options and a broad range of choices for headers, galleries, footers, and similar, related pages and sections go.
However, they are outclassing the competition regarding search engine optimization with its clean code.
Main features:
- Gallery & video pages
- Great online shopping experience
- Lazy-loading images
- Quiz builder
- Predefined ad spaces
Best for: Magazines and newspapers.
Price: You can get GoodLife on ThemeForest for $64.
9. Massive Dynamic
Massive Dynamic is a responsive WordPress creative multipurpose website builder. It can handle an extensive range of needs across various websites.
Massive Dynamic combines customizations, shortcode configuration, and layout crafting in a powerful interface.
Inherently SEO enhanced codebase provides a rock-solid foundation for any online entrepreneur with a mind for monetizing to build a business.
Placing your products highly on the relevant rankings and cashing in is easier than ever with its online commerce capabilities.
Attractive AJAX features such as live search or the impressive Notification Center, integrated with shopping carts, make this the best-rounded builder of SEO, marketing, and affiliates websites.
Main features:
- 70 demos
- Easy theme import wizard
- Floating animations
- Parallax effect
- Beautiful sliders
Best for: Businesses and startups.
Price: You can get Massive Dynamic on ThemeForest for $39.
10. SEO Engine
SEO Engine is a WordPress theme dedicated to digital market agencies that offer 12 homepages (half one-page and half multi-page designs).
It provides customization options via the Redux framework and WPBakery page builder.
You will find many typography options between Google Web Fonts and Font Awesome Icons. This theme can set shops with WooCommerce, and translations with WPML plugin.
It works with Contact Form 7 and uses a premium Layer Slider. Additionally, this works with high-resolution formats and includes a child theme.
It also has free lifetime updates and a great premium support team. Get it easy, quick, and with just one click!
Main features:
- 6 one- & 6 multi-page demos
- Layer Slider
- WPBakery builder
- Custom add-ons
- Quick content creation
Best for: Digital marketing agencies.
Price: You can get SEO Engine on ThemeForest for $39.
11. Litho
Litho is a powerful, SEO WordPress theme built with the latest web trends. This tool is for everything. That’s it!
Litho is a truly multipurpose theme that you can use for startups, agencies, restaurants, shops, portfolios, and hotels, to name a few.
Even though it already comes with 30+ samples, you can expand its potential to the unlimited with your creative configurations. For which – of course! – you don’t need code to make it happen.
Start online like a champ in a few moments, hassle-free, thanks to Litho’s versatility.
Main features:
- 300+ templates & 30+ demos
- Elementor page builder
- Slider Revolution
- Great navigation
- Multiple elements for quick integration
Best for: Corporate, portfolio, blog and eCommerce projects.
Price: You can get Litho on ThemeForest for $59.
12. Marketing Pro
Marketing Pro is a powerful and responsive WordPress SEO and internet marketing theme.
Building your website with widgets and 9 different ready-made templates is easy.
WPBakery lets you style and customize your layouts with ease and speed. And the convenient Convert Plug Popup lets you effortlessly capture many new users.
Your content will get top-notch rankings in the blink of an eye with Marketing Pro’s sleek design. Nobody can place your content out there as Marketing Pro can.
And your revenues will soar with WooCommerce and tons of monetization capabilities. Marketing Pro is everything you need to make it in the competitive world of SEO marketing.
Main features:
- WPML support
- Optin forms
- Pricing tables
- Call-to-actions
- Landing page
Best for: SEO agencies.
Price: You can get Marketing Pro on ThemeForest for $59.
13. Hongo
When starting an eCommerce website, you want it all in perfect order. You would want to use an SEO-optimized WordPress theme, like Hongo, that covers all the technicalities.
When making an online store, you only need Hongo, and everything else becomes history. You will find nothing missing in the Hongo kit.
Different demos, tons of easily integrable elements, killer inner pages, blog, Slider Revolution, you name it, Hongo has it all, and then some.
Of course, it treats you to every possible eCommerce layout and element for a smooth operation. Get on board and enjoy the remarkable outcome sooner than later.
Main features:
- 10+ eCommerce demos
- 200+ elements
- Product quick view
- Image hotspot
- Newsletter popup
Best for: Niche online stores.
Price: You can get Hongo on ThemeForest for $59.
14. Bridge
Bridge theme follows all the latest trends and regulations. Of course, it is an SEO-optimized WordPress theme with 100s of layouts.
To be more exact, Bridge comes with 610 demos that cover any niche and industry you can think of. You can build agency, food, travel, medical, photography, music, freelancer, online store, blog websites, etc.
All you need is Bridge even if you work on several projects!
From advanced search function, social media integration, and infographic elements to automatic updates, smooth animations, and a powerful admin dashboard, Bridge has it all and a ton more. Boom!
