A few months ago, my friend asked me to look at her WordPress website. Her online store looked great, but she was frustrated because visitors weren’t buying anything. After spending just 30 minutes on her site, I could see exactly why—the user experience was all over the place.

I’ve seen this same problem a lot of times. Small business owners focus so much on making their sites look pretty that they forget about making them easy to use.

The result? High bounce rates, low conversions, and missed opportunities.

That’s why I put together this guide with 13 practical tips to improve your WordPress user experience. These simple changes can dramatically boost your conversions and keep visitors coming back for more.

Why User Experience Matters for Your WordPress Site

User experience (UX) is about how easy and enjoyable it is for visitors to use your WordPress website. This applies whether they’re reading your blog, exploring your services, or making a purchase.

Think about what happens when customers walk into a well-organized store. 🛒

If everything’s easy to find and the checkout is quick, people are more likely to stay longer, browse, and buy.

The same applies to other websites: a clear navigation menu, fast load times, and a clean design keep visitors engaged.

But if your site is confusing, slow to load, or crowded with too many elements, many users will get frustrated and leave. And most won’t come back. In fact, even a one-second delay in page speed can cause conversions to drop by 7%.

That’s why good UX isn’t optional — it’s essential. The right design choices make your site easier to use and help guide visitors toward taking action, whether that’s subscribing to your email newsletter, signing up, or making a purchase.

And the best part? Many of these improvements are easy to set up, even if you’re not a developer. I’ll walk you through the most effective tips in the sections below.

Here’s a quick overview of all the tips I’ll cover in this guide:

Ready? Let’s get started.

Tip #1: Understand Your Users

Before you can improve your WordPress site’s user experience, you need to know who you’re designing for. A great way to start is by creating simple user personas, which are fictional profiles that represent your typical visitors.

For example, if you’re running a WordPress blog targeting busy parents, one of your personas could be “Sarah.” She’s a working mom looking for time-saving tips, easy-to-follow guides, and parenting hacks to manage her busy life.

Having user personas in mind helps you tailor your website’s features and content to better serve your audience. To create one, I recommend trying the free HubSpot Make My Persona tool.

Once you understand who your users are, it becomes easier to make design and content choices that actually help them.

It’s even more important to get direct feedback from your visitors if your site is already up and running. In my experience, even a simple feedback survey can uncover valuable insights about your site’s navigation, design, or content.

You can gather real feedback using tools like UserFeedback. For example, you might create a feedback form that displays across your website so that users can share what’s working (or what isn’t).

You might ask user experience feedback questions like, “Was this page helpful?” or “What information were you hoping to find?” This way, you collect direct, actionable feedback.

You can also easily create surveys and polls to gather visitor feedback with a tool like WPForms. For instance, you could run a quick poll asking which new features your users would like to see next or set up a short survey with a rating system to learn more about their overall experience.

The more you learn about your audience, the better your UX decisions will be — and the more likely your visitors will be to stick around, explore, and take action.

For more details, we have a full guide on how to choose a target audience.

Tip #2: Do a UX Audit

A UX audit is basically a deep dive into your website from a visitor’s point of view. It helps you spot anything that might be confusing, so you can fix it as soon as possible.

One of the first things you’ll want to do is test your site for usability issues. This means checking how easily someone can navigate your site, find what they need, or complete an action.

Even minor issues, like a misplaced or hidden button, can negatively impact the user experience.

I always recommend walking through important steps on your site, like submitting a contact form or making a purchase, just like a first-time visitor would.

Take note of any steps that feel confusing, slow, or frustrating — these are your pain points and bottlenecks to address.

It’s also a good idea to track the time it takes to go from finding a feature to completing the desired action. This way, you know exactly how much time a user typically takes to convert or complete a specific action.

For a full walkthrough, be sure to check out our expert tips for how to do a UX audit in WordPress.

Tip #3: Use Analytics to Guide UX Improvements

User experience isn’t just about design — it’s also about data. Tracking how users actually interact with your WordPress site helps you make smart decisions that improve usability and drive results.

While Google Analytics (GA) is the gold standard for tracking data, it can be tricky for beginners to set up and navigate. That’s why I always recommend using MonsterInsights.

It’s a user-friendly Google Analytics plugin for WordPress that gives you the insights you need without having to navigate complex reports.

With MonsterInsights, you can track user behavior, set up conversion goals, and improve your site’s performance, all inside your WordPress dashboard. At WPBeginner, our team uses MonsterInsights every day to see this data.

For more insights into its features, see our full MonsterInsights review.

MonsterInsights also lets you keep an eye on key metrics like:

• Bounce rate: If visitors leave your site right away, it could signal poor content, confusing navigation, or an unprofessional design. Addressing these issues can help keep visitors engaged longer.
• Time on page: If visitors aren’t sticking around, your content may not be engaging or visually appealing enough. Use this metric to identify pages that need improvement in writing, visuals, or layout.
• Behavior flow: This shows where visitors go next and where they drop off. If users leave key pages early, it may indicate issues with your site’s structure, navigation, or content. Analyzing this helps improve user journeys by addressing bottlenecks.

These insights are accessible on the MonsterInsights Reports page. They can help you spot what’s working and what needs improvement.

For more information, see our guide on WordPress conversion tracking.

Using heatmaps is another powerful way to visualize behavior. Heatmaps and session recording tools like Microsoft Clarity and UserFeedback show you exactly where people click, scroll, or get stuck.

This is especially helpful for refining navigation paths or identifying parts of your layout that are being ignored.

For more information on this topic, read our guide on how to set up heatmaps in WordPress.

Tip #4: Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly

More than half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices. That means if your WordPress blog or site doesn’t look or work right on a phone, you’re likely losing visitors before they even get to your content.

To prevent this from happening, I always recommend using a responsive WordPress theme. These themes will adjust automatically to different screen sizes — whether someone’s on a tablet, phone, or desktop.

Most modern themes include this feature, but it’s always good to double-check.

In my opinion, Sydney is one of the best responsive themes on the market. It’s also flexible and lightweight, and comes with 17+ starter templates.

It makes building a mobile-friendly site easy, thanks to the 8 mobile-ready header styles, drag-and-drop sections, and full design control.

Plus, there’s a free version of Sydney that you can use to get started!

Next, just because your website looks fine on a laptop doesn’t mean it’s easy to tap through on a phone. That’s why I suggest avoiding small text, hard-to-click buttons, and menus that are difficult to open.

The good news is that you can preview the mobile layout of your site from your WordPress content editor.

Some page and theme builders, like SeedProd, even let you customize the mobile version of your site from the editor.

For more information about this, you can explore our expert tips for creating a mobile-friendly WordPress site.

Tip #5: Improve Accessibility for All Users

Did you know that websites are considered “places of public accommodation”? That’s why the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows people to file complaints if a website doesn’t meet accessibility standards.

This is a good reason to make sure your site is inclusive for all users, including people with visual, hearing, or motor impairments.

But making your website accessible doesn’t just help people with disabilities. It also improves the user experience for everyone.

One easy accessibility adjustment you can make is adding alt text and titles to your images:

• Alt text is a short description of an image that screen readers read aloud. This can help visually impaired users while giving search engines more context for better SEO.
• Image titles appear when users hover over an image, providing additional context.

When it comes to fonts, ideally, you’ll want to pick options that are easy to read.

At WPBeginner, we use Proxima Nova for its clean look and readability. It’s sleek, contemporary, and subtly elegant, which is ideal for blogs, portfolios, and media companies.

Another good one is Lato, which you can see on the WPForms website. It’s welcoming and approachable with a balanced design, perfect for mobile apps, retail stores, and eCommerce websites.

But simply choosing a good font isn’t enough. You also need to make sure there’s enough contrast between the text and the background color.

And even with the right font and contrast, some users may still struggle with reading the text if it’s too small. One simple way to make your site more accessible is by letting visitors resize the text.

All that said, true ADA compliance goes beyond just these basic steps. It involves adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which provide a comprehensive framework for making web content accessible to people with disabilities.

For more in-depth insights, check out our guide on how to improve accessibility on your WordPress site.

Tip #6: Simplify Your Website Navigation and Search

Confusing navigation is one of the fastest ways to lose visitors. But the good news is that you can avoid this with an intuitive navigation menu. You’ll want it to be clear, simple, and easy to follow.

You can start by creating a logical menu structure. Stick to familiar terms like “Home,” “About,” “Blog,” “Shop,” and “Contact” so users immediately know where to go.

For example, if you’re running a business website where you sell software, your navigation should make it easy for visitors to learn about your products. In this case, key links might include “Features,” “Solutions,” “Pricing,” and “Resources.”

Plus, you may want to group similar content under dropdowns to avoid cluttering the top menu with too many items.

A mega menu can be particularly helpful for larger sites. This basically consists of multiple dropdown menus to help organize large amounts of content, products, or information.

For example, WPForms uses this menu type in their navigation to neatly group features, tutorials, and resources. This makes it easy for visitors to find what they need quickly.

For more information, see our guide on how to add a navigation menu in WordPress.

It’s also a good idea to add breadcrumbs, which are small links that show users where they are on your site (like Home > Blog > Article Name).

Breadcrumbs make it easy for visitors to backtrack and are especially helpful for blogs and online stores with lots of content.

Finally, if you want to provide your visitors with the best possible navigation experience, I suggest optimizing your WordPress search.

The default search function isn’t always the most accurate or helpful. Upgrading it can make a big difference, especially if you have a content-heavy site where users need to quickly find posts, products, or resources.

To do this, I recommend starting by reviewing your site’s search stats. This can show you what visitors are looking for, what they can’t easily find, and whether your current search function is meeting their needs.

From there, you can upgrade your WordPress search to deliver faster, more accurate results. Learn more about it in our guide on how to improve WordPress search.

Tip #7: Use Clean, Minimalist Design

A cluttered website can overwhelm your visitors and make it hard for them to focus. It can be tempting to overdo your design with fancy features, loud colors, and animations, but it’s not always the best option.

On the other hand, clean design helps guide people’s attention to what really matters — whether that’s your content, products, or call-to-action.

That’s why I strongly recommend using clean, minimalist design principles.

For starters, it’s usually best to stick to a consistent color scheme and limit your font choices to two or three. This keeps things looking polished and makes your content easier to read.

For example, on WPBeginner, we use our famous orange as the primary color on our website, and Proxima Nova as our font.

Using plenty of white space also prevents your layout from feeling crowded or cluttered. It not only looks modern but also makes your site feel more organized and professional.

I recommend keeping each page focused by limiting the number of elements, like popups, banners, and widgets, unless they serve a clear purpose.

Too many distractions can make it hard for visitors to choose what to do next, which often leads to confusion or even higher bounce rates.

In contrast, a clean and minimalist design improves the user experience. This can also increase conversions, generate more leads, and boost engagement!

One of the easiest ways to ensure a good balance of color, fonts, and white space is by using a well-designed theme, like Sydney, Neve, or OceanWP.

For tips on picking the right theme, check out our guide on selecting the perfect theme for WordPress.

If you already know you want something minimalist and easy to set up, you can take a look at our list of the best simple WordPress themes for a professional, clutter-free design.

Alternatively, you can use a page builder like SeedProd to create custom layouts that give you more control over design elements.

SeedProd lets you drag and drop elements to build landing pages, sales pages, coming soon pages, and even entire WordPress themes — no coding needed.

It’s perfect for beginners and non-technical users who need a completely custom look.

Did you know? Duplicator’s website was custom-built using SeedProd. To learn more about what the page builder can do, see our extensive SeedProd review.

To get started building your custom pages, see our expert checklist of key design elements for an effective WordPress website.

Tip #8: Present Content in a User-Friendly Way

When you showcase your content in an organized and user-friendly way, you’ll be more likely to get your message across.

To organize your content better, I recommend starting by using clear headings. They are like signposts that guide visitors along your page.

You can also use these headings to create a table of contents, like we do on the WPBeginner blog. That way, readers can quickly jump to the parts of a post or page that interest them most.

Many of our posts also start with a brief overview and then break into actionable steps using bullet points. Here’s why that helps with content organization:

• Big blocks of text can overwhelm readers who skim.
• Bullet points highlight key details quickly, while short paragraphs keep content light and digestible.
• Together, they make your posts and pages more engaging, encouraging visitors to stay and interact longer.

Visuals can make a big difference, too. Adding images, videos, or infographics can help illustrate your points and simplify complex ideas.

In our A/B test tutorial, for example, we included a screenshot of our test results. This visual comparison helped readers quickly see which version won and why it was more effective, making the concept of A/B testing more concrete and actionable. (You’ll learn more about A/B testing in Tip #10!)

Additionally, a quick explainer GIF can help keep visitors engaged and make your content more memorable.

Want to boost interaction? I also recommend including interactive polls, sliders, or fun quizzes using WordPress plugins. These small touches can make your content feel more dynamic and invite visitors to actively participate.

Looking for more details on how you can improve the way you present content? Check out our guide on how to write a great blog post and structure it.

Tip #9: Speed Up Your Website

How quickly your website loads plays a big role in user experience. A delay of just one second can cause people to lose interest and leave your site.

That’s why improving your WordPress website’s performance should be a top priority.

To start, you’ll want to use a caching plugin. Caching stores a ready-to-go copy of your site, so it loads much faster for repeat visitors.

Plugins like WP Rocket or WP Super Cache make this super easy.

I tested WP Rocket to see how it works, and it turned out to be really easy!

During testing, I enabled mobile caching to ensure a smooth experience on all devices. I also activated user caching to support logged-in users on WooCommerce and membership sites.

Then, I adjusted the cache lifespan based on how often the site content was updated, and enabled file minification and lazy loading.

These tweaks alone helped reduce my test site’s page load times by over 40%, and bounce rates also dropped.

For details, please see our guide on how to properly install and set up WP Rocket in WordPress.

Another way to boost your speed is by adding a CDN (Content Delivery Network).

A CDN stores copies of your site’s files on servers around the world, which means users load your site from the server closest to them. This can dramatically cut down load times, especially if you have visitors from different parts of the globe.

If you’re not sure where to start, we have a handy guide on how to set up Cloudflare’s free CDN in WordPress.

It’s also important to compress your images. Large image files are one of the biggest reasons sites slow down.

You can shrink your images without losing quality by using tools like TinyPNG or plugins like EWWW Image Optimizer that automate the process for you.

While you’re at it, consider switching to modern image formats like WebP. These formats offer better compression compared to traditional JPEG or PNG files, so your pages load even faster without sacrificing image quality.

Finally, don’t forget to test your site’s performance regularly. Free tools like GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights can analyze your site and give you specific suggestions to make it even faster.

For more information and tips on improving site speed, refer to our ultimate guide to boosting WordPress performance.

Tip #10: Test Website Changes with A/B Testing

When it comes to improving your site’s user experience, small tweaks can lead to big results — but how do you know what actually works?

That’s where A/B testing comes in.

A/B testing is a method for comparing two versions of a webpage or element (like a button or headline) to see which one works better.

Here’s how it works: You create two variations (A and B), show them to different groups of visitors, and then see which version gets more clicks, conversions, or engagement.

With tools like Thrive Optimize, setting up an A/B test is easy. It will then help you track which version gets more clicks, signups, or sales.

You can test things like:

• Headline variations
• Button color or text
• Page layout or section order
• Different images or testimonials

For example, in Thrive Optimize, I ran a test where I changed the color of the call-to-action (CTA) button on a landing page. After editing the variation, I split traffic between versions and started the A/B test.

This process is intuitive, and instead of relying on gut feeling, you’ll have real data to back up your design and content choices!

For example, you might find that a shorter headline keeps users engaged longer, or that moving your CTA higher on the page increases conversions.

Most A/B testing tools will automatically show the winning version once enough data has been collected, helping you continuously improve your site without guessing.

For details on how to do it, refer to our guide on how to do A/B split testing in WordPress.

Tip #11: Be Selective With Your Content

If your posts or pages include too much unnecessary content, it can make it harder for your audience to understand your message.

That’s why it’s always best to keep your content focused and intentional. Every page should have a clear goal, and every section of content should support that goal.

If you’re building a landing page, for example, the layout and copy should guide visitors toward a single action, like signing up for your newsletter or downloading a free resource.

For tips on building landing pages, please see our complete guide on increasing your landing page conversions.

When it comes to writing blog posts, the same rule applies. Publishing every idea that comes to mind might fill your site with content, but it won’t always serve your readers.

It is better to focus on topics that align with your niche and help your audience solve real problems.

To take it a step further, you can group related posts around a main pillar page using a content cluster strategy. This helps improve navigation and build authority in your niche.

We have a full tutorial on how to build content clusters in WordPress, including how to plan them around your areas of expertise.

It also helps to do regular content audits. This is because, over time, some posts stop performing — either because they’re outdated or because search intent has changed.

This is called content decay. For example, a blog post called ‘Top SEO Tips for 2020’ might no longer rank well in search results because SEO practices have evolved.

