GeneratePress Review: Fastest WordPress Theme for Your Site

Looking for a lightweight and fastest WordPress theme for your site? Try GeneratePress.

GeneratePress is a lightweight multipurpose WordPress theme that allows you to create any type of website, from a business site to a blog to an eCommerce store.

In this detail GeneratePress review, we’ll take a closer look at:

  • Features of GeneratePress Theme
  • Benefits of GeneratrePress
  • GeneratrePress free vs premium
  • Pricing of GeneratePress
  • GeneratePress pros and cons
  • Best GeneratePress alternatives
  • And lot more

Let’s get started!

GeneratePress Theme Overview

GeneratePress - Lightweight WordPress Theme

GeneratePress is a lightweight, fast, and mobile-friendly WordPress theme created by Tom Usborne. It is designed to be a solid foundation for any type of WordPress website, from simple blogs to complex eCommerce stores.

GeneratePress is also highly customizable, allowing you to create a website that looks exactly the way you want it to.

Furthermore, with a page size of only 7.5kb, 2 HTTP requests, and no dependencies, the free theme provides the ideal foundation to help your site hit 100%.

The core GeneratePress theme is completely free. However, there is also a GeneratePress Premium version with further customization and features.

Technically, GeneratePress Premium is a plugin that can be installed with the free GeneratePress theme to provide extra functionality and features to your website.

Keep reading this GeneratePress review to learn more about the fastest WordPress theme.

GeneratePress Theme Customer Reviews

On the WordPress.org theme repository, GeneratePress got 5 out of 5-star ratings from more than 1,300+ reviews.

GeneratePress Theme Rating and Reviews on WordPress

People who use GeneratePress seem to be very happy with the theme. Take a look at some of the testimonials from users.

GeneratePress Testimonials from Users

GeneratePress Theme Review: Features List

Here are some of the outstanding features offered by the GeneratePress WordPress theme.

  • Block-based theme builder
  • Starter sites
  • Advanced hook system
  • Use the theme on up to 500 websites
  • Lifetime plan
  • Advanced layout system
  • And lot more

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Top Benefits of GeneratePress Themes

Here are the primary advantages of using the GeneratePress theme for your WordPress website.

1. Block-Based Theme Builder

GeneratePress is the first theme builder that uses blocks.

It is a combination of GeneratePress Premium and their free GenerateBlocks plugin.

Furthermore, you don’t need to touch the code to customize your site in the GeneratePress.

Even if you are not tech-savvy, you can easily customize every part of your website. These include header, footer, logo, single articles, 404 error pages, and so on.

2. Flexible Options in the Real-Time WordPress Customizer

GeneratePress uses the WordPress customizer for customization, which is handy because you can see all the changes you make in real-time.

The free version of GeneratePress provides sufficient options, but GeneratePress Premium allows you to customize almost every aspect of your site.

For example, if you go to the Layout area, you can configure detailed options for your:

  • Header – you can move and style your header
  • Sidebars – you can use one or two sidebars
  • Blog – like featured image size, metadata, etc.
  • Footer – like how many widgets to include

GeneratePress Layout Customizer

Similar to this, the Typography section of your site lets you choose the font for every single element, including buttons:

GeneratePress Typography Settings

You also get a detailed area where you may control the colors of every single element on your site.

Overall, GeneratePress provides far more customization options in the WordPress Customizer than most other themes.

3. Page-Level Controls

GeneratePress includes powerful page-level controls for adjusting content layout piece by piece.

You can, for example, change the content width, sidebar layout, page header, and so on.

These are useful when using the block editor or a page builder plugin like Elementor.

GeneratePress Page Level Controls

To save time, you can also create your own layout settings.

4. 90+ Starter Templates – GeneratePress Review

With GeneratePress Premium, you’ll get access to 90+ pre-built importable demo templates covering niches, including business websites, eCommerce stores, and blogs.

Most of these demo sites are now built with the native block editor and GenerateBlocks. This means it allows them to load fast while allowing easy modification.

With a few clicks, you may import a demo site. When doing so, you can import all of the content or simply the customizer settings.

GeneratePress Templates

5. GeneratePress Elements

For more sophisticated users, GeneratePress Elements brings you a whole new world of customization options.

With Elements, you may create unique layouts that you can include across your website. You can inject content into specified areas of the theme by using GeneratePress’ multiple hook locations. You can also entirely replace entire templates, such as creating a new header, footer, and more.

When creating a new element, you have four options:

  • Block – create any custom content using the block editor.
  • Hook – add custom code to any theme hook place.
  • Layout – create unique layouts for certain content, such as a sidebar, content width, etc.
  • Header – create unique page headers for specific content.

