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7 Best Small Business Website Builders (Tested & Compared)

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7 Best Small Business Website Builders (Tested & Compared)

For over 15 years, we have built and managed our websites using WordPress.org, and it has been an amazing platform for our needs. That’s why we thoroughly recommend it to anyone looking to start a small business website.

However, we recognize that every company has unique needs, which is why we have explored other small business website builders, including Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress.com.

We reviewed and tested the most popular website builders by downloading and making real websites with them. This helped us gain firsthand experience with their features, user interfaces, and overall performance.

It also allowed us to identify each builder’s strengths and weaknesses, ensuring we can offer accurate recommendations tailored to your specific needs.

In this article, we will share our list of the best small business website builders, along with their pros and cons.

Best Small Business Website Builders

If you are in a hurry, then take a quick look at our expert picks to make a decision.

# Website Builder Best For Pricing
🥇 WordPress.org Powerful small business website Free
🥈 Wix Appointment bookings and management $4/month + Free
🥉 Squarespace Photographers and subscription-based services $25/month
4 HubSpot Basic small business websites Free
5 Gator Website Builder Freelancers and simple business sites $3.46/month
6 WooCommerce Small online stores Free
7 WordPress.com Managed website builder $9/month + Free

How We Tested and Reviewed Small Business Website Builders

If you want to launch a small business website without having to write any code, then using a website builder is the quickest and most cost-effective option. That being said, there are a lot of website builders to pick from.

We have downloaded and built real websites with the most popular website builders to help you choose the right one for your business. When doing that, we paid special attention to the following criteria.

  • Ease of use: We have prioritized website builders that have a beginner-friendly interface, an easy onboarding process, a huge community, and extensive documentation.
  • Features: An ideal builder for a small business site will have features like a drag-and-drop interface, premade templates, scalability, and affordable pricing.
  • Reliability: We have only included the small business website builders that we have tested ourselves. We also paid attention to customer reviews and support to look for common issues.

Why Trust WPBeginner?

WPBeginner is a team of experts with 15+ years of experience in WordPress, SEO, design, website creation, and more.

We thoroughly tested and reviewed each website builder on this list to give you the best recommendations. For more information, see our complete editorial process.

Having said that, let’s take a look at the best small business website builders on the market.

1. WordPress.org

WordPress.orgWordPress.org

WordPress.org is the best website builder for small businesses because it is free, open source, and scalable.

For over 15 years, we have built and managed successful websites like WPBeginner and WPForms using this website builder. WordPress.org has been instrumental in our growth because it’s easy to use and hasn’t slowed us down as our websites have become more popular.

For more details, see our complete WordPress review.

The platform is super flexible and allows you to add any kind of functionality to your site using its library of 59,000+ free WordPress plugins. Plus, you can use popular themes to customize your site and make it visually appealing for visitors.

For this reason, it is highly popular and used by over 43% of the sites on the internet.

WordPress.org gives you complete control over your site, and it can also integrate with popular page builders like SeedProd to launch your small business in just a few minutes.

SeedProd Website Builder for Business ThemeSeedProd Website Builder for Business Theme

Other than that, opting for WordPress.org allows you to own your website and its content. This means that you are free from limitations and intrusive ads often found in free website builder plans.

Plus, as your business thrives, your website can scale alongside it, as WordPress.org can easily handle high traffic volumes, allowing you to build a website that grows with your ambition.

Expert Tip: Looking for a WordPress website without all the hassle of creating it? Our team of experts can design a custom, attractive WordPress site that is optimized for SEO and conversions. Check out our WPBeginner Website Design Services today!

Pros

  • We love WordPress.org’s huge community of users and developers because it makes it easier to find help and tutorials online if you run into any issues while building your website.
  • This platform is used by many popular brands like Sony Music, Disney Books, Taylor Swift, and more.
  • The website builder is translated into over 75 languages, meaning you can create a multilingual site with it.
  • It can be used to create any kind of website like a blog, membership site, online store, travel business, selling furniture, and more. We have used WordPress.org to build online stores and blogs and have had a great experience.

Cons

  • From years of using WordPress, we know how frustrating and time-consuming it can be to maintain all the WordPress core, plugins, and theme updates yourself. This means you may need to pay for WordPress maintenance.
  • Even though WordPress.org itself is free, you will still need to purchase a domain name and hosting.

Why we recommend WordPress.org: Overall, WordPress.org is the best small business website builder because it is free and allows you to customize your site however you want. You won’t have to use a single line of code to launch your small business with this option.

For more details, see our beginner’s guide on how to make a WordPress website.

2. Wix

Wix website builderWix website builder

Wix is another great option for small businesses. It is a powerful website builder with a drag-and-drop editing interface and a vast library of pre-made templates for all kinds of industries and niches.

We evaluated Wix by creating a test website and found it to be a user-friendly platform particularly well-suited for people new to website building. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to create websites without requiring technical knowledge.

Wix Website Builder InterfaceWix Website Builder Interface

The platform is fully hosted, so you won’t have to purchase a hosting plan, and it offers a free SSL certificate to all its users. It also has hundreds of free and paid apps, which are like plugins, and will add different functionalities to your small business site.

Additionally, Wix offers basic SEO tools that suggest relevant keywords, generate sitemaps, optimize images, and customize meta tags.

We were highly impressed by Wix’s SEO Wizard, which simplifies the process of optimizing websites for search engines. Its step-by-step instructions make it an excellent choice for beginners who want to improve their website’s SEO.

