The trend of people searching the internet from their mobile device, with numbers exceeding desktop search, has led internet giants to further emphasize that fast and lightweight WordPress websites are the way to go.
This is understandable because, unlike desktop computers which usually have a broadband cable internet, mobile devices access the internet through metered or WiFi access points with rather limited bandwidth.
What is the best way to a fast website?
You can perform a number of audits, updates, and changes to your website to increase your website speed:
- Use the latest WordPress
- Cleanup plugins and themes (uninstall)
- Use cache plugin (WP Super Cache, WP Rocket …)
- Optimize your database tables
- Optimize (shrink) content such as images or video files
Different ways can help you increase your WordPress website speed, but the best one is to choose a lightweight theme in the first place. Here is a compiled list for some of our suggestions.
Amera – WordPress theme for WooCommerce users
Right off the bat, I will note that this is a paid (premium) theme that is lightweight, responsive and supports WoCommerce with a number of different product layouts including features such as lightbox, carousel, sticky scrolling… etc.
There are eight homepage layouts that you can choose from, different blog styles with boxed or full-width layout support. All around, a good choice for a shopping theme.
MeloKids – a perfect theme for a kids shop website
Another theme with good support for WooCommerce and it is lightweight. The overall design of the theme is absolutely on the spot for a kids shop, and you get a set of fashionable premade design elements and features.
The included Visual Composer is a drag-and-drop website builder meaning no coding knowledge is needed and you will be able to get your website up and running very quickly.
Simple – just what the name says a fast and simple WordPress theme
It was about time to mention a free WordPress theme that fits the envelope of being simplistic yet functional and lightweight, which Simple from Themify truly is.
The Simple design is built around a design that fits most needs but is also excellent for an online shop or any regular blog or static pages.
This flexible and responsive theme can use Shopify to manage your shop and inventory and use Themify Builder to design your storefront and website in WordPress. Note that its “heavier counterpart” is Ultra from Themify which is a multipurpose theme.
Tracem – lightweight premium theme from Elementor
We would agree that Tracem is a multi-purpose lightweight theme that caters to design agencies, company websites as well as personal users, though again it is a premium theme.
The main feature of Tracem is the Elementor drag-and-drop builder which is intuitive and provides amazing creative options without any coding. The one-click demos are very useful as they can be modified to be used with your own website.
We can conclude that the amount of features included reflects the premium theme status of Tracem.
Pixwell – fast and modern magazine WordPress theme
Albeit some would call it a multipurpose, this theme is catering primarily to online magazines, blogs, news or travel websites.
The name of the theme is a clue to what the developers have aimed with this theme – and that is pixel-perfection with a fully responsive layout, flexible and fashionable styles.
Developers emphasize that an elaborate database optimization will enable Pixwell theme to work well with both small and heavy sites likewise.
Conclusion
A lightweight website that is responsive, adapts well to different device screen sizes, and provides pixel-perfect presentation, all around is what you should be aiming for with your fast WordPress website.