Main features:
- 610+ demos
- Video tutorials
- Practical admin panel
- CSS3 animations
- 100% valid code
Best for: Creative websites.
Price: You can get Bridge on ThemeForest for $69.
15. Ekommart
Ekommart is a full-blown solution for any eCommerce website. This SEO-ready WordPress theme promises an outstanding online shopping experience across all devices and platforms.
You can kick-start your project with 20+ demos and enjoy all the extra page layouts and components.
Some more specialties of Ekommart are Dokan support, RTL compatibility, header and footer styles, product quick view, and blog module.
Integrating the Elementor page builder allows you to perform any customization tweak your heart desires. Begin on the right track, begin with the all-around and multipurpose Ekommart.
Main features:
- 20+ ready-made samples
- Multi-vendor marketplace compatible
- WPML & RTL ready
- Built-in mega menu
- Product compare
Best for: Any eCommerce business owner.
Price: You can get Ekommart on ThemeForest for $58.
16. Essentials
Essentials is an SEO-optimized WordPress theme that gets the ball rolling with a collection of 35+ samples.
You can also practice any of the multiple 100s of ready-made demo templates and choose to work either with Elementor or WPBakery.
Whatever you see is editable to modify Essentials according to your taste to the last detail. What’s pretty unique about Essentials is the editable website width.
Other features are particles, shape builder, Master Slider, animations, pre-defined headers, and videos in the mega menu. Still, this is just a small segment of all Essentials’ features!
Main features:
- Elementor & WPBakery builders
- 700+ templates
- Popup builder
- Global dynamic styles
- Lightbox gallery
Best for: Businesses and startups.
Price: You can get Essentials on ThemeForest for $59.
17. Kallyas
KALLYAS is a dynamic and modern creative WordPress eCommerce multipurpose theme.
Webmasters find in KALLYAS a reliable platform to suit their every need. The visual builder, packed with demos, templates, and elements, keeps things simple.
The gorgeous Slider Revolution increases your content exposure and engagement. Showcase your finest and trending articles with convenient widgets. You can also enjoy KALLYAS as a WooCommerce theme and build your online store fast.
A versatile SEO features secure your rapid ascent through search engine results.
Whatever you need help with, professional customer support will take care of. Let KALLYAS boost your performance today!
Main features:
- 70+ professional demos
- Quick & smart setup
- Automatic updates
- Smooth scrolling
- Slider & hero scenes
Best for: Creative eCommerce websites.
Price: You can get KALLYAS on ThemeForest for $69.
18. BeTheme
BeTheme is a modern and responsive WordPress multipurpose theme. The ultimate WordPress website building platform is to meet and exceed users’ expectations.
To that end, BeTheme has been developed to be a massive theme.
With 650+(!) professionally predesigned, pre-built websites provided for your convenience, BeTheme always has something up its sleeve that is simply perfect for your purposes, whatever those may be.
Main features:
- 650+ demo websites
- Parallax & video backgrounds
- Built-in translator
- Child theme files
- 60+ elements
Best for: Business, personal and eCommerce websites.
Price: You can get BeTheme on ThemeForest for $59.
19. Tower
If you are a person who appreciates quality, you should consider Tower. This impressive WordPress theme can enhance your website and improve the design of its layout.
For first-time website owners, an online documentation source was included.
Online page improvement and customization are possible via the Online Template Builder Tool. This guarantees that customers can design something that matches their vision.
Pre-made content can be your best friend if you are short on time. This theme has 23 incredible demos. Thanks to the one-click import function, every demo can be easily implemented.
Main features:
- 20+ professional samples
- Wide & boxed layouts
- One-page support
- 30+ portfolio styles
- Custom widgets
Best for: Small and medium-sized businesses.
Price: You can get Tower on ThemeForest for $59.
20. Brando
Brando is an elegant and easy-to-use WordPress single-page theme.
It is a tech-savvy platform where web admins can seamlessly design and develop responsive, modern SEO-friendly one-page websites.
Promote your brand online like a BOSS.
Main features:
- Beautiful portfolio & blog layouts
- Practical shortcodes
- 100+ predefined elements
- Accordions & toggles
- Progress bars
Best for: One-page websites.
Price: You can get Brando on ThemeForest for $59.
21. POFO
POFO is a modern and resourceful SEO WordPress theme for users of any skill level.
Dozens of demos and 100s of templates ensure POFO always has the right fit for your needs. WPBakery lets you fine-tune your pages to your every whim.
POFO is an SEO-conscious theme that helps you increase traffic. Perfect for introducing content or catalogs to audiences. Cutting-edge visual effects and technologies set POFO apart from the pack.
Your visitors won’t soon forget the trendsetting stylings of your POFO website.
POFO will help you conquer the market regardless of your niche or industry. Staying in touch with your audience has never been easier!
