Avada is the all-time highest-selling WordPress theme on ThemeForest, with over 900,000 purchases since its release in 2012. Developed by ThemeFusion, it includes its own page builder (Avada Builder), a comprehensive options panel, and pre-built website templates covering nearly every industry. In this review, we evaluate Avada in 2026—its features, performance, learning curve, and whether it remains a competitive choice among modern WordPress themes.
What Is Avada?
Avada is a multipurpose WordPress theme that bundles a proprietary page builder (Avada Builder, available in both backend and visual frontend modes), a global options panel with 800+ settings, and 100+ pre-built website templates. It follows an all-in-one philosophy: instead of relying on third-party plugins for common features, Avada builds them into the theme itself.
Key statistics:
- 900,000+ sales (most popular WordPress theme ever sold)
- 100+ pre-built websites (demos)
- 800+ global options
- 75+ design elements (widgets/modules)
- Avada Builder included (backend + live visual editor)
- Slider Revolution included ($49 value)
Features
Avada Builder
Avada Builder is ThemeFusion's proprietary page builder, available in two modes: For related information, see our guide on Astra Theme Review 2026: Features, Performance, an.
| Mode | Interface | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Backend Builder (Wireframe) | Structured block editor in wp-admin | Developers who prefer speed over visual editing |
| Live Builder (Frontend) | Visual drag-and-drop on live page | Users who want WYSIWYG editing |
The builder includes 75+ elements: containers, columns, text, images, buttons, tabs, accordions, counters, testimonials, pricing tables, blog grids, portfolio grids, WooCommerce elements, and more. Most elements have extensive styling options (typography, colors, padding, margins, borders, animations, responsive visibility).
Pre-Built Websites
Avada includes 100+ pre-built website demos that can be imported with one click:
- Business: Agency, consulting, corporate, finance, law firm, real estate
- Creative: Photography, portfolio, architecture, interior design
- E-commerce: Fashion, electronics, furniture, food, WooCommerce stores
- Health: Medical, dental, fitness, spa, yoga
- Technology: SaaS, app landing, hosting, IT services
- Education: University, online courses, tutoring
- Other: Restaurant, church, wedding, travel, events
Demo imports include pages, Customizer settings, widgets, and Avada Builder layouts. The import process takes 3-5 minutes on standard hosting.
Global Options Panel
Avada's Global Options panel (Avada → Options) contains 800+ settings organized across categories: layout, header, footer, sidebars, backgrounds, typography, colors, blog, portfolio, WooCommerce, search, 404 page, forms, social media, and more. Every visual aspect of the theme can be configured without writing CSS.
WooCommerce Integration
Avada includes WooCommerce-specific features:
- Custom product page layouts with Avada Builder
- AJAX-powered product filtering
- Product rollover effects and quick view
- Shop page column controls (1-6 columns)
- Checkout page customization
- Product image gallery with zoom and lightbox
- Mega menu with product display
Performance
Avada's comprehensive feature set comes with a performance trade-off. Here are our measurements:
| Metric | Avada Default | Avada + WP Rocket | GeneratePress (Reference) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page Size | 285 KB | 185 KB | 45 KB |
| HTTP Requests | 28 | 16 | 8 |
| Load Time | 2.3s | 1.5s | 0.8s |
| PageSpeed Score | 72 | 85 | 99 |
| TTFB | 210ms | 140ms | 120ms |
| DOM Elements | ~1,400 | ~1,400 | ~350 |
Avada is not a fast theme by modern standards. However, with caching and optimization (WP Rocket recommended), performance improves significantly. The DOM element count remains high regardless of caching—this is an architectural limitation of Avada's builder output.
For detailed theme speed comparisons, see our WordPress theme performance comparison.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular License (ThemeForest) | $69 | Theme + Avada Builder + Slider Revolution + 6 months support |
| Extended Support (12 months) | $92.25 | Same as above + 12 months support |
| GPL (PluginTheme.net) | Lower price | Same files, GPL licensed, unlimited sites |
The one-time payment model is an advantage over subscription-based themes. You can get Avada at PluginTheme.net under GPL licensing at an accessible price.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive all-in-one solution with 800+ options | Heavy frontend footprint (285 KB, 1400+ DOM elements) |
| 100+ pre-built website demos covering diverse industries | Proprietary builder creates vendor lock-in (content difficult to migrate) |
| Included Slider Revolution ($49 value) | Performance lags behind lightweight themes by 2-3x |
| One-time purchase (no recurring subscription) | The sheer number of options (800+) creates a steep learning curve |
| Active development with regular major updates | Builder output generates more markup than Elementor or Gutenberg |
| WooCommerce integration with product page builder | Loading all features even when unused adds unnecessary weight |
Avada vs Modern Alternatives
| Feature | Avada | Astra + Elementor | GeneratePress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builder | Avada Builder (proprietary) | Elementor (third-party) | Customizer + hooks |
| Page Size | 285 KB | 195 KB | 45 KB |
| Templates | 100+ | 240+ (Astra) + 100+ (Elementor) | ~80 |
| Portability | Low (proprietary format) | Medium (Elementor format) | High (standard WordPress) |
| WooCommerce | Built-in | Elementor Pro WooCommerce Builder | Basic (Premium module) |
| Price Model | $69 one-time | $47/yr + $49/yr | $59/yr or $249 lifetime |
Who Should Use Avada?
- Users who want everything in one package without researching and combining separate theme + builder + plugins
- Agencies managing diverse client projects who benefit from 100+ ready-to-use website demos
- Users who prefer a one-time purchase over annual subscriptions
- Projects where design flexibility matters more than page speed
For more details, refer to the official documentation: Avada Documentation, WordPress Theme Handbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Avada still worth it in 2026?
Avada remains a capable theme with an extensive feature set. However, the WordPress ecosystem has evolved—lightweight themes combined with modern page builders now offer similar design flexibility with significantly better performance. For new projects where speed matters, Astra + Elementor is a more modern approach. For users already invested in the Avada ecosystem, it continues to receive updates and support.
Can I switch from Avada to another theme without losing content?
Text content (posts, pages, products) is preserved when switching themes. However, layouts built with Avada Builder will lose their visual formatting because the builder's shortcodes are proprietary to Avada. You would need to rebuild page layouts with the new theme's builder or editor. This is the main risk of vendor lock-in with proprietary builders.
Does Avada work with Elementor?
Technically yes—Elementor can be installed alongside Avada. However, running two page builders simultaneously adds unnecessary overhead. Most users choose either Avada Builder or Elementor, not both. If you prefer Elementor, a lighter theme like Astra provides a more efficient foundation.
How does Avada handle updates?
ThemeFusion releases major updates every 2-3 months with new features, demos, and compatibility updates. Minor patches are released as needed. Updates are applied through the WordPress dashboard after registering your purchase code. Always backup before updating.
Is Avada good for WooCommerce stores?
Avada provides solid WooCommerce integration with custom product page layouts, AJAX filtering, and shop customization. However, its heavier page weight (285 KB vs 45-112 KB for lighter themes) can impact conversion rates—especially on mobile. For performance-sensitive stores, consider Flatsome or Astra + Elementor instead.
Get Avada Theme at GPL Pricing
Access Avada with Avada Builder, Slider Revolution, and 100+ pre-built websites. GPL licensed for unlimited sites.
Browse Avada Theme →
