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Astra vs TheGem Theme comparison [2024] 💥

Astra vs TheGem



ASTRA THEME (The-Gem vs Astra)

WP-Astra is the fastest Wordpress theme ever made...

Astra Theme Review


In this comprehensive Astra Theme review for [2024], consider this impressive statistic: over 2,369,964 users have chosen Astra for their websites. The reason behind this widespread preference? Astra is not just developed, but meticulously crafted, akin to a custom sports car. It's engineered for creating visually stunning and highly responsive online shops, with loading speeds comparable to the swiftness of a cheetah.

The team behind Astra didn't just release a theme; they introduced a formidable force in web design, quickly rising in popularity akin to a hit record. In terms of performance, particularly speed, the only theme that approaches Astra's capabilities is Generatepress. However, when considering the overall excellence and features of themes, Astra stands out remarkably, much like a compelling, enigmatic protagonist in a blockbuster film.


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Understanding the importance of website speed is key: swifter websites tend to rank higher in Google's search results, likened to ascending a digital Mount Everest. Speed enhances user engagement, encouraging visitors to stay longer on your site, much like a magnet attracting and retaining attention. In today's digital landscape, website speed holds significant value, comparable to a coveted golden ticket in the realm of online success.

Choosing Astra means entrusting your website to experts in optimizing web speed. Picture your online store as a race car: the faster it performs, the more efficiently it guides customers through the checkout process. Astra is designed not just for aesthetic appeal, but also for exceptional speed, ensuring a swift and smooth user experience. It's akin to adding a powerful boost to your website, significantly enhancing its performance.

ASTRA 4.0 JUST GOT RELEASED

Astra 4.0 release


The recent release of Astra 4.0 represents a significant stride in the evolution of WordPress themes. I highly recommend starting with the overview video linked above to gain a quick understanding of its new features and enhancements. Following that, delve into the rest of this article for a more comprehensive exploration. Astra has long been a frontrunner in the WordPress theme market, continually improving and adapting to meet the dynamic needs of users.

Its latest iteration, Astra 4.0, further cements its status as an essential asset in any WordPress user's theme collection. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a novice in website design, Astra 4.0's blend of flexibility, power, and ease of use makes it an invaluable tool for crafting engaging, responsive websites.

SPECTRA 2.0 OUT NOW

Spectra 2.0 release in Astra


The inclusion of Spectra 2.0 into the Astra Theme marks a significant enhancement to an already robust platform. Spectra 2.0, Astra's proprietary page builder, brings a new level of functionality and ease to website creation. While it is currently offered for free, the prospect of a future paid version indicates the potential for even more advanced features and capabilities.

Astra has always been recognized as a top-tier theme, but the integration of its own page builder, complete with a suite of diverse widgets, elevates it to new heights. This advancement not only enriches the user experience but also solidifies Astra's position as a comprehensive solution for website building, catering to both novices and experienced developers alike.

ASTRA FREE & PRO: RATING

Astra theme review rating


Interested in Astra's standing in the realm of theme popularity? A visit to Wordpress.org illustrates Astra's remarkable acclaim – it's widely celebrated, with an abundance of 5-star ratings. The statistics are noteworthy: the free version of Astra has been adopted by over a million websites. When including the Pro version, the total reaches an impressive 1.6 million. This popularity underscores Astra's significant impact in the web design community, akin to a major event drawing a large and enthusiastic audience.

ASTRA WEBSHOPS

Consider Astra as the essential ally in enhancing your online store's sales. It goes beyond mere aesthetics to effectively convert visitors into customers. An online store utilizing Astra can be likened to a high-performance sports car in a field of bicycles – it stands out for its superior speed compared to other themes. Interested in seeing how Astra outpaces its competition? Visit this page on the Astra website for speed test comparisons with over 50 other leading themes. These tests, resembling a contest of efficiency, are meticulously conducted by SEO experts, highlighting Astra's exceptional performance.


Astra Theme Review - fast charging shops


On the aforementioned page, there's detailed information about the combination of Astra and WooCommerce. A swiftly loading webshop is not only advantageous for user experience but also highly favorable for Google's search rankings. With Astra, envision your online store rapidly ascending Google's SERP, similar to an accelerated boost. It's akin to equipping your shop with advanced optimization tools for search rankings, thereby attracting a significant influx of visitors. This leads to a notable increase in both visitor engagement and their appreciation for your site, paralleling the crescendo of excitement typically seen during a grand celebration like New Year's Eve.


