If you are building a website, the theme you choose matters. It sets the style, speed, and user experience. Many people recommend the Astra theme. But is it worth it?
This review looks at the features, pricing, performance, and tangible benefits of the Astra WordPress theme. Whether you run a blog, an online store, or a business site, this post will help you decide if Astra is the right choice.
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What is Astra?
Astra is a popular WordPress theme created by Brainstorm Force. It is stable and comes with tons of options to customize each part.
Having more than 1.8 million customers, it is one of the most used themes in the WordPress library. You can use the Astra free version if you are just starting. To get more control and features, you should upgrade to Astra Pro.
Astra lets you customize almost anything on your site. Create a transparent header, set margins, change page layouts, and much more. It is page builder friendly and and seamlessly work with Elementor, Beaver Builder, Gutenberg, and others.
You can also change fonts and colors, manage layouts for each page type, and even hide meta to apply a custom look to your pages. Astra also allows you to set a different logo and apply custom styles for mobile devices. Since most of your visitors are coming from smartphones, it is really essential to make your site mobile-friendly to get more traffic.
Due to the unlimited settings, you may think that Astra’s theme size is too high. Right?
If so, you are wrong. It weighs less than 50 kb and loads in less than 0.5 seconds with the default theme data.
Feeling weird?
Astra is super lightweight and designed to deliver ultimate performance on desktops as well as mobiles. It is clean and built with Vanilla JavaScript to ensure a smooth loading experience on your pages.
Want to try Astra right away?
👉 Download Astra Free →Key Features
Rating
Pricing
$59/yr
🚀 Why Astra is So Popular?
The Astra WP theme grew quickly because it solved three common problems:
- Website speed – Slow sites lose visitors. Astra loads in under a second.
- Design freedom – Most themes lock you into one design. Astra gives flexible options.
- Compatibility – Astra works with WooCommerce, LMS plugins, membership tools, and SEO plugins.
For website owners, that means less stress and more control.
Astra Free vs Astra Pro
Astra is the most popular free theme on WordPress.Org. It was downloaded more than 1 million times and got 5 star rating from over 5k reviewers. This is the only non-official WordPress.org theme that has crossed 1 million installations till this time.
Compared to Astra Pro, the free version has limited settings. So you can’t customize it as you need. Take a look at the following table to find how Astra free differs from the pro version,
| Feature | Astra Free | Astra Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | From $59/year or $299 lifetime |
| Starter Templates | Basic templates (limited) | Complete library with 250+ premium templates |
| Customization Options | Basic layouts, colors & typography | Advanced headers, footers, layouts, blog designs |
| Styling & layout settings | No | Yes |
| Custom header & footer | No | Yes |
| Custom 404 pages | No | Yes |
| Megamenu | No | Yes |
| Author box | No | Yes |
| Blog settings | No | Yes |
| WooCommerce Features | Basic WooCommerce compatibility | Advanced options: product catalog, checkout customization, quick view |
| SEO Features | Lightweight, schema markup included | Extra SEO controls with custom layouts & advanced settings |
| Lifter LMS | Limited | Full |
| LearnDash | Limited | Full |
| Easy Digital Downloads | Limited | Full |
| White Labeling | ❌ Not available | ✅ Available (ideal for agencies) |
| Support | Community + basic documentation | Premium support with priority response |
Astra free theme is a good option for beginners. It helps you to test the theme quality before buying the full version. But Astra Pro is fully customizable and designed to skyrocket your website speed. It is best for bloggers, online stores, educational institutions, and others to create blazing fast websites and make a stable income.
🚀 Ready to Build Faster Websites with Astra?
Upgrade to Astra Pro and unlock advanced layouts, WooCommerce features, premium templates, and priority support.
🔥 Get Astra Pro Now14-day money-back guarantee included ✅
Astra Pricing
Astra has three types of subscription plans- Astra Pro, Essential Toolkit, and Business Toolkit.
