Nayan Dhumal
Astra is one of the most installed WordPress themes, with more than a million active sites. This review explains what the free theme gives you, what Astra Pro adds, how the pricing works now that the plans come bundled with AI tools, and who it suits best.
Choosing a theme is one of the first real decisions a blogger makes, and Astra is on almost every shortlist. It is free to start, it works with every popular page builder, and it comes with a large library of ready-made websites you can import.
It is also sold in a way that can confuse a first-time buyer. The pricing page shows three bundles with names like “Essential Toolkit + AI”, each with a discounted first-year price, a higher renewal price and a lifetime option. There is a simpler, cheaper plan too, if you know where to look.
Every fact below comes from Astra’s own website and its WordPress.org listing, checked on 7 October 2026. I have not run my own speed tests, so I do not quote benchmark scores.
Disclosure
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what I recommend.
Key takeaways
- The free Astra theme is a solid base for a blog and works with the block editor, Elementor and other builders.
- Astra Pro on its own was listed at $69 per year for three sites, or $249 for a lifetime licence.
- The bundles add AI site building, hosting and extra plugins. Their first-year prices are discounted and renew at a higher rate.
- Astra still sells lifetime licences, which several competitors have dropped.
- The refund window is 14 days, shorter than many rivals.
- It suits bloggers who want a ready-made design quickly. Those who want the leanest possible theme may prefer GeneratePress.
Astra at a glance
| Detail | Astra in October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Made by | Brainstorm Force |
| Free theme version | 4.14.0, updated 24 September 2026 |
| Active installs on WordPress.org | 1+ million |
| WordPress.org rating | 4.9 out of 5 from 6,536 ratings |
| Astra Pro, add-on only | $69 per year or $249 lifetime, for 3 sites |
| Cheapest bundle | Astra Pro + AI, $99 for the first year, renewing at $149 |
| Refund window | 14 days |
| Lifetime licence | Yes |
What is Astra?
Astra is a free WordPress theme made by Brainstorm Force, the company behind the Spectra block plugin, Starter Templates and SureForms. You install the theme from WordPress.org like any other.
Its WordPress.org description calls it “lightning-fast and highly customizable” and says that fast performance, clean code, mobile-first design and schema markup are built in. It is designed to work with page builders such as Spectra, Elementor and Beaver Builder, and with WooCommerce.
Like most themes in this category, Astra has two parts:
- Astra (the theme) is free.
- Astra Pro is a paid add-on plugin that unlocks extra modules in the theme you already have.
What you get with the free theme
The free theme covers the basics of a blog well. You can set your layout, colours and typography in the WordPress Customizer, build a header and footer, and choose how your blog archive and single posts look.
Two things make the free version more useful than most.
Starter Templates
Starter Templates is a separate free plugin from the same company. Its WordPress.org listing says it offers more than 300 website templates and more than 200 page sections, for the block editor, Elementor and Beaver Builder. You pick a design, import it, and replace the demo content with your own.
Many of the templates are free. The premium ones need a paid plan. The plugin also includes an AI website builder, which requires a free account with ZipWP, the company’s AI service.
Free support
Astra’s listing states that it provides “expert support for free users”. Many free themes leave you with a community forum, so this is a real point in its favour.
Pro tip
Start with the free theme and one free starter template. Build your blog, publish your first posts and only buy Astra Pro when you run into something specific you cannot do, such as a sticky header or a custom layout for one category.
What Astra Pro adds
Astra Pro switches on extra modules. These are the main ones listed on the Astra Pro page:
- Site Builder and custom layouts. Design headers, footers, single post templates and archive pages, and show custom content in chosen places.
- More header options. Sticky header, transparent header, a header that shrinks on scroll, and a mega menu.
- Blog layouts. Grid, masonry and list layouts for your archive pages.
- More design controls. Extra colour and typography options and presets.
- WooCommerce features. Quick view, an off-canvas sidebar, infinite scroll, gallery options and a redesigned cart.
- White label. Agencies can replace the Astra name with their own.
For a blogger, the sticky header, the blog layouts and the Site Builder are the modules that matter. The WooCommerce features only matter if you run a shop.
Astra pricing in 2026
Astra’s pricing page has two views: bundles that include AI tools, and Astra Pro on its own. These are the prices listed on 7 October 2026.
| Plan | First year | Renews at | Lifetime | Sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astra Pro, add-on only | $69 | Not stated as different | $249 | 3 |
| Astra Pro + AI | $99 | $149 per year | $279 | 3 |
| Essential Toolkit + AI | $199 | $299 per year | $549 | 10 |
| Business Toolkit + AI | $279 | $429 per year | $799 | 1,000 |
Here is what the bundles add on top of Astra Pro:
- Astra Pro + AI adds the AI website builder, premium AI designs, one hosted website and a domain for a year.
- Essential Toolkit + AI adds Spectra Pro, more than 300 premium starter templates and Ultimate Addons for Elementor.
- Business Toolkit + AI raises the limit to 1,000 sites and adds agency tools and VIP support.
Watch out
The bundle prices shown in large type are first-year prices. The pricing page states the renewal price next to each one, and it is roughly 50 percent higher. The lifetime prices were also shown as discounted from a higher regular price. Check the figures on the day you buy.
