Key Takeaways
- Managing multiple WordPress sites from one dashboard helps streamline updates, security, backups, and monitoring.
- Tools like MainWP, ManageWP, and WP Umbrella offer centralized control, saving time and reducing manual workload.
- You can host multiple WordPress sites on one server using providers like Cloudways to simplify infrastructure and lower costs.
- The right tool depends on your needs, freelancers may prefer ManageWP or Solid Central, while agencies benefit from MainWP or WP Umbrella.
- Choosing a centralized management solution improves efficiency, security, and scalability for WordPress site owners.
Many beginners ask a common question: How to manage multiple WordPress sites from a single dashboard?
The answer is simple: Use a WordPress management tool/plugin.
Managing multiple WordPress sites can be overwhelming, especially when juggling updates, backups, and security tasks across different dashboards. Fortunately, there are WordPress website management tools that let you manage multiple WordPress sites from one dashboard, saving time, effort, and reducing the chances of human error.
In this guide, we’ll explore the 7 best tools that simplify WordPress multisite management and even let you host multiple WordPress sites on one server.
Let’s get started but first, you need to know why you should opt for a management tool for managing your multiple sites.
Why Should You Use a WordPress Management Tool?
Ever since its launch, WordPress’ multisite feature has been the talk of the town. With WordPress multisite, you can control the entire network of WP sites from a single dashboard and manage multiple sites easily.
With this feature, theoretically, you may simply launch your website on the best hosting for multiple WordPress sites and enjoy its incredible benefits!
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However, WordPress Multisite, which is a built-in feature of WordPress, may not be the best solution for managing multiple sites for multiple clients with different server resources and individual needs.
But still, the WordPress Multisite feature has limitations when it comes to managing multiple sites for multiple clients that share different server resources. So, to more effectively manage multiple WordPress installations, WordPress management tools, which are third-party solutions, come in handy.
Many WP management tools offer robust features and services to help you automate your workflow. WordPress updates (plugins, themes, cores) are essential because they make your site safe and secure.
With this tool, you can quickly update your themes, plugins, or cores via a single dashboard. Also, you can create offsite backups, manage comments/users, installations for entire sites, and much more.
If you want to learn how to set up a WordPress Multisite, we have covered a detailed guide to help you understand what it is and how it works.
7 Best Tools to Manage Multiple WordPress Sites (Quick Comparison)
| Tool | Free Plan | Key Features | Best For | Starting Price |
| WP Umbrella | ❌ Trial only | Uptime & error monitoring, client reports | Agencies & Freelancers | $1.99/site/month |
| MainWP | ✅ | Unlimited sites, self-hosted, open source | Developers & Power Users | $29/month |
| ManageWP | ✅ | 1-click updates, cloud backups, Google Analytics | Beginners & Small Businesses | From $1.99/site |
| InfiniteWP | ✅ | Unlimited sites, premium add-ons | Advanced Users & Agencies | $147/year |
| WP Remote | ❌ Trial only | Integrated staging, security & backups | Developers & Mid-sized Teams | $29/month (5 sites) |
| CMS Commander | ❌ Trial only | Bulk posting, plugin installs, monetization | Blog Networks & Affiliate Marketers | $8/month |
| Solid Central | ❌ Trial only | SEO tools, uptime, client dashboard | Web Dev Agencies & Freelancers | From $6.99/month |
Best WordPress Management tools to Manage Multiple WordPress Sites
Here are the top seven WordPress management tools that can easily manage your multiple WordPress sites and make your life easier and simpler.
1. WP Umbrella
WP Umbrella is a powerful tool that simplifies managing multiple WordPress websites from a single user-friendly dashboard. It is trusted by over 10,000 businesses worldwide.
With WP Umbrella, you can automate tasks like updating plugins and themes, setting up automatic backups to keep your data safe, and monitoring your sites for any potential issues before they cause trouble.
