Introduction
Knowing which theme and plugins are used on a WordPress site can be a major advantage for developers, designers, and marketers. A reliable WordPress theme detector can identify this information quickly and accurately, saving hours of manual research.
Some detectors work with impressive precision while others miss essential details or take too long to produce results. Inaccurate plugin lists or missing child theme detection can make a tool far less useful for professional work.
To compare performance fairly, fourteen popular WordPress theme detectors were tested using the same set of websites. Each tool was measured for speed, accuracy, plugin coverage(which we will cover in our plugin detector test), and ability to recognise child themes. The difference in results was significant, with one tool delivering consistent accuracy, rapid scans, and the most complete plugin detection.
How We Tested WordPress Theme Detector Tools
Each detector was tested on the same five WordPress websites. These are sites we own, which allowed us to verify the results with complete certainty. The selection included sites with 4 different themes, child themes, and varying numbers of active plugins. This ensured the tools were challenged with realistic detection scenarios.
These websites were reviewed:
onlinesafari.tv
Uses the Hello Elementor Child theme. This setup allowed us to check whether detectors could correctly identify a child theme rather than just the parent Hello Elementor theme.
bolderdesign.nl
Built with the Astra theme. Astra is a widely used multipurpose theme, making it a good benchmark for how well detectors handle popular frameworks.
visserijdagen.nl
Runs on the Themify Ultra theme. This theme has a unique structure that can reveal whether detectors recognise custom framework elements.
wpsupporters.com
Also uses Astra, but with a different more complex plugin configuration and design. It was included to see if detectors could identify the same theme in a different environment.
eenmountainbikekopen.nl
An old blog that uses the BlogoLife theme. This is a less common theme, which tested whether detectors rely only on popular theme databases or can correctly identify niche options.
How the testing was carried out
Testing focused on three core measurements. First was speed, recorded in seconds from starting a scan to receiving results. Second was accuracy, which assessed whether the correct theme name was identified. Third was the ability to recognise child themes, which is essential for accurate theme identification.
A scoring system gave a clear numerical result. Correctly identifying the theme and child theme earned 20 points. Correct theme without detecting the child theme earned 10 points. Incorrect results or scans that failed to work scored 0 points.
Using our own sites could be seen as an advantage for WPoptic because we could adjust WPoptic to influence the outcome. but we assure you that our tool didn’t had any changes to improve the results of this test and anyone is encouraged to run their own comparisons to confirm the results.
The Results: Which Tool Can Best Determine a WordPress Theme?
The results show large differences between detectors. WPoptic was the only tool to combine perfect theme accuracy with an average scan time of 2 seconds. Several tools matched its accuracy but were significantly slower. Others dropped in score because they missed child themes or returned incomplete data. A few failed entirely, producing no usable results.
| Tool | Theme Accuracy | Avg Speed |
| WPoptic.com | 100% | 2 |
| wpthemedetector.com | 100% | 5.4 |
| scanwp.net | 70% | 9.4 |
| wpzoom.com | 80% | 8.4 |
| kinsta.com | 90% | 4.4 |
| wpdetector.com | 40% | 12.5 |
| whatwpthemeisthat.com | 100% | 5.4 |
| isitwp.com | 60% | 16.4 |
| inspectwp.com | 40% | 35.5 |
| sitechecker.pro | 70% | 6.4 |
| techpeeker.com | 40% | 3.67 |
| themedetect.com | 0% | – |
| satoristudio.net | 90% | 11.6 |
| themesinfo.com | 100% | 7.0 |
Tool-by-Tool Breakdown: ‘What WordPress Theme Is That?’ in Practice
Each detector was tested on the five WordPress websites that we own. The theme names listed here are the ones detected during testing, and the speeds are the averages from the table in the previous chapter. The notes describe whether the detector recognised the correct theme, detected child themes, and any other patterns that stood out.
WPoptic
Detected the correct theme and child theme for all five sites. Average scan time of 2 seconds. Returned consistent and verifiable results across all tests.
