Astra vs Salient Theme comparison [2024] 💥
ASTRA THEME (Salient vs Astra)
WP-Astra is the fastest Wordpress theme ever made...
Welcome to our exploration of the Astra Theme for [2024]. Picture this: over 2,369,964 users have already embraced Astra for their websites. Why? Because Astra is like a top-tier superhero in the theme universe. It's crafted to build visually stunning and super responsive online stores, with load times that can outrun a speeding bullet.
The team behind Astra didn't just develop another theme; they introduced a game-changer in web design. Its rise in popularity has been meteoric, much like a blockbuster hit. When it comes to speed, only Generatepress comes close. But in terms of overall excellence and features, Astra is the undisputed champion, much like the lead character in an epic saga.
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Speed is essential: faster websites score higher on Google, much like climbing the ranks of a digital Everest. A fast site keeps visitors hooked, like a magnet drawing in and retaining attention. In today's digital world, website speed is like a golden ticket to online success.
Choosing Astra is like hiring a team of speed experts for your website. Imagine your online store as a race car: the faster it runs, the smoother your customers’ shopping experience. Astra isn’t just about looking good; it’s about performing exceptionally well, giving your website a turbo boost.
Astra 4.0 is here
The launch of Astra 4.0 marks a significant upgrade in the evolution of WordPress themes. Check out the overview video linked above for a quick tour of its new features and improvements. After that, dive into the rest of this article for a more in-depth look. Astra has always been a leader in the WordPress theme market, consistently evolving to meet the needs of its users.
The latest version, Astra 4.0, solidifies its status as an indispensable tool for any WordPress user. Whether you’re an experienced developer or new to web design, Astra 4.0’s mix of flexibility, power, and ease of use makes it invaluable for creating engaging, responsive websites.
Spectra 2.0 out now
The addition of Spectra 2.0 to the Astra Theme is a big enhancement to an already powerful platform. Spectra 2.0, Astra's own page builder, makes website creation easier and more functional. While it’s currently free, there’s talk of a future paid version that promises even more advanced features.
Astra has always been top-notch, but integrating its own page builder with a variety of widgets takes it to new heights. This not only enriches the user experience but also establishes Astra as a comprehensive solution for both beginners and seasoned developers.
Astra free & pro rating
Curious about Astra’s popularity? Head over to Wordpress.org and see Astra’s rave reviews. It’s a crowd favorite with a ton of 5-star ratings. The free version of Astra is used on over a million websites. Including the Pro version, that number jumps to an impressive 1.6 million. This shows how much Astra has impacted the web design world, like a major event drawing in a huge crowd.
Astra for online stores
Think of Astra as your secret weapon for boosting online store sales. It’s not just about looks; it’s about converting visitors into customers. Using Astra for your online store is like having a high-speed race car in a field of regular cars – it stands out with superior speed. Want to see how Astra measures up against its rivals? Check out this page for speed tests comparing Astra with over 50 other top themes. These tests, done by SEO experts, highlight Astra’s exceptional performance.
On that page, you’ll find detailed info about combining Astra with WooCommerce. A fast-loading shop is great for user experience and Google rankings. With Astra, imagine your store soaring up Google’s search results, like hitting the turbo boost. It’s like fitting your store with advanced optimization tools, attracting more visitors and keeping them engaged, much like a grand celebration drawing in a crowd.
With Astra, setting up your online shop is simple and user-friendly, with no need for advanced tech skills. A few years back, this level of ease might have seemed impossible, but now Astra ensures compatibility with a wide range of WooCommerce plugins. It handles these integrations smoothly, like a skilled coordinator managing a diverse team.
And that's just the beginning. Astra packs modern features that make your shop shine. Think Infinite Scroll for a seamless product browsing experience, customizable grid settings for a unique display, an off-canvas sidebar for sleek navigation, Quickview for speedy shopping, and a dropdown cart for a fun surprise. Interested? Check out these features here. Plus, Astra offers ready-to-use demo sites for a quick setup, making your design process a breeze.
Astra's stunning starter demos
Get ready to be amazed by Astra’s collection of 180 complete website designs. Each one is a fully functional site, ready for you to use. It’s like walking into a treasure trove where everything is free. Pick a design, add your branding, and you’re good to go. These demos, created by Astra’s skilled team, work seamlessly with four different page builders, offering you a range of design possibilities. Astra really sets the bar high for website templates.
Astra's responsiveness goes beyond the standard. It's like the theme underwent special training to excel in mobile e-commerce. The focus isn't just on looks; there's a strong emphasis on making the mobile version of your site exceptionally user-friendly. With the rise of mobile shopping, this feature becomes even more critical. It wouldn't be surprising if over half of online shoppers use their mobile devices while relaxing at home in the near future.
