Comparison · Updated February 2026
Thunder vs Avada SEO Suite
A speed specialist versus an all-in-one SEO powerhouse. We compare features, pricing, and performance — so you can decide which app your Shopify store actually needs.
8.4%
more conversions
per 0.1s faster
90%
more bounce
at 5s load time
+53%
revenue/visitor
after CWV fixes
Every millisecond counts. Stores that load 0.1s faster see 8.4% more conversions (Google/Deloitte, 37 brands). Speed is also a Google ranking factor — faster stores get more organic traffic. Choose the right speed optimizer.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Choose Thunder if page speed is your #1 priority and you want deep diagnostics — app script scanning, per-app impact reports, and Core Web Vitals monitoring — which helps improve your Google search rankings by passing the speed thresholds Google uses as a ranking signal. Choose Avada if you want a comprehensive all-in-one SEO suite that includes speed optimization alongside meta tags, structured data, image ALT tags, and more. Avada is broader; Thunder goes deeper on speed.
Overview
⚡ Thunder Page Speed Optimizer
- • Rating: 4.6★ (59 reviews)
- • Focus: Maximum speed improvement with smart diagnostics & Core Web Vitals monitoring
- • Pricing: Free plan, paid from $4.99/mo
- • Developer: Thunder
- • Unique feature: Per-app speed diagnostics — shows exactly what's slowing your store
🔮 Avada SEO Suite
- • Rating: 4.9★ (7,000+ reviews)
- • Focus: All-in-one SEO + speed optimization
- • Pricing: Free plan, paid from $34.95/mo
- • Developer: Avada Commerce
- • Unique feature: Full SEO suite with speed features bundled
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Thunder | Avada |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party app script scanner | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smart script deferral | ✓ | ~ |
| Lazy loading (images) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lazy loading (videos/iframes) | ✓ | ~ |
| Core Web Vitals monitoring | ✓ | ✗ |
| Per-app speed impact reports | ✓ | ✗ |
| Image optimization/compression | ~ | ✓ |
| Google Fonts optimization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Preloading / preconnect | ✓ | ✓ |
| SEO meta tags management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Structured data / rich snippets | ✗ | ✓ |
| Broken link / 404 redirects | ✗ | ✓ |
| Image ALT tag automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| One-click optimization | ✓ | ✓ |
| No theme code changes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time speed dashboard | ✓ | ✗ |
Detailed Breakdown
Speed Optimization Depth
This is the fundamental difference between these two apps. Avada is an SEO suite that includes speed features. Thunder is a speed optimizer and nothing else. That focus matters.
Thunder scans every installed Shopify app, measures each script's impact on your page load time, and produces per-app speed impact reports. You'll see exactly which apps — review widgets, upsell popups, loyalty programs — are dragging your scores down. Thunder then optimizes how those scripts load: deferring, delaying, and prioritizing intelligently. It also provides real-time Core Web Vitals monitoring directly in your dashboard.
Avada's speed features include lazy loading, image optimization, Google Fonts optimization, and preloading. These are solid fundamentals, but they're the same features you'll find in most speed apps. Avada doesn't analyze third-party scripts or tell you which apps are the problem — it applies blanket optimizations.
SEO Features
This is where Avada dominates. Avada provides a full SEO toolkit: meta tag management, structured data/rich snippets, automatic image ALT tags, broken link detection, 404 redirects, HTML sitemap, and more. If you don't already have an SEO app, Avada covers both SEO and speed in one install.
Thunder doesn't do any SEO beyond speed optimization. If you need SEO tools, you'd pair Thunder with a dedicated SEO app.
The All-in-One Trade-Off
All-in-one apps are convenient, but they come with trade-offs. Avada's speed features are good but not best-in-class — they're one part of a larger package. Thunder's speed features are its entire product, which means deeper optimization, more granular reporting, and faster iteration on speed-specific improvements.
Think of it like this: Avada is a Swiss Army knife. Thunder is a scalpel. Both are useful — it depends on what surgery your store needs.
Pricing Comparison
⚡ Thunder Pricing
- Free Plan$0/mo
- Basic script optimization, app scanner (limited)
- Pro Plan$4.99/mo
- Full optimization, CWV monitoring, priority support
🔮 Avada Pricing
- Free Plan$0/mo
- Basic SEO + speed features
- Pro Plan$34.95/mo
- Full SEO suite, advanced speed, priority support
- Advanced Plan$69.95/mo
- All features, unlimited usage, dedicated support
Thunder is significantly cheaper. If you only need speed optimization, Thunder's $4.99/mo Pro plan delivers more speed value than Avada's $34.95/mo plan. But Avada bundles SEO features that would otherwise require a separate app.
Pros & Cons
⚡ Thunder
✓ Pros
- • Unique third-party app script scanner
- • Built-in Core Web Vitals monitoring
- • Per-app speed impact reports
- • Much cheaper ($4.99 vs $34.95/mo)
- • Laser-focused on speed — no bloat
✗ Cons
- • No SEO features (meta tags, structured data, etc.)
- • Smaller review base (59 vs 7,000+ reviews)
- • No image compression/optimization
- • You may need a separate SEO app
🔮 Avada SEO Suite
✓ Pros
- • Comprehensive all-in-one SEO + speed
- • Massive review base (4.9★, 7,000+ reviews)
- • Image optimization built in
- • Meta tags, structured data, ALT tags, redirects
- • Replaces multiple apps with one install
✗ Cons
- • No third-party app script analysis
- • No Core Web Vitals monitoring
- • Expensive paid plans ($34.95–$69.95/mo)
- • Speed features are basic compared to specialists
- • All-in-one = jack of all trades, master of none
Who Should Pick Which?
Pick Thunder if you…
- ✓ Already have an SEO app and just need speed optimization
- ✓ Suspect third-party apps are slowing your store
- ✓ Want Core Web Vitals monitoring in your dashboard
- ✓ Want deep speed diagnostics, not surface-level fixes
- ✓ Prefer a focused, affordable tool ($4.99/mo vs $34.95/mo)
Pick Avada if you…
- ✓ Need SEO and speed in one app
- ✓ Don't have a dedicated SEO app yet
- ✓ Want image optimization built in
- ✓ Prefer a well-established app with a huge community
- ✓ Value convenience over depth of speed optimization
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thunder better than Avada SEO Suite for page speed?
For pure speed optimization, yes. Thunder specializes in page speed with unique features like third-party app script scanning and per-app speed impact reports. Avada includes speed features but as part of a broader SEO suite, so its speed tools are less deep.
Can I use Thunder and Avada together?
You can, but with caution. If you use Avada for SEO features (meta tags, structured data, redirects) and Thunder for speed optimization, they can complement each other. Avoid enabling both apps' lazy loading or image optimization simultaneously to prevent conflicts.
Is Avada SEO Suite worth the price compared to Thunder?
Avada's paid plans start at $34.95/mo, but you get SEO, speed, image optimization, and more in one package. Thunder's paid plan starts at $4.99/mo and focuses purely on speed. If speed is your only concern, Thunder offers much better value. If you need a full SEO toolkit, Avada may justify its higher price.
Does Avada SEO Suite scan third-party app scripts?
No. Avada's speed features focus on lazy loading, image optimization, and Google Fonts optimization. It doesn't analyze which installed apps are slowing your store down. This is a unique Thunder feature.
Which app has better reviews — Thunder or Avada?
Avada has a larger review base with 4.9★ across 7,000+ reviews, making it one of the most reviewed Shopify apps. Thunder has 4.6★ with 59 reviews. Avada's reviews cover its full SEO suite, not just speed features.
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