So, during your regular content audits, you’ll want to review older pages and decide: should I keep, update, or delete the content?

A little cleanup goes a long way in keeping visitors engaged and helping them find exactly what they need.

Tip #12: Encourage User Interaction 

When people can actively interact with your pages, they will naturally stay on your site longer.

Creating opportunities for user interaction can make all the difference.

A great place to start is your comments section. If it feels outdated, clunky, or inactive, people might not bother leaving a reply.

To give it an update, you can add like/dislike buttons. This way, your visitors can engage with the conversation even if they don’t want to post.

Alternatively, you might want to feature a simple user ranking system. For instance, you can pin top comments to the top of the section or award badges to users who consistently leave helpful remarks.

These small touches motivate readers to participate and foster a stronger community around your content.

To do all this, you can upgrade your comment system using a plugin like Thrive Comments. It helps create a better experience that encourages more interaction and discussion.

For insights about the plugin, see our in-depth Thrive Themes Suite review. Need more tool recommendations? Feel free to check out our expert picks of the best plugins to improve WordPress comments.

Tip #13: Build Community with Live Chat or Chat Rooms

Want to take user interaction to the next level?

Creating space for real-time conversations can turn your website into a more inclusive and supportive place. Providing a platform for real-time interaction helps create community and encourages return visits.

If you’re running an eLearning, support-based, or membership site, adding a live chat feature can make a significant impact. It allows users to ask questions about course material or get help with platform features.

For other types of websites, such as online stores or service-based sites, live chat offers immediate support. Users can easily get help with a product feature, clarifying a service detail, or resolving a technical issue.

Learn more about it in our guide on how to add live chat in WordPress.

Want something more community-focused? You can create private chat rooms or discussion boards using tools like BuddyBoss.

This is especially helpful for membership programs or online courses, where people want to connect with others on the same journey.

Hop over to our guide on how to create chat rooms in WordPress to learn more.

Bonus Tip: Detect Design Issues with Visual Regression Testing 🕵️

Sometimes, even a small theme or plugin update can break your layout without you noticing. That’s where visual regression testing comes in.

Visual regression testing (VRT) helps you make sure that updates to your website don’t accidentally mess up its look or design.

The process is simple – your VRT software takes ‘screenshots’ of a page before and after you make changes to it. It analyzes the code or pixel differences of these pages to catch any visual issues early, before they hurt the user experience.

The VRTs plugin is one of the best tools for automating this process. For step-by-step instructions, you can read our guide on how to do visual regression testing in WordPress.

I hope my tips and tricks help you improve user experience in WordPress. Next, you might want to check out our guide on how to add a forum to your site and our expert picks of key design elements for an effective WordPress website.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Improve User Experience in WordPress (13 Practical Tips) first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I first tried to accept payments on my WordPress website, the process was frustrating. Hours of setup, confusing settings, and test transactions that failed more often than they succeeded.

I quickly realized that choosing the wrong payment solution could mean the difference between a thriving business and lost customers.

The right payment plugin can help you securely process transactions, reduce cart abandonment, and boost your conversion rates. But what works for a small nonprofit accepting donations won’t necessarily work for a consultant selling services or an online store processing hundreds of orders.

That’s why I’ve personally tested over 20 WordPress payment plugins across different business scenarios. Each plugin on this list has been thoroughly vetted for reliability, ease of use, and real-world performance.

Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, you’ll find a solution that fits your needs and gets you paid without the headaches.

Quick Overview: Best WordPress Payment Plugins

If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick overview of the best WordPress payment plugins:

How I Test And Review WordPress Payment Plugins

You might be wondering how I actually tested all these payment plugins before recommending them. Well, I didn’t just skim the features on different blogs and move on.

I’ve worked directly with plugins like WP Simple Pay, MemberPress, and WPForms to accept payments on my own websites.

Plus, I personally tested every other plugin on this list to make sure it worked well and could process payments without issues.

Here’s what my testing process looked like:

• 🛠️ I installed each plugin on a test site: I set up a clean WordPress site and installed each payment plugin just like you would. This helped me see how easy (or complicated) it is to get started, connect payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal, and configure the basic settings.
• 💳 I simulated real payments: Next, I ran test transactions using test mode. I checked if payments went through smoothly, how the plugin handled errors, and whether things like taxes, coupons, or recurring payments worked as expected.
• 🔍 I checked for compatibility issues: I tested the plugin alongside popular WordPress tools and themes to make sure everything plays nicely together.
• 🔒 I reviewed security and updates: Payment data is sensitive, so I also looked at how the plugin handles security, whether it’s regularly updated, and if the developers follow WordPress best practices.
• 👍 I rated user-friendliness: Finally, I looked at how beginner-friendly the plugin is. Are the settings clear? Is the setup wizard helpful? Would a first-time user get overwhelmed or feel confident?

By the time a plugin makes it onto my recommendation list, it’s been through all of this and more. Having said that, let’s take a look at the best WordPress payment plugins.

1. WP Simple Pay – Best for Stripe Payment Forms

WP Simple Pay is the best WordPress payment plugin if you’re using Stripe, especially if you want to sell services or subscriptions without building a full-blown online store.

When I first tested this plugin, I was impressed by how quickly I could create a working Stripe payment form without any of the complexity that comes with complete eCommerce platforms.

This plugin solves the biggest headache most service providers and subscription businesses face: getting paid without the technical nightmare of setting up complex store solutions.

We covered all the details and our hands-on experience in our WP Simple Pay review, so you can get the full picture there.

When I started creating my own payment forms, I found the drag-and-drop builder incredibly user-friendly.

Creating attractive, custom payment forms took minutes instead of hours. No coding skills are required, which is a significant advantage for many business owners.

I was also impressed by the payment options. It supports Stripe Checkout, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH bank transfers, and even Buy Now, Pay Later options like Afterpay and Klarna.

Plus, you can set custom pricing fields, coupon codes, and multi-step payment forms.

However, what really stood out to me was the customization control. You can brand the entire payment form page to match your business.

Clean URLs, custom background colors, and layout adjustments can all work together to create a professional checkout experience that feels like part of your site.

All in all, I recommend WP Simple Pay for anyone looking to sell services and subscriptions without setting up an online store.

It handles the payment complexity while keeping your WordPress site fast and reliable. No bloated code or performance issues that slow things down.

To get started, see our tutorial on how to accept Stripe payments in WordPress.

Pros of WP Simple Pay

• Pre-made templates speed up form creation
• Set up partial payments (for deposits) and installment plans for high-value services
• Stripe handles all sensitive data for maximum security
• One-click payments with Apple Pay and Google Pay
• Flexible billing intervals for subscriptions
• Built-in coupon codes and promotional discounts
• Option to pass processing fees to customers
• Easy purchase restrictions and limits

Cons of WP Simple Pay

• Advanced features locked in free version
• Only works with Stripe (no other payment processors)

Pricing: WP Simple Pay’s paid plans can range from $49.50/year to $209.65/year.

Why I recommend WP Simple Pay: What makes WP Simple Pay stand out is how easy it is to accept Stripe payments on WordPress with no need to build a full online store.

It’s a great fit if you’re offering services, running a membership site, or collecting subscriptions, one-time payments, or even deposits. The payment forms are simple, flexible, and work right out of the box.

2. WPForms – Best for Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.Net, and Square Payment Forms

WPForms is the best WordPress payment plugin for collecting customer information alongside payments, such as registration forms, order forms with custom fields, or surveys that include payment options.

The plugin also supports multiple payment gateways, including Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, and Square. This flexibility allows you to offer your customers a variety of payment options without needing to juggle different plugins.

We use WPForms here at WPBeginner for our contact forms and annual surveys, so I’ve seen firsthand how reliable and flexible this plugin can be. If you’re curious about all the things it can do, we go over them in more detail in our WPForms review.

A key advantage of WPForms is how it combines powerful form building with payment processing. You’re not limited to simple “pay now” buttons.

Instead, you can create comprehensive forms that gather the information your business needs while processing payments securely.

WPForms also comes with a variety of payment fields.

You can add single-item payments, multiple items, dropdowns for selecting products or quantities, and even donation fields with preset or custom amounts.

This makes building complex payment forms super easy, even if you’re new to it.

One feature I found particularly helpful is the plugin’s AI-powered form builder.

It helps speed up the design process by generating form templates that you can customize with simple prompts. This can save you hours when creating new forms with payment integrations.

Additionally, the conditional logic feature is very powerful. Forms can show or hide fields based on user selections, creating a smooth experience that only displays relevant options.

Your customers see exactly what they need without confusion.

Overall, WPForms strikes a great balance between being powerful and user-friendly.

It’s perfect if you want to build payment forms combined with surveys, registrations, or quotes, all while securely processing payments through your preferred gateway.

For more information, see our tutorial on how to add a PayPal payment form in WordPress.

Pros of WPForms

• Over 2,000 pre-made form templates
• Drag-and-drop builder that’s genuinely beginner-friendly
• Supports one-time payments and recurring subscriptions
• Coupon code fields for checkout discounts
• Automatic email notifications and confirmations
• Complete spam protection
• Secure data storage accessible from the WordPress dashboard

Cons of WPForms

• Payment add-ons locked in free plan

Pricing: WPForms pricing starts at $49.50. However, to unlock the extensions for PayPal, Stripe, and Square, you will need the pro plan for $199.40/yr.

Why I recommend WPForms: It’s a great solution that gives you the flexibility to build forms that go beyond simple contact fields. Whether you’re setting up a survey, registration form, or quote request, WPForms makes it easy to include payment options right inside the form.

3. WooCommerce – Best for Selling Physical Products

If you’re planning to build a full-fledged online store, I always recommend starting with WooCommerce. It’s the best WordPress payment plugin for selling physical products and managing inventory, shipping, taxes, and payments, all from one dashboard.

The plugin stands out as a complete eCommerce solution when you need more than simple payment collection.

You’re not just processing payments. Instead, you’re running a real business with product catalogs, inventory tracking, shipping calculations, and tax management.

I’ve been working with WooCommerce since its early days and have used it to build online stores for clients across different industries.

You can check out our full WooCommerce review to see why it’s such a solid choice.

One thing that has improved significantly over the years is the built-in payment integrations. PayPal and Stripe used to need separate plugins, but now they work smoothly right out of the box.

During my recent WooCommerce testing, I was particularly impressed with how plugins like FunnelKit’s Stripe integration can make the checkout process even better.

You get fully customizable, high-converting checkout pages that feel modern and fast.

The ability to design checkout pages, offer upsells, and accept express payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay can make a significant difference in conversion rates.

In my opinion, WooCommerce is ideal if you want complete control over your store’s design and functionality. Whether you’re selling five products or five thousand, it scales well and gives you all the tools you need to grow.

If your goal is to turn your WordPress site into a full eCommerce platform, then WooCommerce is the payment plugin I’d trust every time.

To get started, see our beginner’s guide on WooCommerce made simple.

Pros of WooCommerce

• Accepts diverse payment methods, including cash on delivery and bank transfers
• Credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and local methods via Stripe
• Supports one-time and recurring payments with subscription addons
• Accept Square and Authorize.net payments with addons
• Custom tax rules with flexible pricing options
• Hundreds of payment-related extensions in the marketplace
• Built-in refund management and order status controls

Cons of WooCommerce

• Can feel like overkill for simple service payments or single digital downloads
• Extensions required for certain payment gateways (costs vary)

Pricing: WooCommerce is free to use, but you’ll need to purchase extensions to add certain payment options like Square or Authorize.net. The pricing for these extensions can vary.

Why I recommend WooCommerce: In my opinion, WooCommerce is well-suited if you want extensive control over your store’s design and functionality. Whether you’re selling five products or five thousand, it scales well and offers a comprehensive set of tools to help you grow.

4. Easy Digital Downloads – Best for Selling Digital Products

If you’re selling digital products, like eBooks, software, PDFs, or music, then Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is the ideal WordPress payment plugin for the job.

Unlike general payment plugins, EDD offers effective solutions specifically built for the unique challenges of selling digital goods.

It is particularly effective for digital product sales, where you need instant delivery, license management, and customer download tracking.

Our partner brands have been using EDD to sell their premium plugins for years, and it’s consistently delivered excellent results. We’ve also spent a lot of time testing it on demo sites to see how it performs in different scenarios.

We explain it all in our detailed review of EDD if you want a closer look.

What makes EDD perfect for digital sales is how it handles the entire customer journey. When someone buys your digital product, they instantly receive download links, account access, and professional receipts. No manual work required on your end.

The plugin accepts Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay right out of the box.

I found the payment setup process much faster than configuring similar functionality with other plugins. The setup is straightforward and functions well without complicated integrations.

The one feature that impressed me most was the ability to pass payment processing fees to customers. This might seem minor, but over time, it saves significant money in transaction costs, especially when selling lower-priced digital items.

You can also set up one-time or recurring payments, offer discount codes, and even create custom checkout fields without needing a developer.

Another key strength of EDD is its scalability. With premium extensions, you can add license key generation, affiliate tracking, and customer email automation while keeping your payment flows smooth and secure.

If your site revolves around digital content, then this is a plugin I can confidently recommend for handling your transactions.

For step-by-step instructions on using Easy Digital Downloads, see our tutorial on how to sell digital downloads in WordPress.

Pros of Easy Digital Downloads

• Cart and checkout system optimized for digital products
• Customizable purchase receipts and confirmation emails for better branding
• Test mode for simulating transactions before going live
• Built-in sales and earnings reports for revenue analysis
• Tax settings with VAT support for EU compliance
• Customer account area for re-downloading purchases
• Instant digital delivery after payment

Cons of Easy Digital Downloads

• Advanced features are locked in the free plan.
• Not suitable for physical product sales

Pricing: EDD’s pricing starts at $99.50/year for one site. You can also opt for the All Access Pass for $499.50/yr to unlock all the features.

Why I recommend Easy Digital Downloads: We use EDD to sell our premium plugins and software, and it’s always worked great. If you’re selling eBooks, PDFs, plugins, courses, or music, then EDD offers a payment processing and delivery system specifically designed for your business model.

5. WP Charitable – Best for WordPress Donation Forms

WP Charitable is the best payment plugin for accepting donations in WordPress, especially if you’re running a nonprofit or a cause-based website.

It stands out as the specialized solution when you need more than basic payment collection for charitable causes. The tool makes it super easy to manage donor relationships, track campaign progress, and build long-term fundraising success.

Our team has tested this plugin extensively, both through demo campaigns and real-world use for our founder’s education nonprofit, the Balkhi Foundation.

WP Charitable makes the donation process seamless for supporters and removes a lot of the friction that usually gets in the way. You can get the complete details in our review of WP Charitable.

Instead of complicated checkout flows, you get simple, clean donation forms that integrate well with Stripe, PayPal, and other popular gateways.

The user experience feels designed specifically for donors who want to give quickly and easily.

One of the things that stood out during my testing was how customizable Charitable’s donation forms are. You can set suggested amounts, let donors enter custom amounts, create recurring donation options, and even add goal meters to encourage participation.

Plus, it supports campaign management, so you can run multiple fundraisers at once and track their progress easily. Each campaign gets its own dedicated page, donation tracking, and goal visualization, which helps create urgency and transparency for donors.

I think most will also appreciate Charitable’s email integrations.

They help make it easy to automate thank-you emails and provide donors with donation receipts right away, something I know is important for nonprofit transparency and tax purposes.

Plus, built-in reports can help you make data-driven decisions, so you can maximize your fundraising efforts.

The bottom line? With a strong focus on donor experience and campaign management, Charitable is the best WordPress payment plugin for nonprofits.

You can start building your website easily by following our article on how to create a non profit website in WordPress.

Pros of WP Charitable

• Dozens of pre-made templates for quick form creation
• Unlimited donation campaigns with individual goals and forms
• Custom checkout fields for collecting donor details and dedications
• Multi-currency support for international fundraising
• Offline payment tracking for checks and cash donations
• Built-in reporting tools with donation history and data export capabilities
• Goal meters and progress tracking to encourage donations
• Automated donor communication and receipt generation

Cons of WP Charitable

• Only PayPal is included in the free plan; Stripe and other gateways require paid plans
• Limited to donation forms (not general-purpose like WPForms)

Pricing: Charitable’s pricing starts from $69 to $299 per year.

Why I recommend WP Charitable: The plugin is great for nonprofit fundraising, with features designed for charitable organizations. If you’re running fundraising campaigns and need more than basic payment buttons, I recommend Charitable.

6. MyPayKit – Best WordPress Square Payment Plugin

MyPayKit is a great WordPress payment plugin for when you want to accept payments through Square without the complexity of a full eCommerce platform.

You get clean, professional payment forms that connect directly to Square’s payment processing system.

Since it’s a new plugin, I wanted to see how well it worked—and it delivered on its promise: offering a simple way to accept Square payments online.

This makes it excellent for collecting deposits, one-time payments, or even donations without forcing customers through a complicated checkout process.

