Neve Theme Review: Speedster or Smoke and Mirrors? (2025)

Ease of Use

I would rate the ease of use 4.2/5.

Here’s why:

• Neve’s installation process is quite straightforward, especially for users familiar with WordPress.
• The automatic license registration for the pro plugin is a user-friendly feature that saves time and reduces potential errors in manual entry.
• The requirement to install an additional plugin for accessing starter sites, though not overly complicated, is an extra step.

Neve offers a smooth and user-friendly experience, with minor areas for improvement.

The theme-plugin combination, while slightly more complex than a standalone theme, offers flexibility and customization options that can be beneficial for users.

Installation Process

Neve follows the theme-plugin combination where you need to install the theme, and then the pro plugin to activate the pro features.

To get started, you will need to go through the normal steps of installing a theme from the WordPress theme directory:

• Go to appearance > themes > add new
• Search for the Neve theme
• Install and activate the theme

After the activation process, you will get a notification that the theme is now installed and you can either install starter sites or go to the theme settings.

If all you need is the free version, then you can go ahead and install a starter site (more on this later) and make your customizations.

If you’re planning to use the pro version, then you need to head over to the website first, purchase a plan (more on this later), and download the pro plugin.

Then install the plugin:

• Go to plugins > add new plugin > upload plugin
• Browse through your files and select the plugin
• Click the install now button

What’s unique here is that after you activate the plugin, it will automatically register using a pro license linked to your account.

But in case it didn’t work, you can manually enter the pro license to get plugin updates from Themeisle.

• Go to Neve options > Neve pro
• Enter your license in the field provided

Once you enter the pro license, you will be able to use the pro features.

Theme Setup

For the theme setup, you need to know two things:

• Activating disabled pro features
• Installing a starter site

Neve is following behind Astra’s footsteps where it disables some pro features by default — though on the bright side, there’s only a handful of those disabled features.

👉 Related: Astra Theme Review: Popular Choice or Just Overhyped?

You can check them out and enable the features you want to use from the Neve pro tab (the same area where you activated the pro addon license).

Just scroll through the page and activate all the features you want to use:

Take note:

• Some of the features, like the one in the screenshot above, will have sub-options where you can individually enable/disable features.
• Other pro features boost the functionality of plugins that are commonly installed like WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, and Elementor.

After activating the features, you can then use a starter (demo) site — you can either go to the starter sites tab directly or click a link that will get you there.

To use a starter site (and you have no choice here unless you use a page builder), you need to install and activate another plugin.

After the plugin has been activated, the starter site wizard will automatically open, where you will have to select the category of your website.

When you select a category, it will automatically open a list of the starter sites under that category (you can switch between categories).

Once you select a starter site, you will be able to customize the design — including the color palette and the typography.

There are already predefined color palette options as well as font pairs (though they don’t display the names of those fonts).

The next page is where you can add in some of the site details including the business name and the logo of your business.

If you want, you can skip all of those and go directly to the advanced settings where you can select the actual elements to import.

Once you’re ready, hit the import website button (if you skipped the site details, then click the skip and import website button).

Neve will let you know once the import is complete.

You will see a form where you can enter more information about yourself like your email address and your role, but you can skip all of it safely and view your site directly.

Features

I would rate Neve’s features 4/5.

Here’s why:

• Neve offers a comprehensive range of customizer options, allowing for detailed customization of various aspects like layout, blog settings, post meta, and more.
• While the custom layout feature is robust, offering options like hooks, templates, and components, its reliance on the Gutenberg editor could be a limiting factor.
• The heavy reliance on the Gutenberg editor for custom layouts can be a limitation for users who are not comfortable with or prefer other page builders.

Neve offers a solid set of features that cater to both beginners and experienced users.

While there are areas for improvement, the theme’s strengths in customization and flexibility make it a strong contender in the WordPress theme market.

Core Features

Here are the core features of Neve:

1. Live Customizer Options

Many features marketed by Neve on their website are actually options you can find in the theme live customizer.

This is the outermost layer/setting categories that you will find:

At first glance, it might not seem much. 😅 But when you go to the individual settings, you will find that there’s actually a lot of them.

