I need advice on managing multiple WordPress sites efficiently. Right now I’m handling about 25 different WordPress websites and I’m looking for better ways to organize everything.
Currently, I’m using basic shared hosting with FTP uploads, which feels outdated. The sites are small (under 500 visitors daily), but I want to modernize my workflow.
I’m looking for recommendations on:
Modern server configurations (latest PHP versions and proper caching setup)
Automated backup solutions that work with cloud storage
Version control integration for code updates
Quick deployment processes without site downtime
Easy setup process for launching new WordPress sites
What hosting platforms do you recommend? Are managed WordPress hosts like WPEngine worth the cost? Has anyone tried server management tools like RunCloud or similar control panels?
I’m also wondering about custom solutions using tools like Trellis or other deployment frameworks.
I would appreciate hearing about your current setup and any challenges you faced when scaling up your WordPress management workflow.
I switched from shared hosting to DigitalOcean droplets two years ago with similar site numbers - total game changer. Cost’s basically the same but performance is way better. I use ServerPilot to handle server management, PHP updates, and security patches automatically. UpdraftPlus premium works great for backups with direct S3 integration. The biggest workflow improvement? WP-CLI for bulk maintenance. You can update plugins, themes, and WordPress core across multiple sites with single commands. Git integration was trickier than I expected but saves hours once you get it right. I skip managed WordPress hosting because their restrictions clash with client needs, though the performance boost is legit if your sites fit their box. SSL management across multiple domains was a pain until Let’s Encrypt fixed everything. Setup took about a week to get right, but the time savings made it totally worth it.
I’ve been running WordPress sites for years, but switching to Digital Ocean droplets with ServerPilot two years ago was a game changer. I’m hosting about 30 sites now for way less than what managed WordPress hosting would cost. For backups, UpdraftPlus Premium with automated S3 uploads works great. I can set exactly when backups run and how long to keep them. Restoring is pretty simple too. I ditched complex deployment frameworks for a basic Git setup with staging. Push to staging branch, test everything, then deploy to production. Works perfectly for smaller sites and there’s barely any downtime. The real breakthrough was creating a standardized setup - custom starter theme plus the same essential plugins on every site. Makes updates and maintenance so much more predictable. Redis caching at the server level boosted performance across all sites without tweaking each one individually. Don’t get me wrong, WPEngine and similar hosts are solid, but they get pricey fast. If you’re under 500 daily visitors per site, a properly configured VPS gives you better bang for your buck and way more control.
Managing 25+ WordPress sites manually? That’s a nightmare. Been there, done that - automation’s the only way to keep your sanity.
Ditch managed WordPress hosting unless you enjoy throwing money away. Grab a VPS from DigitalOcean or Linode and run your own stack. You’ll save a fortune across 25 sites.
Here’s where everyone screws up - they obsess over hosting instead of workflow automation. Trust me, automating your WordPress tasks is what actually matters.
I built a system that handles:
Auto backups to multiple cloud providers
Bulk updates with rollback (plugins + core)
New sites deployed from templates in under 5 minutes
Performance monitoring with instant alerts
Scheduled database optimization
The secret? Use a visual automation platform that connects WordPress APIs, hosting, backups, and monitoring without writing scripts.
This killed 90% of my manual maintenance. No more logging into 25 dashboards or repeating the same updates endlessly.
You can build this workflow with Latenode. It connects all your WordPress tools and runs everything automatically.
Managing 25 WordPress sites manually is pure hell - been there. You need automation or you’ll go insane putting out fires.
Hosting-wise, ditch managed WordPress if you’re watching costs. Grab a VPS from DigitalOcean or Linode with ServerPilot or Cloudways. Cheaper and you actually control things.
What saved my sanity? Automating everything. Built a system that handles deployments, backups, monitoring, and updates without me lifting a finger.
Game changer was Latenode for orchestrating it all. My workflows now:
• Watch for downtime and alert me
• Auto-backup to multiple cloud locations
• Push code from Git to staging then live
• Update plugins/themes during maintenance windows
• Generate performance and security reports
Instead of manual grunt work, I just get pinged when something’s broken. Weekend to set up, saves me 15 hours weekly.
It handles WordPress updates, plugin management, even spins up new sites from templates. New site? 5 minutes, done.
for managing 25 wp sites, I’d advise against pricey managed hosting. I found digital ocean with runcloud great, like the old serverpilot. it’s easy to use and manages different php versions well. I use updraftplus for backups to google drive, no need for costly services.
I’ve been managing about 30 WordPress sites for three years now - here’s what actually works. Ditched shared hosting for DigitalOcean droplets with ServerPilot. Way better performance and I control the costs instead of getting ripped off by managed WordPress hosts.
Game changer was MainWP as my central dashboard. Updates, backups, monitoring - all from one spot. Saves me hours every week. For backups, UpdraftPlus with auto uploads to AWS S3. Rock solid and cheap for the storage you’ll need.
For deployment, WP Pusher handles Git integration perfectly for theme and plugin updates. None of the headaches from complex deployment setups. Learning curve’s not bad and you’ll never touch FTP again.
Don’t skip staging environments. WP Staging plugin lets me test everything before going live. It’s saved my ass multiple times over the years. Small monthly cost per site but totally worth it when you’re juggling this many sites.
Having managed a similar number of WordPress sites, I transitioned away from traditional hosting in favor of DigitalOcean droplets combined with ServerPilot, bringing my costs down to about $40 per month overall. I recommend considering GridPane or Ploi instead of RunCloud; I personally prefer GridPane for its efficient staging environments that facilitate updates, and their integration with AWS S3 for backups is quite effective, though it’s crucial to routinely test the restore process. For version control, I have separate Git repositories for each site’s custom themes and plugins, simplifying version tracking. Automating my WordPress installations with a pre-configured script has been a major time-saver, reducing the setup time for new sites from hours to only about 15 minutes. While WPEngine offers robust features, it’s quite costly for your number of sites; for deployments, basic scripts using rsync are more than sufficient for smaller setups.