23 Fastest WordPress Themes (With Test Data) 2024
Are you looking for the fastest loading WordPress themes?
Nobody likes snail-paced websites.
A website that loads and performs slowly leads to a poor user experience. (NO-NO!)
We tested 300+ WordPress themes to find the fastest loading without compromising features, using 2 online tools.
A) Google PageSpeed Insights
Page Speed Insights measures a page’s performance on mobile and desktop devices. It fetches the URL twice, once with a mobile user agent and once with a desktop user agent.
The PageSpeed Score ranges from 0 to 100 points. A score of 85+ indicates a well-performing page.
B) Pingdom Tools Full Page Test
Pingdom Tools Full Page Test is an easy-to-use web-based tool that examines all web page parts, including file sizes, load times, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and other files linked to the web page. Scoring is done on a scale of 0 to 100 points (the higher, the better).
Table of contents:
Note: We also have an exclusive article on how plugins and themes affect WordPress and website performance.
Update (1): While these themes are great and will help you to achieve a high Google PageSpeed score, they aren’t enough to make our website fast. If your hosting sucks, other optimizations are worthless.
You can read our detailed guide for more information on which WordPress hosting is the best.
Update (2): We added additional performance results from PageSpeed Insights and WebPageTest for comprehensiveness.
Finally, let’s check the fastest and lightest WordPress themes!
Fastest Loading WordPress Themes (Ranked)
| Theme | PageSpeed Insights | Pingdom Tools | GTmetrix | WebPageTest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soledad | 0.4s | 1.49s | 328ms | 0.927s |
| Neve | 0.8s | 965ms | 604ms | 1.233s |
| GeneratePress | 1.1s | 1.39s | 1.2s | 1.219s |
| SEO WP | 1.3s | 1.19s | 1.3s | 1.391s |
| Litho | 1.4s | 1.32s | 1.2s | 1.567s |
| Astra | 1.4s | 1.06s | 1.7s | 2.227s |
| OceanWP | 1.5s | 1.12s | 2.8s | 2.250s |
| Schema | 1.7s | 1.34s | 1.5s | 2.156s |
| Blocksy | 2.1s | 1.31s | 1.4s | 1.439s |
| Customify | 2.6s | 2.93s | 2.9s | 2.572s |
23 Lightest & Fast Loading WordPress Themes
Jevelin
PageSpeed Insights: 3.0s | Pingdom Tools: 3.48s | GTmetrix: 2.9s | WebPageTest: 2.919s
Jevelin is an amazing and responsive WordPress premium multipurpose website theme.
Gorgeous and visually stunning video background sections make your website lively and appealing.
Seamless and smooth parallax sections make your content dazzling and captivating while being completely hardware-powered and lightweight.
You can finally build the websites you have been dreaming of with Jevelin. Try Jevelin now and make a difference!
You can also learn more about it by ready our extensive Jevelin review.
Gillion (Trending Item)
PageSpeed Insights: 2.5s | Pingdom Tools: 3.1s | GTmetrix: 2.6s | WebPageTest: 2.598s
Gillion is a classy magazine and blog WordPress theme. It comes with many awesome built-in customizations and 15 pre-built demos.
It also uses WPBakery page builder and it is based on Bootstrap. Moreover, you will find 4 sets of headers, 12 custom widgets and a beautiful top bar.
Also, Gillion has a flexible layout that allows 6 post formats and pre-built blog designs.
Get this well-documented theme in your hands and enjoy the smooth and quick website creation.
Check our Gillion review, where you’ll find all the ins and out of this fantastic theme.
Astra
PageSpeed Insights: 1.4s | Pingdom Tools: 1.06s | GTmetrix: 1.7s | WebPageTest: 2.227s
Astra is one of the most powerful WordPress themes optimized to offer outstanding performance.
It features everything you need in one pack to build any website quickly. You can make all the configurations you want without touching a single code, which is best for beginners. But pros enjoy working with Astra, too!
Astra easily cooperates with all the popular website builders and plugins for effortless integration.