Another thing I really appreciate is how lightweight MyPayKit is compared to other payment solutions.

Unlike WooCommerce or other store-focused plugins, it doesn’t overload your site with extra features you might not need. It focuses specifically on payment collection and does it well.

Plus, it’s not just limited to Square. You can also accept Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay if you want to expand your options.

But if Square is your go-to processor, MyPayKit makes accepting payments very easy and straightforward.

Pros of MyPayKit

• Seamless Square integration
• Clean, professional payment form design
• Supports multiple payment processors (Square, Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay)
• Handles both one-time and recurring payments
• Simple 2-minute setup process for non-technical users
• Perfect for service businesses and local retailers

Cons of MyPayKit

• Limited advanced features compared to full eCommerce solutions
• Primarily focused on Square (other processors feel secondary)
• May not suit complex payment scenarios

Pricing: MyPayKit has a free plan with unlimited forms and transactions. However, there’s a 3% application fee. Paid plans start at $49.50 per year to remove the application fee and access premium features.

Why I recommend MyPayKit: It’s a great choice for accepting Square payments on your WordPress website. When I tested it, I found that it worked smoothly and allowed me to collect payments in just a few clicks.

7. MemberPress – Best for WordPress Membership Websites

If you are planning to sell subscriptions, memberships, or online courses on your WordPress website, then MemberPress is my top pick.

It’s a powerful payment plugin that offers payment processing combined with content protection and access control for your membership business.

We’ve used MemberPress to set up free online courses at WPBeginner, and we love its advanced (yet straightforward) access control and content protection features.

The plugin manages the entire member lifecycle from signup to content delivery without requiring manual work. If you want a full look at how it works, check out our MemberPress review.

MemberPress comes with built-in support for Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net, so you can start accepting payments securely from day one.

The payment gateway setup is straightforward and reliable across all supported processors. You can offer one-time payments, free trials, recurring subscriptions, and even charge based on access tiers.

This flexibility lets you create sophisticated pricing strategies that grow with your business.

What makes the plugin particularly well-suited for membership sites is how well everything integrates. When someone signs up, their access is instantly managed, and there’s no need to manually approve or update anything.

The tool is also great for building online courses. With the built-in MemberPress Courses addon, you can create lessons, lock premium content, and drip content based on membership levels.

If you’re a creator or educator looking for a simple way to monetize your content, MemberPress makes it easy to get started. To learn more, see our ultimate guide on how to create a membership site.

Pros of MemberPress

• Multiple membership levels with different pricing tiers for upselling
• Built-in coupon system for promotions and discounts
• Immediate content access after payment processing
• Automated payment reminders and failed transaction handling
• Built-in tax support for compliance
• Paywall feature for teasing premium content

Cons of MemberPress

• Advanced features are locked behind paid plans
• Higher starting price than simple payment plugins

Pricing: The pricing for the MemberPress basic plan is $179.50/year. However, to unlock its full LMS potential, including quizzes, assignments, and gradebooks, you will have to buy the pro plan for $399.50/year.

Why I recommend MemberPress: It’s an excellent WordPress plugin for building a membership site or selling courses. While WP Simple Pay works well for basic subscriptions, MemberPress takes it a step further by handling payments, locking down your content, and controlling which members have access to specific pages, lessons, or downloads.

8. Formidable Forms – Best for Advanced Payment Forms

If you’re looking to build advanced forms that calculate pricing and process payments based on user selections, then Formidable Forms is a great option.

It offers powerful form-building tools for creating interactive calculators, quote generators, and custom workflows.

During testing, I was able to easily build loan applications, pricing estimates, and shipping calculators that automatically updated totals based on user input.

And these aren’t static forms—they’re dynamic tools that adapt using conditional logic, changing fields, prices, or redirects based on answers.

This makes Formidable Forms well-suited for legal consultations, service quotes, and custom product estimates.

To learn more about what the plugin can do, check out our Formidable Forms review.

I also really like how easily you can connect Stripe, PayPal, or Authorize.net to charge users after form completion.

Plus, the multi-page form support and integrated data tracking make it easy to manage both submissions and payments from one dashboard.

Overall, if your business needs intelligent forms that do more than collect payments, like guiding users through personalized pricing or registration steps, then Formidable Forms is a solid choice.

Pros of Formidable Forms

• Advanced conditional logic for dynamic form behavior
• Multi-page forms with integrated payment processing
• Supports Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net
• Comprehensive data management and submission tracking
• Custom field types for specialized information collection
• AI form builder to speed up initial setup

Cons of Formidable Forms

• More complex than needed for simple payment collection
• Steeper learning curve compared to basic form builders

Pricing: Formidable Forms starts at $39.50/year. However, to unlock calculations, you will need the business plan for $199.50/year.

Why I recommend Formidable Forms: It is a great option if you need more than just a simple payment form. You can build smart forms that automatically calculate the total based on user selections, and then let them pay right away using Stripe, PayPal, or Authorize.net—there’s no coding required.

9. WishList Member – Best for Paywalls and Memberships

WishList Member is a reliable WordPress payment plugin if you’re building a membership site or want to protect premium content behind a paywall.

When I tested WishList Member, I found the integration with Stripe, PayPal, and other gateways to be quite easy. I didn’t need any third-party addons to start charging users for access.

For more details about how the plugin works, see our WishList Member review.

I also appreciate the tool’s ability to create different pricing tiers and offer upsells inside your membership flow.

You can even pair it with your favorite page builder or LMS plugin if you’re offering courses.

If you want to build a paid membership community or sell gated digital content, WishList Member is worth checking out.

Pros of WishList Member

• Automatic management of member upgrades, downgrades, and cancellations
• Drip content feature for gradual content release
• “Pay Per Post” option for selling individual content pieces
• Strong integrations with email marketing tools (Kit, ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp)
• Fully customizable login and registration forms
• Granular content protection controls
• Multiple membership levels with flexible pricing

Cons of WishList Member

• No free plan available
• User interface can feel overwhelming for beginners

Pricing: WishList Member’s basic plan at $149.50/year works well if you are just starting out. It offers unlimited memberships, upgrade paths, and restriction rules.

Why I recommend WishList Member: It is a great option if you’re building a membership site and want to protect your content. It’s designed to help you set up multiple access levels, build a community, and accept payments through Stripe or PayPal, without needing extra tools.

10. Thrive Apprentice – Best for Selling Online Courses

Thrive Apprentice is a great choice if you’re building an online course business and want to control how students access your courses after they’ve paid.

It integrates seamlessly with Stripe and ThriveCart, which makes it easy to sell one-time courses, bundles, or memberships. The payment integration is very intuitive and doesn’t require complicated setup processes.

Want to learn more about what the plugin can do? We did a deep dive for our Thrive Apprentice review.

The best part? It also connects with Thrive Suite tools like Thrive Leads and Thrive Architect, so you can design your entire sales funnel—from opt-in forms to checkout to course delivery—without writing any code.

It makes it very easy to create a polished course experience. You can set access rules, offer free previews, lock lessons until payment is made, and even integrate it with WooCommerce for added flexibility.

If you’re looking for a powerful course builder that doubles as a payment solution, Thrive Apprentice is one of the best options available, especially if you’re already using other Thrive tools.

Pros of Thrive Apprentice

• Access restriction tools for locking courses or individual lessons
• Course bundle creation tied to specific pricing tiers
• Free preview feature for showcasing content quality
• Seamless WooCommerce integration for complex pricing
• Custom login pages and thank you pages for smooth post-purchase experiences
• Built-in student progress tracking and auto-enrollment

Cons of Thrive Apprentice

• Limited to Stripe as the only payment gateway
• No free plan available

Pricing: Thrive Apprentice costs $149/year for the standalone plugin. However, to unlock all the Thrive Themes plugins, you can opt for the Thrive Suite plan at $299 per year.

Why I recommend Thrive Apprentice: It’s a solid choice for anyone building an online course business. Thrive Apprentice provides a seamless course creation experience with built-in Stripe integration, allowing you to start selling immediately without the need for additional plugins or a complex technical setup process.

11. MemberMouse – Best for Enterprise-Level Membership Sites

MemberMouse is a comprehensive membership plugin designed for larger businesses and enterprises running premium membership sites.

Even when you are managing hundreds or thousands of paying members, it handles complex payment processing without any issues.

MemberMouse offers built-in support for major payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, and Braintree. This means you don’t need any extra plugins to start collecting payments—it’s all ready to go right after installation.

If you’re curious about the tool’s other features, check out our full MemberMouse review.

The plugin handles one-time payments, subscriptions, and even free trials seamlessly.

Where MemberMouse really shines is in its advanced automation and customer management tools. You can set up smart rules to drip content, offer upsells after checkout, and downgrade or cancel access automatically based on payment status.

If you’re looking for an enterprise-level solution to manage paid memberships, MemberMouse is definitely worth considering.

Pros of MemberMouse

• Create custom checkout pages and upsell offers
• Automated access management based on payment status
• Drip content scheduling
• Has a ‘dunning’ system which automatically follows up on failed payments and helps reduce churn
• Comes with an analytics dashboard
• Supports gift memberships and free vs. paid trials for flexible offers

Cons of MemberMouse

• No free plan
• Limited design customization options

Pricing: Its basic plan starts at $149.50/year.

Why I recommend MemberMouse: If you’re building a membership site with tiered pricing, time-released content, and advanced automation, MemberMouse is built for that level of complexity. From what I’ve seen, it goes beyond basic membership plugins by offering enterprise-level tools, such as smart member segmentation, upsells, and detailed analytics.

My Verdict: What Is the Best WordPress Payment Plugin?

In my opinion, WP Simple Pay is the best WordPress payment plugin for accepting Stripe payments.

It’s perfect for anyone who wants to accept subscription or service payments through clean, customizable forms, without the need to build a full online store. You can offer deposit options, installment plans, and coupon codes, all while keeping the setup super simple.

If you need to build more advanced forms and want to accept Stripe, PayPal, Square, or Authorize.net payments, then WPForms is my top recommendation.

When it comes to selling physical products, you can’t go wrong with WooCommerce. It’s the most powerful option for creating a full-fledged online store, with built-in support for major gateways and powerful extensions like FunnelKit for optimizing your checkout flow.

For digital products specifically, I recommend Easy Digital Downloads. It’s more lightweight and built for selling software, downloads, and licenses.

Meanwhile, if your goal is to raise donations, WP Charitable is the best fit. I’ve tested it for several nonprofit sites, and its donation-focused features, like recurring giving, goal tracking, and customizable campaigns, make it stand out from generic form plugins.

Frequently Asked Questions: WordPress Payment Plugins

Here are some frequently asked questions about WordPress payment plugins.

Can I test WordPress payments before going live?

Most quality plugins, including WP Simple Pay, WPForms, WooCommerce, and Easy Digital Downloads, offer a sandbox or test mode that allows you to test payments with just a few clicks.

I recommend enabling this before launching to avoid errors and ensure everything works smoothly. To get started, see our tutorial on how to test Stripe payments in WordPress.

Can I charge a processing fee to customers in WordPress?

Yes, plugins like Easy Digital Downloads, WooCommerce, and WP Simple Pay let you pass the Stripe or PayPal processing fee directly to the customer. This is especially useful if you’re selling digital products with thin margins.

For step-by-step instructions, see our tutorial on how to pass the payment processing fee to customers in WordPress.

What’s the best plugin for accepting recurring payments or subscriptions?

MemberPress is ideal for subscriptions and membership sites. It supports recurring billing, access control, and integrates with major payment gateways out of the box.

Can I accept payments on WordPress without WooCommerce?

Yes, absolutely. Plugins like WP Simple Pay, WPForms, and MemberPress let you accept payments without setting up a full online store. They’re great for selling services, subscriptions, or digital downloads through custom forms.

For more information, see our guide on how to sell on WordPress without WooCommerce.

💡Related Guides: Managing Payments in WordPress

Looking for more information on how to manage payments in WordPress? Check out these additional guides:

• Best WooCommerce Payment Gateways for WordPress (Compared)
• How to Add Stripe QR Code Payment in WordPress
• How to Reduce Stripe Transaction Fees in WordPress (Expert Tips)
• Important Online Payment Statistics, Data, and Trends
• WordPress Payment Processing: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners
• Stripe vs. PayPal: Which Is Better for Your WordPress Site?
• How to Create Invoices for Clients Using WordPress

Whether you need step-by-step tutorials, tips for boosting conversions, or guidance on securing your transactions, these resources will help you optimize your payment setup.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 11 Best WordPress Payment Plugins (Tested & Verified) first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I first looked into hosting WordPress on Google Cloud, I thought, “This could be the upgrade I’ve been waiting for.”

The idea of running my site on the same infrastructure powering Google Search and YouTube? That was exciting. But it also raised a lot of questions.

There’s no question that Google Cloud offers serious speed and reliability. But I quickly realized that it’s not built with beginners in mind. Between managing virtual machines, setting up your server, and configuring DNS, it’s easy to get stuck.

The good news is that you don’t have to do it the hard way. Whether you want a simple managed solution or you’d rather roll up your sleeves and do it all yourself, I’ll show you both options.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to host WordPress on Google Cloud and which path I recommend based on real-world experience.

Why Host WordPress on Google Cloud?

Google Cloud is known for speed, stability, and high-powered infrastructure. It powers everything from YouTube to Gmail, and it’s built to handle huge amounts of traffic without any issues.

That’s why a lot of website owners, including myself at one point, start thinking: “If I host my WordPress site on Google Cloud, won’t I get the same performance?”

And in theory, yes — you can. But there’s a big difference between having access to Google Cloud and actually knowing how to use it well for WordPress. It’s like buying a race car without knowing how to drive it.

That’s where most people get stuck. The platform itself is amazing, but it’s built for engineers and DevOps teams, not regular WordPress users trying to publish content or grow an audience.

So if you’ve been wondering whether Google Cloud is the right choice for your WordPress site, you’re not alone.

In the next section, I’ll show you the easiest way to tap into its power, without having to configure anything manually.

After that, I’ll walk you through two hands-on methods if you prefer the DIY route.

You can use the jump links below if you want to skip ahead:

Method 1: Use SiteGround to Host WordPress on Google Cloud

If you want the speed and reliability of Google Cloud without the technical setup, then SiteGround is the option I recommend — and personally use.

We also host WPBeginner on SiteGround. Describing the move, Syed Balkhi, founder of WPBeginner, wrote:

After testing SiteGround across multiple projects and seeing how well their platform handled real-world demands, I knew it was the right move for WPBeginner.

Syed Balkhi

For more details, see the reasons why WPBeginner switched to SiteGround or take a look at my in-depth SiteGround review.

SiteGround runs its entire platform on Google Cloud infrastructure, so you get the same performance without having to manage it all yourself.

You don’t need to worry about setting up servers, installing software, or handling updates. Everything from performance tuning to WordPress security is already taken care of. You just log in, install WordPress, and start building your website.

SiteGround makes it easy for anyone to get started. Their dashboard is clean and beginner-friendly, and you get powerful features out of the box, including automatic caching, free CDN, daily backups, built-in security, and one-click staging environments.

Pros of Using SiteGround

• Built on Google Cloud’s fast and reliable infrastructure
• No technical setup required — perfect for beginners
• Excellent customer support with real WordPress experts
• Includes caching, backups, security, and CDN out of the box
• Flat monthly pricing, with no surprise bills

Cons of Using SiteGround

• Not ideal if you want full server-level control or custom OS-level tweaks
• More advanced developers might prefer a DIY cloud setup for niche use cases

Pricing: Unlike Google Cloud Platform’s pay-as-you-go pricing, SiteGround offers fixed pricing starting from $2.99 per month.

If you just want to build your site and have it run fast, stay secure, and never think about server maintenance, this is the easiest and most reliable way to do it.

How to Host WordPress on Google Cloud Using SiteGround

First, you need to visit SiteGround’s website and choose a WordPress hosting plan.

I recommend choosing the Startup plan if you are just getting started, or the GrowBig plan if you are upgrading from a regular shared hosting service.

Next, you will be asked to choose a domain name. SiteGround offers a free domain name with each hosting plan for the first year.

If you already have a domain name, you can use that as well.

After that, you will be asked to provide personal information to create your account.

Just fill in the information and go to the payment section to complete your signup.

Once you have completed the purchase, you need to log in to your SiteGround account.

From here, simply click WordPress » Install & Manage.

Select WordPress, or if you want to build an online store, then select WordPress + WooCommerce.

Simply follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup wizard.

Congratulations 🎉 Your WordPress website is running on Google Cloud. It is already fully optimized and ready to go.

How to Manually Host WordPress on Google Cloud

There are multiple ways to manually host WordPress on Google Cloud. You can use a ready-to-deploy instance or deploy it manually yourself.