Astra Theme Review Woo Webshops


Welcome to the world of Astra, where customizing your online shop is straightforward and user-friendly, requiring no advanced technical expertise. A few years ago, such ease of use might have seemed fanciful, but today, Astra ensures seamless compatibility with a wide range of WooCommerce plugins. It effectively manages these integrations, much like a skilled coordinator overseeing a diverse array of components.

That's just the beginning. Astra comes equipped with a suite of contemporary features designed to elevate your webshop to standout status. Key features include Infinite Scroll, enhancing the shopping experience by providing a continuous flow of products; adaptable grid settings, offering a tailored display for your merchandise; an off-canvas sidebar for a sleek navigation experience; Quickview for expedient shopping; a dropdown cart for a delightful shopping surprise, and much more. Intrigued? Explore these capabilities here. Additionally, there's a selection of ready-to-use shopping demo sites available for one-click integration, simplifying the design process remarkably.


Astra Theme Review Woocommerce Demo Webshops


ASTRA: STARTER DEMOS

Prepare to be impressed by this remarkable aspect of Astra: it doesn't just offer templates but provides an extensive collection of 180 complete website designs. This is indeed substantial – each option is a fully realized website, ready for immediate use. It's akin to entering a repository where every resource is readily available at no extra cost. You can select a design, apply your branding, and quickly launch a sophisticated website. These demos, meticulously developed by Astra's expert team for compatibility with four different page builders, offer a diverse range of design possibilities. Astra sets a high standard in providing comprehensive and varied demo content, positioning itself as a leading provider in the realm of website templates.


Astra Theme review starter templates


Astra's responsiveness goes beyond the standard. It's as if the theme underwent specialized training to excel in mobile e-commerce. The focus isn't just on aesthetics; there's a concerted effort to ensure the mobile version of your site is exceptionally user-friendly. With the increasing prevalence of mobile shopping, this feature becomes increasingly crucial. In the near future, it wouldn't be surprising to see over half of online shoppers using their mobile devices, possibly while relaxing at home.

Additionally, Astra offers extensive customization options for the checkout process, shopping cart, and product pages, all without the need for intricate coding skills. A seamless checkout experience is vital as a complicated one can deter customers quickly. Astra ensures a fluid and enjoyable shopping journey. The Astra team's approach to e-commerce solutions isn't just innovative; it's a complete reimagining of what's possible in online retail.

ASTRA: LOADING TIME

Upon examination, it becomes clear that Astra takes loading times seriously, achieving remarkably fast speeds. Its performance in Google, GTmetrix, Y-Slow, and Pingdom tests is consistently outstanding, as if the theme has been optimized with a unique speed-enhancing formula. The results speak for themselves, demonstrating Astra's superior performance. When it comes to competition, Generatepress is the closest contender. The data presented below is telling – Astra regularly secures top rankings in speed tests, distinguishing itself significantly from slower-performing themes.


Astra Theme review loading time


ASTRA: PAGEBUILDERS

Astra works as a whole with the Elementor page builder...

Using Astra is akin to having intuitive control over your website, offering both ease of use and enjoyment. It provides a streamlined panel and integration with the WordPress customizer for a seamless experience. Adding to its versatility, Astra pairs exceptionally well with renowned page builders, particularly Elementor. The combination of Astra Pro and Elementor Pro is a harmonious and efficient pairing, akin to two perfectly matched components. For those mindful of budget, both Astra and Elementor offer free versions. While these versions may have fewer features, they still provide a substantial and enjoyable user experience.


Elementor in Astra

Elementor pagebuilder review


ASTRA SCHEMA MARK-UP

Have you ever wanted to effectively communicate the contents of your page to search engines? This is where Schema markup plays a crucial role. These structured data snippets act as guides, aiding search engines in comprehending the context and content of your pages. It's akin to providing a clearer, more direct understanding of your site's content to search engines like Google. Astra simplifies this process by automatically incorporating Schema markup into your pages, as detailed here. This feature acts like an unseen assistant within Astra, working diligently to enhance your website's visibility and performance in search results, playing a pivotal role in your SEO strategy.


