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State of WordPress theme speed — September 2026

As of 2026-09-31, 5,312 WordPress themes have Google Lighthouse speed scores on Themestested, measured on their own demo stores. The median mobile speed score is 85 (desktop 99); 1,911 themes (36%) score 90 or better on mobile. The highest is Hello Elementor by Elementor at 100, then Twenty Twenty-One at 100 and Blocksy at 100. Among the themes first tested in September 2026, the best for mobile speed is Hello Elementor at 100. The biggest improvement is Metro Magazine, up 31 points to 98 since 2026-09-12.

5,312WordPress themes tested
85median mobile speed
99median desktop speed
36%score 90+ on mobile
5,287first tested in September 2026

Top WordPress themes for speed

Highest mobile speed score as of 2026-09-31; the desktop score beside it. A theme's score is the median of its tested presets.

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ThemeMobileDesktopPrice
1Hello Elementor · Elementor100100Free
2Twenty Twenty-One · WordPress.org100100Free
3Blocksy · Creative Themes thin demo100100Free
4GeneratePress · Tom100100Free
5Twenty Ten · WordPress.org100100Free
6Kadence · Nexcess thin demo100100Free
7Twenty Twenty-Three · WordPress.org100100Free
8Customizr · presscustomizr100100Free
9Hueman · presscustomizr100100Free
10Zakra · ThemeGrill100100Free

New this month

Themes first tested in September 2026, best first.

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ThemeMobileDesktopPrice
1Hello Elementor · Elementor100100Free
2Twenty Twenty-One · WordPress.org100100Free
3Blocksy · Creative Themes thin demo100100Free
4GeneratePress · Tom100100Free
5Twenty Ten · WordPress.org100100Free
6Kadence · Nexcess thin demo100100Free
7Twenty Twenty-Three · WordPress.org100100Free
8Customizr · presscustomizr100100Free
9Hueman · presscustomizr100100Free
10Zakra · ThemeGrill100100Free

Trending

The biggest changes in mobile speed between a theme's latest test and its last test at least a week earlier. A move of 3 points or more counts; Lighthouse varies by a point or two between runs.

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ThemeMobileDesktopPriceChangeFrom → to
1Metro Magazine · Rara Themes8197Free+3167 → 98 since 2026-09-12
2Travel Agency · Rara Themes9091Free+2663 → 89 since 2026-09-12
3Flavita · Nayra Themes6298Free+2645 → 71 since 2026-09-12
4Construction Landing Page · Rara Themes8499Free+2474 → 98 since 2026-09-12
5News Portal · Mystery Themes8699Free+1678 → 94 since 2026-09-12
6Shopstar! · Out the Box7698Free+1571 → 86 since 2026-09-12
7Sydney · aThemes99100Free+1473 → 87 since 2026-09-20
8Ample · ThemeGrill99100Free+1480 → 94 since 2026-09-12
9Blogus · themeansar9399Free+1370 → 83 since 2026-09-12
10Orchid Store · themebeez90100Free+1281 → 93 since 2026-09-12

Falling

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ThemeMobileDesktopPriceChangeFrom → to
1Newsmatic · blazethemes8985Free-2688 → 62 since 2026-09-12
2Blossom Travel · Blossom Themes6495Free-2283 → 61 since 2026-09-12
3Newspaperss · Silk Themes7099Free-1985 → 66 since 2026-09-12
4Business One Page · Rara Themes8195Free-1898 → 80 since 2026-09-12
5Chic Lite · Rara Themes4879Free-1863 → 45 since 2026-09-12

Distribution

How all 5,312 tested WordPress themes fall across Google's bands.

Mobile · good (90+)1,911 · 36% needs work (50–89)3,314 · 63% poor (0–49)62 · 1%
Desktop · good (90+)4,686 · 88% needs work (50–89)595 · 11% poor (0–49)16 · 0%

About this report

Scores are Google Lighthouse performance scores from the PageSpeed Insights API, run against each theme's own demo store — the home page and, on store platforms, a collection and a product page — on a simulated mid-range phone and on desktop. A theme's score is the median of its presets; a preset's is the mean of its pages. Every run is kept, and a theme's page shows its history. This month is closed; its numbers no longer change. Read the full methodology, or see the live WordPress speed ranking.

Other months: October 2026November 2026

Other reports for September 2026: SEOaccessibility