Here is a comparison table to understand the difference between the two approaches:

Method 2: Use Google Cloud Marketplace to Install WordPress (Click to Deploy)

If you’re not comfortable running server commands or want a quicker way to get started, then Google Cloud offers a ‘Click to Deploy’ version of WordPress in their Marketplace.

It sets up a fully functional WordPress site with a few clicks, including your virtual machine, database, and web server stack.

Here are the pros and cons of using the Click to Deploy method.

Pros:

• Faster and easier than manual setup
• No need to SSH or install software manually
• Great for users new to Google Cloud

Cons:

• Less flexibility because you’re using a pre-configured environment
• Still responsible for backups, updates, and security
• Some users report difficulty scaling or customizing Click to Deploy sites later

Overall, if you’re experimenting or building a personal project, this method is a great way to get started.

Step 1. Create a New Google Cloud Project

To begin, log in to your Google Cloud account and create a new project from the dashboard.

Step 2. Turn on billing

After creating your project, you need to enable billing.

From the left-hand menu, click on Billing and follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 3. Select Click to Deploy WordPress Package

Once billing is active, click the search bar at the top of the dashboard and type in “WordPress.”

From the results, you need to choose the option labeled ‘WordPress – Click to Deploy’ by Google Cloud.

On the next screen, go ahead and click the ‘Get Started’ button.

After that, you may be asked to agree to the terms of service and enable APIs. Simply follow the instructions to move to the next step.

Step 4. Configure Your WordPress Deployment Settings

On the next screen, you’ll see a form with several options for setting up your WordPress instance.

Let’s walk through each one so you know exactly what to choose.

Start by giving your deployment a name. This is just a label inside your Google Cloud dashboard, and you can use something like wordpress-1 or mywebsite.

For the Deployment Service Account, leave it set to ‘New Account’. Google Cloud will automatically create the right permissions to manage your instance.

Next, choose a zone where you want your website to be hosted.

Pick a region closest to your target visitors. For example, asia-southeast1-c for Asia or us-central1-a for the United States.

Under Machine type, you should stick with General Purpose. Then choose ‘e2-small (2 vCPU, 2 GB memory)’, which is a good balance between cost and performance.

In the Administrator email address field, you need to enter your real email address. This is where Google will send notifications and status updates related to your server.

Below that, you’ll see optional features. I recommend keeping both Install phpMyAdmin and HTTPS Enabled checked. This adds a database manager and an SSL certificate to your install.

For Boot Disk, leave it as Standard Persistent Disk with 20 GB selected. That’s enough for most small to medium WordPress sites.

In the Networking section, make sure both checkboxes are selected to allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic. This ensures visitors can reach your site in their browsers.

You can leave Google Cloud Operations unchecked unless you plan to use advanced monitoring tools. They’re not required for running a typical WordPress site.

Once you’ve reviewed everything, simply click the blue ‘Deploy’ button at the bottom. Google Cloud will now set everything up for you behind the scenes.

Once finished, you will see the status of your deployment. From here, you need to copy the ‘Instance Nat IP’. This is your site’s external IP, and you will need it in the next step.

Step 5. Connect Your Custom Domain to Google Cloud

To use your own domain name with your deployed WordPress instance on Google Cloud VM, you’ll need to update your domain’s DNS settings to point to the external IP address of your VM (virtual machine) instance.

First, go to the Google Cloud Console, open the ‘VM instances’ page, and copy the external IP address of your virtual machine.

This is the address your domain needs to point to.

Next, log in to your domain registrar’s dashboard — this is where you bought your domain, like Domain.com, GoDaddy, Bluehost, or other registrars.

I will show you instructions for Domain.com, but it is pretty much the same for all domain registrars.

Find the DNS settings or ‘Manage DNS’ section for your domain.

Here, you need to delete any A records that are currently pointing to a different IP address.

After that, click on the ‘Add Record’ button at the top.

In the form that appears, make sure the record type is set to A. In the ‘Refers to’ dropdown, choose Other Host. Change the Name or Host field to @ if you’re pointing the root domain (e.g., example.com).

In the IP address field, you need to enter the external IP address of your Google Cloud VM. For example, if your VM’s IP is 35.247.XX.XX, then you have to type that in.

Set the TTL (Time to Live) to the default value and then click the ‘Edit’ button to save the changes.

If you also want to support www.yourdomain.com, repeat the process and add another A record with the host set to www, pointing to the same IP.

It may take a few minutes for the DNS changes to propagate. Once that’s complete, visiting your domain in a browser should take you to your Google Cloud-hosted website.

After saving your DNS changes, it may take a few minutes (up to 24 hours, but usually much faster) for them to propagate globally.

Once that’s done, visiting your domain should load your website. You may still need to update your WordPress website address so that it uses your domain name instead of the IP address.

Method 3. Manually Host WordPress on Google Cloud VM

This method is for advanced users, developers, and learners. For this method, you’ll manually configure your VM and use the SSH command line to install software.

Step 1. Create a Project

To begin, you’ll need to sign in to your Google Cloud account and create a new project from the Cloud Console.

Once your project is created, the next step is to enable billing.

Step 2. Enable Billing

Simply click on the Billing label from the left column and follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 3. Enable Computer Engine

Once billing is set up, you need to click on the ‘Compute Engine’ option from the left column (or use the search bar at the top to find it) and click ‘Enable’ to start using the API.

This unlocks the tools that you’ll use to create and manage your server.

Step 4. Create a Virtual Machine

Once you have enabled the Compute Engine, you can now create a Virtual Machine instance (VM instance for short).

A VM instance is your own virtual private machine that you can turn into a VPS server to host your website on the Google Cloud platform.

On the next screen, you will be asked to configure your VM instance.

First, you need to provide a name for your VM, which could be anything that helps you easily identify it. And choose a region and zone where you want to host it.

Below that, you’ll see pre-configured setups for different use cases. I recommend using E2, which is low-cost and perfect for hosting a WordPress website.

Below that, you’ll be able to configure your instance further by adding more memory or CPU cores to it.

Next, you need to click ‘Create’ to continue to the next step.

Google Cloud console will now create your Virtual Machine instance and redirect you to the VM management dashboard.

Step 5. Set up Firewall Rules

While your VM is ready, its firewall rules currently don’t allow incoming traffic requests.

Let’s change that.

Simply click on the ‘Set up firewall rules’ option.

This will bring you to the Network Security area and display your VM’s firewall rules.

Simply click on the ‘Create firewall rule’ option to continue.

On the next screen, you need to enter the following information into the fields:

• Name: allow-http
• Targets: All instances in the network
• Source filter: IPv4 ranges
• Source IP ranges: 0.0.0.0/0
• Second source filter: None
• Destination filter: None
• Protocols and ports: Check ‘TCP’ and enter 80

Don’t forget to click ‘Create’ to save your firewall rule.

Your Virtual Machine is now ready for website traffic.

Step 6. Installing Web Server Software

Next, you need to use the SSH button in the Cloud Console to connect to your server. This command-line interface allows you to install software and give your virtual machine commands in text format.

You’ll need to use it to install the necessary software stack. This includes Apache or Nginx for your web server, PHP for WordPress, and MySQL or MariaDB for your database.

You can run it in your web browser. Once connected, you will see a black terminal screen.

Now, you will need to run several commands, one after another. I know it does sound a bit complicated, but trust me, it is not as difficult as it sounds. Simply copy and paste the commands below.

You’ll first start by updating your VM instance. This is kind of like updating your computer to ensure you have all the security updates installed:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

It may take a few minutes to complete. During this time, you may see options pop up. Simply hit Enter to continue with the default choices.

Once finished, copy and paste the following command to install the Apache web server:

sudo apt install apache2 -y

For those of you who want to install Nginx, you can enter the following command:

sudo apt install nginx -y

Wondering which one is better? See our article comparing Apache vs. Nginx vs. LiteSpeed.

I prefer Nginx because it gives better performance and speed. However, Apache is more widely used due to its flexibility and ease of use.

Once you have installed the web server software, the next step is to install MySQL. Simply run this command:

sudo apt install mysql-server -y

Depending on your VM’s operating system, in some cases, mysql-server may not be available for installation. In that case, you can use MariaDB as a drop-in replacement for MySQL. It works perfectly with WordPress, and the commands are nearly identical.

Simply add the following command to install MariaDB instead:

sudo apt install mariadb-server -y

After that, you need to run the MySQL/MariaDB installation.

Enter the following command next:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

During installation, you can accept the defaults or tighten things based on your comfort level (say yes to remove anonymous users, disable root login remotely, and so on).

Now that you have MySQL installed, you can create a database to use for your WordPress website.

First, enter this command:

sudo mysql -u root -p

You’ll be asked for a password. If you created one during the installation, you can use that. Or simply hit the Enter key on your keyboard.

You will now enter the MySQL server. This is where you will manage your WordPress database.

Let’s first create one by modifying and entering the following command:

CREATE DATABASE wordpress DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE utf8_unicode_ci;
GRANT ALL ON wordpress.* TO 'wpuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strongpassword';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

You can change the database name from wordpress to anything else.

Similarly, you can change wpuser (the MySQL username), and finally replace strongpassword with your own strong password.

Next, you will need to install PHP and the required modules. Simply enter the following command:

sudo apt install php php-mysql php-curl php-gd php-xml php-mbstring php-zip libapache2-mod-php -y

Once the installation is finished, you need to restart your web server. This allows your web server to load the PHP and other installed modules on reboot.

For Apache, use the following command:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

For Nginx, you need to use the following command instead:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Step 7. Connect Your Custom Domain to Google Cloud

To use your own domain name (like yourdomain.com) with your Google Cloud VM, you’ll need to update your domain’s DNS settings to point to the external IP address of your VM instance.

First, go to the Google Cloud Console, open the ‘VM instances’ page, and copy the external IP address of your virtual machine. This is the address your domain needs to point to.

Next, you have to log in to your domain registrar’s dashboard. This is where you bought your domain, like Domain.com, GoDaddy, Bluehost, or other platforms.

I will show you instructions for Domain.com, but it is pretty much the same for all domain registrars.

Find the DNS settings or ‘Manage DNS’ section for your domain.

Here, you need to delete any A records that are currently pointing to a different IP address.

Then, click on the ‘Add Record’ button at the top.

In the form that appears, make sure the record type is set to A. In the “Refers to” dropdown, choose ‘Other Host’. Change the Name or Host field to @ if you’re pointing the root domain (e.g., example.com).

In the IP address field, enter the external IP address of your Google Cloud VM. For example, if your VM’s IP is 35.247.XX.XX, type that in.

Set the TTL (Time to Live) to the default value and then click the ‘Edit’ button to save the changes.

If you also want to support www.yourdomain.com, repeat the process and add another A record with the host set to www, pointing to the same IP.

It may take a few minutes for the DNS changes to propagate. Once complete, visiting your domain in a browser should take you to your Google Cloud-hosted website.

After saving your DNS changes, it may take a few minutes (up to 24 hours, but usually much faster) for them to propagate globally. Once that’s done, visiting your domain should load your server instead of just the raw IP.

Step 8. Install SSL and Enable HTTPS

Before visiting your domain, it’s a good idea to set up an SSL certificate. This allows you to serve your WordPress site over HTTPS, which is more secure and preferred by search engines.

I recommend using Let’s Encrypt, which is a free and trusted certificate authority.

To make things easier, I’ll use a tool called Certbot to automatically issue and configure the SSL certificate for Apache or Nginx.

First, update your package list and install Certbot:

sudo apt update  
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache -y

If you’re using Nginx, you can install Certbot with the Nginx plugin instead:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y

Once installed, run this command to request an SSL certificate for your domain.

Remember to replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain:

sudo certbot --apache -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com

For Nginx users, the command is:

sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com

Certbot will ask a few questions, including your email for urgent notices. You can choose to redirect all traffic to HTTPS when prompted, and I recommend saying yes.

That’s it! You’ve now installed a free SSL certificate, and your site is available over HTTPS.

Note: Let’s Encrypt certificates are valid for 90 days, but Certbot automatically renews them. You can test auto-renewal with this command:

sudo certbot renew --dry-run

Step 9. Install WordPress on Your Server

Now it’s time to install WordPress. Switch back to your VM instance, SSH into your server, and run:

wget https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz

Once the download finishes, you need to extract it using the following command:

tar -xvzf latest.tar.gz

This creates a wordpress folder.

Move its contents to your web root, which is usually called /var/www/html/ , like this:

sudo mv wordpress/* /var/www/html/

You need to give proper file permissions so your web server can access everything:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/

Now, create the WordPress config file.

First, copy the sample:

sudo cp /var/www/html/wp-config-sample.php /var/www/html/wp-config.php

Edit it using nano or another editor to enter your database name, user, and password.

This is the information you saved earlier when creating your WordPress database:

sudo nano /var/www/html/wp-config.php

Save and close the file by pressing CTRL+X.

Finally, go to your domain in a browser, and you should see the WordPress installation screen.

You can now follow the steps to create your admin user and finish the setup. Need help? See our complete WordPress installation tutorial.

Troubleshooting Tip 💡: If you see a default server page instead of the WordPress installation screen. This means that a default index.html page is present in the root directory of your site. To delete it, connect to SSH again and enter the following command:

sudo rm /var/www/html/index.html

🎉 That’s it! You now have a working WordPress website running on Google Cloud with your custom domain.

Keep in mind that you’re also responsible for securing your WordPress site, managing backups, applying updates, and monitoring its performance. If you’re not confident doing those things, Method 1 (SiteGround) may be a better fit.

Google Cloud Hosting Costs Explained

One thing that can catch beginners off guard is how Google Cloud charges for hosting. Unlike traditional web hosts with flat monthly plans, Google Cloud uses a pay-as-you-go model that depends on how much you use their services.

When you launch a WordPress site on Google Cloud, whether manually or using Click to Deploy, you’re billed separately for your virtual machine, disk storage, network usage, and optional services, such as snapshots or load balancing.

For example, if you go with the default setup from Click to Deploy using an e2-small instance (2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM) and a 20 GB disk, the estimated monthly cost looks like this:

• VM instance: $15.09/month
• Persistent disk: $0.88/month
• Total estimated monthly cost: ~$15.97/month

This doesn’t include bandwidth usage or backup storage. If your site gets a lot of traffic, or if you store large files or create snapshots, then the cost can increase without warning.

You’ll also need to monitor usage, set up budget alerts, and manually handle software updates, backups, and security patches. That can be a lot of work if you just want to focus on building your site.

That’s why, even though Google Cloud is incredibly powerful, I don’t usually recommend it for beginners — unless you’re prepared to manage everything yourself and optimize for cost.

Google Cloud vs. SiteGround – Cost Comparison

SiteGround, on the other hand, provides the same Google Cloud infrastructure underneath, but with predictable pricing, automated security, expert support, and no unexpected bills.

If you’re building a serious website or running a business, the peace of mind and support alone are worth it.

Final Verdict: Why I Recommend SiteGround for Hosting WordPress on Google Cloud

Over the years, I have used all three methods: manual VM setup, Click to Deploy, and SiteGround. And my honest recommendation is simple.

If you love digging into server setups and want to learn cloud infrastructure hands-on, then the DIY method is a great project.

But if you’re focused on growing your business rather than managing infrastructure, then SiteGround is the smarter way to go.

You still get the power and reliability of Google Cloud behind the scenes. But everything else — performance optimization, backups, caching, staging, support — is handled for you by people who know WordPress inside and out.

We host WPBeginner on SiteGround, and many of our partner companies are also hosted on SiteGround.

If you’re building a serious website and don’t want to worry about server configuration, billing spikes, or keeping up with security patches, then SiteGround is where you should start.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hosting WordPress on Google Cloud

Bonus WordPress Hosting Resources 🎁

The following are a few additional resources on hosting WordPress that you may find helpful.

• How to Install WordPress on Amazon Web Services
• Shared Hosting vs. Cloud Hosting vs. Managed WordPress – What’s the Difference?
• Best Cloud Hosting Providers for WordPress (Expert Pick)
• How to Move WordPress to a New Host or Server With No Downtime
• Best WordPress Migration Services (Compared)

Whether you choose SiteGround for simplicity or go the manual route for full control, hosting WordPress on Google Cloud is absolutely doable. I hope this guide has helped you pick the right path and feel more confident about launching your site.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Host WordPress on Google Cloud Platform (3 Ways) first appeared on WPBeginner.

‘Your domain name is about to expire!’ is a pretty scary email that thousands of business owners receive every day. The thing is that many of these urgent messages are actually scams.

I’ve helped countless website owners avoid these traps over the years. The issue that these scams have now evolved from simple email tricks to sophisticated schemes that can fool even experienced website owners.

That’s why I wanted to create this guide to show you what these domain name scams look like and how you can protect yourself. Whether you own one domain name or a hundred, these tips will help you keep your digital property safe.

What Are Domain Name Scams?

Have you ever received an alarming message telling you that your domain name is about to expire? Maybe it even demanded immediate payment to prevent your website from being taken down.

