When looking for a high-performance WordPress theme, it’s best to find one that can function without lag.
A few templates lack web performance optimization (WPO), which can hinder loading times. One highly talked about reliable website template site is Astra, but how fast is it?
The Astra theme is incredibly fast, loading in under half a second with a site performance of <50 KB (most sites run at 300 KB).
Astra uses Vanilla JavaScript to cut down on resources by cutting out render-blocking. It also uses pre-built templates and lightweight themes.
So, if you’d like to take a closer look into what Astra is and if it’s right for you and your website, then stay tuned.
We’ll provide you a breakdown of Astra’s many features and how it compares to other free and paid WordPress themes. That way, you can get a better gauge of its performance.
Check out our in-depth Astra Pro Theme Review to get the detail insights.
How Does Astra Cut Down on Resources Used?
Generally, you don’t tend to think about how fast a website is loading unless it takes more than a second.
According to Google, eCommerce websites should load in less than two seconds. Astra’s theme loads in under half a second, which fits into a low threshold.
It’s a good thing, too; no consumer wants to sit and wait for their computer to load a webpage.
Let’s take a closer look into what factors make Astra’s themes load faster than others on the market.
Astra Doesn’t Use jQuery
jQuery is a Javascript library that makes aspects of website design simpler. However, it can be challenging for novice programmers and cause a whole host of problems if they are unfamiliar with coding.
The jQuery library consists of the following features:
- HTML/DOM/CSS Manipulation
- HTML event methods
- Effects
- Animations
- AJAX
- And Utilities
However, Astra doesn’t use jQuery but instead uses Vanilla Javascript. The benefit of choosing Vanilla Javascript is that it’s faster in performance and is less complex than standard jQuery.
Luckily, using Astra’s tools, you won’t even have to touch any coding.
Astra Uses Pre-built Templates
Complex coding often can cause templates to load at slower rates. Using Astra’s pre-built websites can help with this problem due to using simplistic code using Vanilla JavaScript. However, this also has its downsides.
Using simpler code also means that you’re only gaining access to basic themes. Astra is aware of this problem which is why they allow themes to be uploaded to their site.
They also enable advanced customization using built-in header layouts, drag and drop customization, and the ability to upload and edit your own templates.
The Verdict: Astra Cuts Down on Loading Speeds
Astra cuts down on loading speeds due to its limited customization. Vanilla JavaScript takes less than 50 KB of resources, where your average theme can take up to 300 KB.
For comparison, here is a list of some popular WordPress theme hosting sites:
| Resources | Request # | |
| Newsmag | 848.3 KB | 37 |
| Hueman | 582.9 KB | 21 |
| Ashe | 1.6 MB | 24 |
| Activello | 612.4 KB | 22 |
As you can see, other website themes take a hefty amount of resources compared to Astra’s themes.
If you’re worried about loading speeds and performance, then Astra is definitely an excellent alternative to other free or paid WordPress themes on the market.
How Each Element Makes Astra Faster
If you want a more detailed breakdown of how Astra gets its fast load speeds, then you can refer here. We’ll give you a brief breakdown of the elements that increase your website’s usage and loading times.
Lightweight Themes
There is no shortage of WordPress themes online. Astra is free to use, but Astra Pro is worth the investment.
Each theme Astra lists is optimized for both load speeds and performance, and with a lightweight design, each of these themes are crafted to both attract and outperform competing sites.
Using the Pro version will allow you to customize the theme to your liking. Almost every element on the site can be edited using their live editing drag and drop builder.
The plugin also provides advanced styling options such as header and footer customization.
On the other hand, using a lightweight theme can be challenging with other sites or free versions because they limit your site’s uniqueness.
However, Astra Pro provides a powerful solution to customize your theme without using too many resources. They also offer customization depending on your website’s niche – which can help attract your target audience.
Web Page Elements
Elements such as images, videos, and comments tend to increase loading speeds. The more of these elements a theme has, the less optimized it becomes.
Astra Pro provides fast loading themes that still allow you to customize but cut down on its resources.
Resources that take up space include embedded images, videos, and comments. All of these elements are necessary for both blogs and eCommerce websites looking to drive traffic.
With other WordPress themes, you’ll lack a lot of the control Astra provides.
The drag and drop builder allows you to edit images, videos, and comments while also previewing how the site will load.
Each page is also fully customizable, meaning you won’t be stuck to one theme.
Overall, Astra is an excellent choice for those looking to stay in the 50-300 KB range.
The Proof: High-speed Grade Rating & Load Time
Don’t just take our word for it, and other trusted speed rate sites also have evaluated Astra’s performance. Here are the following ratings:
- Pingdom – 100% Speed Grade
- Google Dev – 95% Speed Grade
- YSlow – 91% Speed Grade
Additionally, GTmetrix has estimated that Astra has 400 ms load times. The average site has a load speed of 10,300 ms, which is just around 10.3 seconds. Overall, Astra’s half a second load speed can’t be beaten.
Conclusion: How Fast Is the Astra WordPress Theme?
Astra’s free themes have limitations, but their Pro themes are worth the investment. If you’re looking for a fast performing WordPress theme, Astra would be faster than most other alternatives.
The only downside to using Astra is that you won’t be able to customize your website thoroughly. While they do provide heavy customization, it’s not on the level of what a coder could do.
Unless you plan to hire a professional or know basic code language yourself, Astra WordPress Theme would be a good investment.
Other WordPress Theme Articles:
Leave a Reply