One of the coolest things about WP Umbrella is its automated reports. They are helpful for web agencies and WordPress users, showing clients the value of WordPress maintenance.
Also, this tool helps you save time and streamline your workflow, allowing you to focus on more important tasks while demonstrating the value of your work to your clients.
Another fantastic feature of WP Umbrella is that it doesn’t require any complicated configuration and can be set up in 10 seconds. Simply connect and manage all your WordPress sites from one place, regardless of where they’re hosted.
And the best news yet – WP Umbrella and Cloudways are fully compatible! Plus, you can enjoy 1 month of WP Umbrella for free using the promo code “CloudwaysWPU.”
Prominent Features
- WordPress Management Dashboard: Easily manage multiple WordPress sites with clear navigation and access to performance and security information.
- Automatic Backups: Set up automatic backups of your WordPress site that are reliable, flexible, and efficient.
- Uptime & Performance Monitoring: Continuously monitor your website’s uptime, performance metrics, and Google PageSpeed Score to keep it running smoothly.
- Bulk Actions On Multiple Websites: Update plugins, themes, and WordPress core across multiple sites with just one click and clear the cache automatically.
Automated Maintenance Report: Create customized reports for clients detailing completed website updates and tasks.
| Pros | Cons |
| Free trial option is available | No free version is available |
| Uptime monitoring | High price, especially if you need for a larger number of sites |
| Monitoring of PHP errors and WordPress error logs | |
| Alert notifications for downtime, errors, issues | |
| Security monitoring and warnings | |
| Easily manage multiple sites from one dashboard | |
| WordPress healthcheck option |
Pricing
| Pricing range | From $1.99 per month/site |
| Pricing types | Monthly subscription |
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Yes |
| Pricing page link | See plans |
2. MainWP
MainWP is a powerful solution that allows users to manage unlimited WordPress sites from one dashboard.
It’s a free and open-source tool that will solve your site management tasks and give you an intuitive interface from where you can perform all the essential activities. You can update everything across your WordPress sites with a click of a button.
One more thing, Cloudways is in partnership with MainWP, and therefore, you can expect high plugin compatibility with the platform. In other words, our WordPress hosting platform is well integrated with MainWP.
Prominent Features
- You can easily upgrade your WordPress sites to the latest and most stable version with a click of a button.
- Automated updates are available for themes and plugins. If a new update is available, then MainWP will send you alerts on your email, and the next day it will automatically update them.
- It automatically detects abandoned plugins and themes (updated a long time ago) and sends you alerts. This will help you improve your site security.
- It also offers a pro plan where you can get additional features like access to all (current and new) extensions, extension updates, and priority support.
| Pros | Cons |
| Self-hosted & Free | MainWP relies on other plugins |
| Keep using existing plugin workflows | Not a SaaS |
| Lifetime plan & No per-site billing | User interface could be improved |
Pricing
| Pricing range | From $29 per month |
| Pricing types | Annual subscription / Monthly subscription |
| Free plan | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes |
| Pricing page link | See plans |
ManageWP vs MainWP – Which One Is Better For You
3. ManageWP
ManageWP is a great management tool that is designed to save time and automate your workflow. It is the oldest and most popular in the market for WordPress management services.
This is a free management solution through which you can easily manage multiple WordPress sites from a single dashboard.
With ManageWP, you can automate your daily tasks with just one click, enabling bulk updates for all your websites, making maintenance a breeze.
Prominent Features
- With one click, you can quickly update your WordPress sites, do security checks, clean spam, and much more.
- Backups are critical as something goes wrong; you can revert the changes or recover your site via backup. ManageWP offers a free cloud backup where you will get monthly scheduled backup, offsite storage, one-click restore, and much more. You can also purchase its premium add-on, where you’ll get some extra and powerful features related to backup and its management, like on-demand backups, set-up backup frequencies, cloning, and much more.
