Why I switched to GeneratePress – My Experience and Review

I started writing this post by installing the free version of GeneratePress WordPress theme on my test site. I got really interested when I saw the ready-to-use sites in the Site Library and promptly bought the GeneratePress premium license.

By the time I was half-way through this GeneratePress review, I had already made up my mind to switch this website to GeneratePress theme. Later, I switched another hobby website of mine to one of the GeneratePress templates as well.

Read on to find out why.

About GeneratePress

GeneratePress is a WordPress theme by Tom Usborne, that was released as a free theme on the WordPress org directory in 2014.

While it’s free version is enough to help you set up a complete website, you can choose to upgrade to a paid, premium GeneratePress Theme version, for more customization options and professionally designed, ready-to-use starter sites. More on that later.

Here’s what makes GeneratePress templates stand out from the crowd –

Visual Website Builder

GeneratePress WordPress theme was the first one to include a block based theme builder. This allows you to visually edit every single element of your website, thanks to Full Site Editing.

Ready-to-use demo content

GeneratePress Premium also gives you access to nearly 90 beautifully designed starter sites, for blogs as well as various businesses. It also integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce, making it an excellent choice for e-commerce websites as well.

Light-weight and fast

The theme is built with a sharp focus on performance, making sure your website’s page speed scores are unparalleled.

What’s inside – Coding and Design

Built in line with the best design standards and coding practices. Simply put, it is a well-designed theme, based on well-written code. Period.

GeneratePress Free Vs Premium

GeneratePress free theme is one of the most popular free WordPress themes. Out of a total 1327 reviews, 1301 have given this WordPress theme a 5-star rating. That’s a whopping 98% users who have given it a thumbs-up.

The pro version of GeneratePress theme offers more options to style and customize your theme, by integrating with its free blocks plugin.

GeneratePress Premium helps you to build your website using WordPress blocks, which is what WordPress core has been focusing on since WordPress 5.9.

Features – GeneratePress Free Vs Premium Comparison

Feature	Free	Premium
Starter Sites (import demo content)	Not Included	Included (80+)
Theme Builder (customize visual elements)	Not Included	Included
Mobile header (lean header for mobile devices)	Not Included	Included
Sticky header navigation (main menu doesn’t move on scroll)	Not Included	Included
Masonry (grid layout for blog posts)	Not Included	Included
Infinite scroll (load as you go)	Not Included	Included
Advanced hook system (use hooks to tweak functionality)	Not Included	Included
Copyright notice removal feature	Not Included	Included

Screenshots – GeneratePress Premium Vs Free Comparison

Here are screenshots of the customizer settings to highlight the difference between GeneratePress free and premium.

• Typography, HomePage Settings, Additional CSS – No difference between Free and Pro
• Background images – can be customized only via the GeneratePress Pro Theme. Not available in the free theme.
• Widgets – GeneratePress Premium has an additional ‘Off Canvas Panel’ widget area which is not available in the free version.

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Container Layout – Free Vs Pro

Premium GeneratePress allows you to control the container width, separating space, separator thickness and padding as well.

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Header Layout – Free Vs Premium

GeneratePress Pro allows you to control the header padding. You can also make a menu as the sticky header and control the way it is displayed on mobile devices.

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Primary Navigation Layout – Pro Vs Free

The premium version of GeneratePress theme has settings for mobile menus, height and width of the menu and sub-menu.

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Secondary and Sticky Navigation – Pro Vs Free

Only the premium version of this WordPress theme has settings for secondary menus and sticky headers.

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Sidebars – Pro Vs Free

GeneratePress Premium has additional settings for the width and padding for sidebars that are not available in the free version.

GeneratePress Demo Sites

GeneratePress Premium has 89 professionally created GeneratePress demo sites that you can easily import into your website. This set of ready-to-use demo content is referred to as the Site Library by GeneratePress. This is one of the best reasons to upgrade from free to GeneratePress premium, as this allows you to get beautifully designed layouts with a single click and simply edit the content for your website, to launch your website right away.

Examples of GeneratePress websites in action

Here’s a list of live, active websites where you can see GeneratePress in action

• Bloggers Passion – uses a customized child theme, parent theme is GeneratePress
• WPLogout
• MeetPlugins – uses the newly launched ‘Voice’ starter template by GeneratePress

Pricing – Is GeneratePress free?

GeneratePress is a freemium WordPress theme – which means you can download it’s free version and use as you please.

