Managing Multiple WordPress Sites: Tools and Strategies for Agencies

Managing a single WordPress site is relatively straightforward. But when you’re an agency handling multiple WordPress websites for various clients, things can get chaotic—fast. Security updates, plugin conflicts, backups, uptime monitoring, and client reporting all demand time and precision. In this post, we’ll walk through the best tools, strategies, and workflows to simplify and streamline the management of multiple WordPress sites efficiently and professionally. Why Managing Multiple Sites Can Be a Challenge For agencies, juggling several WordPress websites means: Constant updates: Themes, plugins, and core files need frequent attention. Security risks: One outdated plugin across sites can expose them all. Performance monitoring: Uptime, speed, and user experience must be tracked. Client demands: Regular reports and updates are often required. Scaling complexity: As clients grow, so does your maintenance workload. That’s where centralized management tools and smart strategies come in. Top Tools for Managing Multiple WordPress Sites ManageWP ManageWP is one of the most popular all-in-one dashboards for managing multiple WordPress sites. Key Features: One-click updates for plugins/themes Scheduled backups (with cloud storage) Uptime and performance monitoring Client reports SEO and security scans Why Agencies Love It: Its intuitive interface, automation features, and pay-as-you-go pricing make it great for scaling with clients. InfiniteWP Tailored for agencies and developers, InfiniteWP runs from your own server, offering more control. Key Features: Bulk plugin/theme/core updates Backup and restore White-labeling for client reports User management Malware scans (premium) Why It Stands Out: It’s self-hosted, so you're not dependent on third-party platforms. MainWP MainWP is an open-source solution that runs from a WordPress dashboard and connects to multiple sites. Key Features: Central dashboard plugin Extensive extensions library Bulk updates, backups, and performance checks Security tools (Sucuri, Wordfence integration) White-label support Agency Advantage: Highly customizable with no per-site fees—ideal for large portfolios. WP Remote Developed by BlogVault, WP Remote is known for secure backups and site monitoring. Key Features: Offsite backups Malware scanning and cleanup One-click updates Staging environment integration Notable Benefit: Their premium plans include security and backup features powered by BlogVault’s infrastructure. Jetpack Manage From Automattic, Jetpack Manage allows remote management of WordPress sites connected via Jetpack. Key Features: Centralized dashboard on WordPress.com Basic updates and monitoring Downtime alerts Plugin management Best For: Agencies managing mostly Jetpack-enabled or WooCommerce sites. Best Practices and Strategies for Managing Multiple WordPress Sites ✅ 1. Standardize Your Stack Use a consistent set of: Plugins Themes Hosting providers This ensures compatibility, reduces troubleshooting time, and makes onboarding new team members easier. ✅ 2. Create a Maintenance Workflow Use task management tools (like Trello or Asana) to establish a regular routine: Weekly: Update plugins/themes, security scan Monthly: Performance audit, backup verification Quarterly: Plugin review, user role audit Document everything in SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). ✅ 3. Automate Everything You Can Automation reduces human error and saves time. Use tools for: Scheduled backups Auto-updates for safe plugins Auto-generated client reports Set up notifications for failures or critical issues only. ✅ 4. Centralize Client Reporting Use tools like ManageWP or MainWP to generate monthly or weekly performance reports. Include: Uptime data Backup status Security checks Update logs White-label reports add a layer of professionalism that builds trust. ✅ 5. Secure Every Site—Without Exceptions For every site: Use SSL Implement two-factor authentication Limit login attempts Schedule malware scans Disable XML-RPC if not needed Consider WordPress security plugins like Wordfence, iThemes Security, or Sucuri. ✅ 6. Use Version Control for Custom Sites For sites with custom themes or plugins, use Git to track changes. Connect your GitHub or Bitbucket repositories to staging environments for smoother deployments. ✅ 7. Offer Tiered Maintenance Plans If you’re not already offering ongoing maintenance packages, now is the time. Create 3-4 tiers with services like: Monthly backups Priority support Performance optimizations Security audits Upsell these plans to your clients—it’s recurring revenue and adds long-term value. ✅ 8. Use a Reliable Hosting Partner Choose hosting that supports: Staging environments Daily backups One-click restore Built-in caching/CDN Expert WordPress support Top managed WordPress hosts for agencies: Kinsta, WP Engine, Flywheel, and SiteGround. Final Thoughts Managing multiple WordPress websites doesn

Apr 14, 2025 - 09:54

Managing Multiple WordPress Sites: Tools and Strategies for Agencies

Managing a single WordPress site is relatively straightforward. But when you’re an agency handling multiple WordPress websites for various clients, things can get chaotic—fast. Security updates, plugin conflicts, backups, uptime monitoring, and client reporting all demand time and precision.
In this post, we’ll walk through the best tools, strategies, and workflows to simplify and streamline the management of multiple WordPress sites efficiently and professionally.

