Running a WordPress multisite network allows you to manage multiple sites from a single WordPress installation. This can help streamline your workflow and reduce overhead costs.
However, managing a multisite network comes with its own unique challenges. The good news is there are some great plugins available to help make operating a WordPress multisite network easier.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll share the 13 best WordPress multisite plugins that you should consider using.
Contents
Why Use WordPress Multisite Plugins?
WordPress multisite plugins extend the functionality of your network to help you:
- Manage users and permissions across all sites from one dashboard
- Monitor performance and track analytics network-wide
- Optimize sites for speed and SEO across the network
- Create forms, popups and capture leads on all sites
- Secure and back up the entire network from one place
Multisite-compatible plugins make managing a network of sites much easier. Let‘s look at some of the top options.
1. MonsterInsights
MonsterInsights is the most popular Google Analytics plugin for WordPress. It‘s used on over 3 million websites.
This plugin makes it easy to connect your analytics account and view in-depth traffic reports directly within your WordPress dashboard.
With MonsterInsights, you can enable Google Analytics on select sites across your multisite network. All the data will be available in one centralized dashboard.
This gives you visibility into your best performing sites and content at a glance. You can also track events like form submissions, downloads, outbound links and more.
The free version works well for basic reporting. But premium plans unlock more advanced features like ads tracking, ecommerce tracking, custom dimensions and more.
2. WP Mail SMTP
Sending email is one of the most common issues site owners run into. WP Mail SMTP helps solve this by adding a simple SMTP connection to your WordPress multisite network.
This lets you securely deliver emails through trusted third-party providers like Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES, SendinBlue, Mailgun and more.
With the multisite network compatibility, you can configure SMTP for specific sites across your network. For example, you can send email through Gmail for some sites and Amazon SES for others.
The free WP Mail SMTP plugin version works for basic setups. But premium plans add faster support, advanced delivery options and integrations with email marketing platforms.
3. AIOSEO
AIOSEO is the leading WordPress SEO plugin, trusted by over 3 million websites.
It makes SEO easy, allowing you to optimize your pages for search engines and social media. Features include:
- Meta title & description editor
- XML sitemaps
- SEO analysis tool
- Search engine verification
- SEO alerts
- And more…
With the multisite network compatibility, AIOSEO can be configured separately per site. This allows you to optimize title tags, meta descriptions and other SEO elements uniquely for each site.
The free AIOSEO Lite covers the basics. Premium plans unlock advanced functionality like local SEO, Google Ads support, redirects manager, breadcrumbs and more.
4. WP Multi Network
Managing multiple multisite networks from one WordPress installation sounds complex. But WP Multi Network makes it easy.
This plugin lets you create and manage unlimited networks within a single WordPress multisite instance.
For example, you can group sites by client, create a network for testing, separate sites by language and much more.
From one screen, you can overview all networks, see details like available sites, users, plugins and themes. WP Multi Network streamlines working with multiple networks.
5. User Switching
Quickly switching between user accounts is useful for managing a WordPress multisite network. User Switching lets you instantly switch users with a single click.
As an admin, you can log in as any user on any site across your network. It‘s helpful for troubleshooting issues, testing features, moderating content and more.
The plugin is secure and will never reveal user passwords. Only switch between accounts you have permission to access.
For eCommerce sites, User Switching also integrates with WooCommerce. You can switch between customer accounts when managing orders, inventory and other store management tasks.
6. InfiniteWP
InfiniteWP is a powerful tool for managing multiple WordPress sites from one dashboard. It‘s great for agencies, freelancers, businesses and anyone with a WordPress network.
Key features include:
- Manage plugins & themes updates
- Schedule backups
- Publish and schedule posts
- Malware scanning
- Staging sites
- Client reports
- and more…
You get complete control and oversight of all your WordPress sites in one place. This simplifies WordPress management and maintenance.
The free version covers the basics like updates and backups. Premium plans unlock more advanced functionality and white glove setup.
7. Members
The Members plugin makes it easy to manage users across a WordPress multisite network.