However, if you need any of it’s premium features, you will need to buy a license, choosing between a $59 yearly subscription or a one-time payment of $249 that gets you lifetime updates and support.

Here’s what I liked about GeneratePress’s pricing model

• You can start with a yearly plan and once you are confident of using the theme, choose to switch to a lifetime plan for a pro-rated fee.
• The license key can be used for 500 websites, I am guessing that is more than enough for most business portfolios.
• No auto-renewal – you can choose to renew your license or not, every year.
• 30-day, no questions asked refund policy
• You can continue to use the theme even if your license expires – your website will not stop working. However, after the license expires –
  • No access to support – You lose access to the customer support team, should you need any help with troubleshooting any theme issues.
  • No access to updates – You also lose access to future theme updates. Themes are usually updated when a new WordPress version is released, to maintain compatibility and make sure nothing breaks. Often, security issues that might get identified also need to be fixed and released with theme updates. So, it is always advisable to keep your theme updated to the latest version.

How to Install GeneratePress Premium

The installation process is simple. It is explained clearly in the video tutorial above by GeneratePress.

Step 1. Install the free GeneratePress theme available on WordPress.org

Step 2. Install the GeneratePress Premium plugin that you can download from your GeneratePress Account after purchasing it.

If you prefer a detailed tutorial over a video, refer to GeneratePress’s documentation here.

Step 3. Click on the Configure link to set up the premium plugin.

Step 4. Enter your GeneratePress license key and activate the modules that you need.

Getting Started with GeneratePress – Customize it

Like I mentioned in the beginning of this post, I switched to GeneratePress as well for this very site https://wpcubicle.com. I imported a starter site and went on to make my own tweaks.

Here’s a list of some of the things I customized, along with links to the documentation that I referred to

• How to enable the ‘Back to Top’ button
• How to change the radius of the default buttons
• How to modify the margin around the buttons
• How to modify the colors for all visual elements
• How to add an underline on hover – for hyperlinks

If you switched to GeneratePress recently and need a hand, please leave a comment and I would be happy to help.

Is GeneratePress fast? GeneratePress Vs Astra

GeneratePress believes it is the fastest WordPress theme out there, and honestly, I can’t find any evidence to the contrary. It is a really light-weight theme, that seems to have been designed and coded with performance in mind, every step of the way. Curious? Read more about what makes it the fastest WordPress theme here.

Time to try out GeneratePress and WP Astra

The easiest way to measure the performance of a website is to use Google’s Lighthouse report. Read on for the results of my performance-based GeneratePress Vs Astra comparison.

Lighthouse Report for GeneratePress.com

I generated a Lighthouse report for the GeneratePress.com website itself, since it uses it’s own GeneratePress theme. I used my Chrome Browser (Version 102.0.5005.115) in an incognito tab (so that other browser extensions do not interfere with it’s performance).

Here are the results in the screenshot below

As you can see, it got a high score of 92 for performance.

Lighthouse Report for a WP Astra Starter Template Demo site

I then ran a similar report using the same Chrome browser for a WP Astra demo site and got the results that you can see in the screenshot below

The performance score is 51 which is not promising at all.

LightHouse Report for WPAstra.com

Since the earlier test was for a demo site, it could possibly have a large number of high resolution images. So I tried running the Lighthouse report for the main wpastra.com site and here are the scores.

The score is 38 which is way below the range that Google recommends. Not encouraging at all.

Please note that all of these tests were run on 9 June, 2022.

I do realise that this is like comparing apples to oranges – because these are two completely different environments with a different set of plugins, images, hosting servers etc.

So here’s what I did next –

On a fresh, local WordPress install, I imported content from a side project of mine, a gift ideas website – with no plugins or e-commerce involved. Just a simple blog-style website.

Lighthouse report using Twenty Twenty-Two

The score is 84, which is good, but not quite what we are looking for.

Next, I switched to the free GeneratePress theme and ran the Lighthouse report on an incognito tab again.

Lighthouse report using GeneratePress

GeneratePress showed up an impressive score of 96!

Next, I switched to the free Astra theme.

Lighthouse report using Astra

Astra threw up a score of 87, which makes it better than Twenty Twenty-Two, but not in the same league as GeneratePress, when it comes to performance.

Clearly, GeneratePress is the winner of this Astra vs GeneratePress performance test. Note that I did not customize any of the themes, nor did I change any content, while running these tests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GeneratePress good?

GeneratePress is a lightweight and versatile WordPress theme that is perfect for anyone looking to create a beautiful and high-performing website. With a focus on speed, stability, and accessibility, GeneratePress provides a strong foundation for your WordPress website.