These domain name scams are designed to extract money or sensitive information from domain owners or potential buyers.

Scammers use a range of tactics—emails, phone calls, even traditional mail—to catch you off guard. They often pretend to be real organizations and make their communications look official.

Now, let’s take a look at the most common domain name scams you may see.

1. Misleading Renewal Notices and Invoices

A few months back, I opened my inbox to find an email with the subject line: ‘URGENT: Your domain name is about to expire!’

The email looked official, and it even had a familiar logo and included my domain name.

But something felt off.

The renewal fee they asked for was twice what I usually pay. Plus, the sender’s email address was generic instead of my actual domain name registrar‘s official email. That’s when I realized it was a scam trying to trick me into either paying unnecessary fees to a fake company or unknowingly transferring my domain to their control.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

This practice is often known as ‘domain slamming’. Scammers might:

• Send official-looking emails or letters that mimic the branding of legitimate registrars.
• Use urgent language like ‘Immediate Action Required’ or ‘Final Notice’ to pressure you to act without thinking.
• Inflate renewal fees, charging prices much higher than standard rates.
• Trick you into transferring domains by sneakily including transfer authorization, so you unintentionally move your domain name to another registrar.

It’s not just digital communications. Some people get phone calls from scammers posing as customer service representatives, insisting on immediate payment.

And I’ve even received letters in the mail that looked real. They had professional letterheads and detailed information about my domain name.

One letter claimed I’d lose my domain name if I didn’t pay a steep renewal fee immediately. If I hadn’t been cautious, I might have fallen for it.

✅ How to Protect Yourself

Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself from misleading renewal notices and invoices:

• Verify the Sender: Always double-check that any emails, calls, or letters about your domain are actually from your domain registrar. You can do this by carefully looking at the sender’s email address. If it’s a call, letter, or you’re unsure about an email, it’s best to contact your registrar using the official phone number or support channels listed on their actual website, not from a suspicious message.
• Check Your Domain Name’s Expiration Date: Log in to your domain registrar’s account dashboard to check when your domain name expires.
• Don’t Let Urgency Pressure You: Scammers often use urgent language to make you panic and act quickly. If you get a demanding message, take a moment to pause and think things through before you do anything.
• Contact Your Registrar Directly: If you’re ever unsure about a notice you’ve received, it’s always safest to contact your domain registrar directly. Make sure to find their official contact information on their website, rather than using any phone numbers or links provided in the suspicious message.
• Educate Your Team: Make sure your team that manages your domain names is aware of these scams to prevent accidental loss.

For more details, just see the last section in this article.

2. Phishing Scams Leading to Domain Hijacking

I once received an email that seemed to be from my domain registrar. It had all the right logos and mentioned my domain name. The subject line read, ‘Important: Security Update Required.’

But before I clicked the link in the email, I noticed the URL didn’t look right. I realized it was a phishing attempt.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

Phishing scams are designed to trick you into handing over your login credentials. Scammers create emails or websites that mimic legitimate companies, hoping you’ll:

• Click on malicious links that lead to fake login pages that capture your username and password.
• Provide sensitive information, like your bank account details or passwords, through forms or direct replies.
• Download infected attachments that install malware that can compromise your security.

Remember, phishing attempts aren’t limited to email. Scammers may also use phone calls, text messages, and social media.

Once they have your login information, they can access your domain registrar account and take complete control. This is called domain hijacking.

By hijacking your domain, scammers can transfer your domain name to another registrar without your permission. They can also redirect your website to malicious sites or hold it hostage until you pay a ransom.

Remember, legitimate companies will never ask you to provide sensitive information through unsecured channels.

✅ Protecting Yourself From Phishing and Domain Hijacking

Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself against phishing and domain hijacking:

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for Your Domain Account: This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification. Most registrars offer two-factor authentication (2FA) options—usually via an authenticator app or SMS code.
• Verify Before You Click: Inspect the email address because scammers often use addresses that look similar to official ones. Before clicking, hover over the link to see where it actually leads. If it doesn’t match the official website, don’t click.
• Set Up Account Activity Alerts: Many domain registrars let you turn on notifications for important account changes. This way, you’ll get an email if someone logs into your account, changes your settings, or tries to transfer your domain. It’s a good way to catch any suspicious activity quickly without needing to constantly check your account manually.

3. Fake Domain Purchase and Appraisal Scams

Imagine getting an unsolicited email from someone eager to buy your domain name at a premium price.

Before you start celebrating, you need to make sure that the offer is legitimate.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

Scammers often use this tactic to exploit domain name owners:

• They express strong interest in your domain, often offering a price that’s above market value. (Related: Learn how much your website is worth.)
• They insist that you obtain a ‘certified domain appraisal’ from a specific service they recommend.
• The supposed buyer disappears once you pay for the appraisal, leaving you out of pocket.
• In some cases, they might use this scam to collect sensitive information about you or your domain name.

I’ve heard stories from other website owners who have come across similar schemes. These scams prey on the excitement of making a profitable sale.

✅ Protecting Yourself from These Scams

Here’s how you can protect yourself against fake purchase and appraisal scams:

• Do a Quick Search on the Buyer: If someone offers to buy your domain, it’s a good idea to do a little research on them. Real buyers usually have some online presence, like a company website, a LinkedIn profile, or business directory listings. If you search for their name or company and can’t find anything, that could be a red flag.
• Be Wary of Paid Appraisal Demands: Most legitimate buyers won’t ask you, the seller, to pay for a domain appraisal. If a potential buyer insists you use a specific appraisal service (especially one you haven’t heard of) and pay a fee, be very careful. If you do want an appraisal for your own information, it’s best to choose a well-known and trusted service yourself.
• Avoid Sharing Sensitive Information: Never share your sensitive information through email. Legitimate buyers only need basic information to make an offer. If they insist on sensitive details upfront, direct them to use a reputable domain broker or escrow service where transactions are protected.

I explain these safeguards in more detail at the end of this article.

4. Trademark Infringement and Related Domain Scams

Businesses may receive alarming messages claiming that someone is attempting to register similar domain names that potentially infringe on their trademark.

These communications often ask for immediate action to prevent brand damage, creating a sense of urgency and concern.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

Here are some ways scammers exploit brand protection concerns:

• They claim that someone is registering domain names that closely resemble your brand or trademark.
• Phrases like ‘urgent action required’ or ‘immediate attention needed’ are used to pressure businesses into quick responses.
• Scammers may suggest purchasing additional domain extensions or services to ‘safeguard’ the brand, which are often unnecessary.

These scams often arrive via email or phone. To appear legitimate, they may use official-sounding language or legal terminology. They want to frighten you into making a rushed decision.

✅ Protecting Against Trademark Infringement Scams

To avoid falling victim to these schemes:

• Don’t Let Panic Make You Rush: Scammers often use scary-sounding legal language or threats about your brand to make you act quickly without thinking. If you get a notice like this, the first thing to do is take a moment and don’t rush into any decisions or payments.
• Check if the Claim and Sender Are Real: Try to find out if the organization that contacted you is legitimate and if their claim has any truth to it. Look up the company online and find its official contact information. Also, carefully check the message itself for common warning signs, like generic greetings, poor grammar or spelling, and email addresses that don’t look official.
• Consider Talking to a Legal Expert: If the notice seems serious, or if you’re genuinely worried that there might be a real trademark issue, it can be very helpful to speak with a lawyer who knows about intellectual property. They can look at the situation, tell you if there’s a real problem, and explain what your options are.
• Do Your Own Quick Checks: You can use a WHOIS lookup tool online to see if the domain names mentioned in the warning are actually registered by someone else or if they are still available. If the message is urging you to buy multiple domain names to ‘protect your brand,’ think carefully about whether you actually need them.

Check the end of this article for more detailed information on how to protect yourself.

5. Homograph Attacks (Typosquatting)

Domain scammers often use a trick called a homograph attack. They register domain names that look almost identical to legitimate ones, but use different characters.

For example, they might register ‘exɑmple.com’ instead of ‘example.com’. The ‘a’ looks the same, but it’s actually a different character from another alphabet.

This technique makes scam emails look legitimate at first glance. When you receive a message about your domain name, always check the sender’s email address and any links carefully for these subtle character substitutions.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

Homograph attacks trick us because we usually read words by how they look at first glance, instead of carefully checking each letter.

Scammers register domain names that are visually similar to popular sites by:

• Using Lookalike Characters: Replacing letters with identical or near-identical characters from different alphabets (e.g., Cyrillic ‘ɑ’ instead of Latin ‘a’).
• Common Misspellings: Registering domain names with common typos (e.g., ‘gooogle.com’ instead of ‘google.com’).
• Alternate TLDs: Using different top-level domain names (TLDs) like ‘.net’ instead of ‘.com’ to catch users off guard.

Once you visit these fake sites, scammers may steal your personal information by prompting you to log in or enter sensitive data.

Alternatively, they can download malicious software onto your device or display unwanted ads or content to generate revenue through ad impressions or affiliate links.

✅ Protecting Yourself from Homograph Attacks

Here’s what I’ve learned to do to stay safe:

• Always Double-Check Web Addresses (URLs): Before clicking on a link, especially in an email or message, hover your mouse over it to see the actual web address it points to. Once you’re on a website, take a quick look at the address in your browser’s address bar to make sure it doesn’t contain any misspellings or unusual characters.
• Use Your Browser’s Built-in Protection: Most modern web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge have built-in security features that can warn you if you try to visit a known unsafe website. Make sure these features are turned on.
• Be Wary of Unsolicited Communications: Don’t click on links from unexpected emails or texts, even if they seem urgent. If you are in doubt, please contact the organization directly using its official contact information.

I cover these strategies in more detail later in this article.

6. Related: SEO and Search Engine Submission Scams

A while back, I received an email offering to submit my website to ‘hundreds of search engines’ for a small fee. The message promised quick results and top rankings.

It sounded tempting—who wouldn’t want their site to be easily found online?

Unfortunately, this is another common type of scam.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

SEO and search engine submission scams prey on the desire to get more traffic. Scammers might:

• Offer to submit your domain to numerous search engines. But major search engines like Google and Bing automatically crawl and index websites, and you can submit your site to search engines for free.
• Promise top rankings overnight. But genuine SEO is a long-term strategy, and no one can guarantee instant top positions.
• Request payment for secret algorithms or insider knowledge. But search engine algorithms are proprietary and closely guarded. Anyone claiming insider access is misleading you.

These offers often come via unsolicited emails or ads and use buzzwords like ‘guaranteed traffic’ or ‘instant SEO success’ to lure you in.

✅ Protecting Yourself from SEO Scams

Here’s what I’ve learned to do when confronted with these tempting offers:

• Do Some Research First: If a company offers you SEO services, take a few minutes to look them up online. See if you can find reviews or any complaints. You should be cautious if they promise things like ‘instant top rankings’ or discuss ‘secret SEO methods’ because real SEO doesn’t work that way.
• Understand How Search Engines Work: Know that major search engines will find and index your site automatically. And understand that SEO takes time and involves optimizing content, improving site speed, and other techniques.
• Be Careful with Unexpected SEO Offers: If you receive an unexpected email promising amazing SEO results, then you should be cautious. Reputable SEO companies won’t send spammy emails like that. Scammers will also often try to pressure you by claiming an offer is for a limited time, but don’t let that rush you into a decision.
• Stick to Good SEO Basics: Learning a few basic things about how SEO works can really help you. When you understand the fundamentals, it’s much easier to see when someone is making promises that are too good to be true. For details, you can see our ultimate guide to WordPress SEO.
• Choose SEO Help Wisely: If you decide you want professional help with your SEO, look for reputable experts or agencies. It’s a good sign if they have real testimonials or case studies from other clients that you can check. You can see our list of the best WordPress support agencies to see some companies that we recommend.
• Keep Your Login Information Safe: Never share your website login details, such as your WordPress admin password or financial information, with someone just because they offer you SEO services. If you do hire someone, ensure that any payments are made through secure and well-known payment methods.

In the next section of this article, I’ll explain in more detail the best strategies for protecting yourself from domain name scams.

Tips to Protect Yourself From Domain Name Scams

Over the years, I’ve used several strategies to keep my domain names safe from scammers. Here are some steps you can take to safeguard your domain names.

✅ Enable Registrar Lock

One of the first things I did after registering my domain names was to enable registrar lock, which is also known as domain lock.

This setting prevents anyone from transferring your domain name to another registrar without your permission. To transfer your domain, you’ll need to log in to your account and unlock it first. This is a simple but effective way to add extra security.

Simply log in to your domain registrar’s control panel and look for the domain lock option. In the example below, it is labeled ‘Transfer Lock’, but some registrars may use different wording.

If you’re unsure, reach out to your registrar’s support team for guidance.

✅ Use WHOIS Privacy Protection

When I first registered a domain name, I was surprised to find my personal contact information listed publicly in the WHOIS database. This visibility can make you a target for scammers.

By enabling WHOIS privacy protection, your personal details are hidden from public view.

If you’re curious about how this works, our guide on how to find out who actually owns a domain name explains how to find domain ownership information and the importance of privacy.

✅ Regularly Monitor Your Domain Name Status

It’s easy to forget renewal dates, especially if you have multiple domain names.

I recommend setting up domain expiry reminder emails directly with your domain registrar and enabling automatic domain name renewals.

For more information, see our guide on how to check your domain expiration date.

✅ Educate Your Team

If you have staff or team members who help manage your website or have access to your domain registrar account, ensure they are aware of these common scams.

It’s a good idea to share examples of suspicious emails or messages with them so everyone learns what to look out for and can help keep your domain safe.

✅ Verify Communications

As I’ve mentioned before, always be very careful with emails, phone calls, or letters about your domain name that you weren’t expecting.

Before clicking any links, providing information, or making payments, take a moment to verify if the message is real. If you have any doubts, it’s always safest to contact your domain registrar directly using the official phone number or support channels listed on their website.

✅ Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Adding an extra layer of security can make a big difference. I enabled 2FA on my domain registrar accounts, so even if someone guesses my password, they can’t access my account without the second verification step.

Most domain registrars offer 2FA options, which are usually found in the account security settings. For example, some registrars let you enable 2FA with a simple ‘Two-Step Sign In’ toggle switch.

Tip: You can also add two-factor authentication in WordPress to protect your website.

✅ Deal Only with ICANN-Accredited Registrars

It’s best to register your domain names with well-known and reputable companies.

Look for registrars that are ICANN-accredited (ICANN is the organization responsible for managing domain names globally).

Good registrars usually provide better security features for your account, helpful customer support if you need it, and clear, honest communication about your domain name.

For recommendations, see our pick of the best domain name registrars.

✅ Keep Your Contact Information Up to Date

 It’s really important to make sure your contact information (email, phone number, address) with your domain registrar is always up to date. If you’ve recently changed your contact details, then make sure to update them.

This is how your domain registrar will contact you about important things like renewal reminders or security issues.

✅ Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Offers

Whether it’s an email about SEO services or a call from someone wanting to buy your domain, approach unsolicited communications with caution.

Don’t agree to anything on the spot. Take the time to verify the offer or service. If you are unsure, then seek advice from trusted colleagues or industry experts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Name Scams

Many website owners worry when they receive messages about their domain names. Based on my experience helping website owners, here are answers to the most common domain security questions.

1. What is a domain name scam?

Domain name scams are deceptive practices that try to trick domain owners or potential buyers into giving up money or sensitive information.

Scammers use tactics like fake renewal notices, phishing emails, and misleading offers to exploit unsuspecting individuals.

2. How can I tell if a renewal notice is a scam?

Phrases like ‘Immediate Action Required’ or ‘Final Notice’ are often used by scammers. You should also be wary of emails or letters from companies you don’t recognize.

Besides that, watch out for renewal costs that are significantly higher than your usual rate. And always verify any renewal notice by logging into your registrar’s website or contacting their customer support directly.

3. What is domain slamming?

Domain slamming is when scammers send misleading transfer or renewal notices to trick you into switching domain registrars or paying unnecessary fees.

Make sure you read all messages carefully and check that they are from your actual domain registrar. And always be skeptical of unexpected emails or letters about your domain name.

4. How do phishing scams lead to domain hijacking?

Phishing scams trick you into revealing your login credentials by mimicking your domain registrar’s website or communications.

I once got an email that looked like it was from my domain registrar, asking me to log in due to ‘suspicious activity’. Instead of clicking the link, I accessed my account directly and found everything was fine.

I recommend you enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security. Also, never click suspicious links, and navigate to your registrar’s site manually.

Finally, use strong, unique passwords, and avoid using the same password across multiple sites.

5. What should I do if someone offers to buy my domain?

While it can be exciting to receive an unsolicited offer, make sure to be careful. Red flags include when they insist you pay for an appraisal service and make very high offers as bait.

My advice is to research the buyer, verify their credibility, and never pay upfront fees.

6. Are the trademark infringement notices I receive always legitimate?

Not necessarily. Scammers try to use fear around brand protection.