Which plan should a blogger buy?
For a single blog, the add-on only plan is the one to look at. At $69 a year it gives you every Astra Pro module on up to three sites. You do not need the AI builder or the bundled hosting to run a blog.
The lifetime licence at $249 costs about the same as three and a half years of the annual plan. If you are confident you will stay with Astra for longer than that, it is the better deal. Not many theme companies still offer one.
The toolkits make sense for freelancers and agencies who will use Spectra Pro, the premium templates and the Elementor add-ons across many client sites.
Performance
Astra describes itself as a fast, lightweight theme, and its popularity among people who care about speed supports that. I have not measured it myself, so I will not quote a page size or a score.
What I can say is what applies to every theme. A fresh install with no content tells you little. The speed of your real site depends on the starter template you import, the page builder you use, your images and your plugins. A template built with a heavy page builder will be slower than one built with blocks, whatever theme sits underneath.
Test your own pages after setup. My guide to speeding up WordPress and passing Core Web Vitals shows you how.
Updates and security
Astra is updated frequently. Version 4.14.0 arrived on 24 September 2026, and the theme received several releases in the weeks before it.
Some of those releases included security fixes. That is normal for widely used software, and it shows the developers respond to reports. It is also a reminder to keep the theme and the Pro add-on updated. Switch on automatic updates for both.
How to set up Astra step by step
Setting up Astra takes less than an hour if you start from a template. Here is the order I suggest.
- Install the theme. In your dashboard go to Appearance, then Themes, then Add New Theme. Search for Astra, install it and activate it.
- Install Starter Templates. Add the free Starter Templates plugin from the Plugins screen.
- Choose your builder. Pick the block editor if you want the lightest result, or Elementor if you already use it.
- Import one template. Preview a few, choose the closest match and import it. Do this on a new site or a staging copy, because an import changes your settings.
- Set your colours and fonts. Open Appearance, then Customize, and set your global colours and typography so the whole site changes at once.
- Build your header and footer. Add your logo, menu and footer links.
- Replace the demo content. Delete the sample pages and posts you do not need, and write your own.
Two cautions. First, import only one template. Importing several leaves unused pages, images and plugins behind. Second, check which plugins the template installs, and remove any you will not use. Every extra plugin is something more to update.
If you have not installed WordPress yet, start with my guide on how to install WordPress, then come back to this section.
Astra pros and cons
Pros
- Free theme is capable enough for a first blog
- Large library of starter templates, many of them free
- Works with the block editor, Elementor and Beaver Builder
- Support offered to free users
- Lifetime licence still available
- Updated often
Cons
- Pricing page pushes bundles, and the simpler add-on plan is easy to miss
- Bundle prices rise at renewal
- Refund window is only 14 days
- Premium templates need the more expensive toolkit
- Imported templates can add weight if they rely on a page builder
Who should use Astra?
Astra is a good fit if:
- You want a professional-looking design quickly, by importing a template.
- You use Elementor, or plan to.
- You want the option of a one-time lifetime payment.
- You are building a shop as well as a blog.
It is a weaker fit if you want the lightest possible theme with the fewest moving parts, or you prefer a longer refund period to test your purchase. In that case, read my GeneratePress review. For a wider comparison, see my guide to the best WordPress themes for bloggers.
Verdict: is Astra worth it in 2026?
Yes, for most bloggers. The free theme with a free starter template will take you a long way, and that costs nothing to try.
If you upgrade, choose with care. The add-on only plan at $69 a year is good value for a blog. The bundles are worth it only if you will use what they add. And remember the 14-day refund window: test Astra Pro properly in the first two weeks, not the third.
Try Astra on your own site
Install the free theme first. If you decide you need Astra Pro, compare the add-on only plan with the bundles before you pay.
Sources I checked
All checked on 7 October 2026:
- Astra pricing page for plans, prices, renewal prices and the refund window.
- Astra on WordPress.org for the version, installs, rating and description.
- Astra Pro page for the list of Pro modules.
- Starter Templates on WordPress.org for the template numbers and supported builders.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Astra theme free?
Yes. The Astra theme is free on WordPress.org. Astra Pro is a paid add-on that unlocks extra modules such as the sticky header, mega menu, blog layouts and the Site Builder.
How much does Astra Pro cost?
On 7 October 2026, Astra Pro as an add-on only was listed at $69 per year or $249 for a lifetime licence, for up to three sites. The bundles that include AI tools started at $99 for the first year, renewing at $149. Confirm the current prices on Astra’s site.
Does Astra have a lifetime deal?
Yes. Astra listed lifetime prices for every plan when I checked. The lifetime price for Astra Pro on its own was $249.
Does Astra work with Elementor?
Yes. Astra is built to work with page builders including Elementor, Beaver Builder and the company’s own Spectra blocks. Many of its starter templates are made for Elementor.
What is Astra’s refund policy?
Astra’s pricing page offers a full refund within 14 days of purchase. That is shorter than the 30 days some competitors give, so test the product early.
Is Astra good for a blog?
Yes. The free theme has the layout, typography and blog options a new blog needs, and Astra Pro adds blog layouts and more header options if you want them later.