Best Tools for Managing Multiple WordPress Sites
Managing a single WordPress website can already be a handful — juggling content updates, plugin compatibility, theme changes, backups, and security checks. But when you’re responsible for multiple WordPress sites, things can quickly get overwhelming. Whether you're a developer, agency owner, or freelance site manager, centralized management tools are game changers.
Fortunately, there are several powerful tools built specifically for managing multiple WordPress sites from a single dashboard. These platforms help streamline everything from plugin updates and backups to security monitoring and performance tracking.
In this blog, we’ll break down the best tools for managing multiple WordPress websites, covering their features, pros, cons, and pricing, so you can choose the one that best suits your workflow.
Why You Need a Multi-Site Management Tool
Before diving into the tools, let's highlight why you need one:
Centralized updates for plugins, themes, and core
Time-saving dashboards for backups, uptime monitoring, and performance checks
Security management including malware scanning and SSL monitoring
User management across multiple sites
Reporting tools for clients or internal stakeholders
Trying to do this manually across multiple sites not only wastes time but increases the risk of missing critical updates or security issues.
🔧 1. ManageWP
ManageWP is one of the most popular and user-friendly tools for managing multiple WordPress websites. It's cloud-based and allows you to add an unlimited number of sites to your dashboard — all accessible with a single login.
Key Features:
One-click updates for plugins, themes, and WordPress core
Scheduled backups (free for monthly, real-time for premium)
Performance and security checks
Uptime monitoring
Client reports
Clone/migration tool
Google Analytics integration
Pros:
User-friendly interface
Most features are free
Pay-per-site pricing for premium add-ons
Cons:
Real-time backups cost extra
Limited white labeling options on the free plan
Pricing:
Free for basic features, premium add-ons start at $1/month/site.
🔧 2. InfiniteWP
InfiniteWP is a great self-hosted alternative to cloud-based solutions like ManageWP. It’s particularly popular among developers and agencies who want full control over their data.
Key Features:
One-click updates and bulk management
Free core plugin with premium add-ons
Backup, restore, and migration
Malware scanning and uptime monitoring
White-labeling options
Client reporting
Pros:
Lifetime pricing options
Self-hosted = full control
Highly customizable with add-ons
Cons:
Setup is more technical
Interface is not as sleek or modern
Pricing:
Free for core functionality. Premium plans start at $147/year for 10 sites.
🔧 3. MainWP
MainWP is a completely free, open-source tool that you can install as a plugin on a dedicated WordPress installation to manage all your other sites.
Key Features:
One-click plugin, theme, and core updates
Centralized dashboard hosted on your own WP site
User management
Scheduled backups
Security checks and performance reports
Integration with popular backup plugins (UpdraftPlus, etc.)
Pros:
100% free core with lots of free extensions
Great for developers
No per-site fees
Cons:
Requires your own server setup
Interface is more geared toward technical users
Pricing:
Free core; Premium extension bundles start at $29/month.
🔧 4. iThemes Sync
Created by the same team behind BackupBuddy, iThemes Sync is a sleek, cloud-based platform designed with agencies and freelancers in mind.
Key Features:
One-click WP updates
Scheduled backups with BackupBuddy
Google Analytics integration
Client dashboard access
Uptime monitoring and performance checks
Security monitoring (with iThemes Security Pro)
Pros:
Clean, intuitive UI
Works well with other iThemes products
White-label dashboard options
Cons:
Limited to 10 sites on the basic paid plan
Not as feature-rich as some competitors
Pricing:
Free for up to 10 sites; Pro plans start at $6.99/month for 10 sites.
🔧 5. Jetpack Manage
If your sites are already using Jetpack, you can take advantage of its Manage feature. It’s built into Jetpack and uses your WordPress.com account to provide basic site management tools.
Key Features:
Plugin and theme management
Automatic updates
Downtime monitoring
Basic stats and traffic tracking
Mobile app support
Pros:
Simple and integrates with WordPress.com
Good for beginners or small site portfolios
Free for basic use
Cons:
Limited features compared to other tools
Requires Jetpack plugin and WordPress.com login
Pricing:
Free, with premium Jetpack plans starting at $9.95/month/site.
🔧 6. WP Remote (by BlogVault)
WP Remote is developed by the creators of BlogVault and MalCare, which are popular tools in the WordPress security space. It’s focused on performance and peace of mind.
Key Features:
One-click updates
Incremental backups and restore
Uptime monitoring
Security and performance scanning
Staging environment
Team and client access
Pros:
Excellent backup and restore features
Strong security focus
Cloud-based and easy to use
Cons:
No free plan
Mostly designed for teams and agencies
Pricing:
Starts at $49/month for 5 sites.
🔧 7. CMS Commander
CMS Commander focuses on efficient bulk management, especially useful for affiliate marketers and SEOs managing large networks of sites.
Key Features:
Bulk post creation and content management
One-click updates
Backup and restore
Cloning and staging support
Affiliate content tools (like article spinning)
Google Analytics integration
Pros:
Powerful bulk content features
Designed for marketers and SEOs
Supports WooCommerce and custom post types
Cons:
Interface feels a bit dated
Some advanced features may require a learning curve
Pricing:
Starts at $8/month for 5 sites.
How to Choose the Right Tool
Choosing the best tool for managing multiple WordPress sites depends on your specific needs, such as:
Bonus Tips for Multi-Site WordPress Management
Even with a tool, good habits make a difference. Here are some tips:
Schedule weekly update reviews.
Automate backups and test restores regularly.
Monitor site speed and performance monthly.
Run security scans after each update cycle.
Document customizations and plugin setups for each site.
Final Thoughts
As your portfolio of WordPress sites grows, having the right tools is not just convenient — it’s essential. From free open-source solutions to fully managed SaaS platforms, there’s an option for every budget and skill level.
Tools like ManageWP, MainWP, and iThemes Sync can turn hours of manual updates into a few clicks. Whether you’re a solo freelancer, part of an agency team, or just a savvy entrepreneur managing multiple sites, investing in the right multi-site management platform will save time, improve security, and help you scale with confidence.
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