Astra vs Kadence: Free vs Pro, Speed, LMS Features & Which Theme Wins in 2025
Choosing the right WordPress theme is a big decision, especially when you’re trying to balance speed, customization, SEO, and compatibility with essential tools like LearnDash for eLearning websites.
Now read this detailed comparison of Astra vs Kadence.
We’ll break down the features, performance, pricing, and which theme is better suited to your needs in 2025. Whether you’re building a blog, online store, or course site, by the end of this post, you’ll know exactly which theme will best support your project.
Real Talk: Why the Right Theme Matters
Your WordPress theme isn’t just the design template for your site. It impacts:
- Speed: How quickly your site loads, affecting user experience and SEO.
- Customization: How much flexibility you have to design your site the way you want.
- SEO: A good theme ensures your content is properly indexed by search engines.
- Compatibility: A theme that works seamlessly with your LMS, page builders, and plugins.
Picking the wrong theme can lead to performance issues, wasted time troubleshooting, or even a slow site that harms your SEO rankings. So, Astra vs Kadence which one fits your needs better?
Let’s break it down and help you make an informed decision.
Astra vs Kadence: Feature Comparison
Before we get into the details of each theme, here’s a quick feature comparison table to highlight how Astra and Kadence stack up against each other.
| Feature | Astra | Kadence |
| Speed (Base Install) | ~400ms | ~350ms |
| Core Web Vitals Ready | Yes | Yes |
| Page Builder Support | Elementor, Beaver, Brizy, Gutenberg | Elementor, Gutenberg |
| Starter Templates | 250+ templates (Elementor-focused) | 50+ templates (Gutenberg-optimized) |
| Header/Footer Builder | Basic in Free, Advanced in Pro | Drag-and-drop (Free & Pro) |
| Global Design Controls | Pro Only | Available in Free |
| WooCommerce Integration | Strong (Pro) | Advanced controls in Free & Pro |
| LMS Compatibility | LearnDash, LifterLMS | LearnDash, Tutor LMS |
| Pricing (Pro) | Starts at $59/year | Starts at $79/year |
| Ease of Use | Beginner-friendly | Slight learning curve, but powerful |
Astra Free vs Pro: What’s Included?
Astra Free offers a solid foundation, perfect for simple websites that don’t need complex customizations. However, the Pro version unlocks many more advanced features.
Astra Free vs Pro Comparison Table
| Feature | Astra Free | Astra Pro |
| Pre-built Starter Templates | 30+ templates | 250+ templates |
| Header/Footer Builder | No advanced features | Full header/footer customization |
| Global Color/Typography Control | No | Yes |
| Layout Control | Limited layout options | Full control over site layout |
| WooCommerce Integration | Basic | Advanced features for WooCommerce |
| Support for Page Builders | Elementor, Beaver Builder, Gutenberg | All page builders, including Brizy |
Kadence Free vs Pro: What’s Included?
Kadence’s Free version is packed with features that are ideal for many users, especially those who prefer working with Gutenberg. The Pro version takes the theme further with more customization options and additional tools.
Kadence Free vs Pro Comparison Table
| Feature | Kadence Free | Kadence Pro |
| Pre-built Starter Templates | 50+ templates | 150+ templates |
| Header/Footer Builder | Yes (drag-and-drop) | Yes (drag-and-drop with more options) |
| Global Color/Typography Control | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Layout Controls | Yes (limited) | Full control over layouts |
| WooCommerce Styling | Yes | Advanced WooCommerce options |
| LearnDash Compatibility | Basic | Advanced integration options for LearnDash |
| Kadence Blocks Pro | No | Yes |
Astra vs Kadence: LMS Features Breakdown
For those building eLearning sites with LearnDash, both Astra and Kadence are compatible, but they offer different experiences.
Astra LMS Features
- LearnDash Integration: Astra works seamlessly with LearnDash and offers customizable templates for course pages and course catalogs.
- WooCommerce & Course Selling: If you’re using WooCommerce to sell your courses, Astra provides strong integration and customization options.
- Pro Features: With Astra Pro, you unlock features like Focus Mode for a distraction-free learning experience, as well as advanced customization for course layouts.
Kadence LMS Features
- LearnDash & Tutor LMS: Kadence supports LearnDash and Tutor LMS, offering great compatibility out of the box. It also integrates well with Kadence Blocks Pro for customized course pages.
- Gutenberg Support: Kadence works natively with Gutenberg, giving you greater flexibility when creating course content or using custom blocks.
- Advanced Layouts: Kadence Pro gives you more control over how your course pages look, including the ability to customize LearnDash blocks and layouts more efficiently.
Speed Comparison: Which Theme is Faster?
When it comes to site speed, both Astra and Kadence claim to be lightweight and fast, but real-world performance is what matters. In general:
- Astra is faster out of the box, with ~400ms load time.
- Kadence is slightly faster, with a ~350ms load time.
In both cases, the actual speed will depend on your website’s setup, content, and plugins.
However, Astra tends to be slightly more optimized for performance from the get-go, making it the go-to option for those prioritizing speed.
👉If you are choosing the theme Elementor and Divi, check out our full guide here: Elementor vs Divi
Which Theme is Better for SEO?
SEO is critical for driving organic traffic to your site. Both Astra and Kadence are optimized for SEO, but Kadence has a slight edge because of its cleaner HTML output and better accessibility defaults.
Astra also performs well when paired with popular SEO plugins like Yoast or Rank Math.
- Kadence: Cleaner code and built-in SEO-friendly features give Kadence a slight edge for Core Web Vitals and accessibility.
- Astra: When using Astra Pro, you can achieve excellent SEO performance, especially with the integration of SEO plugins.
Which Theme is Better for WooCommerce?
When building an eCommerce site, both themes perform well, but Kadence offers more native controls for WooCommerce.
- Astra Pro is an excellent choice for WooCommerce integration, but you’ll need the Pro version to unlock more advanced features.
- Kadence provides advanced WooCommerce styling in both Free and Pro, making it an excellent choice for users who want more built-in flexibility.
Future Insights: What’s Coming & What to Watch
Both themes are evolving and adapting to changing trends in the WordPress ecosystem.
- Kadence is focusing heavily on Gutenberg block development, with Kadence Blocks Pro getting frequent updates.
- Astra is continuing to expand its library of starter templates and page builder integrations, with tighter integration with Spectra.
As block editors become more prevalent, Kadence’s Gutenberg-first approach gives it an edge in the long run.
Final Thoughts
So, which theme is right for you in 2025, Astra vs Kadence?
- Choose Astra if you need a lightweight theme with fast performance and excellent Elementor compatibility. Astra is perfect for quick setups and users who prioritize page speed.
- Choose Kadence if you need more customization options, especially if you prefer Gutenberg or need a more powerful header/footer editor. Kadence is a great choice for content-heavy sites, eLearning platforms, and those who want native WooCommerce styling without the need for extra plugins.
At the end of the day, both themes are excellent choices, but your decision should be based on the type of site you’re building and the features that matter most to you.
For expert help in setting up Astra or Kadence for your LMS or eLearning website, visit SOLBASE Technologies here.