Astra uses vanilla JavaScript, is very small, and promises an excellent mobile experience. After testing it on different devices, we experienced this exactly.
Enjoy the endless options and make it big with Astra.
GeneratePress
PageSpeed Insights: 1.1s | Pingdom Tools: 1.39s | GTmetrix: 1.2s | WebPageTest: 1.219s
GeneratePress proved to be an excellent performing WordPress foundation when we used it for a few projects to test its capabilities.
Remember, GeneratePress is more of a base for your WordPress theme than the actual theme. BUT!
You also get all kinds of ready-to-use starter templates that will help you speed up the website launching process.
Everyone is welcome to design great things with GeneratePress. The block-based website builder is a dream come true because it is quick and simple to use.
GeneratePress offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.
Neve
PageSpeed Insights: 0.8s | Pingdom Tools: 965ms | GTmetrix: 604ms | WebPageTest: 1.233
Another one of our favorites is the Neve theme. This fast-loading tool is perfect for starting and building an online business with a well-developed website.
Neve promises a top-notch mobile experience, thanks to its optimized core, AMP compatibility and awesomeness.
Neve has many starter websites (100+) for business, portfolio, blog, personal, and eCommerce projects. Because of its flexibility, you can also use it for something else.
We really like Neve’s clean and modern design that stays high-quality across all devices, handheld and desktop.
Neve can become your go-to website solution if you need one package covering everything.
Zakra
PageSpeed Insights: 1.6s | Pingdom Tools: 2.25s | GTmetrix: 2.6s | WebPageTest: 3.124s
Zakra is one of those multi-purpose WordPress themes that doesn’t just fit multiple industries and niches but it does it with style.
Your website won’t be boring with Zakra, and that’s our guarantee!
You can benefit from any ready-to-use demos that are easily installable and quick to customize. But they also work incredibly well out-of-the-box.
Zakra is ready for RTL languages, SEO friendly and lightweight to ensure fast loading.
We also really enjoyed Zakra’s support team, which quickly answered all our questions. It’s always great to know there’s someone you can rely on.
Customify
PageSpeed Insights: 2.6s | Pingdom Tools: 2.93s | GTmetrix: 2.9s | WebPageTest: 2.572
Yup, Customify is very customizable, great to enter the online space with a website unlike any out there.
And being one of the best and fastest loading WordPress themes, you know everyone will have a blast browsing your website’s content.
The page, header, and footer builder allow you to make as many edits as you want until the design meets your expectations. Note: Everything happens fast with Customify!
Moreover, Customify may not have the largest demo library, but the ones you get are easily adjustable to your needs.
However, we encourage you to “start from scratch” with Customify! It’s easy to build a custom website unique to your business.
Schema
PageSpeed Insights: 1.7s | Pingdom Tools: 1.34s | GTmetrix: 1.5s | WebPageTest: 2.156s
Schema creates a perfect foundation for your website with a strong focus on delivering fast loading speed and SEO optimization.
The overall design is basic and simple, but that’s how things should be when you go after the speed.
Schema has all the must-have plugins to configure your site’s look and functionality.
It’ll be effortless!
Schema works with Elementor and includes an ad management solution and a built-in review system, to name a few.
But this is just the beginning. You have endless features and possibilities to take your online presence to the next level.
Blocksy
PageSpeed Insights: 2.1s | Pingdom Tools: 1.31s | GTmetrix: 1.4s | WebPageTest: 1.439s
What’s special about Blocksy is not that it’s a fast loading WordPress theme but also a free one!
Thus, you’re welcome to start free of charge but can expand to the pro version anytime. This will unlock A TON more features for the growth you’re after.
Another great function of Blocksy is its compatibility with all the popular page builders, such as Gutenberg, Elementor, Beaver Builder, etc.
All the sections are editable with your creative twist. WooCommerce integration lets you start selling online fast with all the required elements to guarantee smooth transactions.
Go Blocksy, pick a starter theme and have a website up and running quickly.
OceanWP
PageSpeed Insights: 1.5s | Pingdom Tools: 1.12s | GTmetrix: 2.8s | WebPageTest: 2.250s
OceanWP is like an ocean of demos, extensions, and elements for your next online project. Everything you need is at your fingertips, easily accessible, and instantly integrated.