Astra Pro— $59-$89/year
Essential Toolkit (Everything in Astra Pro, plus)– $99-$199/yr
Business Toolkit (Everything in Essential Bundle, plus) –$149-$269/yr
There are separate plans for 1, 10. and 1000 websites. For instance, Astra Pro for a single website is priced at $59/year ($299 for a lifetime plan).
If you want to install it on 10 websites, it will cost $79 per year ($399 for a lifetime), and for 1000 websites, you should pay either $89 a year or $499 as a one-time charge. In the same way, you will find different pricing for Essential Toolkit and Business Toolkit as well.
Astra Review 2025: 15 Reasons to Choose Astra Theme for Your Website
Let us check the top reasons for choosing the Astra WordPress theme,
1. Performance
Speed tests show why people love the Astra WordPress theme.
On a clean install, Astra loads in less than 0.5 seconds. Page size is around 50KB. Compare this with other themes that go above 300KB.
I am using Astra Pro on BloggingTriggers. So, I don’t need to create a demo site to test its performance.
I ran a GTmetrix speed test, and this is the report it generated.
It is fully loaded in 194 milliseconds with a 100% performance score and positive signals from Google Core Web Vitals. It does not show any issues relating to theme loading, static assets, DOM size, and others.
Now, we can cross-check these statistics with Pingdom,
My site is mobile-friendly and lightweight. It got B 82 performance grade with 550.9 KB size. The approximate loading time is 1 sec with 35 requests. Since image lazy loading is enabled on the site, they will take some more moments to load. That’s why you are not seeing them in the screenshot.
Astra follows best coding practices to serve content faster. It also uses Vanilla JavaScript to prevent render-blocking JQuery warnings and load pages smoothly.
2. Layouts
Astra offers multiple layouts for your archives, blog posts, shop pages, and others. Choose from boxed, content boxed, full-width contained, or full-width stretched layouts to customize your page type appearance.
It lets you change the width for each page type, set spacing, display or hide excerpts, and much more. Astra works seamlessly with popular page builders such as Elementor, Beaver Builder, Brizy, and Gutenberg.
The multiple layouts for headers, footers, sidebars, homepages, and WooCommerce pages make Astra an inevitable theme for all website types. You can also build custom layouts for various parts through the built-in Sitebuilder tool and apply custom visibility settings for them.
Essential and Business Toolkit customers will get Spectra Pro and ultimate add-ons for Elementor to unlock premium blocks and get more design opportunities.
3. Customization
Astra has unlimited customization options to manage any part, from the header to the footer. After activating Astra theme and Astra Pro plugin, you will see options (Appearance > Astra options) like this,
It will display various Pro modules to manage header, typography, menu, and more. Activate required modules to change default settings.
Head to Appearance > Customize to manage your Astra WordPress theme.
Open each section to find relevant settings. Astra’s live customizer will help you to see changes in real time for desktops, smartphones, and tablets. If satisfied with the preview, you can apply those settings to the front end immediately.
These are the various settings you will find under each header,
Global: Typography, colors, container, layouts, and buttons
Header: Site identity, primary header, primary menu, above header, below header, sticky header, and transparent header
Blog: Blog/archive, blog layouts, and single post
Sidebar: Sidebar layouts and width
Footer: Footer widgets and footer bar
It will also contain options to change typography, background color, and spacing in each section. Click Blog to customize your blog and single posts. Firstly, let us customize your blog page.
There are three blog layouts on Astra Pro. Choose a layout from the top. Set how many columns you want to display.
Check ‘Add space between posts’ to create a space between your posts. It also allows you to create Pinterest-like layouts using the Masonry layout option. Select ‘Highlight first post’ to feature your latest post.
Scroll down to manage your post structure and hide unwanted metadata from the page.
Click the eye icon on the metadata to display or hide it on your page. Scroll down again to set your pagination type, font type, color, and spacing.
Hit the Publish button to save changes. Click on the back arrow to go back to the previous settings on your customizer. Choose Single posts.
