Keep the dashboard healthy
Before client work, confirm your MainWP dashboard host is up, updated, and backed up — management stops if it goes down.
MainWP flow
SiteSkite vs MainWP
MainWP connects sites.
SiteSkite runs the operation.
MainWP is a powerful open-source dashboard — free for unlimited sites, with Pro at a flat $199/year. But you still host the dashboard, wire backup extensions like UpdraftPlus, and connect third-party monitoring yourself. SiteSkite is the managed WebOps platform for agencies that want full coverage without maintaining another WordPress install.
Try SiteSkite free7-day trial · No credit card · Run alongside MainWP while you evaluate
Why Agencies Switch
Stop Maintaining the Manager.
Shift from hosting and patching a dashboard to operating client sites from a managed platform.
One Platform. Everything Connected.
Updates, backups, staging, monitoring, reporting, and AI — without stitching extensions together.
Built for Scale. Not Infrastructure.
MainWP's $199/year Pro covers unlimited sites — but your hosting, backup tools, and monitoring still need to grow with every client you add.
The operational gap
Self-hosted dashboard vs operational layer
MainWP
Self-hosted dashboardOpen-source with unlimited free sites and a flat $199/year Pro plan — but you own the dashboard host, extension stack, and every integration.
- Dashboard is another WordPress site to maintain
- Backups via UpdraftPlus, WPvivid, or Time Capsule
- Monitoring through UptimeRobot or Site24x7
SiteSkite
Managed WebOps platformBuilt for agencies that outgrow extension stacks — environments, automation, recovery, and team workflows in one cloud workspace.
- Sandbox staging before production
- BYO cloud backups on every plan
- Reports and ops from one workspace
MainWP's free tier genuinely covers unlimited sites — bulk updates, basic reports, and core management included. That works until you are also paying for dashboard hosting, licensing backup extensions, configuring UptimeRobot or Site24x7, and maintaining the WordPress install that runs your entire operation.
Same Tuesday. Two different workflows.
What it actually feels like when you push plugin updates across 25 client sites.
MainWP workflow
SiteSkite workflow
Check BirdEye first
Open one dashboard — uptime, SSL, and incidents are visible before you touch anything.
SiteSkite flowWire extensions & services
Connect UpdraftPlus or WPvivid for backups, Jetpack Protect for scanning, and UptimeRobot or Site24x7 for monitoring — each with its own config.
Extension stackTest in sandbox
Spin a sandbox or staging link to validate the update batch without touching production.
Built-in stagingUpdate production live
Run bulk plugin updates straight to live client sites — no built-in sandbox to validate layout changes first.
No sandboxBulk update safely
Push updates with rollback ready; WP Essentials reapplies your standard plugin stack.
Included rollbackManual follow-up checks
Clear caches site by site, spot-check layouts, and confirm backups completed in separate tools.
Per-site cleanupBackups to your cloud
Backups run on schedule — optionally in the client's own S3, Drive, or Dropbox.
BYO storageSend reports from free tier
MainWP includes basic automated reports on the free plan — but white-label branding still requires the Pro White Label extension.
Pro for white labelReport from one workspace
Push a white-label report from the same workspace your team and clients already use.
Included reportsThings SiteSkite does that MainWP was not built for
Not checkmarks on a spec sheet — capabilities that change how agencies deliver work.
Sandbox Site
Launch isolated WordPress environments in seconds. Test plugin batches and theme changes before they hit a client domain — with production and staging links built in.
Learn More
Bring Your Own Cloud Storage
Backup and restore to your client's S3, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Keep data where your clients expect it — not scattered across extension configs.
Learn More
WP Essentials
Deploy your agency's standard plugin stack to one site or fifty with a single action. Standardize client projects without repetitive manual installs.
Learn More
Blueprints
Save fully configured site setups and launch repeatable environments from templates — for new builds, demos, QA, and rapid project delivery.
Learn More
WP Canvas & MCP
Operate sites without SSH — debug settings, maintenance mode, error logs, and more from one dashboard. Connect AI agents via SiteSkite MCP when you are ready.
Learn More
Teams & Users
Invite admins, team members, and customers with scoped permissions. Everyone gets the access they need — without sharing dashboard credentials.
Learn MoreEverything You Need to Run WordPress at Scale
Updates
Smart, safe, and automated
Backups
Reliable backups you can trust
Staging
Test changes without risk
Monitor
Uptime, performance, and real-time alerts
AI Operations
AI that actually runs your operations
Reports
White-label reports that impress
Feature snapshot
What MainWP delivers through its free core, Pro extensions, and third-party integrations — versus the WebOps capabilities SiteSkite includes in every paid plan.