Additionally, Astra offers extensive customization options for the checkout process, shopping cart, and product pages, all without needing complex coding skills. A smooth checkout experience is essential because a complicated one can quickly deter customers. Astra ensures a fluid and enjoyable shopping journey. The Astra team's approach to e-commerce solutions is not just innovative; it's a complete reimagining of what's possible in online retail.
Astra's blazing fast performance
When it comes to speed, Astra takes the lead. This theme is built for lightning-fast performance, scoring top marks in speed tests on platforms like Google, GTmetrix, Y-Slow, and Pingdom. It’s as if Astra has a secret speed formula. These impressive results prove Astra’s superiority over slower themes. While Generatepress is a close competitor, Astra consistently ranks higher in speed tests, making it a standout choice for quick-loading websites.
Compatibility with page builders
Astra works seamlessly with the Elementor page builder...
Using Astra is like having a user-friendly control panel for your website. It offers both simplicity and enjoyment. Astra integrates smoothly with the WordPress customizer for a seamless experience. It pairs exceptionally well with popular page builders, especially Elementor. The combination of Astra Pro and Elementor Pro is like two perfectly matched partners. For those on a budget, both Astra and Elementor offer free versions, which still provide substantial functionality and an enjoyable user experience.
Elementor in Astra
Astra schema markup
Have you ever wanted to communicate your page contents effectively to search engines? This is where Schema markup plays a crucial role. These structured data snippets help search engines understand the context and content of your pages. It’s like providing a clear roadmap to Google. Astra simplifies this process by automatically adding Schema markup to your pages, as detailed here. This feature works quietly in the background to boost your website’s visibility and performance in search results, making it a key part of your SEO strategy.
Astra and LearnDash
Imagine creating online courses with ease using Astra and LearnDash. Building an online course with Astra and LearnDash is like assembling a complex structure effortlessly. Astra provides a wealth of design options and features, making your online course as captivating as a top-rated TV show.
LearnDash, on the other hand, handles the structure of your website, focusing on creating an engaging learning environment. The combination of Astra’s design flexibility and LearnDash’s structured approach results in more than just a website – it creates an immersive digital learning experience. Embrace this opportunity to craft an exceptional online course platform.
Astra and LifterLMS
Pairing Astra with LifterLMS creates a powerful duo for online education. Astra excels as the design expert, offering you complete control over your website’s look and functionality. Whether you aim for a sophisticated high-end magazine style or a versatile multifunctional tool, Astra provides the necessary support.
Adding LifterLMS enhances your site’s educational efficiency. It creates a focused learning environment, minimizing distractions and maximizing engagement. The synergy of LifterLMS’s educational framework with Astra’s design capabilities not only makes learning easier but also boosts conversion rates. Imagine a checkout process so smooth it feels like part of the learning journey itself. Together, Astra and LifterLMS elevate your site to a premier online learning platform.
Astra headers, footers, and 404 pages
Meet Astra’s Transparent Headers, Custom Headers, and Custom Footers – the PRO features that add a touch of sophistication to your website. These tools act like your digital design consultants, allowing you to create custom headers and footers effortlessly. Imagine crafting your site’s header and footer to be as elegant as a formal suit or as casual as jeans, all with a few clicks. Even the often overlooked 404 pages can be customized for a cohesive look. You can also tailor these elements for different user groups, providing a personalized experience. It’s like having complete creative control over your site’s top and bottom navigation areas.
More amazing features of Astra
Astra is packed with a wide array of features, and you can check out a detailed overview here. This extensive list showcases the numerous functionalities available in Astra. Take some time to explore these features, as they collectively provide a robust set of tools to enhance your website’s capabilities.
Astra theme conclusion
This concludes my comprehensive review of the Astra Theme. For those who have followed through to this point, I extend my appreciation. It's clear that Astra is not just another option among many in the world of web design; it stands out distinctively. The Astra PRO version, in particular, offers enhanced capabilities compared to the free version, akin to the difference between gourmet and fast-food offerings. Personally, I favor the combination of Astra and Elementor, which allows for sophisticated and seamless web design. Astra is on par with the Divi Theme, known for its versatility and readiness to tackle various challenges. As for shortcomings in Astra? They are as rare as finding a needle in a well-organized, vast haystack.