WPthemedetector.com
Correct theme detection for all sites including child themes. Average scan time of 5.4 seconds. Reliable but slower than WPoptic.
ScanWP
With 1 sites giving an error and the missed child theme the score was 30% than the full 100%. Average scan time of 9.4 seconds. The interface included advertising popups which slowed down the process and were really anoying.
WP Zoom Theme Detector
Detected themes correctly but struggled with 1 site giving it a error not found. Average scan time of 8.4 seconds.
Kinsta Theme Detector
Returned correct themes but failed to detect child themes. The speed was faster than all other scans but not as fast as WPoptic. Average scan time of 4.4 seconds.
WP Detector
Inconsistent performance. Some sites were detected correctly while others failed to load results. With only 2 themes out of 5 this site scores 40%. Average scan time of 12.5 seconds for the sites that worked.
WhatWPThemeIsThat
Consistently correct theme detection including child themes so a 100% score. Average scan time of 5.4 seconds which make it a solid choise.
IsItWP
Detected some themes but missed 2 sites entirely. It found the child theme making the overall score 60%. Average scan time of 16.4 seconds which is dissapointing.
InspectWP
Accurate on the sites it detected but failed to return results for others. The average scan time for working sites was 35.5 seconds, making it the slowest tool tested. On the sites where it did work, the results were impressive with the amount of information collected during the scan. Overall, it is a good tool but it needs to improve its reliability.
Sitechecker Pro
Detected 4 out of 5 themes accurately and missed the child theme making their score 70%. Average scan time of 6.4 seconds.
TechPeeker
Only detecting 2 sites of the 5, the test is fast but inaccurate. Average scan time of 3.6 seconds.
ThemeDetect.com
We could have let this site out of the test because it didn’t detect any theme. It looks like they stopped this project.
SatoriStudio.net
Detected correct themes for all sites but had no child theme recognition. Average scan time of 11.6 seconds which is oke, but there are better tools in this list.
ThemesInfo.com
Got a 100% score on the themes, average scan time of 7.0 seconds which make it an reliable scan.
Key Insights: How to Best Determine a WordPress Theme
The comparison showed a wide range of results across the detectors tested. The most valuable tools proved to be those that could correctly identify the exact theme in use, detect whether it was a child theme, and deliver results quickly. Missing the child theme meant the scan left out a key part of the site’s design and functionality.
Consistency also stood out as a deciding factor. Some detectors worked on every test site without failure, while others produced errors or blank results for certain URLs. These gaps in reliability make it harder to depend on a single tool for professional use.
Performance claims in marketing often paint a different picture from real-world results. The data here shows that not every tool delivers on speed, accuracy, and reliability at the same time. Independent testing remains the most trustworthy way to confirm a detector’s actual capabilities.
The best WordPress theme detector
WPoptic achieved perfect theme accuracy on all test sites, including correct child theme detection in every case. This precision ensures that the information is not only technically correct but also useful for understanding how a site is actually built.
Speed was another clear advantage. With an average scan time of 1.4 seconds, WPoptic was several times faster than most competitors. This makes it practical for quick checks during client calls or when researching multiple sites in a short period.
Reliability was consistent across the board. Every site in the test returned complete results without errors or failed scans. This level of consistency removes the need to run the same site through multiple detectors to verify the data.
WPoptic’s performance in this test was not influenced by any adjustments to favour the tool. The sites tested were already in its database before the comparison began. The results reflect what any user can verify by running the same scans themselves.
Other detectors that performed well and reached a 100 percent score were wpthemedetector.com, whatwpthemeisthat.com, and themesinfo.com. These tools delivered high theme accuracy but were slower compared to WPoptic.
“We are proud to already be the best WordPress theme detector, especially considering that we only just started while some of these tools have been around for several years, even more than a decade.”
Remco, founder of WPoptic
This research was conducted by WPoptic and represents 50 percent of the full study. The other half focused on plugin detection, which you can find here: