Are you on the hunt for some WordPress SEO friendly themes that will make your site an SEO superstar? Of course, you’re already rocking the keyword research and link building, but don’t forget the impact of a good ol’ fashioned SEO-friendly theme.
With an SEO-optimized theme, your website will be more prepared for world domination (well, at least in Google’s eyes). The foundation will be rock-solid, leaving you free to focus on other tactics.
So, what makes a WordPress theme SEO-friendly? Think fast loading speeds, mobile responsiveness, clean code, schema markup integration, customization options, and high-quality design. It’s like a superhero checklist!
To help you on your quest, we’ve assembled the top 10 WordPress themes that are perfect for boosting your website’s SEO. Each theme has its own special powers that make it a great choice for your unique needs. Let’s get started on the path to SEO dominance!
Table of Contents
What Makes an SEO Friendly WordPress Theme?
Hey there, before we dive into the best SEO WordPress themes, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about what makes a theme SEO friendly.
To rank high on Google, you’ll want a theme that checks these boxes:
Schema Markup
This fancy term refers to the code behind the scenes that helps Google and other search engines understand your website better. And when Google understands your site better, it can lead to better rankings and a higher click-through rate. Plus, who doesn’t love feeling fancy?
Fast Performance
Speed matters, folks. Google cares about how fast your site loads on both mobile and desktop, so you’ll want a theme that helps your site run like a cheetah chasing after its prey. A speedy site also means happy users and more time spent on your site (which can indirectly boost your SEO).
Optimized Header Tags
Think of your header tags like the headlines of your website. They help both readers and search engines understand what your content is all about. A good theme will have these header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) optimized straight out of the box. No need to fiddle around with code – your theme has your back.
Breadcrumbs
They’re not just for making a tasty meatloaf – they also help search engines understand your website’s structure and improve internal linking.
Mobile-friendly and Responsive Design
With more and more people browsing on their phones, a responsive design that looks great on mobile is a must. You don’t want to be left in the dust by Google’s mobile-first indexing.
AMP Compatibility
Speaking of speed, have you heard of AMP? It’s a special framework that can make your site load lightning-fast on mobile devices. Plus, Google gives special treatment to AMP pages in search results.
Ability to Display Last Updated Dates
Last but not least, make sure your theme has the ability to display the last updated date. Google loves fresh content, so showing that you’re regularly updating your site can give you a boost in the rankings. Plus, it’s a great way to let readers know that you’re staying on top of things.
What are the Best WordPress SEO Friendly Themes?
1. Astra – Highly Optimized for SEO
Looking for an SEO friendly WordPress theme that won’t break the bank? Meet Astra – your new best friend! Astra comes in both a free and premium version, with the latter starting at just $47. But even with the free version, you’ll get a solid foundation that’s optimized for search engines.
Astra’s settings are all within the customizer, which makes it easy-peasy to use. Plus, it works like a charm with all major page builders – score! But let’s talk about what really matters: SEO.
With Astra, you’ll get a lightweight, speedy theme that’s under 50KB and doesn’t rely on jQuery. You’ll also get built-in schema markup for breadcrumbs and organization info – Google will love you for it!
And Astra’s optimized header tags? On point. No need to fuss with them – they’re already good to go. Astra is also AMP-compatible, which is a fancy way of saying that it’s lightning-fast on mobile devices.
But that’s not all – Astra also adds schema markup for the last updated date, which Google loves. And it makes it super easy to display that date instead of the published date. So not only will Google know you’re keeping your content fresh, but your readers will, too!
If that’s not enough to convince you, Astra also offers a ton of customizable website templates that you can import in just a few clicks. It’s perfect for blogs, minimal designs, and just about anything else you can think of.
So what are you waiting for? Give Astra a try, and get ready to soar to the top of those search engine rankings!
2. Schema – Responsive Theme for SEO Friendly Websites
Hold on to your hats, folks – it’s time to talk about Schema, the premium SEO-friendly WordPress theme from MyThemeShop! And let me tell you, this one’s worth every penny of its $39 price tag.
Now, if you’re anything like me, you love a good layout. And Schema delivers with multiple preset layouts to choose from, including minimal and eCommerce looks. Plus, the theme options area is so detailed, you’ll feel like a web design whiz in no time. Just don’t expect to see your style changes in real-time – Schema doesn’t use the WordPress Customizer, unfortunately.
But let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of SEO. With a name like Schema, you know this theme means business. It automatically adds all the relevant schema markup for you, which is like having a personal SEO assistant at your fingertips. And that’s not all – it also has built-in breadcrumb support, is lightning-fast, and has an optimized heading structure. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of SEO WordPress themes.
