The Freaky Blog
Kadence Theme8.1/10Thrive Themes8.6/10

Kadence Theme vs Thrive Themes

Thrive Themes wins 2 of the 3 points we can measure. Here's how they compare on price, features, ratings and deals.

At a glance

FeatureKadence ThemeThrive Themes
Our score8.1/108.6/10 (better)
Starts at$350/year$299/year (better)
Free versionYes (better)No
Refund window–30 days
BillingSubscriptionSubscription
Active installs500K+–
Last Black Friday––
CategoryThemesThemes
VendorLiquid WebThrive Themes
Black Friday 2026Not announcedNot announced

Which should you choose?

Choose Kadence Theme if…

  • Agencies and professionals building client sites
  • Site owners who want theme, blocks and memberships in one bundle
  • You want to start free
Kadence Theme reviewVisit Kadence Theme (opens in a new tab)

Choose Thrive Themes if…

  • Creators and small businesses building sales and lead pages
  • Coaches and course sellers using WordPress
  • You want the lower starting price
Thrive Themes reviewVisit Thrive Themes (opens in a new tab)

Features

Kadence Theme

  • Drag-and-drop block design
  • Mega menus
  • Shared design system
  • Two-factor login
  • One-click backups
  • WooCommerce tools

Thrive Themes

  • Thrive Architect page builder
  • Thrive Theme Builder
  • Thrive Leads
  • Thrive Quiz Builder
  • Thrive Apprentice
  • Thrive Optimize
  • Updates and support

Pros and cons

Kadence Theme

  • Free theme version on WordPress.org
  • Drag-and-drop blocks with no code needed
  • Bundled with The Events Calendar and LearnDash on plans
  • Paid plans start at $350 a year, sold as bundles
  • The lifetime deal has been discontinued, per a July 2026 review

Thrive Themes

  • All 8 Thrive plugins are included in one suite
  • Covers themes, page building, leads, quizzes and courses
  • Unlimited updates while the license is in good standing
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Only the full suite is listed, with no single-plugin option
  • No free version or lifetime plan is listed
  • The $299 yearly price is a first-year offer; the list price is $599 per year

Pricing plans

Kadence Theme

  • 1 siteStarts here

    $350/year

    1 site sites

    • Kadence theme included
    • The Events Calendar
    • LearnDash

  • 10 sites

    $599/year

    10 sites sites

    • Kadence theme included
    • The Events Calendar
    • LearnDash

  • 25 sites

    $799/year

    25 sites sites

    • Kadence theme included
    • The Events Calendar
    • Give

Thrive Themes

  • Thrive Suite Yearly

    $299/year

    5 sites

    • All 8 Thrive plugins and Thrive Theme Builder
    • 30-day money-back guarantee

  • Thrive Suite QuarterlyStarts here

    $149

    5 sites

    • Same features as the yearly plan
    • 30-day money-back guarantee

What Reddit says

Kadence Theme

Reddit users are split on the Kadence theme since Liquid Web acquired it, with several posts warning about a permanent Liquid Web panel in v1.5.0 and the removal of the old starter-theme catalogue. Others still choose it for new sites, including one Squarespace switcher and a user who found it cheaper than Thrive Themes.

Thrive Themes

Not enough Reddit discussion yet.

Kadence Theme vs Thrive Themes questions

Is Kadence Theme better than Thrive Themes?

On our comparison Thrive Themes comes out ahead on 2 of 3 measurable points. The right pick still depends on what you build.

Which is cheaper, Kadence Theme or Thrive Themes?

Kadence Theme starts at $350/year and Thrive Themes starts at $299/year.

Can I get Kadence Theme or Thrive Themes cheaper on Black Friday?

Both are on our Black Friday tracker. We'll add each discount the moment it goes live.

Both products

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