Today, we’ll analyze a very famous Theme: OceanWP.
We’ll check how it looks and if it slows down WordPress, and how much.
To do so, we will use our Test Site:
- We’ll measure the Page Speed with OceanWP installed… And without it.
In case you don’t know, in this section we talk about How we are building this Website: our SEO strategy, Plugins we use, our Traffic Results…
- You’ll find all our Posts sorted by Topic here: “Website building and SEO Diary“.
This Post will be divided into 3 different parts:
1. What does OceanWP offer?
2. Does OceanWP slow down WordPress?
3. Our Google Analytics report for today: Users and Pageviews we have.
Let’s begin:
1. What does OceanWP offer?
First of all, we have to mention that, OceanWP is a Theme that offers high compatibility with different Page Builders.
- For us, this is interesting because we use WP Bakery.
In addition, it is also a flexible and extensible Theme.
- They claim to be specially compatible with WooCommerce.
But… How does it look?
The first impression, for us, was very good.
- It is a professional looking theme.
Also, you can notice how it distributes the Page in different sections; what allows you to place Menus, Multimedia, etc.
- This is very useful in case you don’t know exactly what you want your Site to look like.
Other Themes follow a much more visual approach; with large spaces and little compartmentalization.
Look at the same Page, using the Twenty-Twenty Theme:
As you can see, this is a very visual Theme.
- Also, it seems less “serious”.
If you want a Site with large Images or Visual elements (for example, a photography Site) maybe, the twenty-twenty Theme could be a good option for you.
Should you install OceanWP?
We would recommend this Theme:
- For Sites that could have different functions in the future.
- If you are planning to start an e-Commerce Site.
- If you want to try new functionalities.
- etc.
- For professional “serious-looking” Sites.
- Consultants.
- Business-Related Sites.
- etc.
- For Community-based Sites.
- Forums, Registers… All related Plugins need high compatibility…
- … And Menu placements.
- For Sites that will use Page Builders.
Now, the million dollar question: What about Page Speed?
2. Does OceanWP slow down WordPress?
First of all, we have tested the Page Speed of our Test Site, using the Twenty-Twenty Theme in order to have a Reference Speed.
We have no Plugins installed on this Site, just one Sample Post with:
- 200 Paragraphs.
- 1 Heavy Image.
Performance – Benchmark
* This Largest Contentful Paint (5.3 s) is due to the Large Image we use in the sample Post.
- We wanted to have a representative Page to test.
Opportunities – Benchmark
Then, we have installed the OceanWP Theme, and measured the Page Speed again:
Performance with OceanWP Installed
Opportunities with OceanWP Installed
There is a remarkable difference in Page Speed.
- Remember: The only difference between these two results is the Theme used.
The most significant changes are:
- First Contentful Paint: from 1.9 to 3.0 seconds: + 1.1 s.
- Speed Index: From 1.9 to 3.5 seconds: + 1.6 s.
- Largest Contentful Paint: From 5.3 to 6.9 seconds: + 1.6 s.
- Time to Interactive: From 1.9 to 6.0 seconds: + 4.1 s.
- Eliminate Render Blocking: From 0.8 to 2.57 seconds: + 1.77 s.
We didn’t expect that just installing a Theme would change the page speed so much.
- Without adding any additional Plugins.
Does OceanWP slow down WordPress?
OceanWP slows down WordPress a lot.
We understand that, developing a highly compatible Theme requires extra-coding and, it is not easy to do so, without affecting Page Speed.
Should you Install OceanWP Theme then?
If you need a Site compatible with WooCommerce and, you want to use a Page Builder… It is a good option for you.
- But, you have to know that your Page Speed results will be reduced.
If you just want to Start a simple Blog with some Images and text… You may have better options.
* In case you are interested in having a WooCommerce Site:
- Check our “Does WooCommerce slow down WordPress?” Post.
3. Our Google Analytics report for today: Users and Pageviews we have.
This last week has been a very good week.
- Our numbers keep increasing.
Users:
As you may have already seen in the Post’s Top image, we have 2,500 users per week.
- Our record so far.
Pageviews:
We currently receive 11,374 Page Views per month.
- Now, our goal is to achieve 15,000 Page Views by the end of this month.
None of this would be possible without you, so, as always:
Thanks for being there.