Astra Theme Review Schema


ASTRA + LEARNDASH

Envision yourself as a creator of online courses, with Astra and LearnDash serving as your essential tools. Developing an online course using Astra combined with LearnDash is a streamlined and enjoyable process, comparable to assembling a complex structure with ease. Astra offers a plethora of design options and features, enabling you to make your online course as captivating as a top-rated TV show.

LearnDash, on the other hand, acts as the orchestrator of your website's structure, focusing on creating an environment conducive to learning and conversion. The synergy of Astra's design flexibility and LearnDash's structured approach results in more than just a website – it's the creation of an immersive digital learning environment. Embrace this opportunity to craft an exceptional online course experience.


Astra Theme Review Learndash


ASTRA + LIFTER-LMS

When combining Astra with LifterLMS, you get a formidable pair in the world of online education. In this partnership, Astra excels as the design expert, offering you full control over your website's aesthetic and functionality. Whether you aim for the sophistication of a high-end magazine or the versatility of a multifunctional tool, Astra provides the necessary support.

Integrating LifterLMS into this equation enhances your site's educational efficacy. It creates a focused learning environment, minimizing distractions and optimizing user engagement. The synergy of LifterLMS's educational framework with Astra's design capabilities not only facilitates learning but also boosts conversion efficiency. Imagine a checkout process so seamless it feels like an extension of the learning journey itself. Together, Astra and LifterLMS elevate your website to the highest echelons of online learning platforms.


Astra Theme Review Lifter-LMS


ASTRA HEADERS, FOOTERS, 404

Introducing Astra Transparent Headers, Astra Custom Header, and Astra Custom Footers – the PRO features that provide a sophisticated edge to your website. These tools serve as your digital design experts, allowing you to create customized headers and footers with ease and without the need for technical expertise. Envision crafting your site's header and footer to be as elegant as a tuxedo or as casual as sneakers, achievable through simple clicks. Even the typically overlooked 404 pages can be enhanced for a cohesive look. Moreover, you have the flexibility to tailor these elements differently for various user groups, offering a bespoke experience. It's like having both creative control and strategic oversight over your website's upper and lower navigational areas.


Astra Theme review Headers Footers


ASTRA: MORE FEATURES

Astra encompasses a wide range of features, and you can explore a comprehensive overview here. This extensive list showcases the breadth and depth of functionalities available in Astra. We recommend taking the time to review these features, as they collectively represent a significant array of tools and options that can enhance your website's capabilities.


Astra Theme Review more features


ASTRA THEME REVIEW: 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 THEME REVIEW: ITS 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.


Visit Astra theme




THE-GEM THEME (TheGem vs Astra)

TheGem Theme review


The Gem Wordpress Theme it is definitely worth taking a closer look at the theme and writing a review about it. The first thing you notice are the beautiful demos that the theme offers, these are separate and well styled. In total, the theme currently has a sloppy 70-in-1-click demo versions available (they call them creative concepts themselves). There are themes like Be Theme with 600+ demos but they are fairly easy to assemble, The Gem offers a much higher quality. The Be Theme has more sales and is even number 3 on the Themeforest market place. Apparently there are many people who choose the many demos while they can only install one. Anyway, let's talk about The Gem and have a look at some of their demos below.


The Gem demo 1

The Gem demo 2

The Gem demo 3

The Gem demo 4

The Gem demo 5


With a good multifunctional theme, you literally have to be able to create any type of website in order to achieve maximum scores in our reviews. And after playing with TheGem, I can absolutely say it delivers what it promises. TheGem is the latest creation from CodexThemes, well-known in the theme world. I have to say this theme is really versatile. CodexThemes put together some demos for niches ranging from creative agencies to gyms, to restaurants and more. It is definitely a beautiful and functional theme.

TheGem main functions

  • More than 70 homemade design concepts for different niches
  • Templates for more than 400 pages
  • Focus on performance
  • Useful custom message types
  • Beautiful designs
  • Includes Bakery Pagebuilder and Revolution Slider
  • Correct code formatting for page speed
  • Multi-page and one-page ready
  • 2,600+ font icons

If you fancy any of the more than 70 homepage designs, you can easily import all or a certain selection through TheGem's control-board. All you need to do is go to TheGem Import in your admin panel and the wizard will walk you through everything. As for the import process, it couldn't be easier.


The Gem demo import


Install of TheGem WordPress Theme

After installing TheGem, you must first install all required and recommended plugins. Once you've done that, your admin panel will look much fuller. In addition to all the new plugins, TheGem also gives you many custom post types.