Similar to blog page layouts, click on the eye icon to show or hide metadata on your single posts. Astra theme allows you to display the author box without installing any plugins. Select ‘Author info’ to activate the option.
Scroll down again to change your title font type and color and set margins for single post layouts. It is also possible to bulk edit Astra meta settings and export customizer settings from one site to another, etc.
4. Hooks & Filters
Do you want to insert tracking scripts, short code, and custom code into different parts of the site?
Brainstorm Force has developed a simple plugin to insert codes from the header through content to the footer. Install Astra Hooks on your website, and it will add a new section to your customizer. Open Hooks to quickly insert codes in various parts of your theme.
5. Starter templates
Astra Pro and Essential Toolkits come with a huge number of starter templates that you can install in one click. They are full website packs and are best for businesses, professionals, agencies, and others.
Install Starter Templates on your site to import your favorite templates easily. Choose a template category and page builder type from the top to filter results.
Click a template to view the demo or import (either the full site or the home page template only). Astra Pro customers will get access to over 300 starter templates, and other premium customers will have 145+ premium templates and 100+ Spectra pre-built templates for full websites, blocks, etc additionally.
6. Site builder
Astra’s Site builder helps you design custom templates for each part such as headers, footers, single posts, archives, and others. It works with Gutenberg editor, add block widgets to your main screen to create a stunning design for your needs.
These are the benefits of Site builder:
7. Header & Footer Builder
Do you want to create a professional-quality header and footer for your website? Astra Pro allows you to create a unique header and footer with drag-and-drop abilities.
There are three ways to insert elements in your header. Above header, primary header, and below header. Click on the header layout, and it will show various elements that you can add to the top section. They include social icons, buttons, HTML codes, widgets, and others.
Choose an element to insert it in your site’s header. Once it is added, click on the label to view its customization settings on the left side. You can change its width and colors, assign borders and shadows, and even hide it from mobiles.
Similar to other parts, Astra gives you full freedom when designing headers and footers. You can create a separate header for mobiles and make navigation sticky so it follows readers as they scroll up and down through the page.
Footer builder is another advantage of Astra Pro. Just like the header, you can build a stylish footer by adding new blocks to it.
Astra allows you to place footer elements in these areas- above the footer, primary footer, and below the footer. Drag and drop them to re-order and customize each element to change appearance or set spacing.
In the bottom-left corner, you will see options to watch real-time previews of various device types. So you can quickly know how your header or footer appears on mobiles and make changes instantly.
Build a fast WordPress site with Astra
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8. Megamenu builder
Astra’s Mega Menu feature helps you create menus that look clean and are easy to use. Instead of showing long dropdowns, you can group links, categories, and pages into organized sections. This makes large sites easier to browse, especially for stores, blogs, and education platforms. Visitors can see more options at once without feeling lost.
The setup is simple inside WordPress. You can add rows, columns, and even widgets to the menu. It allows you to add images, icons, or short descriptions next to links. This works well for highlighting products, featured posts, or key services. Being responsive, your menu looks good on desktops, tablets, and phones.
I like that the colors, spacing, and even the content source can be adjusted. This means the menu blends with the site’s style instead of looking out of place. For e-commerce stores, you can showcase categories and promotions directly inside the menu. For blogs or learning sites, you can highlight popular topics or courses (I am already doing it).
The Mega Menu makes navigation smoother and helps you send visitors to internal pages easily. Building a functional and attractive menu with Astra becomes part of your overall design process.
9. Unlimited websites
You can use Astra themes on unlimited websites (up to 1000). Whether you are going to create a business website, eCommerce portal, blog, or something else, you don’t need to buy separate themes to beautify all those sites.
Astra is enough to power up 10 or even 1000 websites you have. Since it offers several built-in templates, you can adopt different styles for each site to apply a custom look to them. Flexibility is another key feature of Astra WordPress theme, so you can customize it to any extent to match various business types.
