Free WordPress one-page themes that load fast

If you’re looking for the best free one-page WordPress themes that combine speed, simplicity, and stunning design, you’re in the right place. 

One-page websites are a fantastic way to create a focused, high-converting online presence – whether you’re launching a personal brand, portfolio, agency site, or small business page. But here’s the catch: not all themes are created equal. 

Choosing the right one shouldn’t just be based on aesthetics. You need to find a one-page theme that’s lightweight, optimized for performance, and designed to load in milliseconds to ensure a smooth user experience across devices.

Now, let’s explore some of the fastest free one-page WordPress themes, breaking down their key features and why they stand out!

The best free WordPress one-page themes for maximum speed

Kadence

If you’re looking for a one-page WordPress theme that balances power, flexibility, and ultra-fast performance, Kadence is an unbeatable choice. It’s worth noting that Kadence works equally well regardless of whether you’re building a one-page site or working on a much larger project. In fact, Liquid Web’s own website is built on Kadence, proving its ability to handle enterprise-level demands while maintaining top-tier speed and scalability.

Key features

• Lightweight and performance-optimized – Kadence is built with clean, efficient code that ensures fast load times.
• Drag-and-drop header and footer builder – design your one-page layout exactly how you want it.
• Global design control – easily customize colors, typography, and layout with no coding required.
• Easy integrations – works effortlessly with WooCommerce, LearnDash, and other major WordPress tools.

This theme is great for one-page websites because it provides a blazing-fast foundation for any one-page site, ensuring smooth scrolling, quick content delivery, and an exceptional user experience.

⭐ Check out this webinar to learn more about how Liquid Web built an enterprise-level website in just 45 days using Kadence.

Astra

Astra is one of the fastest-loading WordPress themes available, making it an excellent choice for a one-page website. With a minimalist codebase and no reliance on jQuery, Astra ensures that your site loads almost instantly.

Key features

• Ultra-lightweight (less than 50KB of resources) – no unnecessary bloat.
• Optimized for SEO – schema markup and best coding practices help your site rank higher.
• Customizable without code – compatible with Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Gutenberg.
• Mobile-first and fully responsive – looks great on any screen size.

Astra’s speed-focused design eliminates lag, making it perfect for businesses, portfolios, and landing pages that need to deliver content quickly and efficiently.

OnePress

OnePress is a stunning and elegant one-page WordPress theme that’s perfect for businesses, startups, and digital agencies. It blends sleek aesthetics with fast performance, ensuring a smooth user experience.

Key features

• Built for speed and simplicity – no unnecessary fluff. Just a clean and fast-loading design.
• Parallax backgrounds – add depth and modern visual appeal without slowing down performance.
• Custom content blocks – easily organize your services, testimonials, and portfolio sections.
• WooCommerce support – ideal for businesses selling products or services.

This theme provides a professional, polished look while ensuring pages load quickly, keeping visitors engaged and driving conversions.

One Page Express

If you need a beginner-friendly one-page theme, One Page Express is a fantastic choice. It comes with a real-time drag-and-drop editor, allowing you to build a custom homepage in minutes – no coding required.

Key features

• Pre-designed content sections – add services, testimonials, pricing tables, and more with one click.
• Live editing – see changes in real-time with the front-end editor.
• Fast-loading, responsive design – optimized for speed and mobile devices.
• Creative animations – subtle yet lightweight animations enhance user engagement.

One Page Express makes it easy for anyone to create a stylish, high-performance one-page website without touching a single line of code.

OceanWP

OceanWP is a highly flexible, performance-optimized theme that works smoothly for one-page websites. It’s lightweight yet feature-rich, making it a favorite among WordPress users.

Key features

• Super-fast page speed – optimized for instant loading.
• Deep customization options – change headers, layouts, and typography effortlessly.
• Built-in SEO best practices – helps boost rankings and visibility.
• Extensive plugin compatibility – works with Elementor, WooCommerce, and more.

This theme offers deep design flexibility without sacrificing speed, making it ideal for businesses, creatives, and ecommerce brands that need a high-performing one-page solution.

Hestia

Hestia is a sleek, material-design-inspired theme that’s perfect for startups, agencies, and creative professionals. Its speed-optimized framework ensures smooth scrolling and interactions.

Key features

• Built for performance – minimalistic, lightweight, and fast.
• Easy one-page scrolling – smooth, professional transitions.
• WooCommerce ready – perfect for single-page ecommerce stores.
• Live customizer support – instantly see design changes.