For more information, you can see our comparison of Wix vs. WordPress.

Pros

  • When we were testing Wix, we were impressed by its built-in artificial design intelligence (Wix ADI) that can design a website for you.
  • It offers security tools to help protect your site from hackers and malicious viruses.
  • Wix is optimized for mobile phones and offers an analytics feature to track your business site performance.
  • It has a Wix booking feature that lets you manage appointments and bookings online.

Cons

  • The platform shows Wix-branded ads on your website, which can annoy users and hurt your branding. You will need to upgrade to the paid plan to remove these ads.
  • When building a website with the platform, we realized it can be difficult to move your website from Wix to any other builder.

Why we recommend Wix: We recommend this platform if you have a hotel and want to open a website to manage bookings online. This is because it has a built-in Wix Bookings feature, which can really help you.

It is also a good option for an online store because it offers features like product listings, secure payments, and shipping management.

3. Squarespace

SquarespaceSquarespace

Squarespace is a great website builder known for its collection of modern templates. When creating a site with it, we found that the platform’s flexibility allows for easy switching between these layouts.

This enables users to explore different options and find the ideal design for their business.

You can create stunning websites in minutes thanks to the builder’s drag-and-drop interface and mobile-responsive design. Squarespace’s powerful features let you showcase your work using portfolios and galleries, making it ideal for creatives and businesses.

The platform even comes with a huge app market with thousands of apps that you can add to your website to extend its functionality, like contact forms, social media integration, popups, and more.

Other than that, Squarespace has a special eCommerce plan to create an online store, manage inventory, accept payments, and more.

Pros

  • You can also sell subscription-based services and products with the platform.
  • Upon testing, we found out that Squarespace lets you upload and edit images efficiently right in its builder.
  • It is a self-hosted platform, so you won’t have to worry about hosting plans.
  • Squarespace has some basic SEO and analytics features.

Cons

  • The website builder offers limited integrations with third-party tools, which can restrict your growing site.
  • We didn’t like that it offers limited customization options for its premade templates. This can be a con for those looking for a more flexible builder.
  • Squarespace can be a bit expensive if you are on a shoestring budget.

Why we recommend Squarespace: If your small business is related to photography, art, or design, then Squarespace is a good choice due to its huge library of visually appealing templates.

It is also a good choice for selling subscription-based services. For more details, see our comparison of Squarespace vs. WordPress.

4. HubSpot Website Builder

HubSpot Website BuilderHubSpot Website Builder

HubSpot Website Builder is an amazing choice for building a small business website. Our experience in building a demo site with it showed us its potential to streamline website creation and boost your online presence.

For more information on our experience with HubSpot, you can see our complete HubSpot review.

HubSpot has a user-friendly drag-and-drop builder, comes with a bunch of pre-built themes, and integrates with the HubSpot CRM, where you can store all your customer data.

The builder also provides special SEO tools to optimize pages for search engines and offers built-in security to protect your website from malware and other attacks.

Additionally, we love that the website builder is free and comes with free hosting, making it a great choice if you are just starting your small business.

Pros

  • HubSpot has an AI-powered tool to help create a simple website by answering a few questions about your business.
  • We particularly liked the adaptive testing feature where you can choose up to five variations of a page, and HubSpot will monitor and serve the best-performing option.
  • You can create WordPress forms, landing pages, live chat, and chatbots on your website.
  • You can also track your website traffic and see how visitors are interacting with your website.

Cons

  • When evaluating the tool, we realized that HubSpot itself doesn’t have built-in eCommerce functionality. That is why we don’t recommend it if you plan on starting an online store.
  • As your site grows, the pricing can be expensive.

Why we recommend HubSpot Website Builder: If you have a small business and are planning to just have a small website, then this is an ideal solution.

5. Gator Website Builder

Gator Website BuilderGator Website Builder

Gator is a popular website builder by HostGator that is a great option for making a small business site. We thoroughly tested the tool to evaluate its user interface and overall effectiveness in creating a visually appealing website and found it pretty easy to use.

Gator offers a free domain name, SSL certificate, and hosting plan to all its users at affordable prices, making it a great choice if you are just starting your business.

Other than that, it even has a library of stock photos that you can use in your blog posts to make your content visually appealing.

Pros

  • You can easily link a website created by Gator to any social media platform like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
  • We like its SEO and analytics tools that can improve site rankings and track your business performance.
  • Gator has eCommerce features like product listings, shopping carts, and payment processing to set up an online store.

Cons

  • Gator does not have a free plan.
  • When making a website with the tool, we found that it offers limited design and customization flexibility for your website.

Why we recommend Gator Website Builder: If you are looking for a tool to build a simple business site that shows your opening hours, contact information, and services, then Gator is a great choice.

It is also a good option if you are a freelancer and want to build a resume site to attract more clients.

6. WooCommerce

WooCommerceWooCommerce

WooCommerce is the best website builder for eCommerce sites. If you plan to sell any products on your small business site, then this is the best option for you.

Our experience with WooCommerce has been super positive. We have used the tool in the past to sell products online. It’s reliable and user-friendly, and you can learn more in our WooCommerce review.

Additionally, WooCommerce can seamlessly integrate with WordPress and has an easy onboarding process that allows you to set up a store in just a few minutes. You can efficiently manage your inventory, display products, and collect payments with 83+ payment options and many WooCommerce plugins and extensions.