| Capability | MainWP | SiteSkite |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk plugin & theme updates | Included (free tier — unlimited sites) | Included — bulk updates with rollback |
| Scheduled backups | Via UpdraftPlus, WPvivid, or Time Capsule extensions | Included — daily, weekly, or on-demand |
| Uptime monitoring | Via UptimeRobot or Site24x7 integration | Included — 2-min intervals on Advanced |
| White-label client experience | White Label extension (Pro plan required) | Included — white-label plugin |
| Client reports | Included (free tier) — automated basic reports | Included — maintenance & performance reports |
| Vulnerability scanning | Jetpack Protect extension (WPScan database) | Included — malware scanning (no virtual patching) |
| Portfolio security score | Not available | Included — per-site security score in BirdEye |
| PHP error & fatal error monitoring | Not available | Included — advanced PHP error tracking & alerts |
| SSL certificate expiry monitoring | Via third-party monitoring only | Included — SSL status & expiry in BirdEye |
| Domain expiry monitoring | Not available | Included — domain expiry alerts in BirdEye |
| GDPR-compliant backup storage | Self-hosted — full data control, you manage compliance | Included — BYO cloud (S3, Drive, Dropbox) on your terms |
| Backup migration to another host | Via backup extension (UpdraftPlus, WPvivid) | Included — migrate or clone between servers from backup |
| Create sandbox from existing backup | Not available | Included — full clone for testing before production |
| Safe mode / recovery access | Not available | Included — regain wp-admin without FTP or hosting access |
| Sandbox / staging environments | Not available | Included — sandbox & staging links |
| Bring-your-own backup storage | Via extension — connect S3, Drive, or Dropbox yourself | Included — S3, Drive, Dropbox |
| REST API for custom integrations | Included — full CRUD, documented API | Not available — MCP only, no public REST API |
| Plugin preset bundles | Not available | Included — WP Essentials |
| Site blueprints & templates | Not available | Included — Blueprints & marketplace |
| Team & client role access | Limited — dashboard user management | Included — workspaces & invites |
| AI / MCP integration | Not available | Included — MCP & BYO LLM |
What full coverage costs at scale
MainWP's license fee is flat — $199/year for Pro covers unlimited sites. The real cost is everything around it: dashboard hosting, backup extension licensing, monitoring services, and the time to maintain the stack.
Based on 2026 pricing benchmarks. MainWP Pro is $199/year (or $29/mo) for 33+ premium extensions on unlimited sites — totals include typical dashboard hosting ($10–40/mo), backup tools, and monitoring. SiteSkite plans: Free ($0, 1 basic site), Advanced ($2.99/mo or $29.99/yr per Pro site), Professional ($75/mo or $750/yr, 30 sites), Agency ($175/mo or $1,750/yr, 70 sites).
5client sites
MainWP
~$35–50/mo — $199/yr Pro + hosting + UpdraftPlus & UptimeRobot setup
SiteSkite
$14.95/mo — Advanced at $2.99/mo per Pro site (5 × $2.99)
Your Agency Is Infrastructure. Your Tools Should Be Too.
Evaluate without burning the bridge
Connect a pilot batch
Link 3–5 representative client sites. Keep MainWP running on the rest — SiteSkite's plugin does not conflict.
Run your real workflow
Use the 7-day trial to test sandbox updates, backups, monitoring, and a client report on actual sites.
Migrate on your timeline
Move sites in batches when you are confident. Reach out via contact if you want help planning the transition.
The interface gap
Self-hosted grids age. Command centers don't.
MainWP was built to list sites from a WordPress install you host and maintain. SiteSkite was designed so operators see the whole portfolio — status, risk, environments, and next actions — without patching another dashboard server.
This is not a prettier skin on the same workflow. It is a different way to run WordPress at scale: fewer clicks to confidence, fewer surprises after deploy.
Open the dashboard on your sites
7-day trial · Connect a pilot batch in minutes
Questions agencies ask before switching
If you value data ownership, open-source flexibility, and a flat $199/year license for unlimited sites — and you are comfortable self-hosting — MainWP remains a strong choice. SiteSkite is the better fit when you want a managed cloud platform with sandbox staging, included backups and monitoring, BYO cloud storage, team workspaces, and agency delivery tools without hosting, securing, and patching the dashboard yourself.
Yes. Install SiteSkite alongside MainWP on the same sites while you compare workflows. Deactivate MainWP site by site when you are ready — there is no all-or-nothing migration day required.
Yes. Our team can help agencies move from MainWP without the usual lift — connecting sites in batches, aligning backups and monitoring, and mapping your workflow to SiteSkite's WebOps layer. White-glove migration is free for qualifying agency accounts; reach out via our contact page or support@siteskite.com and we'll plan the switch around your portfolio size and timeline.
MainWP's free tier covers unlimited sites with core management and basic reports. Pro unlocks 33+ premium extensions at a flat $199/year — the same whether you manage 5 or 500 sites. But you still pay for dashboard hosting, backup extension licensing (UpdraftPlus, WPvivid), and monitoring services like UptimeRobot separately. On SiteSkite, Advanced is $2.99/mo ($29.99/yr) per Pro linked site, Professional is $75/mo ($750/yr) for up to 30 sites, and Agency is $175/mo ($1,750/yr) for up to 70 sites — backups, monitoring, staging, and reports included. The free plan covers one basic site only. See our pricing page for current plan details.
Yes — MainWP's free version manages unlimited WordPress sites with bulk updates, basic security via Jetpack Protect, automated client reports, and one-click admin access. Pro ($199/year) unlocks premium extensions including white labeling and advanced backup integrations. You also need your own hosting for the MainWP dashboard and separate licensing for backup tools and monitoring — costs that sit outside the headline price.
MainWP is hard to beat on license economics if you manage a large portfolio and already have hosting infrastructure in place. Its open-source codebase and full REST API also suit developers who want deep customization. SiteSkite makes more sense when operational simplicity matters — sandbox testing, included monitoring, managed backups, team workspaces, and predictable per-plan pricing without maintaining a self-hosted dashboard.