- You can connect several Google Analytics accounts on one dashboard. This will help you keep track of all results and other essential metrics.
- Many premium add-ons are available, like SEO ranking, white-label, advanced client reports, etc.
| Pros | Cons |
| Automates reports | Downtime alerts not always accurate |
| Alerts to website downtime | More information about website security flaws |
| Alerts to website security issues | More customizable reports would be nice |
| Has an affordable and custom price plan |
Pricing
| Pricing range | From $1.99 per month by website. |
| Pricing types | Annual subscription / Monthly subscription |
| Free plan | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes |
| Pricing page link | See plans |
4. InfiniteWP
InfiniteWP is another powerful solution to manage multiple WordPress sites. It helps you manage unlimited WordPress applications and offers a free plan limited to backups and updates (themes, plugins, and core).
But to unlock the real power and access all features, you must purchase its premium plan, and the basic program starts from $147/year.
Prominent Features
- You can update your WordPress core, themes, and plugins with one click.
- Premium – Manage Users: You can easily create and manage users across your multiple WordPress sites.
- Premium – Malware Scan: A security feature is also available to secure your sites from hackers and attackers.
- Premium – WordPress Deployment: You can quickly install, migrate, and create staging of your sites.
- Premium – Client Reporting: You can easily create reports and send them to clients to check the status of their websites.
| Pros | Cons |
| Free version for unlimited sites | Free version lacks many functions |
| One-click access to all sites and updates | Expensive add-ons and bundles |
| Self-hosted for added privacy | Difficult installation |
| Well-rounded set of 24 premium add-ons | Lacks SEO/keyword tracking |
| WordPress.org user rating of 4.5/5.0 stars |
Pricing
| Pricing range | From $147 per year |
| Pricing types | Annual subscription / Monthly subscription |
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Yes, 30 days |
| Pricing page link | See plans |
5. WP Remote
WP Remote is a popular WP management tool that offers many powerful features to help you manage and update all your WordPress sites from one place.
WP Remote offers essential features for WordPress site management. It includes automatic offsite backups, comprehensive security, 1-click integrated staging, easy updates, and professional client reports. With WP Remote, users can efficiently manage their sites, ensure data safety, and impress clients with top-notch service.
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It provides both plans, free and premium. The basic premium plan starts from $29/Month (up to 5 websites).
Prominent Features
- With a click of a button, you can update your WordPress core, themes, and plugins.
- Premium – WordPress Backups: Backups are available for all your sites (offsite and on-demand backups).
- Premium – Website Security: To help you secure your sites at various levels, WP Remote offers many security features like malware scan, login protection, advanced firewall, and one-click malware removal.
- Premium – Support: Customer support is available via email and chat.
| Pros | Cons |
| Backups – Easy and efficient WordPress site management | Template Builder – Could be improved for more flexibility |
| Theme and Plugin Management – Simplifies managing themes and plugins | Client Reports – Reports could be more comprehensive |
| Site Monitoring – Keeps your sites secure and performing well | Two-Factor Authentication – Could be enhanced for stronger security |
Pricing
| Pricing range | From $29 per month |
| Pricing types | Annual subscription / Monthly subscription |
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Yes, 30 days |
| Pricing page link | See plans |
6. CMS Commander
CMS Commander streamlines and accelerates the management of multiple WordPress sites with its powerful features.
With 1-click updates, users can effortlessly update plugins, themes, and the WordPress version across all their blogs.
The bulk posting feature allows creating new posts or pages on multiple blogs simultaneously, while bulk installing plugins saves time by activating new plugins or themes on all sites simultaneously.
Additionally, users can easily manage user accounts, content, and comments and even clone entire websites to new domains.
Data is kept safe with automatic backups and various backup destinations, and restoring sites is a breeze. CMS Commander simplifies the process of creating new WordPress sites on the server with pre-configured settings and favorite plugins, making it an efficient and reliable solution for managing multiple WordPress sites.