Restaurants, portfolios, eCommerce, coffee shops, salons, and many other business owners enjoy using OceanWP’s benefits.
Fun fact: OceanWP has 5+ million downloads!
OceanWP gives you complete control over your website to create your exact version. Skills don’t matter because OceanWP is so simple to use that even a total beginner masters it within minutes.
You also have the right to translate it, build an online store, enjoy best SEO practices, and more. Yup, OceanWP rocks!
Soledad
PageSpeed Insights: 0.4s | Pingdom Tools: 1.49s | GTmetrix: 328ms | WebPageTest: 0.927s
Soledad is a super lightweight responsive WordPress multi-concept blog and magazine theme.
It has the powerful WordPress Live Customizer and 250+ unique homepage demo websites and 1,000s combinations. Every aspect of Soledad has been completely optimized for speed.
Soledad ensures no one is left out in the rain of slow-loading websites. Don’t waste time and get your Soledad website going today!
But our Soledad theme review even more goodies and why it’s an absolute must.
CheerUp
PageSpeed Insights: 1.4s | Pingdom Tools: 2.12s | GTmetrix: 2.4s | WebPageTest: 1.975s
CheerUp is a clean and responsive WordPress blog with a magazine website theme. 14 demo websites combined with 1,000s layout variations unlock complete design flexibility. (You deserve the best!)
Also, you can put together ready-to-use magazines with effective, modern tools in minutes. Handy widgets, trending posts, and the latest news are all a couple of clicks away.
Cheer up with CheerUp!
Divi
PageSpeed Insights: 1.2s | Pingdom Tools: 1.47s | GTmetrix: 1.4s | WebPageTest: 2.167s
Divi is Elegant Themes’ most powerful theme yet. The developers added 100+ pre-made and completely customizable layouts for you.
This theme comes with Divi Builder, with many pre-made modules like call-to-actions, sliders, pricing tables, blurbs, contact forms, sidebars, and more.
Divi also includes different header styles, unlimited colors and blog/ portfolio options. Endless possibilities!
If you are not convinced yet, read our full Divi theme review.
Newspaper
PageSpeed Insights: 1.4s | Pingdom Tools: 2.42s | GTmetrix: 1.9s | WebPageTest: 2.822s
Newspaper is the most popular WordPress theme for blogs, news, and professional magazine websites of all types. Its delightful, modern lines make it a great choice.
This template has a range of PRO demos, which are faster and lighter to use for your website.
Newspaper is an AMP and mobile-friendly theme that uses best SEO practices. Powered by a front-end, custom-tailored page builder, 100s of pre-made designs for articles and pages, a header builder, flexible blocks, and advanced settings for shortcodes – Newspaper is an excellent WordPress theme.
Spice up your website by easily adding quality content, displaying favorite social profiles, and embedding videos from YouTube or Vimeo.
Read our Newspaper theme review for more.
Webify
PageSpeed Insights: 2.2s | Pingdom Tools: 2.27s | GTmetrix: 2.1s | WebPageTest: 1.984s
Webify is a carefully optimized and fast-loading WordPress theme with multiple pre-designed concepts. The kit includes 20 different demos for businesses, blogs, portfolios, online shops, and other creative ventures.
Not only does Webify have numerous homepage designs, but it also comes with ready-to-use internal layouts, headers and footers.
Install the demo of your choice with a single click and start turning it into a functional website, presenting your business online like a champ.
Sway
PageSpeed Insights: 2.0s | Pingdom Tools: 2.81s | GTmetrix: 1.9s | WebPageTest: 2.529s
Sway is one of the fastest-loading WordPress themes available on the market, with amazing optimization and modern technologies.
It does not matter if you want to build a blog, an agency page, an online store, or a corporate site—Sway takes care of it.
Thanks to the ready-to-use demo material, you can create 40+ different websites out of the box. However, since Sway is 100% customizable, the possibilities are endless. And to perform any work, you will never need to write code.
