Best Tools for WordPress Site Maintenance

Remember when taking care of websites felt like a big mess? It needed a lot of attention, and clients got upset because things were always going wrong. Thankfully, those days are gone! Website owners now understand the importance of ongoing maintenance for their success. They seek agencies offering personalized, proactive service. Such demand presents a profitable opportunity for your agency: it’s time to tap into this growing service segment.

Sure, large hosting companies like Go-Daddy and WP-Engine offer basic maintenance at tempting prices. But clients want more: a human touch, a trusted partner who understands their specific needs and keeps their website thriving. This is where your agency steps in.

At White Label Agency, we’ve seen this shift firsthand. We’ve grown from managing a handful of websites to over 1,000 for 80+ clients, with 800 currently under active maintenance. The reason is clear: agencies like yours offer the personalized approach clients value, combined with the expertise and efficiency of modern tools.

And speaking of tools, doing WordPress site maintenance is easier than ever. Gladly, the days of manual updates and endless troubleshooting are gone. Today, a lot of dedicated tools help you to manage multiple sites with ease, freeing up your time to focus on what matters most, delivering exceptional client service.

Top 5 tools for WordPress maintenance

Let’s dive into the five leading WordPress site maintenance tools, comparing their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the perfect fit for your agency and your clients. We’ll cover:

• Key features: What each tool excels at, from automated tasks to white-labeled reports.
• Client-centricity: How well each tool supports building strong relationships with your clients.
• Ease of use: How intuitive and efficient each tool is for your team.
• Pricing: Cost considerations to factor into your decision.

By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of the available options and the power each tool holds to transform your agency’s WordPress maintenance services.

ManageWP

Empower your team to deliver exceptional service efficiently. ManageWP shines with its:

• Built-in white-labeled reports: Showcase your expertise with customizable reports delivered directly to clients, eliminating the need for third-party plugins or costly add-ons.
• Automated tasks & backups: Save valuable time and ensure website health with an automated plugin, theme, and core updates, along with regular offsite backups.
• Intuitive multisite management: Easily manage multiple client sites from a single dashboard, saving time and minimizing errors.
• Comprehensive client management: Build stronger connections with dedicated features like task assignment, note-taking, and billing management.

While basic performance optimization is included, advanced optimization plugins are readily available for agencies with specialized needs. With all these features, ManageWP is the best tool for WordPress site maintenance.

MainWP

Ideal for technically savvy teams seeking detailed control and customization. MainWP offers:

• Deep customization options: Fine-tune every aspect of maintenance for complex client sites.
• Powerful multisite management: Manage large portfolios with advanced filtering and automation features.

However:

• White-labeled reports require a separate plugin.
• Client management features are less comprehensive compared to ManageWP.

WPMU Dev

Prioritize great security and advanced performance optimization? WPMU Dev boasts:

• Cutting-edge security features: Protect your clients’ websites from evolving threats with advanced tools.
• Unmatched performance optimization: Boost website speed and loading times for optimal user experience.

Keep in mind:

• The multisite management interface is less intuitive compared to ManageWP.
• White-labeled reports come at an additional cost.

Jetpack

Already using WordPress.com? Jetpack offers basic maintenance features within a familiar interface:

• Seamless integration with WordPress.com: Manage both hosting and maintenance in one place.
• Essential maintenance features: Automate updates, monitor uptime, and security, all necessary for WordPress site maintenance.

Limitations:

• Multisite management and white-labeled report capabilities are limited.
• Not suitable for managing diverse client portfolios.

WP Umbrella

New to offering maintenance services? WP Umbrella provides:

• Basic white-labeled reports and client management: Get started quickly and affordably.
• All-in-one solution: Combine multiple features into one platform.

Remember:

• Performance optimization and security options are less comprehensive compared to other tools.
• Ideal for managing a small number of basic client sites.

Finding Your Perfect Fit

The best tool depends on your agency’s specific needs and priorities. Consider your technical expertise, budget, desired client experience, and the type of websites you manage.

WLA’s Choice is ManageWP

While each tool has its strengths, ManageWP stands out for its ease of use, client-centric approach, and out-of-the-box features, specifically designed to empower agencies to deliver exceptional service and scale efficiently. Let’s see how it compares:

Effortless Multisite Management: Unlike MainWP’s technical interface or WPMU Dev’s less intuitive approach, ManageWP offers a streamlined dashboard for managing multiple client sites at once. Add, remove, and switch between sites with ease, saving valuable time and minimizing errors.

Automated Workflows, Maximum Efficiency: Forget about manual updates and backups. ManageWP automates plugin, theme, and core updates, along with regular offsite backups. This frees up your team’s time, ensures timely security patches, and prevents data loss.

Built-in White-Labeled Reports: Showcase your expertise and value with professional, customizable reports delivered directly to clients. ManageWP eliminates the need for third-party plugins or costly add-ons, unlike MainWP and WPMU Dev. Plus, you can brand reports with your agency logo and colors, strengthening your client relationships.

Intuitive Client Management: Build stronger connections with your clients through ManageWP’s dedicated client management features. Assign tasks, create notes, and manage billing directly within the platform. This fosters transparent communication and streamlines collaboration, enhancing the client experience.

Scalability for Growth: Unlike Jetpack’s limitations and WP Umbrella’s basic features, ManageWP seamlessly scales with your agency’s growth. Its robust platform handles large portfolios of diverse clients, empowering you to take on more maintenance projects without sacrificing efficiency or quality.

How Can WordPress Site Maintenance Make My Agency More Profitable?

Great question. From our experience at WLA, we believe that ManageWP offers agencies the best solution for WordPress site maintenance. That’s why we’ve been using it by ourselves for quite some time. If you’re interested in the details, you can check our guide on getting up and running with ManageWP. In case you would like to outsource the maintenance component to save time and ensure profitability, you can contact us today and we’ll get back to you within 1 business day.