Watch out for urgency and pressure. Scammers often push you to act quickly and demand fees to ‘protect’ your brand.

7. How do homograph attacks (typosquatting) work?

Scammers register domain names that look like yours by using similar or international characters. For example, they may replace ‘o’ with ‘0’ (zero) in a domain name.

Be sure to double-check URLs before clicking on links or entering information. And it’s best to navigate to important sites using saved bookmarks.

8. What should I do if I suspect I’ve been targeted by a scam?

First, don’t engage and avoid responding to the scammer. Next, change your passwords to secure your accounts immediately.

Finally, you should contact your domain registrar and inform them of the suspicious activity. You can also report the scam to the appropriate authorities or online platforms.

9. Can someone steal my domain name?

Yes, domain hijacking is a real threat.

That’s why we recommend using strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) when logging in to your domain registrar account. This makes unauthorized access more difficult.

Also, you should regularly monitor your domain status and consider using a registrar lock. This adds an extra layer of security against unauthorized transfers.

10. Why am I receiving so many unsolicited emails about my domain?

If your domain’s WHOIS information is public, then scammers can easily find your contact details.

The solution is to enable WHOIS privacy protection, which hides your personal information from public databases.

I hope this tutorial helped you learn about common domain name scams and how to avoid them. You may also want to see our guide on how to check domain name availability or our expert pick of the best domain name generators to help you pick a domain fast.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 6 Common Domain Name Scams to Avoid (& How to Spot Them) first appeared on WPBeginner.

May has been a month of big changes in the WordPress ecosystem. From enhanced SEO features in AIOSEO to important privacy updates in WPConsent and performance boosts in WooCommerce, there’s a lot to cover.

This month, we also saw the formation of a dedicated AI team at WordPress.org, which signals exciting developments to come.

Let’s explore the key highlights and discover what’s new in the world of WordPress!

DB Reset Pro Makes WordPress Database Resets Easier for Developers and Testers 🔃

The team behind popular plugins like SeedProd and Duplicator has launched a new tool: DB Reset PRO. It lets you reset your WordPress database easily and safely, with full control over what gets wiped and what stays.

The plugin removes posts, pages, comments, and users but keeps your admin account, site title, and all media uploads. Themes and plugins are deactivated but not deleted.

Built-in safety features include permission checks and clear reset warnings. There’s also an option to automatically reactivate selected plugins after the reset.

It’s ideal for debugging, development, and learning. You can quickly start fresh without needing to reinstall WordPress. The plugin also supports multisite and has a clean, WordPress-native design.

DB Reset PRO is free and now available on WordPress.org. It’s a useful tool for anyone who needs a reliable reset without affecting files or uploads.

WordPress Announced a Dedicated AI Team to Guide Open-Source Innovation

WordPress.org has launched a new AI Team to lead and coordinate artificial intelligence efforts across the platform.

The team’s goal is to help WordPress stay ahead as AI tools become more common in content creation and site management.

This move brings structure to AI-related work that is already happening in the ecosystem. It helps avoid fragmentation and makes sure that future innovation lines up with WordPress’s long-term goals and open-source values.

The team will take a plugin-first approach to development. This means new features will roll out as Canonical Plugins, which allows for faster testing and community feedback outside the slower Core release cycle.

The founding members are James LePage (Automattic), Felix Arntz and Pascal Birchler (Google), and Jeff Paul (10up). James and Felix will act as the first team representatives, helping organize work and connect with other Make WordPress teams.

WPForms Adds Square Payments for Free Users and Launches Google Drive Integration

WPForms now lets users accept Square payments on all plans, including the free version. This makes it easier for small businesses, nonprofits, and personal sites to collect payments directly through WordPress forms.

The Square integration allows quick setup without custom code. It supports basic payment forms, while advanced features, such as conditional logic, are still available through the PRO addon for paid plans.

WPForms has also launched a new Google Drive Addon. This feature helps teams manage uploaded files without needing to give everyone WordPress access.

Form submissions and file uploads can now be synced automatically to any folder in Google Drive.

The integration is designed to fit smoothly with Google Workspace. It makes collaboration easier by allowing teams, like HR, marketing, or client services, to access form files where they already work.

Plus, smart permissions ensure that users see only what they need, without extra WordPress user roles or logins.

WordPress Ecosystem Expands with 87% Increase in New Plugin Submissions

The WordPress Plugins team has reported an 87% increase in new plugin submissions compared to last year. This growth shows that there has been strong wave of innovation across the developer community.

The data shows a steady rise in submissions since September 2024. And many contributors point to AI as a driving force behind this increase.

A growing number of plugins now include “AI” in their titles, offering features like content generation, chatbots, SEO tools, translation, and AI image creation. Overall, developers are using AI to improve both front-end experiences and backend efficiency.

The Plugin Review Team has also upgraded its internal scanner. It now checks for more security issues, such as missing sanitization or escaping, and offers clearer code examples for fixes. It can also detect similar plugin names, which reduces duplicate plugins and confusion within the plugin directory.

Despite the higher volume of plugins, the team has kept average review wait times low. Faster reviews give developers more motivation to experiment, publish early, and contribute new solutions to the WordPress community.

AIOSEO Update Brings Google Indexing Insights Directly to WordPress

All in One SEO for WordPress has introduced a major new feature called the Index Status Report.

This tool shows you how Google views your website’s content, without leaving your WordPress dashboard. This allows you to find and fix SEO issues before they hurt your rankings.

The Index Status Report helps users understand which pages are indexed, which aren’t, and why. It displays five key categories: Indexed, Crawled but Not Indexed, Discovered but Not Indexed, Other Not Indexed, and No Results Yet.

AIOSEO says the feature fills a critical gap for users who struggle with invisible pages in search results. “While other SEO plugins only show basic indexing status, AIOSEO’s Index Status Report tells you exactly why pages aren’t being indexed—and what to do about it,” said Ben Rojas, President of AIOSEO.

Users can also view post-level indexing issues, including crawl status, canonical tags, and robots.txt rules. Each post has a direct link to inspect it in Google Search Console.

Plus, advanced filtering lets users sort by indexing state, post type, or crawl conditions.

Another feature tracks rich results eligibility. This helps users see which posts can show rich snippets in Google and which schema markup types are already applied, all without opening the post editor.

Review Feeds Simplifies Google and Yelp Reviews with No API Required

Smash Balloon has released a major update to Review Feeds Pro that allows you to display light-use Google and Yelp reviews without API keys. The change is designed to help users save time and avoid recent third-party charges, especially from Yelp’s paid API model.

Users can now paste a link to their Yelp page or Google Place ID to set up a review feed in minutes. There’s no need to connect billing accounts or enter credit card details.

The feature is ideal for users who only need to show a handful of reviews. Free plan users can display up to 10 reviews from a single source without any API integration. Pro users still have the option to enter API keys to unlock unlimited sources and faster feed updates.

With this update, users can highlight Google and Yelp reviews directly on their websites, promote trust, and increase conversions—all with fewer technical requirements.

WooCommerce 9.9 Beta Introduces Blueprints, Faster Dashboard, and Smarter Exports

WooCommerce 9.9 is set for release on June 2, 2025. The beta version is now available for testing, with new features that focus on speed and store management.

The update introduces ‘Blueprints’, which is a tool for exporting and importing store settings. It helps developers and agencies maintain consistent setups across sites.

Admin speed is also improved with asynchronous dashboard widgets. This change significantly reduces load times on uncached or high-traffic sites.

Additionally, store owners can now export selected products by ID and hide all shipping rates when free shipping is available. Both these features were previously only possible with code or third-party tools.

Other updates include automated database migrations and smoother navigation in Product Collection blocks. Experimental features, including COGS tracking and a redesigned Product Gallery block, are also available for early testing.

WPConsent Adds Per-Page Scanning and New Consent Defaults

WPConsent, a WordPress privacy and cookie popup plugin, has released a big update introducing new features for improving privacy compliance in WordPress.

It now offers per-page scanning, improved cookie settings, and cleaner uninstall options.

Site owners can choose which pages to scan for scripts and cookies. This helps reduce scan times, allowing users to focus on key areas like checkout, forms, and login pages. WPConsent also suggests commonly used pages for added convenience.

A new “Default Allow” option gives more control over how cookies are handled. When this setting is enabled, scripts and iframes will load by default unless the user opts out. If rejected, cookies are cleared and the page refreshes to reflect the updated consent choice.

WPConsent also now includes an option to delete all plugin data when the plugin is uninstalled. This ensures full data removal and supports cleaner site management.

The update also includes enhancements to Google Consent Mode compatibility and works well with plugins like MonsterInsights.

WPCode Adds Schema Generators and Improved Pixel Tracking

WPCode has released a new update with 20 new generators for adding schema markup to WordPress sites.

Users can now create structured data for articles, FAQs, reviews, and more—no coding required. This makes advanced SEO tools more accessible for beginners and small business owners.

The schema tool uses a simple form-based interface. Once filled, WPCode generates valid schema code that can be easily inserted and edited. Premium users can also use Smart Tags to dynamically auto-fill values.

This update also improves click tracking in the Conversion Pixel addon. Click events now send data to both Google Analytics and Google Ads for more complete reporting.

In Other News 🗞️

• MonsterInsights now supports Pinterest ad tracking. Users can measure conversions and return on investment (ROI) from Pinterest PPC campaigns using just their Tag ID and Ad Account, all from inside WordPress. No coding needed.
• WordPress 6.8.1 has been released as a maintenance update. It fixes 15 bugs across Core and the Block Editor, and improves stability in multisite, the REST API, and other key areas.

• AdTribes has updated its UI for managing WooCommerce product feeds. Bulk actions and workflow improvements are now live, along with a new Product Feed Validator to help check data quality before submitting feeds to marketplaces.
• A2 Hosting has rebranded as Hosting.com. The company promises improved performance and support while continuing with its core services and infrastructure.
• The folks behind rtCamp have launched GoDAM, a new digital asset management plugin. It offers enhanced video handling and media organization for WordPress users, especially agencies and enterprise teams.

• WordPress Campus Connect is now a global program bringing WordPress education to college campuses. After a successful 2024 pilot, it will host events and training at universities worldwide.

• Formidable Forms has rolled out improved anti-spam tools across all plans. The update includes honeypot protection, keyword filtering, and an integration with the StopForumSpam API.
• WordCamp Europe 2025 is just around the corner and will be happening June 5–7 in Basel, Switzerland. Some tickets are still available.

New Plugins & Tools

• DB Reset PRO 🔥 – Quickly reset your WordPress database without affecting media uploads or plugin files.
• MyPayKit 💳 – Create secure Square-powered payment forms for donations, invoices, and online sales.
• MD Governance – Control block editor settings by user role to create a safer, role-specific editing experience in WordPress.
• Thread Block – Display X (formerly Twitter) style threaded conversations in WordPress posts or pages using a Gutenberg block.

That’s all for this month’s WPBeginner Spotlight! 🎉 We hope this roundup helped you stay informed on what’s new and notable in the WordPress world.

Have a product update, launch, or project worth sharing? Let us know — your submission could be featured in an upcoming issue.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll be back next month with more WordPress insights and updates.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post WPBeginner Spotlight 12: New Tools for SEO, Privacy, and WooCommerce Performance first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I first started building WordPress websites, tracking visitor data just meant installing Google Analytics and calling it a day.

But times have changed. With new privacy regulations, using cookies to collect personal information without user consent can lead to legal headaches and lost visitors.

I’ve helped several WordPress site owners transition to cookie-free analytics solutions that still provide powerful insights. After testing numerous options and implementing them across various types of websites, I’ve identified the most effective approaches.

In this guide, let me show you two ways to add analytics while respecting your visitors’ privacy. One uses a privacy-first setup for Google Analytics (which uses first-party cookies), and the other is a cookieless option.

Do I Really Need Cookieless Analytics?

You’ve probably heard a lot about cookies and privacy laws. But what does it all really mean for your WordPress website’s analytics? Let me break it down.

Cookies are small pieces of data that are stored on a user’s browser when they visit a website.

Traditional analytics tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4) use these cookies to track visitor behavior. This includes details like which pages they visit, how long they stay, and what actions they take.

All this data helps site owners better understand their audience and improve their websites.

🚨 Here’s the challenge: New privacy laws, like the GDPR, CCPA, and ePrivacy, require websites to ask for explicit user consent before tracking with cookies. Because of this, many website owners think they must switch to cookie-free analytics to stay compliant.

However, that’s not actually true!

You can still track important data with Google Analytics while staying compliant with privacy laws.

Why “Cookieless” Google Analytics 4 is the Best Option

When it comes to website analytics, Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is still the best and most powerful tool available – and that’s true for all types of websites. So, if you want accurate insights into your visitors’ behavior, GA4 is the way to go.

But before we start, let’s clear up a common misunderstanding: GA4 does not rely on third-party cookies. Instead, it uses first-party cookies, which are set by your own website to collect data about your visitors’ activity on your WordPress site only.

In contrast, third-party cookies are set by external services (like ad networks) and track users across multiple websites. Because of their broader tracking scope, they raise more privacy concerns and are being phased out by many browsers.

Now, you might be wondering: “Since GA4 still uses cookies – even if they’re first-party – can it be used in a way that complies with privacy laws?”

The answer is yes!

However, do note that Google Analytics itself isn’t automatically compliant or non-compliant. It’s your responsibility to use it in a way that follows the rules that apply to you.

Plus, whether you need cookie consent for Google Analytics depends on several factors. They can be where you and your visitors are located, and how you handle their data.

Since cookie consent laws differ by country (even within the EU), some websites must ask users to consent to specific cookies, while others need a banner for any cookie use.

To help with this, I’ll show you how to pair GA4 with:

✅ MonsterInsights with the EU Compliance addon – This helps ensure your data handling aligns with GDPR and other privacy regulations.

✅ WPConsent cookie banners – These help you request and manage user consent the right way.

With these tools in place, you can continue using GA4 in a way that supports compliance with privacy laws. This helps you gather valuable insights while reducing the risk of legal issues.

How to Add WordPress Analytics Without Cookies

Now that I’ve covered what cookieless tracking is and whether you really need it, let’s talk about how to set it up on your WordPress site.

There are 2 solid options to do this:

1. GA4 + MonsterInsights EU Compliance addon – Track user behavior with GA4 while staying compliant with privacy laws like GDPR. It uses first-party cookies and offers configurable settings for stronger privacy. Ideal for getting detailed insights with easy website integration.
2. Burst Statistics – Let’s you set up analytics without cookies. It stores data on your server and offers a hybrid mode with optional cookies.

I will cover both methods in our tutorial, along with some extra tips and FAQs about cookieless tracking.

Feel free to use the jump links below to go to your preferred method:

Ready? Let’s break it down.

Method 1: How to Set Up WordPress Cookieless Analytics (Keep Using GA4 for the Best Insights)

This method is for if you want access to powerful analytics while still respecting user privacy. I’ll be using MonsterInsights alongside WPConsent to set up cookieless tracking.

Step 1: Install MonsterInsights to Set Up Cookieless Analytics

MonsterInsights is the most popular Google Analytics plugin for WordPress, and for a good reason: it makes viewing your Google Analytics data in WordPress incredibly easy.

At WPBeginner, we use it to track traffic sources, visitor demographics, and conversion rates on our forms, buttons, referral links, and more. Check out our complete MonsterInsights review for a deeper look at its features.

So, let’s first install and activate the MonsterInsights plugin. For details, you can see this guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Connect MonsterInsights to Google WordPress Analytics

Once you have MonsterInsights up and running, it’s time to connect it to your site and your Google Analytics account.

You can click the ‘Insights’ tab in the left-hand menu of your WordPress dashboard.

Next, just click the ‘Launch the Wizard’ button to start the MonsterInsights setup process.

On the next screen, you’ll need to pick a category that best describes your website.

This can be a WordPress blog, business site, or online store.

Just hit ‘Save and Continue’ after you make your choice.

After that, you’ll need to connect MonsterInsights to your website’s Google Analytics account.

Simply click the ‘Connect MonsterInsights’ button to begin the process.

In the next steps, you’ll have to sign in to your Google Analytics account and select the website you want to track.

MonsterInsights will then install Google Analytics on your site – easy as that!

For details, you can see this guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.

Step 3: Install the MonsterInsights EU Compliance Addon

Since GA4 still uses first-party cookies, you need to make sure that your tracking complies with GDPR. The MonsterInsights EU Compliance addon makes this easier by automating key privacy settings in GA4.

Some of its essential features include:

• Anonymizing IP addresses to prevent personal data storage.
• Disabling the tracking of user demographics, interests, and User IDs.

To install the addon, you can navigate to Insights » Addons.

Here, go ahead and click the ‘Install & Activate’ button to install the EU Compliance addon.

After that, you can switch the toggle to activate the addon when it appears.

Upon activation, let’s go to the ‘Settings’ menu.