TheGem
PageSpeed Insights: 1.6s | Pingdom Tools: 1.85s | GTmetrix: 1.9s | WebPageTest: 2.1296s
It is no secret that TheGem is a super-fast loading WordPress theme. With that in mind, TheGem guarantees a first-class performance that will keep your users around for longer.
All you need to do is use the available layouts and components and have a page up in a breeze. Thanks to the WPBakery drag-and-drop builder, anyone can use TheGem to its full potential without sweat.
TheGem also comes with the necessary documentation, video tutorials, and support. But make sure you read our TheGem theme review for more insights.
Litho
PageSpeed Insights: 1.4s | Pingdom Tools: 1.32s | GTmetrix: 1.2s | WebPageTest: 1.567s
Litho is a fast-loading WordPress theme with extreme optimization that does everything to the highest degree. This tool ensures a performance that will blow everyone’s socks off.
Plus, it’s a multipurpose theme that works for any website creation you can think of.
If you’re looking for power, you get it in Litho. Thanks to the hundreds of templates and 35+ home demos, setting up a page will be quick and effortless.
Litho is also an Elementor WP theme, allowing you to customize everything. Plus, the theme uses WooCommerce for online store creation. Everything is possible when you go Litho.
SEO WP
PageSpeed Insights: 1.3s | Pingdom Tools: 1.19s | GTmetrix: 1.3s | WebPageTest: 1.391s
SEO WP theme is a modern and fast loading theme carefully crafted for digital marketing agencies, SEO companies and their clients.
It is powered by Live Composer and drag and drop page builder to construct and edit custom pages with unlimited layout combinations. It comes with an amazing mega menu plugin for responsive, content-rich menus.
SEO WP theme includes other premium WordPress plugins such as Master Slider, Easy Social Share Buttons, NEX-Forms, Rankie, Google Maps, and WordPress Menus Management.
Jannah
PageSpeed Insights: 1.8s | Pingdom Tools: 1.63s | GTmetrix: 1.5s | WebPageTest: 1.762s
Jannah is an up-to-date WordPress theme with 25+ pre-made demos. Its two big strengths are speed and flexibility.
Your content will always be mobile-optimized and load fast everywhere. (The Accelerate Mobile Pages (AMP) project makes this possible.)
Jannah has increased its speed with several advanced techniques behind the scenes. It gives you a truly blazing page loading experience.
The website performance has a Page Speed score of 98%. Also, with Lazy Load, your images will load only when the user requires them to—fast and simple.
Hongo
PageSpeed Insights: 2.1s | Pingdom Tools: 2.45s | GTmetrix: 1.9s | WebPageTest: 2.091s
Hongo is a fast-loading WordPress theme that suits numerous eCommerce businesses. The multi-concept approach allows you to easily use one tool to establish various online stores.
From apparel, watch and gadget to leather, lingerie and shoe stores, you can make them all with Hongo and then some. You can even use it for building a multi-vendor platform (with Dokan).
Consultio
PageSpeed Insights: 2.1s | Pingdom Tools: 2.21s | GTmetrix: 1.9s | WebPageTest: 2.499s
Consultio is here to help you make an immediate difference for consultancies and other types of businesses. This fast loading WordPress theme is no joke. It comes with 70+ demos and a collection of 280+ practical elements.
Consultio is optimized for the exceptional website performance you deserve on all devices and platforms.
Google Maps, smooth transitions, animations, WPML compatibility, and Contact Form 7 all decorate Consultio. The tool also includes Elementor, so improving will be a child’s play.
X – The Theme
PageSpeed Insights: 1.9s | Pingdom Tools: 1.63s | GTmetrix: 1.8s | WebPageTest: 1.782s
X WordPress theme brags multiple unique designs inside one theme with no additional setup required.
The X theme is also fully responsive, includes Google Web Fonts, shortcodes, bbPress, BuddyPress, Slider Revolution, Font Awesome Icons and RTL support.
With all these features and more, ThemeCo says this is the last WordPress theme you must buy! (It’s true.)
What Makes A WordPress Theme Fast Loading?
