Is Kadence Still Worth It in 2026?

My Honest Thoughts After the Recent Changes

If you’ve spent any time in WordPress circles lately, you’ve probably seen the conversations about Kadence.

There have been changes in ownership, changes in branding, and plenty of opinions floating around about what it all means for the future of the platform.

As someone who builds almost exclusively with the Kadence WordPress theme, I’ve been paying attention too.

The short version?

Yes, I still think Kadence is worth it in 2026.

And no, I don’t have plans to switch.

What Happened to Kadence?

If you’re wondering, “What happened to Kadence?” Here’s the quick version.

Kadence joined the iThemes family in 2021 and later became part of StellarWP under Liquid Web. More recently, Liquid Web retired the StellarWP brand and consolidated its WordPress products under the Liquid Web umbrella.

Whenever something like this happens in the WordPress world, people understandably have questions.

Will the product change?

Will support change?

What do the pricing changes mean for current and future users (and my clients)?

Is it time to find a new theme?

They’re all fair questions. I’ve seen plenty of tools come and go during my 15+ years designing WordPress websites.

But here’s the thing…

A company’s ownership and the quality of its product aren’t always the same conversation.

What About the Pricing Changes?

Kadence pricing has changed, and I know that’s been part of the concern for longtime users.

I was fortunate to purchase a lifetime license, and so far, it continues to work just as it always has. I haven’t experienced any issues with my license or with using Kadence on my client websites.

Of course, I’ll continue to pay attention to any changes moving forward. But based on my own experience today, the changes behind the scenes haven’t affected my ability to use Kadence or changed how I build websites for my clients.

For me, that’s an important distinction.

I’m aware of the changes. I’m watching what’s happening. But I haven’t personally experienced a reason to stop using a tool that continues to work extremely well for my clients and me.

Why I’m Still Building Client Websites with Kadence

At the end of the day, I choose tools based on one thing:

Do they help me create beautiful, functional websites that serve my clients well?

For me, the answer is still yes.

The Kadence WordPress theme remains one of my favorite tools because it’s:

• Lightweight and fast
• Flexible enough for custom designs
• Built around the WordPress block editor
• Easy for clients to manage after launch
• Continuously updated and actively developed

Those things haven’t changed.

Half a Million Websites Can’t Be Ignored

One of the biggest pieces of news this year is that the Kadence theme recently passed 500,000 active WordPress installations.

Half a million websites.

That’s no longer a tiny niche theme.

That’s a huge community of website owners, bloggers, designers, and developers trusting Kadence as the foundation of their websites.

For small business owners, that’s actually good news.

It means you’re building on a platform that has:

• A large user base
• Active development
• Plenty of community resources
• Long-term viability

When you’re investing in a website, those things matter.

Why I Think Kadence Is Still One of the Best WordPress Themes for Small Businesses

When clients ask me why I build with Kadence instead of a heavier page builder, my answer is pretty simple:

I like websites that work hard without making things complicated.

The Kadence WordPress theme gives me the flexibility to create custom websites while still keeping performance front and center.

That means:

• Faster load times
• Cleaner code
• Better user experience
• A strong foundation for SEO
• Less unnecessary bloat

A beautiful website is important.

A beautiful website that’s also fast, easy to use, and easy to maintain? That’s even better.

Am I Keeping an Eye on Things? Absolutely.

I don’t believe in blind loyalty to software.

Companies change.

Products evolve.

The WordPress ecosystem is always shifting.

I’ll continue paying attention to how Kadence develops, how the company communicates, and whether the product continues to serve my clients well.

That’s just part of being a responsible web designer.

But I also don’t believe in making big decisions based on internet panic.

Right now, the product itself is still excellent.

My Advice If You Already Use Kadence

If you already have a website built with Kadence, my advice is simple:

Don’t panic.

Keep your website updated.

Pay attention to announcements.

Watch how things evolve over the next year.

But don’t feel pressured to rebuild your website simply because ownership changed behind the scenes.

Your website didn’t suddenly become slow, broken, or outdated overnight.

So, Is Kadence Worth It in 2026?

For me, the answer is still a very easy yes.

After more than 15 years of building WordPress websites, I’ve learned that every platform goes through changes. Companies get acquired, products are rebranded, and communities get nervous.

What matters most is whether the tool still does its job well.

And right now?

The Kadence WordPress theme remains one of the best foundations I’ve found for building beautiful, fast, and flexible WordPress websites.

So yes… I’ll keep watching.

But I’ll also keep building.

And for now, Kadence still has a permanent spot in my toolbox.