In the ‘Engagement’ tab, simply toggle the ‘Enable EU Compliance’ setting to turn it on.

We also recommend verifying the settings directly in GA4 to ensure your GA4 setup aligns with your MonsterInsights privacy settings.

For example, to make sure your GA4 doesn’t track demographics, you can navigate to your GA4 ‘Admin’ panel.​

Next up, you’ll want to locate the ‘Data collection and modification’ setting.

Then, simply click the ‘Data collection’ option.

Now, in the ‘Google signals data collection’ settings, you should make sure it’s disabled.

Why does this matter? Google Signals collects extra user data, including:

• Demographics & Interests – Age, gender, and hobbies.
• Location & Engagement – User locations (from Google accounts).
• Cross-Device Tracking – Identifies users as they switch between devices.
• Cross-Platform Reports – How users interact across devices.
• Ad Personalization Data – Connects with Google Ads for remarketing.

If it’s already off, then you should see the option to ‘Turn On’ like this:

You might also want to review your data retention settings.

Data retention controls how long GA4 stores user-level and event-level data before automatically deleting it. A shorter retention period can help with GDPR compliance and privacy regulations.

To do this, you can go to Data collection and modification » Data retention from the ‘Admin’ menu.

On the next screen, you’ll see options to set the event and user data retention period.

You can click the ‘Data retention’ dropdown menus for both event and user data. Then, for stricter compliance, simply choose the ‘2 months’ option.

Don’t forget to click ‘Save’ when you’re done adjusting.

To learn more about all things GA4, you can check out our beginner’s guide on how to use Google Analytics 4.

Step 4: Set Up the WPConsent Cookie Consent Plugin

Using Google Analytics 4 while complying with laws like GDPR and CCPA means you need to get user consent before tracking. And that responsibility falls on you.

Whether consent is required depends on where your business is based, where your users are located, what data you collect, and how it’s used. Plus, rules vary widely across countries, even within the EU, with some requiring consent for specific cookies and others for any type.

Instead of handling this manually yourself, you can use WPConsent to simplify compliance.

This powerful plugin lets you display a cookie consent banner, log user choices, and control when tools like GA4 are allowed to run — all within WordPress.

At WPBeginner (and some of our partner brands), we use WPConsent, and it’s been a reliable solution for managing privacy settings. Explore all of its features in our complete WPConsent review!

So, let’s start by installing the WPConsent plugin. If you need help, then you can see this beginner’s guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, let’s activate the license key.

To do this, you’ll need to go to WPConsent » Settings. After that, simply copy the license key from your WPConsent account and paste it into the ‘License Key’ field.

Then, go ahead and click the ‘Activate Key’ button.

With that done, let’s navigate to ‘Dashboard’ to go through the setup wizard.

Go ahead and click on the ‘Let’s Get Started’ button.

On the next screen, WPConsent will run a scan to see if your site is using cookies.

First, it will ask you to check your site’s email address.

If everything looks good already, then you can click ‘Scan Your Website.’

This will trigger the tool to start the cookie scan.

Once done, you’ll see a ‘Scan completed’ notification along with a short report on the tool’s findings. For example, here it says that WPConsent found 4 services on our site that have set cookies.

Let’s click on ‘OK’ to continue the process.

Next up, you’ll see your WordPress site’s scan results in more detail.

On my demo site, the services that use cookies are WordPress login (this might be because of the ‘Remember Me‘ option), WordPress Comments, Google Analytics, and Matomo.

Make sure that you select all the services. Then, you should also check the box that says ‘Prevent known scripts from adding cookies before consent is given.’

With that done, go ahead and click the ‘Auto-Configure selected’ button.

After that, WPConsent will prompt you to set up your cookie banner.

The process is super simple. You just need to choose a layout and pick a position.

Then, you can scroll down the page to preview your cookie consent banner.

If everything looks good to you, it’s time to click the ‘Save & Complete Setup’ button.

And you’re done!

Now, if you visit your website, you’ll see your cookie consent banner in action.

👉 Expert Tip: Adding a link to your privacy policy page in the cookie banner helps build trust with your visitors and align with legal requirements. If you don’t have one yet, then check out our tutorial on how to add a privacy policy page in WordPress.

After setting it up, you can embed the link into your cookie banner from the WPConsent editor.

Just navigate to WPConsent » Banner Design from your admin area. Then, you can edit the text in the ‘Message’ field to include the link to your Privacy Policy page.

Don’t forget to click the ‘Save’ button so you don’t lose your progress.

And here’s your cookie banner:

Step 5: Access Consent Logs to Verify Your Privacy Settings

WPConsent has a ‘Consent Logs’ section that provides a detailed record of how visitors interact with your site’s cookie consent popup.

To see your logs, go ahead and navigate to WPConsent » Consent Logs from your WordPress admin area.

Here, you’ll find a table with all your users’ consent details.

For example, I have a user who accepted all cookies – essential, statistics, and marketing.

And that’s it – you’ve successfully set up Google Analytics with enhanced privacy settings while still using cookies.

Method 2: How to Set Up WordPress Analytics Without Cookies (Free Option with Less Data Accuracy)

If you’re looking to track analytics without cookies, then Burst Statistics is a great option. This free plugin makes the process pretty simple.

Keep in mind that Burst Statistics uses a technique called fingerprinting. It’s a way to identify a computer or device based on its unique characteristics, like the browser, operating system, and installed fonts, even without using cookies.

While it’s generally considered less intrusive than cookies, it’s still a form of tracking, so it’s good to be aware of it.

Now, let’s take a look at how you can set it up on your WordPress site.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Burst Statistics Plugin on WordPress

To get started, you need to install and activate the free Burst Statistics plugin. Simply navigate to Plugins » Add New Plugin from your admin area.

After that, you’ll want to use the search feature to quickly find the plugin. Then, go ahead and click the ‘Install Now’ button.

Then, you should click once again on the ‘Activate’ button when it appears. If you need help, then you can check out this guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Configure Settings for Optimal Performance and Privacy

Upon plugin activation, you can enable analytics without cookies straight away.

All you have to do is navigate to Statistics » Settings from your WordPress admin area. Then, let’s make sure you’re in the ‘General’ tab.

From here, simply switch on the ‘Enable Cookieless tracking’ option like this:

And that’s it – you’ve successfully set up WordPress analytics without cookies on your website.

Step 3: Verify if Your Analytics Are Working Properly

Unlike the more traditional approach, analytics without cookies avoids storing personal data, like IP addresses or other user identifiers. Instead, it provides anonymized, aggregated data.

That said, it’s important to note that some methods still involve data collection. This may carry privacy implications depending on how they’re implemented.

To see if your analytics are working properly, you need to go to the ‘Statistics’ menu. On the next screen, you’ll immediately find your visitors and pageviews graph for the last seven days.

To see the statistics in detail, you can scroll down this page.

Here, you might notice that your sessions are counted differently.

In traditional analytics, cookies track when a visitor starts and ends a session. If the same person comes back within a certain time frame (usually 30 minutes), it’s counted as the same session.

In analytics without cookies, returning users cannot be recognized within that window. Instead, each visit is treated as a new session, even if it occurs shortly after the last one.

🤔 What does this mean for your reports? You may see a higher number of sessions than usual because visitors who leave and return within a short period won’t be grouped into a single session.

Further down the page, Burst Statistics provides a dedicated ‘Pages’ report that shows how pageviews are distributed across your site.

For example, if your ‘Compare’ report shows 9 pageviews, then you can see that 3 views came from the ‘Career’ page, 2 views from the ‘Login’ page, and so on.

FAQs About Cookieless WordPress Analytics

Still have questions? Let’s clear up some common concerns about tracking website data without cookies.

Why do websites need cookies?

Cookies store small amounts of data to remember user preferences, track user behavior, and improve the user experience. Many analytics tools use cookies to identify returning visitors and track interactions over time.

How can I add analytics to my WordPress site?

In short, you can add analytics to your WordPress site using tools like MonsterInsights, Matomo, or HubSpot.

I recommend MonsterInsights because it makes installing Google Analytics in WordPress easy. It gives you all your GA4 data in easy-to-understand reports directly in your WordPress dashboard.

For details, see this guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.

Do all websites with analytics need cookie warnings?

No. If your analytics solution doesn’t store personally identifiable information (PII) or track users across sessions using cookies, then you don’t need a cookie consent banner. This is why many site owners switch to analytics without cookies.

For example, Burst Statistics is a privacy-focused analytics tool that uses fingerprinting techniques. Instead of storing cookies, it analyzes non-personal browser and device data to differentiate visitors.

Keep in mind that while this approach is technically cookieless, it is still a form of data collection that may have privacy considerations.

Will cookieless analytics affect data accuracy?

It depends on the tool you use.

Cookieless tracking may not capture user journeys in as much detail, but it still provides accurate insights into overall traffic, page views, and engagement.

Many modern cookieless analytics tools use fingerprinting techniques or server-side tracking to improve accuracy. While these methods minimize cookie usage, they still collect data in other ways, which may raise concerns about privacy.

Can I switch back to traditional analytics if needed?

Yes, most analytics solutions allow you to switch between cookieless and traditional tracking. However, if you start using cookies again, then you may need to add a cookie consent banner to comply with privacy laws.

Further Reading 📚: More WordPress Analytics Guides

I hope this article has helped you learn how to add WordPress analytics without cookies.

Want to dive deeper into WordPress analytics? Check out these guides to track and understand your website’s performance more effectively:

• How to Set Up Google Analytics Goals
• How to See Search Analytics in WordPress
• How to Easily See Your Blog Stats
• How to Track Video Analytics in WordPress
• How to Set Up WordPress Form Tracking in Google Analytics
• How to Set Up Email Newsletter Tracking in Google Analytics
• How to Add Scroll Depth Tracking in WordPress with Google Analytics
• MonsterInsights vs Site Kit (Head-to-Head Comparison)
• Google Analytics vs Jetpack Stats (In-Depth Comparison)
• Best Analytics Solutions for WordPress Users

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Add WordPress Analytics Without Cookies (2 Easy Methods) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Are you fed up with overspending on your business phone system? Or maybe you’re a startup looking for a cost-effective solution that still has all the features you need?

RingCentral is a great option for many companies and entrepreneurs (in fact, we often recommend it to WPBeginner readers). However, it’s not the perfect solution for every single business.

That’s why I’ve done the research for you, testing a ton of business phone systems to find the best RingCentral alternatives. I looked at everything from pricing and ease of use to call quality and customer support, focusing on solutions suitable for all kinds of business owners.

Whether you’re looking for advanced features or just want something simple and affordable, I’m confident I’ve found a RingCentral alternative to fit your needs.

Quick Pick – The Best RingCentral Alternatives

In a hurry? No worries! Take a look at my top picks so you can quickly choose the right RingCentral alternative for your site.

How I Tested & Reviewed Ring Central Alternatives

I know that finding the right communication platform can be daunting and high-stakes. Make the wrong decision, and your remote team may struggle to collaborate. Even worse, you might miss urgent customer queries, provide a terrible customer experience, or lose out on potential leads.

With so much at stake, I’m committed to giving you the best possible advice about RingCentral alternatives.

That said, here’s how I tested the different options in this article: 

• We have actually used them at WPBeginner: For instance, we have used Nextiva for our own business phone system for many years and Zoom for company meetings. This real-world experience means we understand how these tools perform in a real business, and not just in a perfect demo environment.
• I put the most popular ones to the test: I dug deep into these solutions, analyzing them based on the stuff that really matters: How easy are they to use? What features do they offer? Do they have any time-saving artificial intelligence tools? And of course, how much do they cost? 
• I tried customizing them: Your business is unique, so your communication system should be, too. With that in mind, I personally tested each RingCentral alternative to see whether you can customize the call flows, greetings, and overall experience. For example, do you have the flexibility to fine-tune the VoIP or communications solution to better suit your business, or are you stuck with the default settings?
• I categorized them: The truth is, there’s no single ‘best’ RingCentral alternative that’s perfect for everyone. I understand that a small startup has different needs than a large call center. With that in mind, I categorized each solution to help you find the right platform for your unique needs. 

6 Best RingCentral Alternatives

Now, let’s look at the best RingCentral alternatives you should consider for your business.

1. Nextiva – Best for Remote Teams

I can confidently say that Nextiva is an excellent business phone service, especially for remote teams. Since it’s a cloud-based platform, you can answer calls from anywhere using an app on your computer or phone.

We also use it across our own business. We ultimately chose Nextiva because it offered the best balance of features, ease of use, and affordability for a business phone system, especially for remote teams like ours.

You can check out our Nextiva review for more information.

Another standout feature is Nextiva’s ability to handle multiple communication channels, including phone, SMS, live chat, video, team messaging, and social media. 

This makes it particularly well-suited for customer support, as it allows for seamless customer interactions. 

Nexitva’s IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system is also incredibly useful. This automated phone menu allows callers to interact with Nextiva using their keyboard or voice.

If you’ve ever rang a phone number and heard a pre-recorded greeting say something like “Press 1 for…” then you’ve encountered an IVR system before.

This feature enables you to route callers to the right department or person automatically, allowing you to better handle high call volumes. By automating simple routine tasks like this, you’ll be free to focus on more complex customer issues.

Plus, Nextiva has some great call analytics and reports. These call metrics allow you to see how many calls your team can handle and improve your customer service and sales teams.

Overall, Nextiva’s feature set is very impressive and includes automated reminders, video calls, an auto-attendant, and screen sharing.

It also integrates smoothly with other business tools like HubSpot, Zendesk, Zoho, and Salesforce.

✅ Pros of Nextiva:

• Cloud-based business phone service that’s perfect for remote work
• Affordable VoIP phone service
• Automated call forwarding based on your schedule
• Built-in contact management features
• Supports video chat, including screen sharing and file sharing
• Handles multiple communication channels
• Email and text voicemail transcription
• Detailed call analytics 
• Easily connects with other business tools

❌ Cons of Nextiva:

• No matter what plan you buy, you’ll need to pay for each additional user. This may make Nextiva difficult to scale, especially if you’re a rapidly expanding company that regularly onboards new employees. 
• The desktop app uses many resources and can slow down your computer.

Why I recommend Nextiva: As remote work continues to grow, I’m hearing from more and more businesses that need a reliable cloud-based phone solution. If this sounds like you, then Nextiva may be your ideal solution.

It lets you answer calls from anywhere using an app on your computer or phone, so it’s perfect for remote teams. I can also see this being a good option if your employees regularly travel or work in the field.

Pricing: Plans start at $20 per user per month for the Digital Plan and go up to $60 per user per month for the advanced Power Suite plan. 

2. Ooma – Best for Small Businesses on a Tight Budget

For small businesses, every dollar counts. Luckily, Ooma offers advanced features like auto-attendant, call forwarding, and voicemail transcription at a surprisingly budget-friendly price.

One of Oooma’s standout features is its virtual receptionist, which lets you create custom messages with general information such as your business hours and locations. It will then read these messages to anyone who calls your business number.

This helps callers get essential information right away, even if you don’t have a huge support team available 24/7.

But here’s where Oooma gets really smart.

The Virtual Receptionist isn’t just some basic answering machine. It can actually figure out who the caller needs to speak with and automatically forward them to the right person or department. For example, the virtual receptionist can ask callers to press different buttons for specific extensions, such as “Press 1 to speak with our refunds department.”

This makes your business look incredibly efficient and organized, allowing you to compete with the big guys (even if you’re a small team behind the scenes).

I also appreciated the drag-and-drop call flow designer, making it easy to create custom call flows. Even if you don’t have a technical expert on staff, you can still create custom call routes in minutes.

During my testing, I found Ooma’s call quality to be consistently clear and reliable. The mobile app is also pretty handy, allowing you to make unlimited domestic calls.

Even better, you can save up to 90% on international call rates when you dial through the app. That’s a massive saving if you call overseas a lot!

The Ooma app also uses your phone’s Wi-Fi or data connection to make calls. That means you can chat away without worrying about using up all your mobile data or sacrificing call quality.

✅ Pros of Ooma:

• Toll-free number with 500 minutes of inbound calls each month.
• Assign multiple devices to the same user.
• Automated call forwarding based on a schedule.
• The Caller Info Match feature automatically fetches customer information from sources like LinkedIn, Facebook, Google, HubSpot, ServiceNow, or Zoho.
• Supports video chat, including noise suppression, host muting, and HD streams.
• Convenient ‘meet now’ link for instant virtual meetings.
• Automatic voicemail transcription, plus a voicemail-to-email option.
• Easily connects with other business tools, including Microsoft Dynamics 365, Zoho, FreshDesk, and Salesforce Lightning.

❌ Cons of Ooma:

• A few users have experienced issues setting up the mobile app.
• Some features, such as the IVR system, can be complex to set up and require technical expertise.

Why I recommend Ooma: If you’re a small business or have a limited budget, then Ooma Office Essentials is a great starting point. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to set up and manage your phone system, even if you don’t have a team of technical experts on staff.

