10 SEO Friendly WordPress Themes You Should Be Using in 2018

If you’ve ever designed a website, you know that the perfect theme can make the difference between a smooth build and hours of time-consuming coding — not to mention the ongoing WordPress maintenance that follows.A WordPress theme is a collection of files that create your site’s design template and layout. For web designers, business owners, and professionals who use WordPress regularly, themes eliminate the need to design from scratch — saving both time and effort.Modern WordPress themes are visually appealing, flexible, and layered with customization options. Whether you’re creating a coffee-shop site or a corporate landing page, you’ll find something here that fits your brand perfectly.

Key Takeaways

• Pick a theme that’s SEO-friendly and lightweight for better performance and rankings.
• Always check that the theme is mobile-responsive and regularly updated by its developer.
• Use integrated features like schema markup and social-share tools to boost visibility.
• Test demo pages for page-speed scores before committing.
• Pair your chosen theme with a managed host like Sunny HQ for peak reliability and support.

Quick Reference

Theme	Best For	Difficulty
MH Magazine	High-volume content or news sites	Beginner
SEO Crawler	Marketing agencies, creative portfolios	Intermediate
Schema	eCommerce or review-based websites	Beginner
SociallyViral	Viral content and social-share sites	Beginner
Best	Blogs, lifestyle, and affiliate sites	Beginner – Intermediate

Definitions

Term	Meaning
Responsive Design	A layout that automatically adjusts to fit screens on desktops, tablets, and phones.
SEO-Friendly Theme	A theme built with clean code, schema markup, and fast-loading elements that help search-engine visibility.
Schema Markup	Structured data that helps Google understand page content for rich-result display.
Child Theme	A separate layer of code that allows customization without editing the parent theme directly.

1. MH Magazine

MH Magazine is one of the most SEO-friendly themes available for content-heavy websites. It’s flexible, detail-oriented, and easily adaptable to almost any niche. Its layout supports visible ad spaces within posts and archives, making monetization easy. Excellent navigation tools help users explore your site seamlessly, improving engagement and time-on-page.

Find it here.

2. SEO Crawler

SEO Crawler is fully customizable and built on the GoodLayers framework. Choose from multiple Google Fonts, nine portfolio layouts, and mobile-friendly, Google-approved features. With three demo designs and 15+ headline variations, it lets you craft a distinctive look without sacrificing SEO performance.

Find it here.

3. Schema

Schema combines lightning-fast load speeds with structured-data support, making it ideal for shops, reviews, or blogs. Its clean design accommodates ads, ratings, and product info. Originally voted the fastest WordPress theme in 2014, it remains a benchmark for SEO performance and user experience.

Find it here.

4. SociallyViral

SociallyViral lives up to its name: a clean, organized, and share-ready theme designed for maximum reach. Integrated social-media features help content spread across Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest — a key signal that also boosts SEO rankings. Quick load times and optimized layouts make it a favorite for viral blogs.

Find it here.

5. Best

Created by MyThemeShop, Best focuses on sharp visuals and high performance. Its layout balances content and imagery perfectly, reducing bounce rates and increasing on-page time. Prominent social-share buttons and sidebar widgets make it easy to connect with audiences across platforms.

Find it here.

6. TheGem

TheGem is built with SEO at its core. Featuring fast load times, responsive layouts, and secure, well-structured code, it’s a designer’s favorite. With Visual Composer support, customizable layouts, and flexible ad-space integration, TheGem suits both business and personal projects looking for visual flair and technical efficiency.

Find it here.

7. POFO

POFO offers an outstanding 210 pre-built demos for ultimate versatility. From personal branding sites to eCommerce stores, it’s a favorite among designers for its drag-and-drop customization using WPBakery. Integrated social widgets and mobile optimization make POFO both user-friendly and SEO-friendly — perfect for major traffic growth.

Find it here.

8. MagXP

MagXP by MyThemeShop offers the perfect balance between speed, design, and structure. Built for blogs, magazines, and content-heavy websites, it comes with social sharing buttons, flexible layouts, and SEO-friendly architecture. Its clean, professional design encourages user engagement and improves dwell time, helping sites climb in rankings.

Find it here.

9. Vellum

Vellum shines with multi-purpose flexibility and strong plugin compatibility. It supports Visual Composer, UberMenu, and Revolution Slider — all optimized for SEO and usability. Whether you’re building a portfolio, a shop, or a corporate site, Vellum provides structure, speed, and mobile responsiveness right out of the box.

Find it here.

10. X

The X theme is a multi-purpose powerhouse with exceptional SEO benefits. Its modular design, built-in page-speed optimizations, and HTML5-friendly structure make it one of the most effective templates for reducing bounce rates and improving conversions. Regular updates and flexible layouts ensure your website remains modern and performant.

Find it here.