10. Clean interface
Astra has a clean and beautiful backend panel that provides quick access to various tools and features. As they are organized in section-wise, you can access them easily.
The module system allows you to activate only required tools on your site. I disabled WooCommerce, Digital downloads, and some other parts as I am not using them.
Switch to the Settings panel to white-label your theme and Astra Pro plugin with your brand name. Open Version Control menu to roll-back to the previous theme and plugin versions.
Head to the Performance tab to load Google Fonts locally and preload local fonts. This helps you improve page performance. Astra also allows you to build stunning websites with AI website builder and pre-designed templates. Click Starter templates on the top of your Astra theme settings to access tools.
11. Reduce plugins
Astra Pro can replace several plugins on your WordPress plugin with a single installation. It comes with social sharing icons, related posts, author box, WooCommerce widgets, and more. As a result, you can remove relevant plugins that are installed on your website and reduce page load.
Some WordPress plugin categories that you can replace with Astra WP theme,
12. Free Astra child theme
If you plan to customize Astra’s theme codes, you may need an Astra child theme.
Why?
- Keeps your changes safe when Astra updates.
- Lets you add custom CSS or PHP functions.
- Ideal for developers who want more control.
Astra provides a free child theme with each subscription. You can download and install it in minutes. Add your custom styles and you won’t lose them with the next theme update.
Remember that Astra theme customizer and Astra child theme are antirely different tools. You can customize any theme part even without installing the child theme.
13. Integrations
Astra works with many popular tools, which makes it flexible for different projects. For online courses, Astra supports LifterLMS and LearnDash. Both integrations give course creators full control over design.
You can adjust course pages, lesson layouts, and membership areas. Astra WordPress theme makes learning platforms more professional without slowing them down. Students get a smooth experience and course owners can style pages to match their brand.
Astra also integrates with Toolset. This helps you build custom WooCommerce stores, membership websites, and other various custom website types with unique layouts and features. You can create dynamic content, advanced search, and personalized templates. It allows you to design sites beyond a standard blog or store.
For page building, Astra is fully ready for Elementor. Drag and drop elements, choose from starter templates, and customize everything without code. Astra keeps designs lightweight so pages load fast, even with advanced layouts.
What stands out across these integrations is flexibility. Whether you want to sell courses, build custom sites, or design pages with Elementor, Astra fits right in. No need to switch themes or worry about conflicts. Astra gives you a smooth base that works well with tools you already use for growth.
14. Fast customer support
Astra provides fast one-to-one customer support in all subscription plans. Create support requests, and someone from customer care will attend to them as soon as possible.
They also offer a 14-day money-back guarantee to customers. Install and use Astra for free during this period. If you are not satisfied, contact their customer support and ask for a refund. They will either fix your complaints or issue a full refund. So, there is no risk in buying an Astra premium package.
15. Affordable
Astra Pro is affordable. It costs $59/yr. Considering its unique features and theme quality, it is a reasonable rate. Moreover, Brainstorm Force makes consistent theme updates to make Astra more secure and add new features to boost your website performance.
Their Essential Toolkit is priced at $99 and Business Toolkit at $149 per year. They are packed with over 300+ premium website templates, Spectra Pro builder, and Ultimate Elementor add-ons.
If you are looking for a one-time payment solution to avoid annual recurring billing, it is also possible with Astra. Their lifetime plan costs $299, $599, and $999, respectively, for Astra Pro, Essential Toolkit, and Business Toolkit plans. This will help you avoid the occasional increase in subscription rates and make a good investment for the future.
Final Thoughts
Astra is my favorite WordPress theme. It is lightning-fast and fully customizable. The unlimited settings, built-in site builder, and layouts give you total control over web design.
You’ll also get access to several professional-quality website templates to launch your dream site in less than 5 minutes. Astra is super easy to use. It is perfect for creating business websites, money-making blogs, eCommerce shops, communities, etc.
✅ Final Verdict: Astra is Worth It!
