If you’re deep in the WordPress game, chances are you’ve bumped into Astra. Whether you’re launching a portfolio, spinning up a WooCommerce store, or just trying to get your blog out of Google Docs and onto the internet, Astra has probably popped up on your radar. And with good reason. It’s fast, flexible, and more popular than a TikTok dance trend in 2020.
This isn’t your usual “yet another WordPress theme.” Astra has over a million active installs, and it didn’t get there by accident. The team at Brainstorm Force built this thing with performance and usability in mind.
But popularity doesn’t always mean quality, right? So, in this Astra WordPress theme review, let’s unpack Astra for what it really is: the good, the great, and the parts that could make you want to pull your hair out.
Quick Overview: Astra WordPress Theme
- Active Installations: Over 1 million active users
- Theme Rating (WordPress.org): 4.9/5 stars based on thousands of reviews
- Pricing:
- Free version available with generous features
- Pro version starts at $59/year or $227 lifetime
- Lightweight Codebase: Less than 50 KB
- WooCommerce Compatibility: Full integration with advanced e-commerce features in Astra Pro
- Customization: High level of control in both free and Pro versions
- Page Builder Compatibility: Works with Elementor, Beaver Builder, Gutenberg, and Brizy
- Starter Templates: Dozens of professionally designed templates for different industries
- SEO & Performance: Built-in schema markup, lightning-fast load times, and optimized for Core Web Vitals.
First Impressions: What Makes the Astra Theme So Popular?
Let’s talk numbers. Astra hit one million active installs in record time. Compare that with themes like OceanWP or GeneratePress, and you see a gap that’s not just wide, it’s a canyon.
According to William Patton from the WordPress Themes Team, “there’s a huge gap between Astra and all others.” That kind of dominance doesn’t happen by chance.
What Astra does well is blend speed with serious design flexibility. It caters to beginners who want pre-built templates and pros who want full control. That rare sweet spot is where Astra lives. So, whether you’re a developer building client sites or a solopreneur with zero coding chops, Astra has a setup that fits. Let’s get to our next consideration in this Astra theme review: performance.
Astra Theme Performance: The Secret Weapon
A lot of themes promise speed, but Astra delivers it. Out of the box, the base theme clocks in at under 50 KB. That’s leaner than your favorite CSS-only hamburger menu. Astra doesn’t rely on heavy frameworks or third-party libraries that bog down your load times. Everything is built to run fast, clean, and efficiently.
Of course, a lot depends on your choice of hosting. Rapyd Cloud is the fastest hosting for Astra WordPress theme, and helps unlock the full extent of what’s possible with the theme. It’s built for high-performing and high traffic websites, so if you have a mission critical business, you should check it out.
But let’s get back to the theme.
The team at Brainstorm Force keeps things simple where it counts. Astra uses the native WordPress customizer to avoid unnecessary scripts. You won’t find bloated page builders or extra fluff baked into the core. And because it minimizes HTTP requests, your server has less work to do every time someone visits your site.
For high-traffic sites, that matters. Big time. If you’re hosting with Rapyd Cloud, where performance is already dialed in, pairing that with Astra can slash your page load times by up to 60% compared to some of the heavier themes on the market.
Customization: Built for Tinkerers and Control Freaks
If you’re the type who likes things “just so,” Astra is your playground. The free version gives you more layout and color control than most themes ever will. You can tweak headers, footers, blog layouts, and global typography without touching a line of code.
Still not enough? Astra Pro is where things get spicy. With the Pro Add-On, you unlock:
- Sticky headers
- Mega menus
- Custom layouts for individual pages or categories
- White-label branding (for agencies)
- Scroll to top links, advanced hooks, and more
Everything is modular. That means you only turn on the features you need. No extra baggage. This keeps your site light, fast, and focused.
Starter Templates: A Designer’s Shortcut (No Shame in That)
Let’s be real. Not everyone has time to design from scratch. Astra’s starter templates are a massive time-saver. You get dozens of pre-designed sites tailored for different niches: photography, fitness, fashion, tech, online shops, and more.
These aren’t clunky one-size-fits-all templates either. They’re actually built to look good and perform well. Load one in, swap out some content, and you’re on your way. Perfect for freelance clients with zero patience.
And yes, they work with popular page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, Brizy, and even Gutenberg. So, if you’ve already got a favorite, Astra plays nice.
SEO and Technical Foundation
Google loves speed, clean code, and schema markup. Astra checks all three boxes. The theme is built with SEO in mind and includes Schema.org integration by default. That means better visibility in search results and a stronger technical base right out of the gate.
While other themes can load slowly and mess with your Core Web Vitals, Astra does the opposite. It puts your content in front of users (and search engines) fast. And if you’re chasing those rich results or trying to improve click-through rates, this stuff matters more than you think.
WooCommerce Support: Built for Online Stores
Astra doesn’t just tolerate WooCommerce. It embraces it. The WooCommerce integration is one of the cleanest we’ve seen in a theme this light. You get full control over product layouts, grid spacing, color schemes, and even mobile responsiveness.