Of course, no theme is perfect. Schema doesn’t come with built-in AMP support, so you’ll have to roll up your sleeves and create your own custom AMP design. And if you’re hoping to show off your content’s last updated date, you’ll have to dive into the code to make it happen. But hey, nobody’s perfect, right?
All in all, if you’re looking for a theme that’s both SEO-friendly and customizable, Schema is a fantastic choice.
3. Genesis – Fast Loading SEO Theme
Let me tell you about Genesis – a theme framework from StudioPress that was scooped up by WP Engine back in 2018. But here’s the thing – Genesis isn’t your typical theme.
Nope, you won’t find a standalone Genesis theme. Instead, you’ll use a Genesis child theme to dress up your website. And let me warn you, it can get a bit pricey, with premium child themes running at around $75+.
But hey, you get what you pay for, right? With Genesis, you’re getting a solid foundation for SEO optimization and lightning-fast loading speeds.
The code is lightweight and clean, making your site a speed demon. And Genesis automatically adds basic schema markup, lets you control your heading structure, and even gives you the option to add breadcrumbs with a simple check of a box.
Feeling extra SEO-savvy? Genesis also offers options to control your SEO titles and descriptions and add noindex tags to specific content. But to be honest, it’s probably best to use a dedicated WordPress SEO plugin for that.
One thing to note – responsive design is dependent on your child theme. So while it’s not necessarily a bad thing, just be sure to choose a responsive child theme if you want your site to look good on all devices.
And good news – Genesis offers AMP support via the official AMP plugin for WordPress, just like the Astra theme.
Finally, if you want to display the last modified date of a post, don’t fret! You can use the free Genesis Simple Edits plugin, and voila – problem solved.
4. Divi – Popular WordPress Theme for SEO
Have you heard about Divi? It’s one of the most popular premium themes from Elegant Themes and it comes with a super handy page builder called Divi Builder. With this nifty tool, you can easily edit your website using a drag-and-drop interface – no coding required!
Now, let me tell you – you’ll have a blast playing around with all the customization options that Divi offers. You can make your website look exactly how you want it to, but fair warning, you might break a sweat getting it there.
Unfortunately, there’s no free version of Divi, but if you become an Elegant Themes member for $89, you’ll get access to all the goodness that Divi has to offer.
One of the coolest features of Divi is its SEO options area. You can easily control custom SEO titles and descriptions to help your website rank better in search engine results. Of course, if you’re an SEO guru, you might prefer to use a plugin instead.
Oh, and did I mention that Divi is mobile-friendly right out of the box? And the Divi Builder makes it easy to create designs that are responsive and look great on any device.
Now, here’s the kicker – Divi doesn’t come with all the little SEO perks like breadcrumbs or schema markup. But don’t worry!
The Divi community is huge and there are plenty of guides and add-ons to help fill in those gaps. For instance, the Divi Breadcrumbs Module makes it a breeze to add breadcrumbs to any Divi design.
So, what are you waiting for? Give Divi a whirl, and let your creativity run wild!
5. Hestia – Highly Compatible with Mobile Devices
Let’s chat about Hestia – the SEO-friendly WordPress theme that’s optimized for speed and looks great on mobile devices.
One of the things that makes Hestia stand out as an SEO theme is its heading structure right out of the box. Plus, the developer includes knowledge base instructions that make it easy to add breadcrumbs to your site.
But as with any theme, there are some smaller things that may require a bit of coding know-how. For example, styling its AMP layout or showing the last modified date. But hey, that’s all part of the fun, right?
So if you’re looking for a stylish, speedy, and SEO-friendly theme for your WordPress site, Hestia might just be the one for you.
6. Sydney – Offers a Free Version
Let’s talk about Sydney – a freemium WordPress theme that’s perfect for developers, freelancers, and anyone who wants to build a beautiful website.
One of the things that makes Sydney so popular is its responsive design. This means that your site will look great on any device, which is important because nobody likes a janky website.
And let’s not forget about the features – Sydney comes with all sorts of goodies that will keep your users engaged, like attractive sliders and other eye-catching elements.
And speaking of engagement, did you know that a responsive design can help reduce bounce rates? It’s true! And that’s just one more reason why Sydney is such an SEO-friendly theme.
You can grab the free version of Sydney on the WordPress repository, but if you want to take your site to the next level, you might want to consider Sydney Pro. It costs $69 per year when purchased through their website, and trust us – it’s worth every penny.
But wait, there’s more! Sydney also comes with social icons that make it easy to link to your social profiles and grow your following on other platforms. So, if you’re ready to build a website that looks great, engages your users, and helps you grow your online presence, give Sydney a try!