Prominent Features
- The backup feature is available for data protection. (multiple backup destinations like server, Amazon S3, etc.).
- You can easily monetize your blogs as the platform is integrated with many popular affiliate networks.
- Maintaining security is a serious task, but you can easily manage it with CMS Commander. Some security features that it offers: 2FA, malware scanner, and much more.
- You can quickly create a new user, delete previous user accounts and more.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy setup – You can get started quickly without hassle | No image uploading options except through website builder |
| Low learning curve – Navigating and using the platform is intuitive | Lackluster customer support – Support may not meet expectations |
| Excellent free trial period – Try them out risk-free with the free trial |
Pricing
| Pricing range | From $8 per month |
| Pricing types | Monthly subscription |
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Yes, 30 days |
| Pricing page link | See plans |
7. Solid Central
Solid Central is a powerful WordPress management tool that simplifies website administration. It allows you to manage all your WordPress websites from a single dashboard, saving you time and effort.
Solid Central offers a comprehensive suite of tools, themes, and plugins made to meet the needs of website developers and owners. The tool also provides WordPress database optimizations, ensuring efficient site performance.
Developed by the creators of BackupBuddy, Themes Sync offers an intuitive interface for seamless site management, including updates, security, uptime monitoring, and more.
Prominent Features
- One-click WordPress updates: Easily view and update WordPress core, plugins, and themes with a single click from the Sync dashboard.
- WordPress uptime monitoring: Monitor website uptime, downtime, and overall performance for all WordPress sites. Receive email notifications for downtime events and track historical performance.
- SEO Checker + Google Analytics & Google Search Console reports: Track crucial SEO metrics, integrate with Yoast SEO for SEO health overview, and access Google Analytics & Google Search Console reports.
- WordPress theme & plugin manager: Remotely update, activate, deactivate, or delete themes and plugins. Bulk install themes and plugins from various sources, including WordPress.org and Solid Central membership.
- Remote WordPress backups & security actions: Conduct remote backups with BackupBuddy integration and perform additional security actions using Solid Central Security from the Sync dashboard.
- Customize the WordPress dashboard for clients: Utilize Sync’s Client Dashboard to hide specific WordPress menu items for selected users, providing a tailored experience.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers a wide range of themes, plugins, and tools. | WP Solid Central may require some time and effort, particularly for beginners or those new to WordPress development. |
| WP Solid Central tools ensure websites load quickly and have a seamless user experience. | Regular updates are essential to ensure security and compatibility. |
| WP Solid Central prioritizes website security, offering strong security features and regularly updating |
Pricing
| Pricing range | From $6.99 to $69.99 per month |
| Pricing types | Annual subscription / Monthly subscription |
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Yes, 30 days |
| Pricing page link | See plans |
How to Add Multiple Websites on the Same Server on Cloudways (Steps)
Follow the steps below to add multiple sites on the same server using the Cloudways Platform.
- First, sign up for a Cloudways Platform account.
- Launch a New Server with a WordPress Application.
- Click on the Applications option from the top menu bar in Cloudways Platform.
- Now, click on the Add Application button.
- Choose the server from the dropdown menu and add websites to it.
- Click on the Add Application button.
- You’ll be redirect to to select the Application (WooCommerce, Magento, PHP, Laravel).
- Add Application Name and select the Project.
- Click on the Add Application button.
- It will take a few minutes to complete the process of application-adding to your server.
- To see the newly added application, click on the www option, and here you can see and access the application.
- Under the Application Management tab, you can see the Application Access tab. You can access your application from here.
- To add the Magento, PHP, and Laravel applications on the same server, you just need to follow the same process.
Wrap-Up: Which Tool Should You Use?
By exploring the 7 best WordPress management tools in this article, I hope you’ve gained valuable insights to choose the perfect solution for efficiently managing multiple WordPress sites from a centralized platform.