WooCommerce also has a large and active community of users, which means you can find plenty of support and resources online if you run into any errors. Other than that, it is designed to be SEO-friendly and helps your store rank higher in the search results.

For more information, you can see our beginner’s guide on WooCommerce made simple.

Pros

  • The platform has a lot of free and paid WooCommerce plugins that can add all kinds of functionality to your website.
  • Upon testing, we realized that WooCommerce integrates with most third-party tools, such as email marketing services, help desk software, and live chat software.
  • With the help of All in One SEO, which is the best SEO plugin, you can also add product schema to your WooCommerce store products. This can boost your site rankings.

Cons

  • WooCommerce itself is free. However, to launch your small business site, you will need to purchase a domain name and hosting.
  • We didn’t like that you have to manually update WooCommerce, create backups, and perform routine maintenance tasks. This can be time-consuming and annoying for some users.

Why we recommend WooCommerce: If you plan to sell products like clothing, pet supplies, and more on your business site, then WooCommerce is the best option for you.

7. WordPress.com

WordPress.comWordPress.com

WordPress.com is a managed WordPress hosting service and user-friendly platform for creating websites without technical knowledge.

Keep in mind that WordPress.com is completely different from WordPress.org, which is a self-hosted platform. For more details, see our comparison on WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org.

This platform offers pre-designed themes, core blogging features like creating and scheduling posts, and basic media management.

Plus, it handles backups and site maintenance automatically, so you won’t have to worry about anything.

However, while WordPress.com offers a free plan to get started, it displays ads and restricts plugin access, which can limit your website’s functionality and customization. The Personal and Premium plans also have these limitations.

That is why we recommend the Business plan for $25 to create a fully customizable small business website with access to plugins. On the other hand, if your goal is to sell products online, then the Commerce plan for $45 is the better option. It includes all the features of the Business plan with WooCommerce integration.

Pros

  • WordPress.com has a clean interface, which makes it ideal for beginners.
  • We particularly liked its mobile responsiveness because about 60% of website traffic comes from mobile devices.
  • WordPress.com offers great customer support to all the users who have upgraded to the paid version of the platform.

Cons

  • If you opt for the Commerce plan, then you will have to pay a transaction fee of 4-8% in addition to standard processing fees.
  • While WordPress.com offers a user-friendly platform to build websites, it functions more like a managed WordPress hosting service compared to self-hosted WordPress.org. This means you have less control over customization and functionality due to limitations on plugins.

Why we recommend WordPress.com: If you want to create a simple business site, then WordPress.com can be a good solution. However, if you are on a budget, then you are better off using self-hosted WordPress.org with other affordable hosting companies like Bluehost, Hostinger, or SiteGround.

Which Is the Best Small Business Website Builder?

In our expert opinion, WordPress.org is the best small business website builder because it is free, scalable, and flexible. Plus, it gives you complete control over your site by allowing you to add kinds of functions using different plugins and themes.

However, if your small business manages bookings and appointments, then Wix is also a great solution due to its Wix Bookings feature.

Similarly, Squarespace is a good choice for photographers, artists, and designers because it has modern template designs.

But if you just plan to create an online store, then we recommend WooCommerce.

Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business Website Builders

Here are some questions that are frequently asked by our readers about website builders for small businesses.

How much do website builders typically cost?

An average website builder can cost you about $3-$30/month. However, most builders also offer a free plan or a trial period where you can try out the builder before purchasing it.

You can also opt for WordPress.org, which is self-hosted and completely free. Just remember that you will still need to purchase a domain name and hosting plan and that can increase overall costs.

Can I switch website builders later on?

Yes, you can switch your website builder later on. However, the process can be difficult depending on the website builder you used previously and the complexity of your site.

That is why we recommend choosing the builder that meets all your needs right from the start. To get an idea of how to switch builders, see our tutorial on how to move your blog from WordPress.com to WordPress.org.

Do website builders offer SEO tools?

Some website builders like Gator offer basic SEO tools like keyword optimization, meta description editing, and sitemap creation.

However, to completely optimize your site for SEO, we recommend using a plugin like All in One SEO and following all the best practices. For more information, see our ultimate SEO guide.

Related Guides for Small Business Websites

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.



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Automattic sends WP Engine its own cease-and-desist over WordPress trademark infringement

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Automattic sends WP Engine its own cease-and-desist over WordPress trademark infringement

The brouhaha in the WordPress community looks likely to escalate into a legal battle around trademarks.

Just a day after WordPress hosting service WP Engine sent a cease-and-desist notice to Automattic asking its CEO to stop publicly trashing WP Engine, now Automattic has sent its own cease-and-desist letter to WP Engine, saying the latter has infringed several trademarks like WordPress and WooCommerce.

This comes after Matt Mullenweg, the CEO of Automattic and co-creator of WordPress, last week criticized WP Engine for profiteering off the open source WordPress project, calling it a “cancer to WordPress,” and accused the company of contributing very little to the community.

In its letter dated Monday, Automattic alleged that WP Engine has built a business of over $400 million in revenue based on unauthorized use of its WordPress trademark, which Automattic claims it has the exclusive commercial rights for from the WordPress Foundation. Automattic also said WP Engine has misled consumers into believing that there is a direct affiliation between the two companies.