With Astra Pro, you unlock advanced features like:
- Off-canvas filters
- Quick view popups
- Product gallery styles
- Sticky add-to-cart buttons
If you’re running an e-commerce store on Rapyd Cloud, where uptime and speed are critical, Astra is a solid match. Your shop stays fast, clean, and conversion-friendly.
User Experience: Is It Easy to Use?
Mostly, yes. But it depends on your comfort level with WordPress. Astra’s customizer-based design makes it approachable, but the sheer number of options can feel overwhelming for beginners.
The layout is clean and logical, but expect to spend a little time exploring. Fortunately, there are plenty of video tutorials, documentation, and an active community. And if you go Pro, their support team is responsive and knowledgeable.
For seasoned users, the experience is almost frictionless. You get powerful tools without the bloat that usually comes with “feature-rich” themes.
Pricing: Free vs Pro
The free version of Astra is surprisingly generous. It’s more than enough for blogs, portfolios, or simple business sites.
But if you’re serious about customization, brand control, or client work, the Pro version is worth the upgrade. Here’s what you get with Astra Pro:
- Custom layouts
- Advanced header/footer options
- Enhanced blog controls
- WooCommerce add-ons
- Sticky/fixed elements
- White label
Pricing starts at $59 per year (screenshot above shows the annual pricing). For agencies or developers, there’s a lifetime license that pays for itself after a couple of projects. Compared to some themes that charge more and give you less, Astra Pro is a smart investment.
What Could Be Better?
No product is perfect. Astra can be a bit overwhelming when you’re just starting. The options are deep, and there isn’t always a clear “start here” path. The starter templates help, but some onboarding guidance wouldn’t hurt.
Also, while the free version is powerful, you’ll hit a ceiling if you want full control. That’s by design, of course, but it’s still worth noting.
Finally, because Astra works with so many page builders, performance can vary depending on what you stack on top. Pair it with a bloated builder, and you lose the speed advantage. So choose wisely.
Pros & Cons of Astra Theme:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Extremely lightweight (under 50 KB) | Can be overwhelming for beginners due to many options |
| Fast loading and performance-optimized | Free version has feature limits |
| Deep customization without code | Some advanced features only available in Astra Pro |
| Modular architecture – activate only what you need | Template design quality can vary depending on the industry |
| Excellent WooCommerce support | Performance can drop if paired with bloated page builders |
| Works with multiple page builders (Elementor, etc.) | Initial learning curve for full feature mastery |
| Rich library of starter templates | |
| SEO-friendly with built-in schema markup | |
| Flexible for all site types (blogs, shops, portfolios) | |
| Affordable Pro pricing and lifetime deal available |
Who Should Use Astra?
Here’s the short list of folks who will love Astra:
- Freelancers & Agencies: Fast setup, white label options, and client-ready templates.
- E-commerce Entrepreneurs: Tight WooCommerce integration and conversion-friendly layouts.
- Bloggers: Clean design, strong SEO foundation, and control over how content looks.
- Developers: Lightweight, modular codebase and full design flexibility.
If you’re hosting your site with Rapyd Cloud, Astra is a natural fit. You get the performance benefits of our premium infrastructure paired with one of the fastest themes out there.
Installing Astra on WordPress:
Now let’s show you a quick guide on how to install the Astra theme on WordPress using the Rapyd Cloud hosting platform.
- First, log in to your Rapyd Cloud dashboard and click on the WP Admin button. You will now gain access to the WP admin dashboard.
Now, from the sidebar, navigate to Appearance > Themes.
- Now click on Add New Theme.
- The next step is to find the Astra theme. Simply search for the name “Astra”. Once it appears, click Install and then Activate.
- If you don’t want to design the whole website from scratch, you can just use one of their many starter templates, just like we’ll do now. And we will do that by clicking on the Let’s Get Started with Starter Templates button.
- Once you activate the starter templates extension, you can choose their AI Web Builder or the Classic Starter Templates. Let’s just go with the Classic for now.
- Now Astra supports Block Editor and Elementor for customization. So next up, you’ll have to decide which one you prefer. We prefer the Block Editor.
- Now comes the bigger decision: Which starter template would you like to pick? They have a lot of shiny starter templates; just pick the one you like, then click Continue.
- Fill in the relevant details and click on Submit & Build My Website. Again, you’ll have to exercise some patience as it will take some time to build your website. Once built, you can click on View Your Website to check how it looks.
And voila! You have your website ready! Customize the content and design as you want before pushing that live button.
Final Verdict of Our Astra WordPress Theme Review:
So, is Astra one of the best WordPress themes? Yes, after our detailed Astra WordPress Theme Review, we can definitely say that it is one of the few WordPress themes that lives up to the hype. It’s fast, flexible, and powerful enough for professionals without being impossible for beginners to figure out. It doesn’t try to be everything to everyone, but it hits the sweet spot for most use cases.
Pair it with Rapyd Cloud hosting, and you’ve got a setup that looks great, loads fast, and scales when your traffic does.
So, if you’re looking for a theme that won’t slow you down, gives you full control, and plays nice with the tools you already love, Astra is worth a test drive.
Just be warned: once you go Astra, most other themes will feel like a downgrade.