Astra's pricing
At an annual cost of only $59, Astra offers remarkable value. Imagine having the capability to deploy on unlimited sites for such an affordable fee. This is akin to enjoying an expansive buffet at the cost of a simple snack. In contrast, many other themes often require separate fees per site, resembling pricey cafes with per-item charges. For those with a budget to spare, consider enhancing your Astra experience with one of their bundle packages, which frequently come with significant discounts, making them ideal for businesses striving for excellence in web design. Astra's policy of unlimited use, whether for a single website or multiple projects, underscores its commitment to providing exceptional value. If Astra were personified as a superhero, it would indeed be celebrated for its 'Value for Money'. Moreover, the lifetime deals present an opportunity akin to uncovering hidden treasure, offering long-term benefits and savings.
SALIENT THEME (Salient vs Astra)
To start with, before the beginning of this Salient Theme review, I have to tell you that the theme has been among the top best-selling themes for years now on Themeforest.net. Okay, currently in 11th place, and highest ranking ever maybe in 4th place. There are much better-sold themes but Salient has absolute top features that we will take a closer look at.
As a matter of fact, buyers are more enthusiastic about the theme than they are about any other theme. It has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 5700 ratings. For a premium theme with many options, it is a super-fast loading theme. The builders of Salient are currently claiming one Google Pagespeed score of 97%, we will come back to this in a moment.
Salient’s page builder editing
With the latest version 11 of Salient it now has the front-end page builder of the WP Bakery Page Builder. Themes have to keep up with the times, of course, all toppers have frontend page builders with Thrive Architect being the most impressive I think, followed by Divi and Elementor. Instead of images, we show you below in a video how the Salient page builder works. The WP Bakery Pagebuilder (formerly: Visual Composer) is one of the oldest and best out there, let's say the number 4 right now (my opinion).
Salient's speed performance
I did not check it myself with the speedometers concerned, but they show this on their website. Those are really anti-social good scores for Google Pagespeed and Y-Slow (GT-Metrix). Without a doubt impressive. It is very important for a website that it loads quickly, because visitors are impatient nowadays and are quickly away from sites that do not immediately have something to show.
Importable demo websites
Like every self-respecting theme Salient has beautiful easy-to-import layouts. At the time of writing, it says on their site that it concerns 285+ demo layouts. A nice number but not a leader in this area. The layouts do give a very good impression and in the end 1 layout is enough so we will not give any negatives for this in this review for Salient.
Salient’s lazy loading
Lazy loading means that images are not immediately shown in their full resolution. They appear immediately but blurry and slowly pull up. This ensures that other elements on the page load faster and the entire website is visible to visitors much earlier. Normally people use a plugin or a CDN service for this, but with Salient this is not necessary although there is nothing better than a professional CDN-service if you want a super fast website.
Final thoughts on Salient
We won't bore you with details common to most themes in this Salient review. We've highlighted the key advantages, and there are few downsides. The high ratings from buyers reflect its quality. The theme is definitely worth its $60 price tag on Themeforest.net. That's a typical price for a premium theme. Click the button below for more info. While Salient isn't my top pick as a web designer, I do use it for certain clients. For my top choices, check out the best WordPress themes [2024].
Salient vs Astra showdown
Thanks for reading this Salient vs Astra comparison to the end. When it comes to fast loading times, Astra shines and might be the fastest pro theme available. Salient is fast, but it can't match Astra in this area. Both themes allow you to create beautiful sites and shops. Salient offers more customization options without needing HTML knowledge. Personally, I prefer Astra combined with Elementor Pro for a smooth and efficient website-building experience.
Finally, let's talk about pricing. With Salient, you'll need to buy a separate expensive license for each website. In contrast, Astra can be used on unlimited sites, offering excellent value and great deals.
Rating Features with Stars ⭐
| Feature | Astra | Salient |
|---|---|---|
| Page Builder | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Speed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customization | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| SEO Optimization | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Design Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Mobile Friendliness | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Header and Footer Customization | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
FAQs
1. How user-friendly are Astra and Salient for beginners?
Astra is very beginner-friendly with its seamless integration with Elementor. Salient also offers ease of use with WP Bakery Page Builder, but Astra's simplicity might be more appealing for new users.
2. Can I create a multilingual site with these themes?
Yes, both Astra and Salient support multilingual plugins like WPML and Polylang, making it easy to create a site in multiple languages.
3. Are there any unique features in Salient that Astra doesn't offer?
Salient includes unique visual effects like parallax and lazy loading built-in, which are less emphasized in Astra. These features can add a dynamic touch to your site.
4. How does customer support compare between Astra and Salient?
Astra is known for its excellent customer support and active community. Salient also offers solid support, but Astra's support is often highlighted as a strong point.
5. Which theme is better for SEO?
Both themes are optimized for SEO, but Astra's built-in schema markup gives it a slight edge in terms of search engine visibility.
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