“Your unauthorized use of our Client’s trademarks infringes on their rights and dilutes their famous and well-known marks. Negative reviews and comments regarding WP Engine and its offerings are imputed to our Client, thereby tarnishing our Client’s brands, harming their reputation, and damaging the goodwill our Client has established in its marks,” the letter read.

“Your unauthorized use of our Client’s intellectual property has enabled WP Engine to compete with our Client unfairly, and has led to unjust enrichment and undue profits,” it added.

Automattic is also demanding compensation for the profits made by WP Engine by using its trademarks and said that if WP Engine doesn’t amicably resolve the matter, the company has the right to file a civil injunction case.

For context, here’s a good summary of the WordPress community by my colleague Paul Sawers:

WordPress powers more than 40% of the web, and while any individual or company is free to take the open source project and run a website themselves, a number of businesses have sprung up to sell hosting services and technical expertise off the back of it. These include Automattic, which Mullenweg set up in 2005 to monetize the project he’d created two years earlier; and WP Engine, a managed WordPress hosting provider that has raised nearly $300 million in funding over its 14-year history, the bulk of which came via a $250 million investment from private equity firm Silver Lake in 2018.

In the cease-and-desist letter WP Engine sent to Automattic on Monday, the company defended its right to use the “WordPress” trademark under fair use laws. The company added that Automattic has “a profound misunderstanding of both trademark law and WordPress Foundation’s trademark policy.”

It also said Mullenweg demanded WP Engine pay Automattic “a significant percentage of its gross revenues — tens of millions of dollars in fact — on an ongoing basis” for a license to use trademarks like “WordPress.”

“When his outrageous financial demands were not met, Mr. Mullenweg carried out his threats by making repeated false claims disparaging WP Engine to its employees, its customers, and the world,” WP Engine’s letter said.

Notably, Automattic’s letter doesn’t mention Mullenweg’s remarks about WP Engine.

In the last week, Mullenweg has accused WP Engine of not contributing enough to the community and offering “a cheap knock-off” version of WordPress. WP Engine pushed back against this characterization and called out Mullenweg for launching a smear campaign against the company, saying it has already affected some of its business.

This might be the start of a long legal tussle between the two entities. A lot of folks also pointed out that this battle might be harmful for providers offering specialized WordPress hosting.

Earlier today, WordPress Foundation changed its Trademark Policy page, and it now calls out WP Engine, alleging the hosting service has confused users.

“The abbreviation ‘WP’ is not covered by the WordPress trademarks, but please don’t use it in a way that confuses people. For example, many people think WP Engine is “WordPress Engine” and officially associated with WordPress, which it’s not. They have never once even donated to the WordPress Foundation, despite making billions of revenue on top of WordPress,” the updated page reads.

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New WordPress.com Themes for September 2024 – WordPress.com News

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New WordPress.com Themes for September 2024 – WordPress.com News

Four of our favorite new themes.

The WordPress.com team is always working on new design ideas to bring your website to life. Check out the latest themes in our library, including great options for brats, foodies, and beauty bloggers. Take a look below.


Tap into your brat summer vibes all year round with our brand new Partygurl theme. Inspired by the now-iconic bright green and simple typography from Charli XCX’s Brat album, this styling will immediately identify you as someone who’s done with the “clean and polished” aesthetic of sameness that you see across the web.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.


RecipeBook WordPress.com theme homepage and blog post page.

RecipeBook is a warm, vibrant theme made for foodie content creators who want their recipes to shine. Inspired by the charm of old-school cookbooks, RecipeBook pairs eye-catching colors with bold typography. The homepage invites discovery with a handy category list and flexible Query Loop block, making it easy to showcase your culinary creations. Whether you’re sharing recipes or creating food collections, RecipeBook offers a playful yet functional design to help you dish out your passion for cooking.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.


Goodskin WordPress.com theme homepage.

Goodskin is a great theme for beauty bloggers and skincare enthusiasts. With its light, calming aesthetic and clean layout, Goodskin provides an elegant space for sharing your routines, product reviews, and more. The theme includes thoughtful features like a sidebar for easy navigation and a product rating pattern to highlight your favorite finds. Available in three soothing color variations—Jojoba, Blush, and Eyeshadow—Goodskin offers a serene, sophisticated platform that allows your content to glow.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.


Luxus WordPress.com theme homepage, in three style variations.

Luxus is the perfect look for beauty salons wanting to make a sleek, no-fuss impression. Designed with simplicity in mind, Luxus gives the essentials—services, location, hours, and contact information—right away on the homepage, making it easy for clients to find what they need.

Optimized for mobile right out of the box with a clean, single-column layout, Luxus offers a seamless experience for your busy, on-the-go clientele. With the luxurious Ojuju font for headings and the classic Hanken Grotesk for body text, this theme exudes elegance while keeping the focus on what matters most.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.


To install any of the above themes, click the name of the theme you like, which brings you right to the installation page. Then click the “Activate this design” button. You can also click “Open live demo,” which brings up a clickable, scrollable version of the theme for you to preview.

Premium themes are available to use at no extra charge for customers on the Personal plan or above. Partner themes are third-party products that can be purchased for $99/year each on the Business plan and above.

You can explore all of our themes by navigating to the “Themes” page, which is found under “Appearance” in the left-side menu of your WordPress.com dashboard. Or you can click below:


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9 Best Astra Theme Alternatives for Faster Loading (2024)

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Astra Theme Alternatives

Finding the perfect theme for your WordPress website is crucial.

