OceanWP is a multipurpose WordPress theme that combines extensive customization options with a modular extension system. Since its release in 2016, it has accumulated over 700,000 active installations on WordPress.org, making it one of the most popular free themes available. In this review, we evaluate OceanWP and its premium extensions in 2026, examining features, performance, WooCommerce capabilities, and how it compares to similar themes. For more information on developing themes, you can refer to the WordPress Theme Developer Handbook.
This review is based on testing OceanWP 3.x with the Ocean Extra companion plugin and several premium extensions on a WordPress 6.7 environment with PHP 8.2.
What Is OceanWP?
OceanWP is a free WordPress theme with a companion plugin (Ocean Extra) that adds the core customization framework. Premium features are available through individual extensions or a bundle (Ocean Pro). The theme is designed to work as a standalone solution or alongside page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Gutenberg.
The theme's approach differs from competitors like Astra and GeneratePress in that it ships with more built-in features out of the box. While this means a slightly larger footprint, it also means fewer additional plugins are needed for common functionality like mobile panels, sticky headers, and social sharing.
Installation and Setup
Setting up OceanWP involves two components:
- OceanWP Theme: Install from WordPress.org or upload the zip file
- Ocean Extra Plugin: Install the free companion plugin that enables the demo import system, Customizer extensions, and widget areas
- Premium Extensions (optional): Install individual extension plugins or the Ocean Pro bundle
The demo import system offers over 220 pre-built website templates covering business, portfolio, blog, e-commerce, and niche categories. Templates are available in Elementor, Gutenberg, and default (no builder) variants. Importing a demo takes 1-3 minutes and includes content, widgets, Customizer settings, and required plugins.
Key Features
Header Styles
OceanWP includes 7 built-in header styles:
| Style | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal | Simple logo + menu on one line | Clean blogs, portfolios |
| Transparent | Overlays the hero section with transparent background | Landing pages, photography |
| Top Menu | Logo centered, menu below | Magazine, news sites |
| Full Screen | Hamburger menu that opens full-screen overlay | Creative agencies, portfolios |
| Center | Centered logo with menu below | Personal brands, blogs |
| Medium | Logo and menu on separate lines with top bar | Corporate, business |
| Vertical | Fixed sidebar navigation | Creative portfolios, galleries |
Each header style includes options for sticky behavior, background color/opacity, mobile breakpoint, and responsive display. The vertical header option is particularly notable—it is not commonly available in free themes and is useful for creative portfolios where vertical navigation adds visual distinction.
WooCommerce Features
OceanWP has built one of the more comprehensive free WooCommerce integrations among WordPress themes. Key features include:
- Floating Add to Cart Bar: A sticky bar that follows users as they scroll product pages, keeping the purchase button always visible
- Quick View: Popup product preview without leaving the shop page
- Off-Canvas Cart: Slide-in cart panel that appears when items are added, reducing page transitions
- Shop Layouts: List and grid views with 1-6 column options
- Product Gallery: Thumbnail navigation, zoom, lightbox for product images
- Category Display: Customizable category page layouts with description placement options
For an online store running WooCommerce, OceanWP provides e-commerce functionality that would otherwise require multiple separate plugins. If you are setting up a WooCommerce store, the built-in features can significantly reduce your plugin count.
Mobile Panel
OceanWP includes a custom mobile panel that slides in from the side when accessing the site on mobile devices. The panel supports custom content, search, social icons, and navigation. This is a feature that typically requires a separate plugin or custom development, and OceanWP includes it for free.
Blog Layouts
The theme offers 5 blog layout options:
- Default (List): Standard vertical list with featured images
- Grid: Multi-column grid layout (2-6 columns) with masonry option
- Thumbnail: Small thumbnail with title and excerpt side-by-side
- Large Image: Full-width featured images above content
- Gallery: Pinterest-style masonry grid focused on images
Each layout includes controls for excerpt length, meta information display, read more button style, and pagination type (numbered, infinite scroll, or load more button).
Premium Extensions
OceanWP's premium features are sold as individual extensions or as the Ocean Pro bundle. Key extensions include:
| Extension | Function | Individual Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sticky Header | Advanced sticky header with shrink animation and opacity control | $9.99/year |
| Footer Callout | Customizable call-to-action bar in the footer area | $9.99/year |
| Cookie Notice | GDPR-compliant cookie consent banner | $9.99/year |
| WooCommerce Popup | Post-add-to-cart promotional popup | $9.99/year |
| Full Screen | Full-screen scrolling sections (like Fullpage.js) | $9.99/year |
| Side Panel | Slide-in panel for custom content | $9.99/year |
| Sticky Footer | Footer that sticks to viewport bottom until content fills the page | $9.99/year |
| White Label | Remove OceanWP branding for client projects | $9.99/year |
Performance Analysis
OceanWP's performance falls in the middle range among popular WordPress themes. With the Ocean Extra plugin active and a standard blog setup:
| Configuration | Page Size | Requests | Load Time | PageSpeed Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OceanWP (theme only) | 85 KB | 12 | 1.2s | 94 |
| OceanWP + Ocean Extra | 112 KB | 16 | 1.4s | 91 |
| OceanWP + 3 extensions | 145 KB | 19 | 1.6s | 87 |
| OceanWP + Elementor | 280 KB | 28 | 2.1s | 79 |
The base theme performs well, but the Ocean Extra plugin and premium extensions each add CSS and JavaScript. If performance is your primary concern, GeneratePress or Astra deliver leaner output. However, OceanWP's richer feature set means you may need fewer additional plugins overall, which can balance the equation.