For example, the layout setting is divided into seven subcategories — container, content/sidebar, blog/archive, single post, and many more.

The blog layout setting is one of the Neve theme features advertised on their site:

Aside from the predefined blog layouts, you can also enable masonry, enable the featured post section, and change some ordering and content options.

There are also options concerning post meta like:

• Showing/hiding specific meta (and on mobile)
• Rearrange the post-meta order
• Create your own meta item
• Change the separator character

I like the fact that they included an option for using the last updated date instead of the published one.

A few years back, I spent a lot of time finding a working code that would show the last updated date with the theme that I used. 😫

Another extra option that I appreciate Neve for including is the scroll to top — along with a bunch of nice features.

Neve also supports a header and footer builder right inside the theme live customizer where you can drag and drop header elements.

There are also nice presets available that will certainly take away a lot of work time building your own header and footer from scratch.

By the way, I mentioned in the theme setup section that the wizard will show you six predefined font pairs.

In the typography settings section, you will find a lot more font presets — and if you hover your mouse over each one, you will be able to check the name of the fonts being used.

There are a lot more that you may find interesting like:

• Saving a custom color palette for global colors
• Adding a fallback font family in typography
• Style and background (primary and secondary) button options
• Form and input text customization options

2. Custom Layouts

Neve explains this as a feature that allows you to create sections as new posts and display them in different locations.

There are three layout options to choose from:

1. Hooks
2. Templates
3. Components

⚠️ Note: If you can’t see this feature and you’re using the pro version, that means the feature wasn’t enabled on the pro features page (Neve options > Neve pro).

When you choose hooks, you will be able to choose the location — in the header, footer, or within the content body itself.

Then you need to specify the exact location where the hook will be inserted:

For templates, you can choose to create a layout for the following page categories:

• 404 page
• Single page
• Single post
• Search
• Archives

This makes the custom layout feature function like a theme builder similar to what Elementor and Divi Builder have.

If you choose to create a custom component layout, you can choose from the following:

• Individual
• Header
• Inside content
• Footer
• Sidebar

If you create a custom footer or header layout, this will replace the theme footer or header with the layout you created.

On the downside, this is only usable if you know how to use the Gutenberg editor since that’s what you will be using to create these custom layouts.

For example, if you create a custom hook layout, this is what you will see:

What helps here though is Otter Blocks that Neve will automatically install once you activate the block editor booster pro feature.

Some of Otter’s blocks include:

• Masonry
• Accordion
• Flip card
• Lottie animation
• Product review
• AI Block

Starter Sites

Neve has more than 80 starter sites (or demo sites) across all its categories — with around half for each page builder supported (I counted).

There are two locations where you can access the starter sites not counting the starter template wizard that kicks in after installing the plugin.

1. Welcome page of Neve options
2. Neve options in the sidebar panel

The starter sites are categorized into six:

• Business
• Portfolio
• WooCommerce
• Blog
• Personal
• Other

You can also switch between Elementor and Gutenberg to see the options available for each builder (some of the sites are present on either builder).

⚠️ Note: All the starter sites under Elementor are available only for those using the pro version. For free users, there are around 10 free starter sites available for Gutenberg.

You can preview the starter site you want to import by hovering your mouse over it and selecting the preview button.

You may have noticed the view pages option below the import button. This will open the starter site and let you see all the pages it includes.

From here, you can hover your mouse over each page and import the pages individually:

Since you can import individual pages, you can virtually mix and match pages from any starter sites on the list.

Reliability

I would rate the overall reliability of Neve as 4.7/5.

Here’s why:

• Neve’s impressive loading times, as evidenced by GTmetrix scores, are a significant strength.
• Neve’s commitment to regular updates, as seen in its extensive changelog, ensures that it stays current with the latest web design trends and WordPress features.
• At times, reported bugs and issues, though typically resolved in updates, may temporarily impact the theme’s reliability.

Neve scores highly in terms of reliability, primarily due to its exceptional performance and speed, regular and comprehensive updates, and commitment to maintenance.

The slight deductions in the scores are due to areas for optimization and occasional bugs that are typical in the evolution of any software.