Main features:
- 210+ demo layouts
- WooCommerce support
- Touch-sensitive slider
- WOW animations
- Custom sidebars & widgets
Best for: Portfolios and blogs.
Price: You can get POFO on ThemeForest for $59.
22. SEO CRAWLER
SEO CRAWLER is a highly specialized WordPress theme. The creators built this theme to empower agencies and digital markets or websites with a fast and pre-built design easy to set.
It comes with 6 unique demos and many subpages customizations. SEO CRAWLER is based on GoodLayers and features a well-known drag & drop page builder.
It includes pre-built variations for footers and headers to make a distinctive look.
SEO CRAWLER has 30+ excellent options for blogs, portfolios, or gallery layouts. It even gives you an optional top bar that you can enable for social media.
SEO CRAWLER is ready for big things.
Main features:
- Powerful (visual) page builder
- Coming soon mode
- Gallery & portfolio layouts
- Secondary navigation
- 150+ vector icons
Best for: SEO and marketing agencies (and freelancers).
Price: You can get SEO Crawler on ThemeForest for $64.
23. Crocal
Working with Crocal, an SEO-optimized WordPress theme is quick and straightforward. First, you pick between a collection of ready-made samples for online shops, creative agencies, portfolios, fitnesses, and photographers.
But you can craft a professional website even with zero technical and design background.
The potential of Crocal is massive, so make sure you benefit from its powerful features and take your project to the next level.
You can use Crocal for blogging and selling products online just as well. In short, whatever your heart desires, Crocal can help you realize it.
Main features:
- Quick online store creation
- Events Calendar
- Discussion forums (bbPress)
- Advanced (customizable) grid
- Infinite scroll
Best for: Blogs, one-page sites and businesses.
Price: You can get Crocal on ThemeForest for $59.
24. Newsmag
If you are looking for a high-tech WordPress theme that can help boost website traffic, look no further than Newsmag.
Writing articles and maintaining a successful blog is child’s play with this theme. You can fit this template for magazines, newspapers, news, review websites, personal blogs, and publishing websites.
Newsmag loads your page fast and makes it optimized for search engines.
Depending on your primary monetization method, you might not rely on advertising revenue, but those extra funds will be a welcomed addition. This product can support Google Ads.
New to the online world? Or are you not familiar with the setup process?
You do not have to worry because the developers have introduced an informative series of online videos that explain everything in detail.
Main features:
- Flexible blocks
- Integrated newsletter
- Weather widget
- Social counter
- Author box
Best for: Newspapers and magazines.
Price: You can get Newsmag on ThemeForest for $49.
Conclusion: Which Is The Best WordPress Theme for SEO?
We recommend using Divi theme if you’re regularly working on web projects. It easily sorts you out regardless of your niche and industry.
Divi is extremely customizable, thanks to its extensive builder, which suits beginners and professionals alike.
But if you are looking for a one-time-purchase theme, Jevelin is our second suggestion.
It’s a multipurpose theme with great SEO capabilities that easily handles small and large projects.
Take SEO seriously (because it’s so worth it!), starting with a proper WordPress theme.
Frequently Asked Questions: SEO WP Themes
It’s a theme that comes with all the foundations of SEO optimization out-of-the-box. This is usually the technical aspect of search engine optimization, like meta and header tags, Schema, fast loading, mobile-friendliness, etc.
No, not all WordPress themes are SEO-friendly by default. At the same time, the more popular free and premium themes are, the ones that don’t lack the features for successful search engine optimization.
Yes, changing a WordPress theme can strongly impact your SEO. BUT! It can affect it both positively and negatively.
While we don’t necessarily recommend changing the theme (but feel free to customize it), if you decide to do so, pick a search engine optimized one from the collection above.
No, WordPress doesn’t need an SEO plugin, but we highly advise you use it. We work with Yoast SEO, but there are some other really good ones. Optimizing your website or blog for better search engine rankings saves you time and effort.
You can improve your WordPress SEO by picking the right theme, choosing quality hosting, having a great permalink structure, creating a sitemap, ensuring fast loading and responsiveness, using heading tags, and installing an SEO plugin. (This is just a ROUGH overview – you still need to consider many details to go next level.)
WordPress is the best platform for SEO. It raised in popularity due to its SEO friendly nature and it has remained on top ever since. Google and other search engines has optimized their algorithm for WordPress because so many websites are built using this CMS.
The best free WordPress theme for SEO is GeneratePress. It is widely used by content and affiliate marketers thanks to its lightweight nature and flexibility. You can build any content site with it and it will perform well on search engines.
We ensured that all the above-listed themes are SEO-friendly and don’t require tweaks to get the most organic traffic. We recommend using free WordPress SEO plugins such as Yoast SEO or others for more control over what gets indexed and displayed on Google.
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