While Astra has long been a favorite among users, it has some limitations. Hence, you must explore alternatives that best fit your needs.

Tip

Based on my extensive experience over the past years, Kadence WP is the best WordPress theme. I’ve been with Kadence for the past three years, and it is for all my sites due to its smooth WP blocks, superior performance, ease of use, and advanced customization features.

Its lightweight structure ensures fast load times, while its robust design tools offer unparalleled flexibility, making it an ideal choice for many website projects.

I discuss the top Astra theme alternatives in this article, each offering unique strengths and capabilities.

Join me as I explore Kadence WP and other notable themes, such as GeneratePress, OceanWP, and Elementor Hello, to help you make an informed decision about your next website build.

9 Best Astra Theme Alternatives

Best Astra Theme Alternatives

1. Kadence WP Theme (Overall Best Alternative)

If you are looking for an Astra Theme alternative that offers a great user experience, Kadence WP Theme is an excellent choice. It is a multipurpose WordPress theme that is perfect for creating any website.

Kadence WP Theme is known for its flexibility, customization options, and user-friendly interface.

Kadence WP Theme Key Features

  • Lightweight and Fast: The Kadence WP Theme is lightweight and loads quickly, making it perfect for creating fast-loading websites.
  • Page Builder Compatibility: Kadence WP Theme is compatible with popular page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Gutenberg.
  • Customizable Header and Footer: Kadence WP Theme allows you to easily customize your website’s header and footer.
  • Advanced Typography: Kadence WP Theme offers advanced typography options, allowing you to choose from over 800 Google fonts.
  • WooCommerce Integration: Kadence WP Theme integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce, making it perfect for creating online stores.
  • Starter Templates: Kadence WP Theme comes with various starter templates that you can use to create your website quickly.

Kadence WP Theme Pros and Cons

Here are the pros and cons of using the Kadence WP Theme:

Pros:

  • Lightweight and fast-loading.
  • Easy to use and customize.
  • Compatible with popular page builders.
  • Offers advanced typography options.
  • Comes with a variety of starter templates.
  • Integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce.

Cons:

  • The free version of the Kadence WP Theme has limited features.
  • The pricing plans are a bit expensive compared to other themes.

Kadence WP Theme Pricing

  • Free Plan: This plan is free and excellent for website creators wanting to start.
  • Essentials Plan: This plan costs $149/year and gives you all the essentials, like the pro versions of the Kadence theme and starter templates.
  • Full Plan: This plan costs $219/year and gives you full access to all the tools to help you sell.
  • Lifetime Plan: With this plan, you get every product in its complete bundle, lifetime support, updates, and all future products for a one-time payment of $799/lifetime.

2. GeneratePress

GeneratePress

If you’re looking for a lightweight and flexible WordPress theme that can be easily customized, GeneratePress is an excellent alternative to Astra. It is a popular theme among developers and users known for its speed, security, and ease of use.

GeneratePress Theme Key Features

  • Lightweight and Fast: GeneratePress is one of the most lightweight themes available, which means it loads faster than most other themes. This is great for improving your website’s speed and overall user experience.
  • Customizable: GeneratePress offers many customization options, including typography, colors, layouts, and more. You can easily customize your website’s appearance without any coding skills.
  • Accessibility Ready: GeneratePress is designed to be accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. It meets the WCAG 2.0 standards, so your website will be accessible to a broader audience.
  • SEO Friendly: GeneratePress is built with clean and optimized code, which makes it SEO-friendly. Your website will rank higher in search engines and get more organic traffic.
  • Developer Friendly: GeneratePress is designed to be developer-friendly, making it easy to customize and extend. It’s built with clean code and follows WordPress coding standards.
  • Great Support: GeneratePress has an excellent support team that is always ready to help you with any issues or questions.

GeneratePress Pros and Cons

Here are some pros and cons of GeneratePress to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you:

Pros:

  • GeneratePress is one of the fastest-loading WordPress themes available.
  • GeneratePress offers various customization options, including color schemes, typography, layout, and more.
  • GeneratePress is optimized for search engines, which can help improve your website’s visibility and rankings.
  • GeneratePress is designed with accessibility in mind, which means it meets the highest standards for web accessibility.
  • GeneratePress is fully compatible with WooCommerce, making creating an online store and selling products easy.

Cons:

  • Limited free version
  • Not as many pre-built templates

GeneratePress Pricing

  • Free Plan: This plan is forever free to use.
  • Yearly Plan: This plan costs $59/year and grants one year of access to the site library, all features, and one year of updates.
  • Lifetime Plan: This plan costs a one-time fee of $249. It grants lifetime access to the site library, updates, and all features.

3. OceanWP Theme

OceanWP Theme

If you are looking for a powerful and flexible alternative to the Astra Theme, the OceanWP Theme is the perfect solution. It is a lightweight and highly customizable WordPress theme that offers a wide range of features and functionalities to help you easily create stunning websites.