For optimization tips, see our WordPress speed optimization guide.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Extensions | Sites | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Theme + Ocean Extra | $0 | None | Unlimited | Forum |
| Individual Extension | $9.99/year each | 1 | 1 | 1 year |
| Personal (Bundle) | $54/year | All | 1 | 1 year |
| Business (Bundle) | $89/year | All | 3 | 1 year |
| Agency (Bundle) | $129/year | All | 25 | 1 year |
The free version of OceanWP is surprisingly feature-rich. Most small websites can function well without any premium extensions. If you do need premium features, the bundle offers significantly more value than purchasing individual extensions. You can also get OceanWP extensions at PluginTheme.net under GPL licensing.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Feature-rich free version with WooCommerce support, 7 header styles, and blog layouts | Larger frontend footprint than minimalist themes like GeneratePress and Astra |
| 220+ demo templates covering diverse website types | Premium features are split into individual paid extensions rather than a single add-on |
| Built-in WooCommerce features (quick view, floating cart, off-canvas cart) that reduce plugin count | Ocean Extra plugin is required for full functionality, adding a dependency |
| 7 header styles including unique vertical header option | Performance degrades when multiple extensions are active simultaneously |
| Compatible with Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Gutenberg | Theme customization can feel complex due to the number of options spread across the Customizer |
| Active community with regular updates | Some design options are only available through the Customizer (no visual builder integration) |
OceanWP vs Astra vs GeneratePress
| Feature | OceanWP | Astra | GeneratePress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Header Styles | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| Free WooCommerce Features | Extensive | Basic | None (Premium) |
| Demo Templates | 220+ | 240+ | ~80 |
| Frontend Size | 112 KB | 68 KB | 45 KB |
| Mobile Panel | Built-in | Premium | No |
| Header Builder | No | Yes (Premium) | No |
| Lifetime Option | No | $227 | $249 |
| Approach | Feature-rich free | Balanced free/pro | Minimal + modular |
OceanWP offers the most features in its free version. Astra provides a balanced approach with strong premium options. GeneratePress prioritizes raw performance above all else. For a deeper comparison of WordPress themes, see our complete theme selection guide.
Who Should Use OceanWP?
- Budget-conscious site owners who want extensive features without purchasing premium add-ons
- WooCommerce store owners who want built-in e-commerce features like quick view and floating cart
- Beginners who want a theme that works well out of the box with minimal configuration
- Portfolio and creative professionals who benefit from the vertical header and full-screen layout options
- Anyone building with Elementor who wants a feature-rich theme foundation at no cost
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OceanWP still free in 2026?
Yes. The OceanWP theme and Ocean Extra companion plugin remain free. Premium features are available through optional paid extensions, but the free version is functional for most websites. It includes 7 header styles, WooCommerce support, blog layouts, and full compatibility with popular page builders.
Do I need Ocean Extra plugin?
Ocean Extra is not technically required, but it enables key features like the demo import system, additional Customizer options, and widget areas. Without it, OceanWP functions as a basic theme with limited customization. We recommend installing it for the full experience.
How does OceanWP compare to Astra for WooCommerce?
OceanWP offers more WooCommerce features in its free version, including quick view, off-canvas cart, and floating add-to-cart bar. Astra Pro catches up with its premium WooCommerce module, which adds checkout customization and product gallery options. For a free WooCommerce setup, OceanWP provides more functionality out of the box.
Can OceanWP be used without a page builder?
Yes. OceanWP works with the default WordPress editor (Gutenberg) and its own Customizer settings. While it is often paired with Elementor, the theme is fully functional without any page builder. The Customizer provides controls for layout, colors, typography, and blog styling.
Is OceanWP good for SEO?
OceanWP generates clean HTML markup with proper heading hierarchy and schema support. It is compatible with SEO plugins like Rank Math SEO and Yoast SEO. The theme does not add any SEO-harmful code, and its breadcrumb support helps search engines understand your site structure. For a full WordPress SEO checklist, see our dedicated guide.
Does OceanWP support RTL languages?
Yes. OceanWP includes RTL (right-to-left) support for languages like Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian. The RTL stylesheet loads automatically when the site language is set to an RTL locale.
How often is OceanWP updated?
OceanWP receives updates approximately every 3-4 weeks. Updates include bug fixes, compatibility improvements with new WordPress versions, and occasionally new features. Premium extensions follow a similar update cycle.
Can I use OceanWP with WP Rocket for performance optimization?
Yes. OceanWP is fully compatible with WP Rocket and other caching plugins. Using WP Rocket's CSS/JS optimization and lazy loading alongside OceanWP can significantly improve load times, especially when extensions are active. For optimization techniques, see our image optimization guide.
Get OceanWP Premium Extensions at GPL Pricing
Access OceanWP premium extensions including Sticky Header, WooCommerce Popup, Full Screen, and more. GPL licensed for unlimited sites.
