I’ve worked with a lot of WordPress themes over the years. From heavy multipurpose options to lightweight builders, I’ve seen how the wrong theme can slow down a site, create plugin conflicts, or just make the design process frustrating.

At WPAspirin, every tool in our stack has been tested for years across real projects. Astra wasn’t just another theme we tried because it was popular. It became a core part of our workflow because it consistently delivered results we couldn’t get anywhere else.

The Speed Difference

One of the first things you notice about Astra is how fast it is.

I used to spend a lot of time trying to optimize Thrive Themes sites. The designs looked great, but the pages were often slower than I liked. Every animation, every extra module, every custom section had a performance cost. With Astra, the difference is immediate. Pages load faster, editing feels snappier, and it just runs smoothly without me having to tweak dozens of settings.

Speed isn’t just a vanity metric. Faster sites keep users engaged, improve conversions, and make life easier when you’re building multiple projects at once. Astra hits that sweet spot perfectly.

Built to Work with Spectra Pro

Astra doesn’t just perform well on its own. It plays beautifully with Spectra Pro, which is built by the same team. For anyone using WordPress page builders or trying to create clean, modular sites without writing code, this combination is gold.

Spectra Pro extends Gutenberg in the way you always wish WordPress would. Custom blocks, advanced styling, headers, footers, animations — all while keeping the site light and fast. The integration with Astra is seamless. I don’t worry about conflicts, loading issues, or design compromises.

Together, they feel like a modern, no-code-friendly ecosystem. I can focus on building and designing instead of fighting against the theme.

Why Astra Made it Into WPAspirin's Stack

At this point, Astra isn’t just a theme for me. It’s a part of the standard setup I reach for on almost every WordPress project.

Here’s why:

Performance: Fast pages and smooth editing.
Flexibility: Works well with any builder, especially Spectra Pro.
Reliability: Stable, lightweight, and tested across years of projects.
No clutter: No unnecessary modules or features that just slow you down.

Compared to Thrive Themes, Astra doesn’t feel like it’s carrying extra weight. It doesn’t try to do everything at once. Instead, it lets the builder decide what the site needs and delivers only that, cleanly and efficiently.

Why Astra Made it Into WPAspirin's Stack

If you’re building WordPress sites, trying to balance design, performance, and future-proofing, Astra is worth serious consideration.

It’s not flashy or overcomplicated. It doesn’t try to replace page builders. Instead, it gives you a fast, reliable foundation that just works — and pairs beautifully with Spectra Pro to make building modern sites a joy.

For me and our WPAspirin projects, Astra isn’t just another theme. It’s part of a workflow that actually lets me focus on building great sites instead of fighting the tools.

PROS & CONS

Astra Theme: A Balanced Review

Every platform has strengths and challenges — here’s how Astra Theme measures up