While the theme itself isn’t the only fast-loading factor, there are still a few features that will help contribute to epic performance.
Note: You may also be interested in our list of the best website performance optimization tools.
1. Mobile-Friendly Layout
A responsive WordPress theme is one of the essential contributors to today’s web use standards. Mobile usage is growing daily, so guaranteeing the best mobile experience is a MUST.
Google even said this is one of the top-ranking factors.
A mobile-friendly layout means it automatically adapts to mobile and tablet devices without needing a separate version of a website just for mobile. This also means Google has less work crawling your website.
2. Optimized Images
Another crucial factor that’s not exclusively related to the theme itself but the website is optimized images.
So many website owners overlook this but it can mean a BIG difference.
Take care of the images you upload to the website. Make them JPEG and use an image optimizing plugin to make them smaller so they don’t slow down your website.
This is ESPECIALLY important if you have an image-heavy website or blog.
3. Light Code (small page size)
A lightweight WordPress theme that’s small in size will automatically make it much faster.
While we already mentioned images, another thing that’ll make your website heavy are animations and special effects.
Just don’t use them unless it’s absolutely necessary.
More design elements mean more bloat. More bloat means a slower loading website.
Keep it clean and minimal (at least initially), which you can accomplish with easy customization tweaks.
4. GZIP Compression
GZIP is one of the more popular compressing solutions. Not all WordPress themes use it, but those that do are significantly faster!
It’s a method that reduces the theme’s file size, putting less stress on your hosting.
With GZIP, you can reduce the file size by even more than 80%, so it’s worth considering.
5. Fewer HTTP Requests
The more material a site has, the more HTTP requests are necessary. Stuff that delays the load time are images, custom typography, scripts, etc.
This isn’t necessarily a concern when you’re starting out because your website won’t (very likely) have a ton of stuff going on.
However, HTTP requests can become an issue later when you start stuffing your website with a lot of elements, functions, and other features.
Luckily, a simple WordPress theme will help lower the number of HTTP requests. (But HTTP/2 aims to eliminate this issue for good.)
How To Check WordPress Theme’s Loading Speed
As our collection above shows, we tested each theme using Google’s PageSpeed Insights, Pingdom Tools, GTmetrix, and WebPageTest. Other tools are available, but these four are the most reliable.
If you’re doing your own research, we advise you to use at least two, if not all, tools to make the tests.
Each uses different servers and locations, drastically affecting the overall performance.
The tools normally deliver page load time, number of HTTP requests and even recommend improving your website or theme.
You don’t always need to hire a professional to conduct a website audit. A page speed tool’s insights can deliver fantastic suggestions for improving the website’s loading time.
For the sake of an example, we’ll use the Astra theme and Pingdom Tools:
Step 1: Enter the theme/website’s URL in Pingdom Tools
Step 2: Select the nearest location
Step 3: Click the “Start Test” button
Step 4: Wait a few seconds for the test to complete
Step 5: View performance test results
And some of the suggestions for a better performance:
How Fast Should A WordPress Website Load
While endless resources state different “best” website loading times, we think anything below 3 seconds is decent, and anything below 2 seconds is really good.
A simple rule is: The faster, the better.
And the mobile version of a website needs to load fast.
We also want to share a few of the factors that affect a WordPress website’s load time:
- Web hosting (invest in quality one)
- WordPress theme (pick a fast loading one!)
- Number of images, video and media in general (and their size)
- Animations and effects (don’t use too many)
- Code quality (needs to be lightweight – not bloated with unnecessary scripts)
- Number of plugins (also, different plugins affect load time differently)
- Use of CDN (can make a big difference)
Build A Fast Loading Website Now
You now have everything you need to build a fast loading website. While it all really starts with picking the right web hosting, the second step is to select a fast loading WordPress theme.
We gathered many really quality solutions that cover creating any website you’d like to build.
While you have a solid foundation, you decide how many elements, animations, and plugins you’ll use.
Our suggestion: Don’t overdo it.
Start with a simple website and only upgrade it with new stuff when necessary.
Make a fast loading WordPress website like a CHAMP!
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