One of the standout features of GeneratePress is its performance-focused design. The theme is meticulously optimized to ensure fast loading times, with a small file size and the ability to achieve 100 page speed scores. This means that your WordPress website will be able to provide a seamless and responsive user experience.

GeneratePress also offers a seamless integration with popular page builders like Elementor and others, ensuring compatibility with your favorite tools and features. This flexibility allows you to customize your website to your exact specifications, without any limitations. Additionally, GeneratePress follows WCAG 2.0 standards, making it accessible to all visitors. It also supports over 20 languages, making it a great choice for international websites.

One of the most unique features of GeneratePress is the Block-based Theme Builder. With the combination of GeneratePress Premium and the free GenerateBlocks plugin, you can visually design every aspect of your website without touching a line of code. This allows you to have complete design freedom, whether you want to create custom post templates, author boxes, or even 404 pages.

In addition to its exceptional features, GeneratePress also provides unrivaled support. With a responsive and dedicated support team, you will receive assistance with any questions or issues you might encounter. The team boasts a 98% same-day response rate, ensuring that your website runs smoothly and efficiently.

If you’re looking for a WordPress theme that combines speed, stability, accessibility, and customization options, GeneratePress is an excellent choice. With its outstanding features, compatibility, and top-notch support, GeneratePress provides the ideal foundation for your new website.

Frequently Asked Questions About GeneratePress

If you are considering GeneratePress for a WordPress website, the questions worth asking are not just about how many features the theme has. The more useful questions are about whether it is a good fit for your site, how much work it will take to customize, and whether you will still be happy with it a year or two from now.

1. What is GeneratePress?

GeneratePress is a lightweight WordPress theme designed to provide a solid foundation for building a website. It focuses on performance, flexibility and clean code rather than trying to provide every possible design feature out of the box.

There is a free version available from the WordPress theme directory and GeneratePress Premium, which adds additional customization and functionality.

One of its biggest selling points is that the theme does not try to dictate exactly how your website should look. You can start with a relatively minimal foundation and build the design you want on top of it.

That makes it particularly appealing to bloggers, developers and website owners who want more control over their site’s structure.

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2. Is GeneratePress free?

Yes.

GeneratePress has a free version that you can install directly from the WordPress dashboard.

It includes the basic theme functionality needed to build a website, but GeneratePress Premium adds considerably more control over things such as colors, typography, layouts, headers, footers and other theme elements.

For a simple blog, the free version may be enough.

If you want to customize the site more extensively without editing the theme’s code yourself, Premium becomes much more useful.

I would recommend starting with the free version if you are unsure. You can always upgrade later rather than paying for features you may never use.

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3. Is GeneratePress a good theme for blogs?

Yes, particularly if your priority is content rather than elaborate design.

GeneratePress gives you a relatively clean foundation for displaying articles, categories, navigation and other standard blog elements. It also gives you considerable control over typography, spacing and layout.

This makes it a good option for sites where the content needs to take center stage.

That said, GeneratePress is not necessarily the best choice if you want a theme that looks highly designed immediately after installation. Its appeal is more about having a flexible foundation than getting a finished visual identity out of the box.

For a content-heavy blog, that can actually be an advantage.

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4. Is GeneratePress fast?

GeneratePress is designed with performance in mind and has a reputation for being a lightweight WordPress theme.

But there is an important distinction between having a lightweight theme and having a fast website.

Your theme is only one part of the equation.

Images, plugins, fonts, hosting, third-party scripts, caching and the amount of content on a page can all affect performance.

So I would not choose GeneratePress because someone promises that it will automatically give you a perfect PageSpeed score.

The better reason is that it gives you a relatively lean starting point, which means you are not carrying a lot of unnecessary theme functionality before you even start building the site.

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5. Is GeneratePress easy to customize?

Yes, but there is a slight learning curve.

GeneratePress gives you a lot of control over the appearance and layout of your website. You can customize things such as:

• Colors
• Typography
• Spacing
• Container widths
• Header and navigation
• Sidebar layouts
• Footer
• Blog layouts

The downside is that more control means more decisions.

If you are completely new to WordPress, you may initially find GeneratePress less straightforward than a theme that gives you a ready-made design and asks you to change a few things.

Once you understand how its customization options are organized, however, it becomes much easier to work with.

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6. Do I need GeneratePress Premium?

Not necessarily.