Performance

Neve is known for its lightning-fast performance — the theme’s small size, around 28KB, contributes significantly to its speed. 

But how does it fare in the real world? How does it compare with other themes out there?

If you’ve read my other reviews here on the site, then you would know that I test out the themes using GTmetrix and compare them with the other ones I already tested.

Starting with the Neve 3 starter site template:

⛔ Warning: The results from GTmetrix aren’t conclusive and won’t always hold true as the themes continue to update. However, they are a good indication of the themes’ performance and speed insights.

It got an “A” grade in GTmetrix with 100% performance and 95% structure.

In fact, it’s the fastest result I got from GTmetrix since I started testing out themes here on Darrel’s website. 🫨

I first thought it was probably due to the default starter site that I used — so I installed the “Fitness” starter site and ran it again.

This time, Neve still received the “A” grade with 100% performance and fully loaded within 643 milliseconds — still really fast!

I’ll put the results here in the table along with how it compares with other themes I tested:

Theme	Fully Loaded Time	Total Page Size	Total Page Requests
Elementor Simple Kit	1.3 seconds	1.51 MB	53
Astra Outdoor Adventure	905 milliseconds	1.54 MB	21
Betheme Default	1.6 seconds	0.97 MB	55
Neve 3	568 milliseconds	137 KB	18
Neve Fitness	643 milliseconds	405 KB	25

Here are some observations:

• Neve 3 stands out with its remarkably fast fully loaded time of 568 milliseconds.
• Neve Fitness, despite having a slightly larger total page size of 405 KB and 25 total page requests, still maintains an impressive load time of 643 milliseconds.
• While Neve 3 excels in speed with a minimal page size and requests, the Neve Fitness, with its slightly more complex design, still performs well in terms of loading time

From the results above, there is no doubt that Neve nailed the performance and speed aspect even with a bit complicated page with a lot of images.

👉 Related: Betheme Review: Pre-built Heaven or 1-License Hell?

Updates and Maintenance

Like any good WordPress theme out there, Neve has regular updates and maintenance so it remains reliable and efficient for users.

There’s an extensive changelog available on the official website to help users troubleshoot common issues and learn how to make the most of the theme’s features.

⚠️ Notes: You can also access the changelog for both the free version and the pro version within the plugin settings in your admin dashboard.

Some highlights I found on the changelog:

• Neve is strong on user experience updates like Neve 3.7 ‘Sighisoara’ that introduced features like the ‘Disable Title’ option for more intuitive control over page elements.
• Updates often include tweaks and fixes to maintain this compatibility, ensuring a seamless experience for users working with various tools and plugins.
• Neve introduced full site editing capabilities — a significant step forward for users who want to leverage the latest WordPress features for complete site customization.

Neve’s dedication to regular updates and maintenance contributes significantly to its reliability and popularity.

These updates improve both technical issues and enhance the theme’s functionality and user experience, aligning it with the latest web design trends and technologies.

Support

I would rate the overall support of Neve as 3.6/5.

Here’s why:

• The WordPress support forum shows a good response rate, with about 80% to 85% of questions answered, which is commendable.
• The relatively small size of the Neve Facebook community (about 5,000 members) limits the diversity and volume of peer support available.
• The absence of around-the-clock support and live chat options is a notable limitation in today’s customer service landscape.

Neve’s support system is robust in terms of the variety of support channels and the quality of its documentation.

The limited support hours and lack of immediate response options like 24/7 chat support are areas where Neve could improve to enhance its overall support rating.

Customer Service

Neve is doing okay when it comes to customer service as it offers a lot of avenues for you to ask questions and learn how things work.

Go to Neve options > help on your admin dashboard and you will see all the available customer service options:

• Documentation (+Neve Codex)
• Contact support
• Facebook group
• Support forum

First, let’s talk about the community.

On their Facebook group, they have more than 5,000 members, with 16 new posts in the last month (no new post today though).

They don’t have a lot of members yet and average at around a post/every 2 days. Not a lot considering Astra was released in 2017.

On the bright side, they seem to be doing okay in the WordPress support forum answering all the questions from its users.

Out of 20 posts, there are around 3-4 unanswered questions. I’m not sure why that happens — though answering 80% to 85% of the questions is on the positive side.