OceanWP Theme Key Features

Here are some of the features of OceanWP Theme that make it stand out from other WordPress themes:

  • Multiple Demos: OceanWP Theme has over 130 pre-built demos you can import with just one click. These demos cover many niches, including business, portfolio, eCommerce, and more.
  • Fast Loading: OceanWP Theme is optimized for speed and performance, ensuring your website loads quickly and smoothly.
  • WooCommerce Ready: It is fully compatible with WooCommerce and has many eCommerce-specific features.
  • SEO Friendly: OceanWP Theme is designed with SEO in mind, ensuring your website ranks well in search engine results pages.
  • Translation Ready: If you want to create a multilingual website, OceanWP Theme is your solution. It is fully compatible with translation plugins like WPML and Polylang.
  • Elementor Integration: OceanWP Theme is fully compatible with the Elementor page builder, allowing you to quickly create custom layouts and designs.

OceanWP Theme Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of using OceanWP Theme:

Pros:

  • Lightweight and fast-loading
  • Highly customizable with a wide range of options
  • It comes with over 130 pre-built demos.
  • Fully compatible with WooCommerce and other popular plugins
  • SEO-friendly design
  • Translation ready

Cons:

  • Some features are only available in the paid version
  • Some users may find the interface a bit overwhelming

OceanWP Pricing

OceanWP offers both a free and a paid version of the theme. The free version has basic features and limited support, while the paid version unlocks additional features and premium support.

Here’s a breakdown of the pricing for OceanWP:

  • Free version: This is free to use
  • Starter Plan: This plan costs $35 per year and has a lifetime subscription of $141. It can be used for one website.
  • Personal plan: It costs $43 per year to use for three websites. A lifetime subscription is available for a one-time payment of $178.
  • Business plan costs $71 per year for up to ten websites. A lifetime subscription is available for a one-time payment of $285.
  • Agency plan: This plan costs $127 per year and can be used on up to 300 websites. A lifetime subscription is also available for a one-time payment of $509.

4. Divi Theme

Divi Theme

Divi Theme is a popular option if you’re looking for an Astra Theme competitor. It is a multipurpose WordPress theme with a powerful page builder that makes it easy to create custom designs without any coding knowledge.

Divi Theme Key Features

  • Visual Page Builder: Divi’s drag-and-drop page builder is one of its most popular features. It allows users to create custom layouts and design elements without coding knowledge.
  • Responsive Design: Divi works on all devices, so your website will look great on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
  • Customization Options: With Divi, you can customize your website’s colors, fonts, and layout. You can also use pre-made templates to get started.
  • Marketing Integrations: Divi integrates with popular marketing tools like Mailchimp, Aweber, and Google Analytics.
  • WooCommerce Support: Divi has built-in support for WooCommerce if you’re selling products online.
  • Support and Updates: Divi comes with a lifetime license, which means you’ll get access to updates and support if you use the theme.

Divi Theme Pros and Cons

Here are the pros and cons of Divi Theme:

Pros:

  • Divi’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create custom designs without coding knowledge.
  • Divi offers a wide range of customization options to create a unique website.
  • Divi integrates with popular marketing tools to quickly add email opt-ins and track your website’s performance.
  • Divi has built-in support for WooCommerce, making it easy to sell products online.

Cons:

  • While Divi is easy to use, learning its features takes time.
  • Some users have reported that Divi’s code can be bloated, slowing website performance.
  • While Divi offers a wide range of customization options, some users may find the design options limited compared to other themes.

Divi Pricing

Divi is a premium WordPress theme, so you must pay for it. Here are the pricing options for Divi:

  • Divi: This costs $89 per year and has a lifetime subscription of $249. It includes access to all of Elegant Themes’ themes and plugins, updates, and support.
  • Divi Pro: This plan costs $277 yearly and has a lifetime subscription of $297. It includes access to everything in the Divi plan plus Divi AI, Divi Cloud, and Divi Teams.

5. Blocksy

Blocksy

If you are looking for a substitute for the Astra Theme, Blocksy is an excellent option. It is a lightweight and fast WordPress theme that offers a range of customization options, making it a popular choice for beginners and advanced users.

Blocksy Key Features

  • Fast Loading: Blocksy is optimized for speed, so your website will load quickly and provide a better user experience.
  • Customizable Header and Footer: Blocksy offers a range of customization options for your header and footer, allowing you to create a unique look for your website.
  • WooCommerce Integration: Blocksy seamlessly integrates with WooCommerce, making it an excellent choice for creating an online store.
  • Gutenberg Compatible: Blocksy is fully compatible with the Gutenberg editor, making creating custom layouts and designs accessible.
  • Responsive Design: Blocksy is designed to be fully responsive, ensuring your website looks great on all devices.
  • SEO Friendly: Blocksy is optimized for search engines, helping your website rank higher in search results.

Blocksy Pros and Cons

Here are the pros and cons of using Blocksy:

Pros:

  • Easy to use and customize
  • Fast loading speed
  • WooCommerce integration
  • Responsive design
  • SEO friendly

Cons:

  • Limited free version features
  • No pre-built templates
  • No drag-and-drop page builder
  • Limited third-party plugin integration

Blocksy Pricing

Blocksy offers both a free version and a premium version of the theme. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing:

  • Blocksy Free: The free version of Blocksy includes basic features and customization options. It’s a good choice for users who are just starting and don’t need advanced functionality.
  • Blocksy Premium: Blocksy Premium is available in three pricing tiers:
    • Personal: This plan is priced at $69 per year and includes a lifetime subscription of $199. It provides access to all premium features on one website.
    • Professional: Priced at $99/year and a lifetime subscription of $299. This plan is ideal for online businesses and can be used on ten websites.
    • Agency: Priced at $149 per year and a lifetime subscription of $499. The Agency plan includes access to all premium features for unlimited websites, making it a cost-effective choice for developers and agencies.

