- Self-Hosted Dashboard: Install MainWP on your own WordPress site and keep full control over data, hosting, and workflows without SaaS lock-in.
- Unlimited Site Management: Connect and manage unlimited client sites with no per-site fees, ideal for growing agencies.
- Bulk Updates: Run WordPress core, plugin, and theme updates across all connected sites in one click to standardize maintenance cycles.
- Uptime & Security Monitoring: Monitor uptime, SSL status, and vulnerabilities centrally to catch issues before clients notice.
- White-Label Client Reports: Generate branded maintenance reports that showcase updates, security checks, and performance work.
- Version Locking: Lock plugin or theme versions to prevent regressions and control staged rollouts.
- Team Access Controls: Assign roles and permissions to technicians without sharing full admin credentials.
- Cost Tracker Add-on: Track plugin licenses, renewals, and service expenses directly inside the dashboard to protect margins.
- REST API & CLI Support: Automate workflows and integrate with billing or reporting systems using API access and command-line tools.
MainWP
Self-hosted dashboard for managing unlimited WordPress sites at scale.
Updated March 5, 2026
MainWP Overview
MainWP is a self-hosted WordPress management tool built for agencies and freelancers handling multiple client sites. Installed as a plugin on your own WordPress dashboard, it lets you run updates, monitor uptime, manage backups, and generate branded reports across unlimited sites.
With no per-site fees and full data ownership, MainWP focuses on privacy, control, and scalable care-plan workflows.
Key Features
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | Free | All Free Add-ons & Future Free Add-ons Community Support Manage Unlimited Sites |
| MainWP Pro Monthly | $29 (Billed Monthly) | All 30+ Existing Pro Add-ons & Future Add-ons Priority Ticket Support Manage Unlimited Websites |
| MainWP Pro Yearly | $199 (Billed Annually) | All 30+ Existing Pro Add-ons & Future Add-ons Critical Security & Performance Updates Priority Ticket Support |
| MainWP Pro Lifetime | $599 (One-Time Payment) | All 30+ Existing Pro Add-ons & Future Add-ons Priority Ticket Support Manage Unlimited Websites |
Price details: https://mainwp.com/pricing
Pros
Competitor |
Pros |
|---|---|
| ManageWP | MainWP avoids per-site SaaS pricing, which makes it far more cost-effective for agencies managing 20+ sites. Since it’s self-hosted, agencies keep full data ownership and avoid third-party storage. There are no feature paywalls on basic maintenance tasks, and scaling doesn’t increase monthly costs the way ManageWP’s add-ons often do. |
| InfiniteWP | MainWP offers a more modern interface and an active open-source ecosystem. Setup feels similar to installing any WordPress plugin, and ongoing updates arrive regularly. Agencies also get built-in white-label reporting and a broader extension library without relying on legacy-style dashboards. |
| WP Remote | Unlike WP Remote’s cloud-based system, MainWP runs entirely on your own server, which appeals to agencies focused on privacy and compliance. There are no per-site caps, and advanced customization through hooks, filters, and API access gives developers more flexibility. |
| iThemes Sync | MainWP provides deeper control over version locking and bulk updates, which helps agencies prevent plugin conflicts across large site fleets. Pricing remains predictable because there’s no per-site billing tier. The cost tracking add-on also supports care-plan profitability in ways iThemes Sync doesn’t natively match. |
| CMS Commander | MainWP focuses heavily on maintenance workflows like updates, uptime, and reporting rather than content marketing tools. Agencies that want technical control and open-source transparency often prefer this structure. The REST API and CLI access also provide more developer-friendly automation options. |
Cons
Competitor |
Cons |
|---|---|
| ManageWP | ManageWP’s SaaS model removes the need to maintain your own dashboard site, while MainWP requires hosting and upkeep of the central install. Agencies must secure and back up their own dashboard. For teams that prefer zero server responsibility, ManageWP can feel simpler. |
| InfiniteWP | InfiniteWP offers a standalone admin panel, whereas MainWP depends on a WordPress install to function. If the dashboard site breaks, management access can be interrupted. Some agencies prefer a system fully separated from WordPress itself. |
| WP Remote | WP Remote bundles backups and malware scanning tightly into its SaaS platform. With MainWP, certain advanced features rely on extensions or third-party integrations. That modular approach adds flexibility but can require more configuration time. |
| iThemes Sync | iThemes Sync integrates closely with other iThemes products, which creates a smoother experience for users already in that ecosystem. MainWP’s broader extension marketplace can feel overwhelming at first, especially for smaller teams that want fewer configuration choices. |
| CMS Commander | CMS Commander includes built-in content posting and monetization tools that MainWP doesn’t prioritize. Agencies focused on affiliate publishing or automated content campaigns may find MainWP more maintenance-centric and less marketing-oriented out of the box. |
Reviews
- Trustpilot Review (Rating: 4.6/5): One long-time user called MainWP their “favourite WordPress Management Tool” after testing several alternatives, praising the self-hosted setup, unlimited site monitoring, customizable client reports, and “very fair price.” Others said it creates a relaxed daily workflow and highlighted easy installation, fast sync and update processing, and full scan options. A few negative comments focused on support, with one Pro customer saying ticket replies dropped to “ZERO” after paying annually.
- andreawhitmer.com Review: The write-up recommends MainWP as a self-hosted, cost-effective option for managing multiple sites, especially for those tired of expensive extensions elsewhere. In the comments, one reader said they had “so many frustrations with ManageWP,” including wrong reports, unreliable backups, and terrible support, and expressed relief at finding a product that “just works,” while the author noted cron jobs can now be scheduled manually instead of relying on default wp-cron timing.
- Reddit r/Wordpress: One developer said they moved to MainWP after experiencing a “constant plugin being disabled without any problems” on another platform, even after testing on a plain WordPress install, and reported that the free version has been working great despite taking some time to set up. The thread also shows mixed feelings about alternatives, with some calling ManageWP “great” but clunky, especially when dashboards slowed to a crawl on 200 sites.
- wpkube.com Review: The review leans positive, pointing to a near-perfect 4.9-star rating on over 2,150 reviews for the Dashboard plugin and emphasizing that the core version is 100% free yet still “pretty functional.” It highlights the appeal of the self-hosted, open-source approach and the flexibility to add 28+ extensions, though it notes reliance on third-party plugins for backups and staging may feel like a pro or a con depending on workflow preferences.
- wpjohnny.com Review: In the discussion, one commenter stuck with ManageWP for its “very reliable” AWS-based backups and clone/migrate tools and questioned how MainWP handles backups since many external solutions require paid plugins. Another pointed out that cloning and staging exist in the paid version and mentioned managing those tasks directly from a hosting panel instead.
- G2 Review (Rating: 4.7/5): A reviewer said MainWP is “critical” for giving their team and clients a simplified way to manage WordPress sites and appreciated the team’s continuous product improvements. Others valued the self-hosted model because it keeps full control over data, liked that it doesn’t force a new ecosystem of plugins, and noted flawless plugin and theme updates plus integration with PageSpeed data in client reports.