When you click the ‘access our premium support’ button from the help page, you will arrive at the Themeisle direct support page.

You will be able to describe your issue here in detail:

They included a note at the bottom of the page about how their team will respond within 1-2 days for the best solution.

Unfortunately, that’s because their support hours are only on Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EEST (no around-the-clock support).

Documentation

Neve has two kinds of documentation:

• Regular documentation
• Code references about hooks

Their regular documentation is great. I tried finding some relevant topics and the documentation has good content complete with pictures.

Here’s the home documentation page:

You can see in the upper-left corner that they also have a search function that automatically shows you suggested pages.

The Codex Neve, on the other hand, is what you would expect it to be — simply a library of codes and their class and source.

Once you click on an item, you will be able to see more information about it:

The codes available in the codex are divided into four:

• Functions
• Hooks
• Classes
• Methods

The contents of each code’s page depend on its category. But they usually contain the source, Github code, and the file source.

Pricing

I would rate the overall pricing of Neve as 3.8/5.

Here’s why:

• Neve offers a versatile pricing structure that caters to a wide range of users, from personal website creators to large agencies.
• Some users have reported difficulties in obtaining refunds, which can be a point of concern for potential customers.
• The personal plan could benefit from including some features of the business plan, like a limited number of starter sites or basic WooCommerce support.

Neve’s pricing structure offers a range of options suitable for various users, with each plan providing a solid set of features.

However, the distribution of advanced features across the higher-priced plans and some concerns about the refund process slightly affect its overall pricing rating.

Cost Breakdown

The Neve WordPress theme offers a versatile pricing structure that caters to different user needs, from personal websites to business and agency-level requirements.

At the moment, they have three pricing tiers:

• Personal ($69/year)
• Business ($149/year)
• Agency ($259/year)

Here’s a table that summarizes what each plan or tier includes:

Feature	Personal	Business	Agency
Unlimited Sites Usage	Yes	Yes	Yes
Header & Footer Booster	Yes	Yes	Yes
Blog Booster	Yes	Yes	Yes
Custom Layouts & Hooks	Yes	Yes	Yes
Performance Module	Yes	Yes	Yes
Custom Sidebars	Yes	Yes	Yes
Content Restriction	Yes	Yes	Yes
WooCommerce Booster	No	Yes	Yes
110+ Starter Sites & Templates	No	Yes	Yes
LMS Booster	No	Yes	Yes
Future Expert Sites	No	Yes	Yes
Priority Support	No	Yes	Yes
Sparks For WooCommerce	No	Yes	Yes
Access to Neve Cloud	No	No	Yes
White Label	No	No	Yes
VIP Support	No	No	Yes
Otter Pro	No	No	Yes
Money Back Guarantee	30-day	30-day	30-day
Price	$69/year	$149/year	$259/year

It’s important to note that the free version of Neve is quite powerful and sufficient for building a high-quality website.

However, upgrading to the pro version unlocks additional functionalities and features that can enhance your site.

This is especially true if you are looking for more advanced blogging features, ecommerce capabilities, or white labeling options for clients​​​​.

Money Back Guarantee/Refund

The Neve theme for WordPress offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all its pricing plans.

This means that if a user is not satisfied with the product, they can request a full refund within the first 30 days after purchase.

However, it’s important to note that some refund requests might be denied if they are considered fraudulent or unfair.

While the refund process is generally straightforward, there have been some complaints about difficulties in obtaining refunds.

Like this one:

However, these seem to be isolated incidents and not indicative of a widespread issue.

Once a refund has been processed, it might take up to 7-10 days for the amount to get transferred to the user’s account.

The company does not cover any differences in exchange rates between the time of purchase and the time of refund.

Final Thoughts

The Neve theme for WordPress stands out for its ease of use, comprehensive features, and impressive performance.

The theme’s features cater to both beginners and experienced users, with a strong focus on customization and flexibility.

Neve’s performance is exceptional, with fast loading times and regular updates to ensure it stays current with the latest web design trends and WordPress features.

Overall, Neve is a reliable and efficient choice for anyone looking to create a fast and efficient WordPress site.