7. MH Magazine – Magazine Styled SEO Optimized Theme for WordPress
Looking for a theme that’s perfect for your news or magazine website? Look no further than MH Magazine! Whether you’re a journalist, political analyst, or just someone who wants a theme that’s optimized for SEO, responsive, and easy to use, this theme has got you covered.
With flexible layout options, you have complete control over the look of your content. And no matter what topic you cover, MH Magazine will help get your content noticed by everyone. Plus, it’s fully responsive, so your readers can focus on your content and your content only.
MH Magazine is designed with SEO in mind, giving you an edge in search engine rankings. With optimized code, your site will also load lightning-fast, so your readers won’t have to wait to read your content.
But that’s not all! MH Magazine also includes amazing features like the FlexSlider 2, Google Web Fonts support, and built-in custom widgets. Plus, it’s child theme ready, multi-language translation ready, and cross-browser compatible.
And with updates and other pro features, this theme has everything you need to take your website to the next level.
So, whether you’re a blogger or an enthusiast, MH Magazine is the perfect theme for you. And the best part? You can purchase it for just $49 from their website.
8. SEO Crawler – Agency Focused Theme to Create SEO Friendly Websites
Looking for a theme that’s optimized for SEO and perfect for your digital marketing or agency needs? Look no further than SEO Crawler!
This fully responsive theme boasts a variety of beautifully designed demos that you can import to your website with just one click. Whether you’re building a website for yourself, your business, or your clients, you’re sure to find a demo that suits your needs.
And the best part? SEO Crawler is fast-loading and highly customizable, with unlimited layout options and a custom in-house page builder to help you build your website in minutes.
Plus, with 19 full header styles, 14 beautiful blog layouts, and 9 portfolio layouts to choose from, your website will look as professional as it can be with SEO in focus.
Other features include a mobile-first approach with responsive design elements, easy-to-navigate admin panel, the ability to create unlimited sidebars, built-in maintenance/coming soon features, and even a free Revolution Slider!
And if you ever need assistance, their incredibly dedicated support team is just a few clicks away with response times within 12-14 hours.
So why wait? Get SEO Crawler today on Theme Forest for just $64 and start building the perfect website for your agency or startup!
9. TheGem – User Friendly WordPress Theme
TheGem is like having a genie that can grant you over 400+ website templates in minutes! Say goodbye to spending hours creating your own website from scratch. This theme is the answer to all your multi-purpose, template-full needs.
But don’t let the fancy templates fool you. TheGem is still a fast and blazing theme, perfect for SEO optimization and ready to be crawled by those search engines. Plus, it’s mobile-friendly and responsive, making it a great option for any website.
Check out these other amazing features:
- WooCommerce is compatible with extended design and customizability features
- Fully integrated with Slider Revolution and Layer Slider
- Works with popular plugins like Yoast and MailChimp
- Multi-language and RTL support
- Their own custom blocks plugin that makes website building a breeze
- Flexible header and footer designs
- Unlimited font and color options
- 2500+ customizable font icons
- And, if that’s not enough to convince you, TheGem also has a one-click demo import feature that will fill your website with the perfect templates for you. It’s truly the Gem of all themes!
You can grab TheGem from ThemeForest for just $59.
10. GrowthPress – Conversion Focused Theme to Improve Engagement
You know what they say: time is money! That’s why GrowthPress is the ultimate WordPress theme for conversion optimization. With features like a standalone sales page and widget support, you’ll never find a more SEO and conversion-optimized theme.
Not only does GrowthPress give you the option to build a standalone sales or landing page free from navigation bars, but it also includes marketing techniques like the “Guarantee Widget” and “Testimonials Widget” to help increase your sales.
And the best part? Other incredible features include lightning-fast load time, pre-approval from Google’s mobile-friendliness tests, and full integration with third-party plugins like WooCommerce and Slider Revolution. Plus, it’s fully responsive and adapts to any layout or screen size.
And if you’re not convinced yet, you can try the theme for free with their sandbox account for 7 days. Once you’re happy with your trial, you can purchase the theme starting at just $79 for the personal theme.
So why waste any more time? Try GrowthPress and start converting those clicks into sales!
Conclusion: What’s the Best WordPress SEO Friendly Theme?
If you want a theme that’s got it all – performance optimization, responsive design, and killer SEO features like schema markup and breadcrumbs – look no further than Astra. And the best part?
It won’t cost you an arm and a leg like those other premium SEO-friendly themes out there. Astra is available for free at WordPress.org, so why not give it a try?
You can start using it right away and then upgrade to Astra Pro later on for even more styling options and layouts. With Astra, the sky’s the limit for your website design!