This theme’s modern, stylish design combined with speed optimization makes it a great choice for brands that want to make a lasting impression.

Essential features to look for in a one-page theme

The following checklist is designed to help you pick the most optimal one-page theme for your site:

Speed optimization 

A fast-loading theme is non-negotiable. If your site takes more than a couple of seconds to load, visitors will bounce before they even see your content. Look for themes with:

• Lightweight code that avoids bloated scripts.
• Minimal HTTP requests for faster loading.
• Optimized images and lazy loading for better performance.

💻 Pro tip: Use speed testing tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to ensure your chosen theme loads in under 2 seconds.

Responsive and mobile-friendly design

With more than 50% of web traffic coming from mobile devices, your one-page site must look and function flawlessly on all screen sizes. Not to mention, Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in search rankings, so responsiveness is critical for SEO. That’s why you should look for:

• Fully responsive design that adjusts to different devices.
• Touch-friendly navigation for mobile users.
• Adaptive image scaling for better readability.

Easy customization and page builders

One-page websites need a clean, well-structured layout that allows visitors to scroll through your content effortlessly. Your theme should offer:

• Drag-and-drop customization (Elementor, Gutenberg, Kadence Blocks) – especially important for non-developers.
• Pre-built sections for easy setup (About, Services, Testimonials, Contact).
• Global typography and color controls to match your branding.

SEO-friendly structure

A well-coded, search-engine-optimized theme helps your site rank higher in search results. Look for:

• Schema markup for better visibility on Google.
• Optimized heading structure (H1, H2, H3) for readability.
• Fast-loading performance (Google favors speed in rankings).

🔎 Expert insight: SEO isn’t just about keywords – clean code and structured content play a huge role in search engine rankings.

Smooth scrolling and navigation

Since one-page sites rely on scrolling, a smooth and intuitive experience is key. Choose a theme with:

• Sticky navigation menus for easy access to sections.
• Anchor links for smooth one-click scrolling.
• Parallax effects (optional) for a modern feel.

⚠️ But take care – overusing animations and parallax effects can slow down your site. Use them sparingly to maintain speed.

WooCommerce compatibility (optional)

If you plan to sell products or services, your theme should support WooCommerce. Even if you don’t plan to sell now, choosing a WooCommerce-compatible theme future-proofs your site. Look for:

• Pre-styled product sections for a sleek design.
• Fast-loading checkout pages for better conversions.
• Mobile-friendly shop layouts.

Launch your optimized WordPress site in minutes

Not all themes are created equal. The wrong theme can slow down your site, hurt your search rankings, and drive away visitors. That’s why this article is dedicated to highlighting the best free one-page WordPress themes that prioritize speed, responsiveness, and performance.

But there’s one more thing that makes all the difference – hosting.

Even the best, most lightweight theme can’t fix slow hosting. To get the best possible speed and performance, you need a high-quality managed WordPress hosting provider like Liquid Web.

Here’s why Liquid Web’s managed WordPress hosting is the perfect fit:

• Blazing-fast speeds that are optimized for WordPress with built-in caching and CDN integration.
• Automatic updates so you don’t need to worry about theme, plugin, or core updates.
• 24/7 support and access to WordPress professionals.
• SSL, daily backups, and proactive security monitoring.

So, if you’re serious about launching a high-performance WordPress site, don’t let slow hosting hold you back. Get started with Liquid Web’s managed WordPress hosting today!

One-page theme FAQs

What is a one-page theme?

A one-page WordPress theme is a theme designed to display all your content on a single scrolling page instead of multiple pages. It’s ideal for portfolios, small businesses, agencies, and landing pages.

Why create a one-page website in WordPress?

One-page websites offer a clean, distraction-free user experience. They’re great for highlighting a specific product, service, or personal brand while maintaining fast load times and high engagement.

What is the best one-page WordPress theme?

It depends on your needs! Kadence, Astra, OnePress, OceanWP, and Hestia are some of the best free options because they are lightweight, customizable, and fast.

What do I need to build a one-page website in WordPress?

To create a high-performing one-page site, you need:

• A fast, optimized one-page theme (like Kadence, Astra, or OnePress).
• A reliable managed WordPress hosting provider (Liquid Web is a great choice!).
• A drag-and-drop page builder (like Gutenberg or Elementor).
• Optimized images and lightweight plugins to keep your site running smoothly.