Kadence Theme is the most feature-rich free WordPress theme that has ever been released. There is also a Pro version that takes innovation even further.
Current Price: Free – $89/Year
Kadence Theme Pros
Offers hundreds of pre-built features that you can access for free
More than 70 Multiple Starter Templates
Can be integrated with 3rd party sites including WooCommerce
Drag & Drop Header/Footer Builder
Makes your website more mobile-oriented
Deep Integration With LearnDash & LifterLMS
Kadence Theme Cons
Documentation Is Good But Needs More
Lifetime Plan Is Overpriced
Very limited customization options with the free Kadence theme
In this in-depth review, I’ll give you a walkthrough of its main features and standout functionalities.
You’ll learn more about the theme and the people behind it, its missing and coming soon features, who the Kadence theme is perfect for, and whether the free version suits you better.
What is Kadence Pro Theme
Kadence theme is the most full-featured WordPress theme that is available for free.
Now that there is a pro version, it gets even better.
While other themes are only copies of each other, the Kadence Pro theme keeps on working to bring innovations to the table.
It is packed with features that you won’t get with other themes in the market.
It will help you effortlessly build smarter websites faster.
Can Kadence WP be trusted?
The developers of the Kadence Pro theme, who are based in the United States, have been in business since 2013.
They have created several themes and plugins in the past.
Among their most popular creations is Kadence Blocks.
This plugin incorporates a page builder like functionality to WordPress blocks.
It is also the most widely-used WP blocks enhancement plugin that isn’t auto-installed.
I believe that who you buy your products from is as important as the products themselves so I have total confidence in Kadence WP.
Kadence Theme Performance
Kadence is known for being lightweight and focused on performance. It’s less than 50 KB, doesn’t use heavy JavaScript files and uses inline SVG symbols. It will load only the required files on the page, keeping it fast and light.
Also, Kadence works well with AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) and is compatible with popular AMP WordPress plugins. This is very useful if you are running fast and need a fast website.
I imported the Kadence Cleaning Service Theme demo to a fresh WordPress installation and tested it with Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix without any enhancements or changes.
GTmetrix Performance Test
PageSpeed Insights Performance Test
Mobile Performance Report
Desktop Performance Report
Kadence Theme Integrations
Kadence Pro theme works well with Elementor, Breezy, Beaver Builder, or any page builder.
It is also integrated with WooCommerce, even enhancing its features.
Kadence works well and has been integrated with the following plugins:
That’s not a big list of integrations, but it should be enough if you don’t have some special requirements.
Kadence Theme Pricing
If you visit their website at kadence-theme.com, you’ll see that there are two ways you can purchase the theme.
You can pay for it yearly or one-time.
You can pay yearly for $89.40 for the Kadence Pro theme.
You’ll be able to use it on unlimited sites and have one year of support and updates.
A $131.40/year Kadence Full Membership is also available.
You’ll get access to Kadence Blocks Pro, Kadence Woo Extras, Kadence AMP, and all current and future themes and plugins.
Both include a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
You can also opt for a one-time purchase.
The theme costs only $499 for the Lifetime Kadence Membership.
Kadence Pro Features
1. Header & Footer Builder
The first main feature Kadence Pro theme I’ll discuss is its real-time drag-and-drop header and footer builder.
It is easy to use and powered by items and grids.
To use it, go to Customize and choose Header.
As you can see, there is a grid that has three columns and three rows.
You can drag and drop any item you want here or click on the + icon on the grid.
The footer builder works in a similar way, except that you can also add up to 6 widgets.
2. Account
A standout header item that happens to be a favorite of mine is called Account.
It is ideal for websites that require people to log in and give it an app-like feel.
It has a tiny Avatar icon that you can usually see it on the top right.
There are many other customizations/widgets you can use out of the box like Search, Social, Customized HTML Codes, Navigation settings, Dividers, Widget Area, Contact, Buttons and many more….
3. Ultimate & Mega Menus
The ultimate and mega menus are two amazing features of the Kadence Pro theme.
First, let me show you what the ultimate menu is.
In WordPress, go to Appearance and then Menu.
Here you’ll see different menu items.
Here you will see Menu Label Settings
To use Mega Menu Settings, toggle the Enable Mega Menu Dropdown.
Configurations will appear that includes the width, number of columns, layout, and items colors for your mega menu.
Here is an example of a mega menu on the Evernote website.
4. WooCommerce Features
Here is an example of WooCommerce Shop built using Kadence Theme
Single Product Page Layout, you can customize page as per your requirement
5. Pop-Up Cart
When you click Add To Cart, this pop-up that shows Add to Basket with different options.
6. Page Settings
Another useful feature is the ability to change the page layout, style, header, etc. inside WordPress editor, when you edit that page.
To access it, click on the Page Setting icon from the right side panel. Here you have the following preferences:
- Transparent header – enable or disable
- Page title – show or hide the title on any page
- Page layout – define the layout of a page. Full width, normal, narrow or show the sidebar. This option overrides the global layout settings
- Content style – display the content in a boxed or unboxed area, or use the global settings
- Featured image – show or hide the featured image on any page
- Disable header/footer – display or hide the header or footer on any page
Hooked Elements
One of the important features of Kadence Theme is Hooked Elements which is available in Pro version only. It makes the theme even more powerful in terms of customization.
With Hooked Elements, you can add custom elements to different areas of your website. For example:
- Single post or page
- Before or after the header/footer
- Before or after the content area
- Before or after the sidebar
- Before after the title
- Custom placement via custom hooks
You can also choose to show these items to all users or specific users and set an expiration date, so they disappear after the set date.
You can replace parts of the template using the Templates feature (replace header/footer, sidebar, etc.).
For example, you want to display a promotion banner under your header on all pages. Hooked Elements can be used.
Starter Templates
Kadence offers a decent number of templates by default. The team is working hard to release new themes. Currently, there are more than 70 starter templates including free and pro which should be enough for most popular niches.
In order to import demo templates, you’ll need to install the Kadence Starter Templates plugin. Then, go to WP admin – Appearance – Starter Templates choose the preferred page builder (currently, it’s Gutenberg or Elementor), and import your demos.
Here is the screenshot I have taken for your quick glance.
Is Kadence Theme better than Astra Theme
Which theme is better? Kadence or Astra?
Well! The Kadence theme is better than the Astra in terms of header builder and WooCommerce integration but the more important for the website is the speed where the Astra theme is better than the Kadence.
Both themes have their own pros and cons, but if you choose any of these themes will be a great choice.
Who is this theme for?
Kadence theme is a nice choice for non technical professionals, who care about their site speed and SEO and need multiple options right out of the box.
It’s also a good fit for users with some development background, as it offers hooks, script management options and WooCommerce features.
The features you need can only be used with Kadence Theme.
You can invest a little bit of money in it but then you’re done.
You now have multiple tools for all your future projects.
Is Kadence Theme free version right for you
The free version has tons of features that no other WordPress theme has, like the globally linked colors and fonts.
Also, if you’ve read the features above and you don’t actually need it, then you should stick to the free one.
Kadence Theme Review: Final Words
Something as simple as a centralized globally linked color palette, it makes so much sense yet Kadence is the only theme with this feature. Same goes for how the theme handles topography.
Also, I feel a greater sense of trust in the code quality, support, and future because they have been in business since 2013, are based in the US, and English is their first language. Less explaining when you need help.
Which theme are you selecting based on my comparison? Comment in the section below.