GeneratePress Elements

You also have a Display Rules and Block Element Type for every element.

You can use Display Rules to target your design to specific content and users. Also, you can make unlimited rules as you want.

You can use the element type to specify where you wish to inject/use this content. You have ten options to choose from:

  • Hook
  • Site Header
  • Page Hero
  • Content Template
  • Post Meta Template
  • Post Navigation
  • Archive Navigation
  • Right Sidebar
  • Left Sidebar
  • Site Footer

GeneratePress Block Element Design

Having all of these elements kinds opens up a whole new world of possibilities, including full block-based theme building!

GeneratePress Free vs Premium – Which One Is Better?

The GeneratePress free version is ideal for new bloggers who are just getting started with their blogging journey. However, when you compare the features, you can find that the free plan lacks several excellent features that are offered in the premium version.

With the premium version, you have access to useful features such as a theme builder, a site library, and advanced customization options to help you elevate your blog.

Let’s look at a feature comparison of the GeneratePress Free and Paid versions.

GeneratePress Free Version Features:

  • Lifetime free access
  • Use on unlimited sites
  • Limited layout control
  • Mobile responsive
  • Use custom CSS

Try GeneratePress Free

GeneratePress Premium Version Features:

  • Access to block-based theme builder
  • Use upto 500 websites
  • Access to the site library
  • More styling options
  • Copyright control
  • Import/Export theme settings
  • Premium modules
  • 24/7 Support

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GeneratePress Pricing: How Much Does GeneratePress Cost?

GP Premium offers a reasonable pricing plan. If you want to use the theme for a year, you will need to pay $59, while a lifetime subscription is $249.

GeneratePress Pricing Both plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the fast WordPress theme without worrying about losing money if it fails to meet your needs.

Moreover, the theme can be installed on over 500 websites, which means unlimited sites.

Technically, you can try out the free GeneratePress theme to see how it works.

GeneratePress Support and Documentation

GeneratePress offers the best support and documentation.

Whatever GeneratePress templates you want to customize, you’ll find plenty of helpful resources and documentation for it. However, if you are using the free version of GeneratePress, you’ll have access to excellent help through a support forum.

GeneratePress provides free support (even for free theme users), where you may ask any question related to GeneratePress and get answers.

GeneratePress Support

Documentation is critical when it comes to theme customization. GeneratePress theme has a massive knowledge base where you can find documentation for every template.

GeneratePress Documentations

As seen above, you’ll find extensive documentation from general queries to a developer.

GeneratePress Review – Pros and Cons

Following are some of the pros and cons of our GeneratePress review.

Pros

  • It’s incredibly lightweight and performance-friendly.
  • The page-level controls are excellent for working with page builder plugins.
  • The typography system is really nice for easily controlling your site’s fonts.
  • GeneratePress Elements is incredibly powerful and useful.
  • You can use the GenerateBlocks plugin with GeneratePress to extend your theme functionality.
  • Extensive documentation and great forum support.

Cons

  • GeneratePress’s free version does not include any pre-built importable demo sites.
  • While GeneratePress provides full WooCommerce support, it does not have as many integrations as a theme like Astra.
  • There is less design flexibility in comparison to themes such as Astra or Kadence.

GeneratePress Alternatives

While GeneratePress is an excellent theme, it’s far from the only option for this lightweight, multipurpose approach.

If you’re looking for other GeneratePress alternatives, here are some of the best.

1. Astra

Astra - Fast, Lightweight & Customizable WordPress Theme

Astra is a terrific all-around alternative that is still lightweight but filled with customization options, has many starter sites (including many free ones), and has more integrations. You can’t go wrong with Astra, and there is a reason it was the first non-default theme to reach one million active installs on WordPress.org.

To learn more, read out our full Astra theme review.

Astra Features

  • Astra requires less than 50KB of resources.
  • It is compatible with page builders such as Elementor, Beaver Builder, and others.
  • It is SEO-optimized and fully responsive.
  • Offers self-hosted Google fonts.
  • Astra is completely WooCommerce-ready.
  • Use layouts to customize anything, including headers, blogs, single pages, posts, etc.
  • Astra integrates seamlessly with LifterLMS and learnDash to help you build an online course website.

How Much Does Astra Theme Cost?

Astra offers a free version that is perfect for beginners. If you want to use all of the features included in the Astra theme, you should upgrade to one of the premium plans mentioned below.

  • Astra Pro: It costs you $47 per year, and you’ll get access to hundreds of customization options with unlimited website usage.
  • Essential Bundle: It costs you $137 per year, where you’ll get all Astra Pro features with 180+ premium starter templates and a WP Portfolio Plugin. Alternatively, you can choose between Ultimate Add-ons for Elementor and Ultimate Add-ons for Beaver Builder. Both of these plugins work well with Astra Pro and are worthwhile additions.
  • Growth Bundle: It costs you $187 per year, where you’ll get all Essential Bundle features together with Convert ProSchema Pro, and Spectra Pro.

