When it comes to WordPress themes, few names are as popular—or as trusted—as Astra. With over 2 million active installations and a reputation for speed and flexibility, Astra has become the go-to theme for bloggers, businesses, and developers alike. But does it live up to the hype?
In this review, we’ll break down what makes the Astra theme stand out, explore its pros and cons, and help you decide whether it’s the right fit for your WordPress website.
What Is Astra?
Astra is a lightweight, highly customizable WordPress theme developed by Brainstorm Force. Designed with performance and usability in mind, Astra caters to a wide range of users—from beginners building their first blog to professional developers crafting bespoke websites for clients.
Key Features:
- Lightning-fast performance
- Pre-built website templates
- Deep integration with page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Gutenberg
- Responsive design
- WooCommerce-ready
- Extensive typography and layout settings
Why Users Love Astra
1. Unmatched Speed
Astra is known for its minimal footprint. The base theme loads in under 0.5 seconds and is less than 50 KB in size. This makes it one of the fastest WordPress themes available—ideal for improving SEO and user experience.
2. Customizability Without Code
The WordPress Customizer gives you powerful control over your site’s layout, colors, typography, headers, footers, and more—all without touching a line of code. It’s perfect for non-developers who still want a unique site.
3. Pre-built Starter Templates
Astra offers a huge library of professionally designed starter templates. You can import a full site in just a few clicks—saving hours of design and development time. Templates are available for blogs, portfolios, agencies, eCommerce, and more.
4. WooCommerce Integration
If you run or plan to run an online store, Astra makes it easy. It integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce and gives you design flexibility over product pages, shop layouts, cart pages, and checkout flow—without slowing down your site.
5. Page Builder Friendly
Astra is built to work hand-in-hand with popular page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, Brizy, and the native Gutenberg editor. This compatibility ensures you have full control over your content and layout.
Astra Pro: Is It Worth It?
While the free version of Astra is more than capable for most users, Astra Pro unlocks additional features that are ideal for professionals and advanced users:
- Custom layouts (headers, footers, 404 pages, etc.)
- Mega menu support
- Sticky headers
- More color and typography options
- WooCommerce enhancements
- Scroll to top link
- White labeling for agencies
Pricing: Astra Pro starts at $59/year or $249 for a lifetime license.
If you’re building multiple websites or want complete control over design, Astra Pro offers excellent value.
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros:
- Extremely fast and lightweight
- Beginner-friendly
- SEO optimized
- WooCommerce and LMS ready
- Great for agencies and freelancers
- Extensive free version
❌ Cons:
- Some advanced features locked behind Pro
- Template designs can look generic if not customized
- Support and documentation could be deeper for beginners
Who Should Use Astra?
Astra is ideal for:
- Bloggers who want a clean, fast, customizable layout
- Businesses seeking a professional, performance-optimized website
- Agencies/freelancers needing flexibility and white-label capabilities
- eCommerce stores looking for seamless WooCommerce integration
- Beginners who want a polished site without hiring a developer