Astra vs Kadence: Free vs Pro, Speed, LMS & Which Theme Delivers
If you are stuck in either selecting Astra vs Kadence than this 3 minute read is going to help you, for sure.
As this is not a blog, it is our personal experience what we found out in our 12-year-long career at LMS Crafter. We will compare Astra vs Kadence to help you make the right choice.
When comparing Astra vs Kadence, it’s essential to consider how each theme aligns with your specific needs.
Choosing a WordPress theme isn’t just about colors and fonts anymore. It’s about speed, SEO, builder compatibility, and how much time you’ll waste fixing broken layouts after plugin updates.
Astra and Kadence are two of the biggest names in the WordPress world. Both promise to be fast. Both say they’re lightweight. Both offer “endless customization.”
But in the real world, not in a polished demo site, only one theme usually fits your workflow better.
Let’s break it down
The debate of Astra vs Kadence continues as users weigh their options.
Feature by feature, no fluff.
Real Talk: Why the Theme Matters
Look, your WordPress theme isn’t just a frame. It’s the engine behind your site’s:
- Speed
- SEO structure
- Core Web Vitals
- Page builder compatibility
- Accessibility
- And yes, your sanity when editing anything
A bloated theme will slow down your site. A clunky one will break layouts every time Elementor or Gutenberg updates. So if you’re using WooCommerce, LearnDash, Tutor LMS, or running a coaching business…
The right theme can save you 10–15 hours per month.
Let’s dive into what makes Astra and Kadence different.
Astra vs Kadence: Feature Comparison Table
| 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+ (many for Elementor) | 50+ (more Gutenberg-optimized) |
| Header/Footer Builder | Basic in free – Advanced in Pro | Drag-and-drop in Free & Pro |
| Global Design Controls | Pro only | Available even in free |
| WooCommerce Integration | Strong (with Astra 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 |
Let’s Talk Pain Points
“My site looks broken on mobile…”
Understanding the differences in Astra vs Kadence can greatly influence your site’s performance.
That’s a theme issue. Kadence gives mobile padding and responsive controls even in the free version. Astra needs Pro for deep control.
Considerations in the Astra vs Kadence evaluation include price and features.
“I want a drag-and-drop header and footer editor.”
Kadence wins here, You get that editor out of the box, no upsell. Astra? Gotta pay.
“I’m building a course site with LearnDash.”
Both work, but Kadence handles LMS blocks and nested design layouts better, especially if you’re using Gutenberg.
“I want to move fast with templates.”
Astra’s library is huge. If you’re using Elementor, Astra has more ready-made kits. Kadence favors Gutenberg lovers.
Pro Tip #1: Don’t base your decision solely on the homepage speed.
Test course pages, blog posts, and checkout flows. That’s where bloat kills performance.
Astra Theme Features Breakdown
- Clean, minimal CSS
- Huge pre-built template library
- Flexible layout controls (Pro)
- WooCommerce and LearnDash integrations
- Solid documentation and community
- Ideal if you use Elementor or Brizy
Astra’s biggest flex? It works great for client sites where you need speed + pre-designed kits. But to unlock the power, you’ll likely need Astra Pro.
Kadence Theme Performance Breakdown
- Built-in header/footer builder (free)
- Global colors and typography controls
- Native Gutenberg block controls
- Accessibility and SEO-first code
- Less dependency on extra plugins
Kadence shines with performance-focused and content-rich sites. If you’re building on Gutenberg or want pixel-level control, this is your tool.
ProTip #2:Kadence Free is way more powerful than Astra Free.
You can build a full site with Kadence Free without needing the Pro version (especially for blogs or coaches).
Which Theme is Better for SEO?
Both are SEO-optimized, but Kadence has an edge with cleaner HTML output and better native accessibility. Astra does well when paired with SEO plugins like Rank Math or Yoast, though. If you’re writing content and care about Core Web Vitals, Kadence is a strong bet.
Kadence Free vs Pro: Is It Worth It?
Kadence Free gives you most of the essentials:
- Header/Footer Builder
- Global colors
- Layout controls
- WooCommerce styling
The choice between Astra vs Kadence can impact your site’s overall design.
Pro gives you:
- Mega Menus
- Hooked Elements
- Conditional Headers
- Woo Add-Ons
- Deep integration with LearnDash and Restrict Content Pro
Go Pro if you’re serious about branding and selling digital products.
Future Insights: What’s Coming & What to Watch
Both themes are evolving.
Kadence is going hard on Gutenberg block development; their Kadence Blocks plugin is getting serious updates that compete with Elementor.
Astra is tightening integration with Spectra and expanding starter templates.
But here’s what to watch:
- Block Editor is the future. Themes that play nice with Gutenberg will stay relevant.
- Avoid themes that lock you into their own builder.
- Keep an eye on core web vitals, Google’s not playing around with slow sites.
ProTip #3: If you’re launching an LMS or coaching site, always check plugin compatibility first.
Not every theme plays nice with checkout pages, course builders, or quiz plugins.
FAQs: Astra vs Kadence
Q: Is Kadence better than Astra for SEO?
Kadence has slightly cleaner HTML and better accessibility defaults, which helps with SEO out of the box. But Astra, when paired with a solid SEO plugin and Pro settings, can also rank well. We help clients choose based on their content and tech stack at LMS Crafter.
Q: Can I use Elementor with Kadence?
Yes, Kadence works with Elementor, but it really shines with Gutenberg. Astra, on the other hand, is better optimized for Elementor performance and templates. If you’re not sure which combo to go with, that’s something we help clients figure out during our audits at LMS Crafter.
Q: Does Kadence Pro include Kadence Blocks Pro?
No. Kadence Blocks Pro is a separate purchase unless you get their full bundle. We usually recommend the bundle if you plan to scale your site or want deeper design control, all stuff we walk through in our LMS tech setups.
Q: Which theme is better for WooCommerce?
Both themes handle WooCommerce well. But Kadence gives you more controls natively, even in the free version. Astra is also great, especially with Astra Pro. We typically pick based on how custom the product experience needs to be, especially for course + shop hybrid sites.
Q: Where can I get help setting up Astra or Kadence for a course site?
You can dig through forums or try hiring a freelancer, but if you want a clean, conversion-focused setup with the right LMS tools from the start, reach out to LMS Crafter. We’ve built 100+ course sites using Astra, Kadence, and every builder combo in between.
Final Thoughts
If you’re building a fast, conversion-focused site that needs minimal fluff and loads fast even on mobile? Go with Kadence, especially if you’re using Gutenberg or building courses. But if you’re working with Elementor or building multiple sites with clients in mind? Astra Pro makes the process smoother and faster, thanks to its massive template library.
There’s no wrong choice.
Only the one that saves you time, reduces bugs, and helps your site grow without bloat.
So, what kind of site are you building?
