The Kadance theme is a free multipurpose theme that comes with built-in SEO optimization and works with page builder plugins. Let's Have a look at their performance and the features provided by them.
1. Kadence Theme
Theme Installation
To install the Kadence theme onto your website, login to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Appearance > Themes. Click Add new and search for Kadence. Then, press Install and wait for the installation to complete. Once the theme has been installed, click Activate.
Theme Setup
After you activate the theme, you’ll see a notice in your dashboard that Starter templates are available. Clicking the Install Kadence Starter Templates button will start the installation process for premade templates.
You’ll have to choose between Gutenberg and Elementor and then you’ll be able to see all the premade templates that will work with your chosen plugin.
Clicking the template allows you to preview it and from there, you can do some minor customizations before importing the template. This includes changing the color scheme and the fonts used in the template.
Once you’re happy with how your chosen Starter Site looks, you can import it onto your site. You have two options: importing a single page or importing a full site. To import your design, click the Start Importing button and wait for the process to finish.
Two things worth mentioning here are that additional plugins might be installed during the import process and importing a full site will override any customizations you’ve previously made on your website. The options at times may be confusing, so you will need to mess with the theme customizer options.
Once the import is complete, you can view your site and customize it to your liking.
2. Features
Customization Options
The theme is fully packed with plenty of customization options. You can modify the layout, colours, and fonts used in your website according to your wish also the Customizer also offers features like styling your header, footer, blog posts, and even WooCommerce products.
In Kadence only the elementor page builder plugin comes with the additional features it has its own style settings while the other pluggins are not.If you wish to use the other page builders you are limited to use only the general features.
Starter Templates
Unfortunately, there is only a limited number of templates at the moment there are only 4 templates in Elementor While Gutenberg comes with 8.
Even though the Kadence theme offers starter sites, this is one area where it falls short when compared to other themes. For starters, it only offers templates for Gutenberg and Elementor which means you won’t benefit from them if you’re using a different page builder plugin like Beaver Builder or Brizy.
Secondly, the number of templates is very limited. Currently, 4 templates are available for Elementor while there are 8 templates for Gutenberg. You’ll need to make sure you’re installing the correct starter site for your page builder if you decide to use them.
The starter sites feature a modern and clean design and as mentioned earlier, you can even do some basic customization before importing the template. This allows you to see how the template would look with your choice of colours and fonts. It’s worth mentioning that you can change the styles later on so you’re not stuck with a premade colour scheme and font combination
Page Builder Integration
The theme comes with premade starter sites for Gutenberg and Elementor page builder pluggins. Also the Brizy and Beaver Builder have their own starter site but you need to create your website from scratch. It is pretty much easy you don’t find it difficult to create it.
WooCommerce Integration
As you go with WooCommerce integration, the theme is not built with some additional features like Ajax Add to Cart on the free version. Only the premium version is packed with features such as a side cart or custom shop page and further more eCommerce features.
You can expect all other features except these additional ones in the free version.You can customize the layout for single product pages as well as store notice, product catalogue, product images the checkout page and the account page both in terms of settings and design.
Header And Footer Builder
The free version of the theme provides you to add 8 different elements to the header includes logo, primary and secondary navigation, button, search bar, cart icon, social links, and HTML. Kadance offers you to customize the layouts for the header of your site using drag and drop editor and several different header elements.
While the premium version of the Kadence theme includes 19 additional header elements such as accordion, contact elements, extra buttons, special features like setting the header to be sticky.
When it comes to footer options it comes with six different widget areas and you can add any widget into those areas as well as your social links and a custom copyright notice. You can make use of footer navigation to keep the less important product page to the footer while you can keep the important one in the main navigation site to keep your site professional..
3. Quality Check
Currently, there are more than 20,000 active installations and featured 5-star ratings. It is very comfortable with Kedance to create well looking and modern websites. As you go with page loading the theme doesn’t disappoint you since it is lightweight the theme has a great loading time. The page loading time plays a vital role when it comes to search engines like Google.
The theme is very flexible to create any type of website from business to initial startups. As you go with customization most of the options are being provided in the free version itself. But don’t ask what is in Pro it has its own features. By using the starter templates you can create a website quickly.
Hence the theme doesn’t disappoint you at customization features, speed and all other criteria required for professional themes
4.Help Desk
For beginners, you can raise your question in the official support forums on WordPress.org.
They provide you with detailed documentation of the theme that you can refer to. It covers everything from theme installation to importing and customizing starter sites according to your needs.
They provide you with detailed documentation of the theme that you can refer to. It covers everything from theme installation to importing and customizing starter sites according to your needs.
5. Pricing
The paid version is split into two categories:
Kadence Pro :
The Pro plan comes at the cost of $136 per year and the lifetime plan at the cost of $269.Looking into this plan allows you to download unlimited websites packed with support and updates.
Kadence Full Membership :
This plan available at $169/year lifetime membership at $599 includes all the features in pro and provides access to plugins like Kadence AMP, Kadence Blocks. Full yeat support and update guarantee.
Conclusion
All things considered, the Kedance theme is a solid free WordPress theme that offers a lot of free features. This makes the Kedance theme a great starter theme if you’re on a budget or building your first website.