Whether you’re a blogger, ecommerce store owner, or agency, Astra gives you the perfect mix of speed, customization, and affordability.
👉 Get Astra Theme Today🛒 Astra Theme for Ecommerce
Astra with WooCommerce gives store owners a fast and flexible way to build online shops. It has starter templates for different industries such as fashion, gadgets, and lifestyle products. These layouts focus on products and create a smooth shopping experience.
The theme makes customization easy. You can adjust product pages and layouts, and update design elements to match your brand. The checkout process can be styled to reduce friction and help buyers complete their orders faster. Features like grid layouts, product filters, and quick view options are supported out of the box.
Mobile shopping is fully supported. Customers can browse and purchase from any device, which helps increase sales. Astra is built for speed, too. Fast-loading pages keep visitors engaged and lower cart abandonment rates.
From product displays to checkout flow, the theme provides the flexibility needed for different stages of growth. Astra with WooCommerce is a strong choice for building a professional and responsive online store.
Benefits including:
Looking to launch an online store? Astra Pro has WooCommerce features that speed up your shop. Get Astra Pro →
✍️ Astra Theme for Bloggers
Astra is a great theme for bloggers who want speed, style, and flexibility. It gives layouts that put content first, making posts easy to read and engaging. Choose from starter templates built for personal blogs, travel journals, food sites, or professional publications.
Customization is simple. You can change colors, fonts, and layouts directly from the WordPress customizer. The blog archive and single post pages can be adjusted to show featured images, author bios, social icons, or related posts. This makes your blog more unique and helps readers stay longer.
Astra works well with page builders like Elementor and Gutenberg, so you can add custom sections when needed. You can also utilize the built-in Site Builder to design custom templates for single posts, archives, and others. Spectra free page builder is another option. It is built by the same team behind Astra theme. So they both work together without any issues.
This theme is responsive and lightweight, which improves the reader’s experience and supports better rankings in search engines.
What I like most is that Astra grows with the blog. I can start small with a few posts and expand later with features like email signups, product promotions, or even an online shop. Astra makes blogging smooth and enjoyable for writers who want a clean and flexible platform.
Bloggers can use Astra’s layouts, typography, and color settings to build a unique brand look in minutes. Try Astra WP Theme Free →
🏢 Astra Theme for Agencies and Businesses
Astra works well for agencies and businesses that need a professional online presence. It has ready-made templates for corporate websites, creative agencies, startups, and service providers. Each layout highlights key sections like services, portfolios, team profiles, and contact details. This helps you present work and attract new clients.
There are options to create custom landing pages for promotions or campaigns. Agencies benefit from Astra’s portfolio layouts to showcase projects. Businesses can add testimonials, pricing tables, and service highlights.
Whether the goal is attracting leads, selling services, or building trust, Astra gives the tools to achieve it. For professional sites, it offers both style and flexibility in one theme.
White-labeling is another interesting option. It helps you rebrand Astra theme with your name and agency URL. You can use it on client projects and manage websites through your Astra account.
Astra
Astra is faster and light-weight. It is one of the best WordPress themes I have used so far. Being highly flexible, you can use Astra for any website type and change almost anything on the design.
There are unlimited settings to manage the header, navigation menu, content area, sidebar, and footer. You’ll get full control over the theme to change colors, typography, backgrounds, and more. No limits. Do whatever you want. It is truly powerful than you may imagine.
I am using Astra Pro on all websites with lifetime license. Here’s the proof,
Astra is awesome, fast, and customizable. They have a friendly customer support also. If you have any questions or complaints, they will take maximum efforts to fix things.
FAQ
14-days money-back guarantee
Astra provides a 14-day money-back guarantee in all subscription plans. If somehow you don’t like this amazing theme, contact customer support and seek a refund. They will issue a full refund, whatever may be the reason.
Their money-back guarantee is just like a free theme trial. So there is no risk in testing Astra Pro.
Do you have any questions? Feel free to share your honest feedback and raise questions if any, through the comment form below.