With Members, you can:
- Create new roles and permissions
- Edit existing roles like author, editor, etc.
- Assign capabilities to roles
- import/export role settings
- And more…
For large multisite networks, Members streamlines user role management. You can customize permissions across the network faster.
Members integrates with MemberPress for managing memberships. It‘s a powerful toolkit for controlling access and features.
8. OptinMonster
Growing your email list and leads from a WordPress multisite network can be challenging. OptinMonster solves this by making it easy to create high-converting popups, slide-ins, Wheel of Fortune spins, and more to capture more emails.
Drag and drop form and campaign creation combined with powerful targeting and personalization features help you improve conversions across all your sites.
Exit-intent technology detects when someone is about to leave your site and triggers a popup to convert them into a lead.
OptinMonster popups work great on mobile devices and across all sites in your multisite network. More leads mean more potential customers for your business or clients.
9. Duplicator
Migrating a multisite network between hosts or servers can be tedious. Duplicator simplifies the process by letting you easily duplicate a site or your entire network with a few clicks.
You can copy a live site to a staging environment for testing. When ready, move your site or network to a new host or domain effortlessly.
Duplicator creates a package containing all your WordPress files, database and customizations. You can store this as a backup or use the built-in installer to deploy your site to a new server.
The free Duplicator version works for basic WordPress migrations. Premium plans add multisite network support, Office 365 integration, Amazon S3 storage and more.
10. WPForms
WPForms is the most beginner friendly WordPress contact form plugin. It makes creating forms easy and integrates with over 1000+ apps.
You can build contact forms, surveys, application forms, payment forms and more using the drag & drop form builder.
For a multisite network, WPForms comes in handy for user registration forms, lead capture forms, affiliate application forms, online booking forms and many other uses across all your sites.
WPForms integrates with email providers, CRM systems and webinar platforms. You can create different forms on each site yet manage everything from one dashboard.
The free WPForms Lite is great for basic contact forms. Premium plans add payment integrations, form design themes, marketing automation workflows and more.
11. WP Rocket
A fast loading website leads to higher visitor engagement and satisfaction. WP Rocket is an easy-to-use caching plugin that can speed up all the sites across your multisite network.
It works right out of the box by generating static HTML files that load faster for visitors. There‘s also lazy loading for images, DNS prefetching, minify JS/CSS and more.
You can activate and configure WP Rocket network-wide or on a per site basis. Optimization is done behind the scenes without harming page content.
Testing shows WP Rocket can improve site speeds by up to 600% on average. Faster performance equals improved user experience and SEO.
12. UpdraftPlus
Protecting your WordPress multisite network requires regular backups. UpdraftPlus makes it easy to schedule and restore backups for all your sites.
You can store backups locally on your computer or backup to the cloud using services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3 and more.
Scheduled backups give you peace of mind that you have recent copies of every site in your network. UpdraftPlus compresses backups to save storage space as your network grows.
With premium plans you can clone or migrate sites, block search engine crawlers during maintenance, and more. Fast and reliable backups are essential.
13. Multisite Language Switcher
Running a multilingual site or network requires solid translation management. Multisite Language Switcher lets you easily create a multi-language network.
Easily translate sites, pages, posts, taxonomies and tags across your network from one dashboard. Automatic user language detection also helps serve the right translations.
Having the ability to create templates for translations speeds up managing multilingual content. You don‘t have to build out duplicate sites for each language either.
Offering multiple languages makes your network accessible to a wider audience. This plugin streamlines the process of creating a multi-language network.
Find More WordPress Multisite Plugins
With over 55,000+ WordPress plugins in the directory, there are lots of options to extend your network. Before installing new plugins, always test them out first in a staging environment before deploying network-wide.
Here are some other useful multisite plugins to consider:
- WooCommerce Multisite – Sell products and track analytics across your network.
- Multisite Clone Duplicator – Clone sites across your network.
- Multisite Enhancements – Customize the network admin and experience.
- Wordfence – Security plugin protects your entire network.
We hope these tips on the best WordPress multisite plugins have been helpful. Let us know if you have any other recommendations in the comments!