6. Neve Theme

Neve Themes

If you are looking for a lightweight, fast, and easily customizable theme, Neve Theme is a great option. It was developed by Themeisle, a popular WordPress theme and plugin development company. Neve Theme is known for its simplicity, speed, and flexibility.

Neve Theme Key Features

  • Lightweight and Fast-Loading Design: Neve is designed to be lightweight, ensuring quick load times and efficient performance, which improves user experience and can boost SEO.
  • Fully Customizable with a Drag-and-Drop Page Builder: Neve is compatible with popular page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Gutenberg, allowing you to easily customize your site’s layout and design using drag-and-drop functionality.
  • Optimized for SEO and Mobile Devices: The theme follows best SEO practices, helping your site rank better in search engine results. Neve is fully responsive, ensuring your site looks great and functions well on all devices.
  • Compatible with Popular WordPress Plugins: Neve works seamlessly with a wide range of popular WordPress plugins, such as WooCommerce, Yoast SEO, and Contact Form 7, allowing you to extend your site’s functionality easily.
  • Ready-to-Import Starter Sites for Various Niches: This lets you quickly set up a professional-looking website by importing a pre-built template and customizing it to fit your needs.
  • Built-in WooCommerce Integration: Neve includes built-in support for WooCommerce, making it easy to create and customize an online store with features like product pages, shopping carts, and checkout pages seamlessly integrated into your site’s design.

Neve Theme Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Lightweight and fast
  • Easy to customize
  • Compatible with popular page builders
  • SEO optimized
  • WooCommerce ready

Cons:

  • Limited free version features
  • Some features require paid add-ons
  • Limited design options

Neve Theme Pricing

  • Free: This is free to use.
  • Personal: This costs $69/year. This plan is great for users just getting started with their websites.
  • Business: This plan costs $149/year and is best for online shops.
  • Agency: This plan is excellent for freelancers and agencies, costing $259/per year.

7. Elementor Hello Theme

Elementor

The Elementor Hello Theme is a great substitute for the Astra Theme. It is an excellent choice if you are looking for a lightweight, fast, and highly customizable theme that works seamlessly with the Elementor page builder.

Elementor Hello Theme Key Features

  • Drag and Drop Page Builder: This allows you to create and customize website pages by simply dragging and dropping elements into place, providing a highly intuitive design experience without needing coding knowledge.
  • Customizable Templates and Widgets: These pre-designed elements can be easily tailored to fit your website’s specific needs, making it quick and easy to build professional-looking pages.
  • Mobile Responsive Design: This means your site will look great and function well on desktops, tablets, and smartphones, providing an optimal user experience across all platforms.
  • WooCommerce Compatibility: The Hello Theme is fully compatible with WooCommerce. You can use Elementor’s design capabilities to build product pages, shopping carts, and checkout pages, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing e-commerce site.
  • SEO Optimization: The Hello Theme is lightweight and optimized for speed, which is crucial for SEO. Faster load times improve user experience and can lead to better search engine rankings. Additionally, the theme works well with popular SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, enabling further optimization of your site’s content and structure.
  • Multi-language Support: It is compatible with translation plugins like WPML and Polylang, allowing you to offer your content in multiple languages and reach a wider audience.

Elementor Hello Theme Pros and Cons

Here are the pros and cons of using the Elementor Hello Theme:

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Flexible and customizable
  • Mobile responsive design
  • WooCommerce compatibility
  • Free to use

Cons:

  • Some features require additional plugins
  • It can be slow on some hosting providers

Elementor Hello Theme Pricing

Elementor Hello Theme is forever free to use.

8. Avada Theme

Avada Theme

If you’re looking for a versatile and feature-rich WordPress theme, Avada Theme is a great option. It has been around since 2012 and is continuously updated to keep up with the latest design trends and technology.

Avada Theme Key Features

  • Easy-to-use: A drag-and-drop page builder that makes it easy to create custom layouts
  • Pre-built Templates: There are over 70 pre-built website designs to choose from
  • Compatibility: Compatibility with popular WordPress plugins like WooCommerce and Gravity Forms
  • Responsive Design: A responsive design that looks great on all devices
  • Highly Customizable: Customizable headers and footers
  • SEO Options: Avada has built-in SEO optimization tools to ensure your pages are search engine optimized.

Avada Theme Pros and Cons

Like any WordPress theme, Avada Theme has its pros and cons. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using Avada Theme:

Pros:

  • A wide range of features and customization options
  • A powerful page builder that makes it easy to create custom layouts
  • Built-in support for WooCommerce and other popular plugins
  • Regularly updated to keep up with the latest WordPress trends and technology
  • Excellent documentation and support

Cons:

  • It can be overwhelming for beginners due to the wide range of options and features.
  • The page builder can be slow to load on some sites
  • Some users have reported issues with compatibility with specific plugins.

Avada Pricing

Avada is a premium WordPress theme, which means it has a price tag. A regular license costs $69, which includes lifetime updates and six months of support. You can purchase an extended support package for an additional fee if you need more support.

9. Genesis Framework

Genesis Framework

Genesis Framework is a popular WordPress theme framework that offers a wide range of features and customization options. It is a great alternative to the Astra theme.