The Gem review plugins


As I mentioned above in this review, you can always import one or more of the 70+ pre-designed design concepts by going to TheGem Import. But if you don't want to use any of those design concepts, you have to go to the theme's customization menu.

Customize TheGem WordPress Theme

TheGem uses its own theme customization manager, not the WordPress Customizer. I understand why themes do this, but I always find it a bit frustrating that I have to keep previewing changes instead of seeing them in real time. I wish there was an easy way to move all relevant options directly to the WordPress Customizer. The admin panel is divided into ten categories.

In general, you set up basic information such as the layout and identity of your blog. There is not much to change outside of your logo and some information about the functionality:


The Gem theme set up

TheGem review headers

Under "Header" you can set every detail of your site's header. This includes layout, alignment and design:


The Gem header set up


You have a large number of header options thanks to the dropouts with multiple styles. In "Fonts" you can set which fonts your site uses and how big it is. You can go through any class to customize every aspect of your fonts. TheGem has many Google Fonts, so you have plenty of stylish options. And if you want more selection, you can always import new fonts via the included Fonts Manager:


The Gem lettertypes set up


In the "Colors" section, you can set colors for literally every single element on your site. It would take a while to go through and adjust everything, but all options are there if you want them:


The Gem colors set up

TheGem review backgrounds

Just as the name says, "Backgrounds" lets you customize the backgrounds for different parts of your site. You can choose solid colors or upload images.


The Gem Backgrounds set up


Under "Footer" you can turn your footer on and off and set custom text. Again, not much about this section. I feel like there may be other valuable options here - like activating / deactivating social icons or links:


The Gem footer set up

TheGem review contact & social

With "Contacts & Socials" you can add address and contact information, as well as links to social icons. These social icons can be displayed in both the header and footer. I have a feeling that this section could be placed in the Header and Footer categories, but a sneak peek of that.


The Gem contacts set up

TheGem review back-ups

In this TheGem review it should be mentioned that "Backup" is a wonderful tool to have in it. This allows you to export a backup of all your theme settings. That way, if you ever lose any theme settings, you can easily restore them with the backup feature. Essentially, experimenting with theme settings makes a low-risk action, since you can always fall back on the backup if you need to:


The Gem backup


TheGem Custom Post Types

TheGem includes seven custom post types by default. These are:

  • News
  • Portfolios
  • Quickfinders
  • Customers
  • Galleries
  • Teams
  • Reviews

Custom fields for posts and pages

TheGem contains a huge amount of custom fields for creating posts or pages. When you add a new post or page, you'll see plenty of options at the bottom of the screen:


The Gem Custom fields


You can set everything from video footage to custom clips to custom layouts. For example, if you want to move the sidebar for one post, you can do that with custom fields. If you want to add custom widgets to one post, you can do that too. These custom fields have a lot of versatility. You have plenty of new ways to customize your individual posts and pages with TheGem.

Included is the Bakery Pagebuilder

As I mentioned in the list of features, you also get access to the Bakery Pagebuilder for creating pages. Bakery Pagebuilder is not my absolute favorite page builder, but it is definitely a solid option and includes both front-end and back-end editing. Whenever you create a new page or post, you have the option to enter your chosen Bakery Pagebuilder editor view to create drag and drop designs:


The Gem Bakery Page builder

TheGem review Elementor

The Thegem Theme now comes in 2 different versions for a price. That means that you can choose between the Pagebuilder who is used, WP Bakery PageBuilder or Elementor.


The Gem Bakery Pagebuilder


TheGem loading time - Good Google PageSpeed

I did my tests on TheGem's demo-site using Google PageSpeed Insights. The score was 84 on desktop without any caching or optimized images. I guess after have fixed those issues the theme would score about 90 on PageSpeed Insights, a very good score.


Visit TheGem theme


TheGem vs Astra conclusion

First of all, thank you for reading this The-Gem vs Astra comparison to the end. Of course, these are both great themes, but it is immediately noticeable that Astra offers better quality. The theme is lightning fast, the fastest you can find and everything works flawlessly in Astra. Both themes have beautiful designs, but a shop with Astra offers much more functionalities. Finally, but very important, if you have several websites, that will cost you an extra license for each site with TheGem where Astra can be used on all your sites. A great alternative is the Divi Theme.




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