On April 6, 2021, iThemes officially announced the acquisition of Kadence WP, a rising star in the WordPress development space. The move brings Kadence’s popular theme and block-based design tools into iThemes’ established suite of WordPress products, enhancing their focus on performance, flexibility, and modern web standards.
Expanding iThemes’ Capabilities with Kadence Technology
iThemes, known for its security and backup solutions, such as iThemes Security and BackupBuddy, has taken a strategic step forward by acquiring Kadence WP. The acquisition introduces the high-performance Kadence Theme and Kadence Blocks plugin into the iThemes ecosystem, positioning the brand to serve both novice and advanced WordPress users with a more integrated experience.
As outlined in the iThemes blog announcement, the acquisition aims to align product development around a modern WordPress vision, especially with the growing emphasis on block-based editing.
Key enhancements for iThemes customers:
- Access to the Kadence Theme and Kadence Blocks as part of iThemes bundles
- Increased focus on performance-first design and layout tools
- Integration between Kadence’s design tools and iThemes’ security products
Roadmap: A Unified Vision for WordPress Site Building
The acquisition reflects iThemes’ evolving role in the WordPress community—transitioning from plugin provider to a comprehensive website solution platform. Kadence WP’s inclusion allows iThemes to offer a full-featured stack that includes design, security, and performance tools.
According to the Kadence WP announcement, the original Kadence team remains involved, continuing to develop and support their flagship products under the iThemes umbrella.
Plans include:
- Continued development of Kadence WP tools by the original creators
- Phasing out of older legacy iThemes themes in favor of Kadence-based options
- Enhanced user experience through a tighter product ecosystem
Shaping the Future of WordPress Solutions
With Kadence WP now part of its product lineup, iThemes is poised to offer a more cohesive and powerful suite for WordPress site owners. The acquisition strengthens iThemes’ position as a full-service provider and sets the stage for innovations that bridge design, performance, and security in one package.