Genesis Framework Key Features

  • SEO optimized: Genesis Framework is designed with SEO in mind, making optimizing your website for search engines easy.
  • Mobile responsive: The theme is mobile responsive, ensuring your website looks great on all devices.
  • Customizable: Genesis Framework offers customization options, including custom widgets, page templates, and theme options.
  • Fast loading: The theme is optimized for speed, ensuring your website loads quickly.
  • Secure: Genesis Framework is built with security in mind, making it a safe and secure option for your website.
  • Developer-friendly: The theme is designed to be developer-friendly, with a wide range of hooks and filters for customization.

Genesis Framework Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Wide range of customization options
  • SEO optimized
  • Mobile responsive
  • Fast loading
  • Secure
  • Developer-friendly

Cons:

  • Limited free child themes
  • The steep learning curve for beginners

Genesis Framework Pricing

Genesis Framework is free when you host on WP Engine or Flywheel. You can subscribe to Genesis Pro for more advanced features, which costs $360 yearly.

Why Should You Consider an Alternative to Astra Theme?

Astra is a popular theme that offers various customization options and is known for its speed and performance.

While the Astra theme is highly regarded for its flexibility, speed, and extensive customization options, it does have some limitations.

Firstly, Astra’s advanced features and customization options are only available through the Astra Pro plugin or additional add-ons. While Astra is compatible with many popular plugins, achieving certain functionalities may require third-party plugins.

Although Astra offers customization options for headers and footers, it lacks the advanced drag-and-drop builder in themes like Kadence WP. Users looking for highly intricate header and footer designs might find Astra’s capabilities somewhat restrictive.

While extensive, Astra’s pre-built templates and design options can sometimes feel limiting if you want to create a unique or unconventional website design.

Although Astra is user-friendly, beginners might find the extensive customization options overwhelming.

Some users might find that feature updates and new additions are slower than those of other rapidly evolving themes. While Astra is regularly updated for compatibility and security, significant new features might not be introduced as frequently.

Another limitation of Astra is that it might not suit everyone’s needs. Astra is a lightweight theme designed to work well with page builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder. If you are not using a page builder, you might not be able to take advantage of Astra’s features.

Choosing the Right Platform

Several factors must be considered when choosing the right platform for your website.

Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:

1. Your Website Goals

Before you choose a platform, it’s crucial to determine your website goals. Are you looking to create a blog, an online store, a portfolio, or a corporate website?

Different platforms offer different features and functionality, so choosing a platform that aligns with your goals is essential.

2. Ease of Use

Another essential factor to consider is ease of use. If you’re new to website building, you’ll want a platform that is easy to navigate and use. Look for platforms with intuitive interfaces and drag-and-drop functionality.

3. Customization Options

Customization options are also important. You’ll want a platform to customize your website to suit your brand and aesthetic. Look for platforms with various themes and templates and customization options for fonts, colors, and layouts.

4. SEO Friendliness

Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for driving traffic to your website. Look for SEO-friendly platforms with features such as customizable meta tags, clean code, and fast load times.

5. Support and Community

Finally, consider the support and community offered by the platform. Look for platforms with active communities, support forums, and responsive customer support. This can be especially important if you run into technical issues or have questions about using the platform.

Final Thoughts on Astra Theme Alternatives

While the Astra theme remains popular for many WordPress users, exploring its alternatives can provide unique advantages depending on your specific requirements.

Kadence WP is the best alternative due to its advanced header and footer builder, dynamic content options, and built-in performance enhancements. It is an excellent choice for those seeking flexibility and speed.

Developed by Elegant Themes, Divi Theme is a highly versatile and popular WordPress theme that caters to a wide range of website needs. Known for its powerful drag-and-drop page builder and extensive customization options, Divi makes it easy for users of all skill levels to create stunning and functional websites without needing any coding knowledge.

Finally, the Elementor Hello Theme offers a minimalist, blank canvas that pairs perfectly with the Elementor page builder, giving users unparalleled design freedom and performance optimization.

By considering these alternatives, you can find a theme that aligns with your vision and enhances your WordPress experience, ensuring you build a website that meets your goals efficiently and effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions on Astra Theme Alternatives

What are some free alternatives to the Astra WordPress theme?

Some popular free themes are Kadence WP, Elementor Hello Theme, GeneratePress, and OceanWP. These themes offer a range of features and customization options that can help you create a professional-looking website without spending a dime.

Which WordPress themes are considered the best competitors to Astra?

These themes include the Kadence WP Theme, Elementor Hello Theme, GeneratePress, and OceanWP. These themes offer similar features and customization options and are known for their high performance and ease of use.

How does the Kadence WP theme compare to Astra in terms of features and performance?

Both Kadence WP and Astra excel in features and performance, making them top choices for WordPress users. But Kadence WP stands out with its advanced header and footer builder, dynamic content options, and built-in performance enhancements.

Can GeneratePress be a suitable replacement for the Astra theme for professional websites?

GeneratePress is a lightweight WordPress theme often considered a suitable replacement for the Astra theme. It offers a range of customization options and is known for its fast loading times and optimized code. It also has a built-in page builder and supports WooCommerce integration, making it an excellent choice for professional websites.

In terms of customization and ease of use, how does the Neve theme stand up against Astra?

Neve is a lightweight WordPress theme known for its ease of use. It has a built-in page builder and supports WooCommerce integration. It also has a range of pre-built demos and templates to help you get started quickly. Regarding customization, Neve offers a range of easy-to-use options, making it an excellent option for beginners.



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