If you’re looking to manage multiple WordPress sites efficiently, your choice of tool depends on your needs:
- Choose WP Umbrella or ManageWP for ease of use and great performance monitoring.
- Go for MainWP or InfiniteWP if you want a self-hosted and flexible setup.
- WP Remote and Solid Central are great for teams that need security, staging, and professional client reports.
- CMS Commander suits affiliate marketers and bloggers managing high volumes of content.
No matter which solution you pick, using a centralized tool will save time, reduce maintenance overhead, and give you peace of mind while handling multiple WordPress sites.
With these top-notch tools, you can streamline your workflow, automate tasks, and ensure the security and performance of your websites.
Whether you’re a professional managing client website or an individual with a diverse site portfolio, finding the right WordPress management tool can significantly save time and optimize your site management process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I have multiple WordPress sites on one account?
Yes, you can have multiple WordPress sites on one account. Hosting providers like Cloudways offer scalable options that allow you to host multiple sites under one account. You can manage these sites individually or use tools like WP Multisite for easier management.
Q. Is it easy to set up a multi‑website management tool on WordPress?
Yes, most WordPress management tools like ManageWP, WP Umbrella, and MainWP are designed for simplicity. You usually just install the plugin, connect your websites, and you can start managing updates, backups, and security from a single dashboard. You can often get the whole thing running in under 10 minutes.
Q. What’s the difference between managing multiple individual WordPress sites and managing a WordPress multisite network?
Managing multiple individual sites means each site runs independently with its own dashboard, plugins, and themes. A WordPress multisite network lets you control several sites from a single installation, sharing themes and plugins. Multisite is great for related websites but can be limiting if your sites have different hosting needs or client requirements.
Q. Can I manage multiple WordPress sites without using a multisite network?
Yes, you can manage separate WordPress sites using management tools like ManageWP, MainWP, or WP Umbrella. These tools let you update plugins, themes, backups, and security for all your sites from one dashboard without needing a multisite network. This is ideal if your sites are on different servers or belong to different clients.
Q. How to manage multiple sites?
To manage multiple WordPress sites efficiently:
- Use a WordPress management tool like ManageWP or InfiniteWP.
- Centralize updates, backups, and security checks for all sites.
- Organize and monitor performance via a dashboard for quick access.
- Consider using a managed hosting provider for better performance and support.
Q. How to switch between websites in WordPress?
To switch between websites in WordPress:
- Log in to the WordPress dashboard of the current site.
- Use the “My Sites” menu in the top-left corner to select the site you want to switch to.
- Click on the site you want to manage, and you will be redirected to its dashboard.
For managing multiple sites under one account, WP Multisite is also a great option.
Q. What is the best multi-site hosting for WordPress?
The best multi-site hosting for WordPress is Cloudways. It offers scalable, fast, and fully managed WordPress hosting with a simple setup for managing multiple sites under one account. Cloudways ensures optimal performance and seamless management of your WordPress multisite network.
Q. What is WP multisite?
WP Multisite is a feature in WordPress that allows you to create and manage a network of multiple WordPress sites from a single dashboard. It’s perfect for managing blogs, eCommerce stores, or client websites under one installation, saving time on updates and maintenance.
Q. How do I add a second website to my WordPress account?
To add a second website to your WordPress account:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to My Sites and select Network Admin (if using WP Multisite).
- Under the Sites section, click Add New.
- Fill in the required details like site name and URL.
- Click Add Site to complete the process.
Alternatively, you can set up a new site on your hosting provider and install WordPress separately.
Sarim Javaid
Sarim Javaid is a Sr. Content Marketing Manager at Cloudways, where his role involves shaping compelling narratives and strategic content. Skilled at crafting cohesive stories from a flurry of ideas, Sarim's writing is driven by curiosity and a deep fascination with Google's evolving algorithms. Beyond the professional sphere, he's a music and art admirer and an overly-excited person.