Why Managing Multiple Sites Can Be a Challenge
For agencies, juggling several WordPress websites means:
Constant updates: Themes, plugins, and core files need frequent attention.

Security risks: One outdated plugin across sites can expose them all.

Performance monitoring: Uptime, speed, and user experience must be tracked.

Client demands: Regular reports and updates are often required.

Scaling complexity: As clients grow, so does your maintenance workload.

That’s where centralized management tools and smart strategies come in.

Top Tools for Managing Multiple WordPress Sites

ManageWP ManageWP is one of the most popular all-in-one dashboards for managing multiple WordPress sites. Key Features: One-click updates for plugins/themes

Scheduled backups (with cloud storage)

Uptime and performance monitoring

Client reports

SEO and security scans

Why Agencies Love It: Its intuitive interface, automation features, and pay-as-you-go pricing make it great for scaling with clients.

InfiniteWP Tailored for agencies and developers, InfiniteWP runs from your own server, offering more control. Key Features: Bulk plugin/theme/core updates

Backup and restore

White-labeling for client reports

User management

Malware scans (premium)

Why It Stands Out: It’s self-hosted, so you're not dependent on third-party platforms.

MainWP MainWP is an open-source solution that runs from a WordPress dashboard and connects to multiple sites. Key Features: Central dashboard plugin

Extensive extensions library

Bulk updates, backups, and performance checks

Security tools (Sucuri, Wordfence integration)

White-label support

Agency Advantage: Highly customizable with no per-site fees—ideal for large portfolios.

WP Remote Developed by BlogVault, WP Remote is known for secure backups and site monitoring. Key Features: Offsite backups

Malware scanning and cleanup

One-click updates

Staging environment integration

Notable Benefit: Their premium plans include security and backup features powered by BlogVault’s infrastructure.

Jetpack Manage From Automattic, Jetpack Manage allows remote management of WordPress sites connected via Jetpack. Key Features: Centralized dashboard on WordPress.com

Basic updates and monitoring

Downtime alerts

Plugin management

Best For: Agencies managing mostly Jetpack-enabled or WooCommerce sites.

Best Practices and Strategies for Managing Multiple WordPress Sites
✅ 1. Standardize Your Stack
Use a consistent set of:
Plugins

Themes

Hosting providers

This ensures compatibility, reduces troubleshooting time, and makes onboarding new team members easier.

✅ 2. Create a Maintenance Workflow
Use task management tools (like Trello or Asana) to establish a regular routine:
Weekly: Update plugins/themes, security scan

Monthly: Performance audit, backup verification

Quarterly: Plugin review, user role audit

Document everything in SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures).

✅ 3. Automate Everything You Can
Automation reduces human error and saves time. Use tools for:
Scheduled backups

Auto-updates for safe plugins

Auto-generated client reports

Set up notifications for failures or critical issues only.

✅ 4. Centralize Client Reporting
Use tools like ManageWP or MainWP to generate monthly or weekly performance reports. Include:
Uptime data

Backup status

Security checks

Update logs

White-label reports add a layer of professionalism that builds trust.

✅ 5. Secure Every Site—Without Exceptions
For every site:
Use SSL

Implement two-factor authentication

Limit login attempts

Schedule malware scans

Disable XML-RPC if not needed

Consider WordPress security plugins like Wordfence, iThemes Security, or Sucuri.

✅ 6. Use Version Control for Custom Sites
For sites with custom themes or plugins, use Git to track changes. Connect your GitHub or Bitbucket repositories to staging environments for smoother deployments.

✅ 7. Offer Tiered Maintenance Plans
If you’re not already offering ongoing maintenance packages, now is the time. Create 3-4 tiers with services like:
Monthly backups

Priority support

Performance optimizations

Security audits

Upsell these plans to your clients—it’s recurring revenue and adds long-term value.

✅ 8. Use a Reliable Hosting Partner
Choose hosting that supports:
Staging environments

Daily backups

One-click restore

Built-in caching/CDN

Expert WordPress support

Top managed WordPress hosts for agencies: Kinsta, WP Engine, Flywheel, and SiteGround.

Final Thoughts
Managing multiple WordPress websites doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right tools and a standardized strategy, you can simplify tasks, increase productivity, and focus on growing your agency.
Whether you're managing 5 or 50+ sites, platforms like ManageWP, MainWP, or InfiniteWP help bring order to the chaos—while automation and smart workflows free you up to do more of what you do best.