This is probably the most useful question to ask before buying it.

The free version can be perfectly adequate for a straightforward website. Premium becomes worthwhile when you want more control over the site’s design and layout or want access to additional GeneratePress functionality.

I would think about it this way:

If the free version does everything you need, there is no reason to upgrade simply because Premium exists.

On the other hand, if you are constantly running into limitations and finding yourself adding custom CSS or other workarounds, Premium may save you time.

For a freelancer or someone managing several WordPress sites, that convenience can be more valuable than it is for a single personal blog.

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7. Does GeneratePress work with page builders?

Yes.

GeneratePress can be used with WordPress’s native block editor and is also compatible with popular page-building tools.

However, I would not automatically install a page builder just because you are using GeneratePress.

One of GeneratePress’s strengths is that you can build a relatively clean site without necessarily adding another large layer of functionality.

For a typical blog, the WordPress block editor may be all you need.

If you need more complex page layouts or design controls, then a page builder can make sense.

The key is to decide what you actually need rather than building a stack of tools simply because they are available.

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8. Can I use GeneratePress without knowing how to code?

Yes.

You can create and customize a GeneratePress website without writing code.

The theme provides visual customization options for many common changes, particularly when using GeneratePress Premium.

However, having some knowledge of HTML and CSS can be useful if you want to push the design further.

This is actually one of the reasons GeneratePress has been popular with developers and more experienced WordPress users: it does not prevent you from going deeper when you need to.

For a beginner, though, you should not feel that you need to learn CSS before you can use the theme.

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9. Is GeneratePress good for SEO?

GeneratePress can provide a good technical foundation for an SEO-focused website, particularly because performance, clean structure and a sensible HTML foundation are important considerations.

But a theme does not make a website SEO-friendly by itself.

Your rankings will depend on much more than the theme, including:

• The topics you choose
• Content quality
• Search intent
• Site structure
• Internal linking
• Backlinks and authority
• Technical SEO
• User experience

So I would not choose GeneratePress because it is supposedly an “SEO theme.”

I would choose it if you want a lightweight, flexible theme that does not get in the way of building a well-structured website.

That is a much more useful way to think about it.

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10. Is GeneratePress a good choice for a new WordPress website?

For many websites, yes.

It is particularly worth considering if you want:

• A lightweight starting point
• A theme that can grow with your website
• Good control over layout and typography
• A theme that does not force a particular visual style
• The option to customize more deeply later

But there is one situation where I would probably choose something else.

If you are a complete beginner who wants to install a theme and have a highly polished website almost immediately, GeneratePress may feel like too much of a blank canvas.

In that situation, a theme with more ready-made designs may be easier.

If, however, you are building a blog or business website that you expect to keep for several years, having a flexible foundation can be more useful than having a beautiful demo site on day one.

But, the biggest mistake would be choosing GeneratePress and then filling the site with dozens of plugins and complicated design elements.

The reason to choose a lightweight theme is to have a simple foundation.

Take advantage of that.

Start with the free version, keep the design fairly restrained, add functionality only when you actually need it, and upgrade to Premium when its additional controls solve a real problem.

That approach will probably serve you better than trying to use every feature the theme gives you.

GeneratePress Review – My Final Thoughts

This GeneratePress review helps you evaluate GeneratePress Free Vs Premium and also compares the performance of Astra Vs GeneratePress. After all of this analysis, it is easy to conclude that GeneratePress is fast, free and easily one of the most popular WordPress themes out there for a good reason.

Should you go in for GeneratePress premium?

In my view, the biggest advantage of GeneratePress Premium is the Site Library, that allows you to import demo content to create a fully functional starter site.

All you need to do is replace it with your content to launch your website. And there are plenty of beautiful, well-designed starter sites to choose from.

Besides that, GeneratePress hooks are really easy to use, making it easy for you to customize GeneratePress templates and create a website just the way you want it.

I was able to switch the WordPress theme on this site to GeneratePress in a fairly short time – thanks to GeneratePress’s detailed documentation / support forum. Most of my queries were already answered there.

Stellar Support

GeneratePress is backed by a genuinely helpful support team. I needed help with a couple of minor tweaks like displaying the ‘last updated date’ on each post and modifying the hover color for some labels on another GeneratePress website of mine. I received helpful replies to both support tickets promptly, with screenshots too so that there was no confusion whatsover.

If you are considering moving to GeneratePress but are hesitating to make the leap, leave a comment and tell me what’s stopping you. Would love to hear a different point of view.