However, these packages can be purchased on a lifetime basis with no yearly fees at $239, $499, and $699, respectively.

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2. Divi

Dviv WordPress Theme and Page Builder

Divi is more than just a theme. It’s a full design framework that lets you customize every aspect of your website, including the header, footer, single post templates, etc.

It also has a visual editor and over 2,000 predefined website layouts to let you design any type of website. To use the Divi theme, you must have an Elegant Themes membership.

Learn more in our complete Divi theme review.

Divi Features

  • Divi offers a drag-and-drop builder that is included in the theme.
  • 2,000+ pre-made designs.
  • Using the Theme Builder feature, you may customize every aspect of your WordPress website.
  • Easy to use the split testing tool.
  • Highly portability means easy to transfer your layouts and other assets between WordPress websites.
  • Divi offers its own set of custom theme options.
  • Comes with additional themes and plugins.

How Much Does Divi Theme Cost You?

Divi has two pricing options: yearly access and lifetime access. You can pay $89 per year for their most popular plan or $249 once for lifetime access and updates. Both plans include access to all themes (Divi and Extra) and plugins (Bloom and Monarch), theme updates, premium support, unlimited website usage, and a risk-free guarantee.

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3. Kadence

Kadence WP - WordPress Themes

Kadence is a newer theme that’s swiftly gaining market share owing to its plentiful free customization options, advanced custom layout features, and user-friendly touches like a drag-and-drop header builder. While it is not as popular as GeneratePress, it is growing quickly and is a good option.

Kadence Features:

  • Offers plenty of beautiful starter templates to get started with website creation.
  • Kadence theme is compatible with almost all major page builders in the market.
  • Ability to create your own custom blocks using Kadence Blocks.
  • Wide range of color and typography options.
  • Extensive documentation and great forum support.
  • You can use the Kadence theme on unlimited WordPress.

How Much Does Kadence WordPress Theme Cost?

Kadence offers a free version with limited features that you can download from WordPress.org. If you want to use all of the features, you should purchase their premium version, which is available in four different pricing levels, which are given below.

  • Kadence Theme Pro: It costs you $59/first year, where you’ll get access to Header Addons, Woocommerce Addon, Hooked Elements, etc.
  • Essential Bundle: It costs you $129/first year, where you’ll get access to Kadence Blocks Pro, Kadence Theme Pro, Pro Starter Templates, etc.
  • Full Bundle: It costs you $199/first year where you’ll get access to all Essential Bundle, plus Kadence Cloud, Kadence Conversions, Child Theme Builder, etc
  • Lifetime Full Bundle: It costs you $799/one time, where you will get everything inside the Full Bundle plan, plus lifetime updates and support.

Get Kadence

GeneratePress Review Final Thought

GeneratePress has excellent performance, feature set, support, and pricing. Everything about it is positive.

Paying for the premium version will bring you a long way.

The only disadvantage of GeneratePress is its free version. Compared to other popular, high-rated free themes, GeneratePress’s free version pales compared to the premium version. To fully enjoy its benefits, you must purchase the premium version. So, if you don’t want to pay any money, GeneratePress is probably not for you.

Having said that, we believe GeneratePress is well worth the money.

The code quality and level of support, together with the unlimited website usage, make it well worth the money. So, if you’ve kept your eye on it, there is no better time than now to get the premium version and begin using it for your projects.

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That’s it!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is GeneratePress Free?

Yes, GeneratePress is a free WordPress theme that you can download or install from an official website or the wordpress.org directory. GeneratePress also has a premium version, which costs $59 per year or $249 for a lifetime with a one-time fee.

Which Is Best, Astra or GeneratePress?

GeneratePress and Astra are popular for a reason: they’re both terrific WordPress themes that you can’t go wrong with. Overall, Astra provides slightly “more” than GeneratePress. It has more integrations, starter sites, customization options, and so on. Check out our full Astra Theme Review.

Does GeneratePress Theme Work Best With Elementor?

Elementor and GeneratePress work flawlessly in WordPress. Both the free and premium versions work wonderfully, but the GP Pro version has more features.

Can I Use GeneratePress to Build an eCommerce Website?

Yes, GeneratePress is a multi-purpose WordPress theme that can be used to create any type of website.

GeneratePress vs Kadence: Which Is Better?

As for the free versions, Kadence is far ahead of GeneratePress because of its features and design options. However, the GeneratePress free version may not compete with Kadence, but the pro version comes with great functionalities.