Ooma is also designed to be affordable. It includes unlimited calling to the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, so it’s a great, budget-friendly solution if you regularly call these locations.

Pricing: Ooma Office Essentials is priced at $19.95 per month, and is our recommendation for startups, small business owners, and WordPress freelancers.

However, you can unlock additional features such as call recording and call blocking, voicemail transcriptions, and video conferencing by upgrading to either Ooma Office Pro ($24.95) or Ooma Office Pro Plus ($29.95).

3. Grasshopper – Best for Solo Entrepreneurs in the US/Canada

Setting up and maintaining a professional phone system can be overwhelming, especially when you’re flying solo. That’s where Grasshopper comes in.

This is a powerful virtual business phone service specifically designed to help solo entrepreneurs establish a strong brand image and communicate effectively with customers.

Solo entrepreneurs often work from home or remotely, which can make it difficult to establish a professional phone presence. Grasshopper solves this problem by allowing you to create a toll-free number, a vanity number, or a local number in any city of your choice.

I particularly like the option to create a local number, as it helps you appeal to customers outside of your immediate area. You could potentially take your solo business international!

Even better, the Grasshopper app lets customers and potential leads reach you at any time. It doesn’t matter whether you’re working from home, your local coffee shop, or on the go. The app helps you grow your business by ensuring you don’t miss important calls.

The best part? You don’t need to buy any additional phones or equipment—your existing smartphone or computer will do. This makes it an affordable solution for solo entrepreneurs who need to establish a reliable phone system on a limited budget.

It’s also a good option for startups or even some small businesses that may not have invested in professional equipment yet.

To make sure customers always get a response, Grasshopper can automatically send a text to new callers when you can’t answer them right away. This feature is especially useful when you’re flying solo – even the most dedicated solo entrepreneur can’t be available 24/7.

However, keep in mind that Grasshopper is only available to customers in the US or Canada.

✅ Pros of Grasshopper:

• Send and receive texts on your Grasshopper business number.
• Forward any incoming calls to multiple phones at once.
• Automatic voicemail transcriptions.
• Use your internet connection when cell reception is poor.
• Receive faxes as PDF attachments, sent straight to your email inbox.
• Monitor your business with detailed call reports and analytics.

❌ Cons of Grasshopper

• No advanced features like video conferencing or team messaging.
• Limited integrations with other software (Skype and Google Voice only).
• $500 deposit is required to enable international outgoing calls.
• Only available in the US and Canada.

Why I recommend Grasshopper: With Grasshopper, you don’t have to worry about complicated technical setup, maintenance, or equipment. This makes it a good option for startups and small businesses, but I particularly recommend it for solo entrepreneurs.

Grasshopper’s choice of toll-free, vanity, and local numbers helps you establish a professional phone presence, while the app allows you to answer calls from any location at any time.

The end result? Your business projects a more polished and professional image, which is essential for building trust and driving sales.

Pricing: Starts at $14/ month for the True Solo plan. This plan includes 1 user, 1 phone number, and 1 extension – basically, everything you need to support a solo-person business.

4. Zoom Phone – Best for Video Conferencing & Team Messaging

Managing calls, video conferencing, and team chat can be a challenge for any business. However, it’s particularly tricky for remote teams where most of the communication happens virtually.

Zoom Phone offers a solution to this problem by providing an all-in-one platform for managing all your communication needs. This includes answering customer calls, following up on leads, hosting video conferences, and chatting with team members.

As a 100% remote team, we use Zoom for some of our large company meetings.

We need a reliable and efficient platform with built-in team chat and video conferencing. This is essential for keeping our employees connected across different time zones.

With Zoom, we have hosted one-on-one reviews, town hall meetings, team chats, and even team-building social calls, all from the same platform.

Despite being a comprehensive all-in-one platform, Zoom Phone is incredibly easy to set up. Simply choose a cloud phone plan, and you can start making calls immediately using the Zoom mobile or desktop app.

Additionally, Zoom has an AI Companion that can streamline your workflows with advanced features like meeting and call summaries, real-time AI queries during meetings, and AI-powered whiteboard generation.

These features are ideal for video conferences in general, but they’re particularly useful for remote teams where most communication happens via video meetings. They let you keep everyone in the loop, including people who could not attend the video chat.

I also like the ability to switch between voice and video calls with one click. Once again, this is ideal if you need to handle a mix of customer calls, internal meetings, and remote collaboration.

✅ Pros of Zoom Phone:

• Unified interface for phone, video, and chat.
• One-click switch between voice and video calls.
• Convenient, centralized admin portal (monitor users, call quality, usage data, and more).
• Supports multiple devices and apps.
• Unlimited auto-attendants.
• Call queuing with automatic call distribution.
• Integrates seamlessly with Salesforce, Contact Center, Slack, and other popular solutions. 

❌ Cons of Zoom Phone:

• No free trial available (although there is a free version that’s limited to 40-minute call durations and 100 participants).
• The metered international calling fees are a bit expensive for small businesses.

Why I recommend Zoom Phone: With its advanced video conferencing and team chat features, Zoom Phone is a great option for teams that host regular virtual meetings. It’s particularly good for remote teams that rely on chat and video conferencing to work together effectively.

Pricing: Zoom plans start at $15 per user, per month for domestic US and Canada calling, with prices going up to $22.49.

5. Phone.com – Best for International Businesses

Do you have customers all over the globe? Phone.com offers competitive international calling rates to communicate with your existing customers and find new ones without breaking the bank.

Another feature that caught my attention was Phone.com’s AI-powered Answer Bot service. This service can pick up the phone using your company’s name and give a pre-written answer. This is a fantastic way to make your business appear more professional.

It’s also a great addition if you have customers in different time zones, but don’t have call center staff available 24/7. With Phone.com’s Answer Bot service, you can be confident that callers always get some form of response.

Do you work in the healthcare industry? Then I really recommend checking out Phone.com’s HIPAA compliance features.

Keeping patient data private is a huge deal, and Phone.com understands this. For example, if a patient tries to contact you via SMS, then Phone.com can automatically tell them to contact your office in a different way to discuss medical information. This is because text messaging usually isn’t HIPAA compliant.

Setting up Phone.com is also fairly straightforward. Their dashboard is user-friendly, so you can customize call routing, voicemail, and other settings without any hassle. They even have a smart call routing system where you can define custom rules based on the time of day, caller ID, and more.

Once again, these features can be particularly useful for international businesses that want to provide personalized service to customers in different locations. For example, you might route callers to a customer service agent who speaks their preferred language.

✅ Pros of Phone.com:

• Low rates for international calling.
• Connect to any traditional analog telephone.
• HIPAA compliance features.
• Track your top performers and busiest hours with built-in analytics.
• Get additional insights via call logs and call recording.

❌ Cons of Phone.com:

• Customer service response times can sometimes be slow.
• Only includes call analytics and CRM integrations in the most expensive plan.

Why I recommend Phone.com: While Phone.com has limitations, including slower customer service response times, it’s still an excellent option. Its competitive international calling rates, in particular, make it a really attractive platform for companies with customers all over the globe.

And here’s a little something extra that really stood out to me: if you work in the healthcare field, then Phone.com has dedicated HIPAA compliance features. This immediately makes it stand out from every other solution on this list.

If you’re willing to overlook some minor drawbacks, then Phone.com could be your perfect solution, especially for businesses that sell or operate globally.

Pricing: Users can choose between Basic ($15), Plus ($22.50), and Pro ($33.33), with all plans billed per user, per month. 

6. Vonage – Best for Call Centers

As a well-established name in VoIP, Vonage is an excellent option for call centers and larger businesses. After trying out their business phone service, I was impressed by its wide range of features and capabilities.

I was really surprised by how easy it was to manage company phone numbers from my admin dashboard. You can even generate local and toll-free numbers directly from the dashboard (although you will need to contact Vonage to generate international numbers). 

Vonage is a great option for call centers due to features such as team messaging, video conferencing (with up to 200 participants!), call recording, and auto-dialing.

It also supports VoIP desk phones, so you can use traditional office phones alongside the desktop and mobile apps.

However, it’s worth noting that Vonage is one of the more expensive options on this list. So, if you’re a startup or small business, then you may be better off with a different RingCentral alternative.

✅ Pros of Vonage:

• Capture more potential leads with Call Forwarding and Simultaneous Ring.
• Dedicated dial-in numbers from 60 countries.
• Record inbound and outbound calls for any or all users within your organization.
• Call center-specific features like call logs, call recordings, AI routing, and advanced call analytics.
• Admin portal for call management.
• Connects with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and other tools.

❌ Cons of Vonage:

• Expensive for small businesses.
• Long contract periods.

Why I recommend Vonage: Vonage has some seriously advanced features built explicitly with call centers in mind. That makes it a fantastic pick if you need a rock-solid VoIP solution that can handle the demands of a busy customer service team.

However, while Vonage offers many powerful features, it is pricier than some other options. If budget is a major concern for your business, then I’d definitely recommend choosing one of the other RingCentral alternatives in this guide.

Pricing: Vonage’s base plan starts from $13.99 per month, per line, and goes all the way up to $27.99 per month, per line.

What Is the Best RingCentral Alternative? 

After thoroughly testing and comparing various business phone systems and platforms, I’m excited to share my top pick for the best RingCentral alternative: Nextiva.

It’s a reliable, flexible, and secure platform with an impressive feature set. It’s also a cloud-based solution, so your team can answer calls using any computer or phone. Overall, Nextiva is a perfect fit for remote teams or employees who travel a lot, or perhaps even work in the field.

Nextiva can also automatically forward calls based on each team member’s schedule. This can help remote team members work together more seamlessly, even when they’re spread across multiple time zones.

But what about other options?

If you’re a small business with a limited budget, then Ooma and Grasshopper are both great starting points. They both offer affordable plans, and they’re easy to use, making them ideal for solo entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses alike.

However, the best RingCentral alternative for your business will ultimately depend on your specific needs and requirements. I recommend considering factors like budget, scalability, features, and user interface to help you make the right decision for your business.

Best RingCentral Alternatives: Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve been part of the WPBeginner team for a while, so I’ve definitely heard my fair share of questions along the way.

To help you out, I’ve put together answers to some of the most common questions we get asked about RingCentral and potential alternatives. 

Why should I avoid RingCentral?

The main issue I hear from businesses is that RingCentral is considerably more expensive than other VoIP providers. Often, this means it simply isn’t an option for solo entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses, since they typically have smaller budgets.

RingCentral also has many features, so its learning curve tends to be steeper than its competitors. Once again, this tends to be a problem for smaller businesses, as they’re less likely to have a technical expert who can help them set up and maintain RingCentral.

Don’t get me wrong: RingCentral is still a great platform. In fact, it has all the features you’d expect from an advanced communication tool, including call forwarding, number sharing, call waiting, and call management. It also integrates with popular CRMs like Salesforce and Zendesk. 

So, while Nextiva is my top recommendation, RingCentral is a fantastic tool that I still recommend to larger businesses with bigger budgets or more complex needs.

If you want to learn more, then you can see our detailed RingCentral review for a deeper dive.

And if you do decide that RingCentral is the right fit for you, then you’re in luck – we have a RingCentral coupon, so you can get a discount.

Is there a free version of RingCentral?

While there isn’t a completely free version, RingCentral does offer a free trial. This means you can see if the platform is right for you before investing in a paid plan.

What is the best RingCentral alternative?

In my experience, Nextiva is the best virtual business phone service on the market. It’s loaded with advanced features, offers truly excellent support, and is designed to scale as your team grows. 

We use Nextiva across our company, and in our opinion, it’s the best cloud phone system and platform on the market, especially if you have a remote team.

Which is better, Nextiva or RingCentral?

When it comes to finding the absolute best VoIP phone provider and platform for small businesses, everything points to Nextiva.

Nextiva offers competitive pricing, a ton of features, the best call quality, lower rates for international calls, and a wide range of numbers to choose from (local, international, toll-free, and vanity numbers).

Curious to learn more? Our in-depth post compares Nextiva vs RingCentral vs Ooma, exploring their key features.

Bonus: How to Get Started With Your Business Phone System

Choosing which communication platform to use is a big step, so great job deciding! Now that you’ve got that sorted, let’s help you set up a seamless business phone system.

We’ve put together some handy guides that will show you how to set up call forwarding, voicemail greetings, and other essential features to make sure customers and potential leads can reach you with ease:

• Beginner’s Guide: What is VoIP and How Does it Work? (Explained)
• How to Set Up an Auto Attendant Phone System for Your Website
• How to Set Up Business Call Forwarding From Your Website
• How to Set Up a Business Voicemail Greeting (With Examples)
• Ways to Get an 800 Toll-Free Number for Your Business
• Best Call Center Software (Expert Pick)

I hope this article has helped you find the best RingCentral alternative for you. Next up, you might want to check out our guide on how to add a WhatsApp chatbox and share buttons in WordPress or how to get a virtual WhatsApp number for your business.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 6 Best RingCentral Alternatives & How They Compare (2025) first appeared on WPBeginner.

I started my first blog with a shared hosting plan because I just needed the cheapest way to get my content online.

But as my blog grew and traffic picked up, I noticed things getting slower. Sometimes, my site would take forever to load, and I knew I had to make a change.

That’s when I found myself lost in comparison articles, trying to figure out the difference between upgrading shared hosting, moving to VPS or cloud hosting, or switching to managed WordPress hosting.

It all felt complicated. I didn’t have a big budget, and every option had its own set of pros, cons, and confusing jargon. I just wanted someone to explain it in plain English and tell me which one actually made sense for my situation.

If you’re in the same boat, this guide is for you. I’ll break down the differences, share what worked for me, and help you figure out which hosting option fits your needs, without all the guesswork.

What Is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is like renting space for your website on the Internet. When someone visits your site, they’re actually connecting to a special computer called a server that stores and delivers your website files.

That server keeps your site online, loads your pages, and handles all the behind-the-scenes work. Without hosting, your website simply can’t exist on the web.

Related 🔗: What’s the Difference Between Domain Name and Web Hosting (Explained)

There are different types of hosting, and each one offers a different balance of price, performance, support, and ease of use. Some plans are cheap and simple to get started with. Others give you more speed and flexibility, but can cost more.

Here’s a quick look at how shared hosting, cloud hosting, and managed WordPress hosting compare in terms of cost and beginner-friendliness:

As you can see, shared hosting is easy to get started, and managed WordPress hosting is good for non-tech and busy site owners. Cloud hosting becomes a strong contender once your site grows or you need more control.

Now, let’s look at each of these hosting options in detail and see how they stack up against each other.

How I Compared Shared Hosting, Cloud Hosting, and Managed WordPress

To help you choose the right hosting type for your WordPress site, I followed a hands-on, experience-driven approach backed by careful research:

• Real-World Experience: At WPBeginner, we have been helping users with WordPress hosting decisions since 2009. We’ve personally used shared, managed, and cloud hosting across different projects and client websites.
• Hands-On Testing: I’ve set up WordPress sites on all three hosting types to observe how they perform, how easy they are to manage, and what challenges beginners might face.
• Feature Comparison: I compared critical differences in setup, support, scalability, speed, and pricing to help beginners understand what really matters.
• Use Case Insights: I included real-world examples based on where each hosting type fits best, whether you’re launching a small blog, running a business site, or growing an online store.
• Pricing Research: I verified current pricing trends and listed realistic starting costs for each hosting type to make comparisons easier for budget-conscious users.

Our goal is to make hosting choices feel less intimidating and help you start your WordPress journey with clarity and confidence.

What Is Shared Hosting?

Most people, including me, start with shared hosting. It’s the most affordable option, which makes it perfect for getting your site off the ground.

With shared hosting, your website lives on the same server as many other sites. Think of it like renting a room in a big apartment building. You get your own space but share the same walls, electricity, and plumbing.

This setup works fine for starting a blog, personal websites, or anyone with light traffic. But things can slow down as more people visit your site, or your neighbors get noisy (meaning high traffic on other sites).

That’s exactly what happened to me. My blog was growing, but the site started lagging. I needed something faster—but at the time, I wasn’t ready to spend too much or manage anything complex.

Here’s a closer look at what you can expect with shared hosting.

Pros of Shared Hosting:

• Affordable: Shared hosting plans often start under $5/month, making them perfect for beginners on a tight budget.
• Beginner-Friendly: Most providers offer one-click WordPress installs, easy dashboards, and simple tools that don’t require technical knowledge.
• Freebies Included: Many plans include a free domain name, email accounts, SSL certificate, and backups to help you get started.
• Low Maintenance: Everything is managed for you, so you don’t have to worry about maintaining the server.
• Large Support Communities: Since shared hosting is so common, there is a lot of help available, from tutorials to forums and live chat support.

Cons of Shared Hosting:

• Slower Performance: Since resources are shared, your site may slow down if other websites on the server get busy.
• Limited Resources: You usually get limited CPU, memory, and bandwidth, which can become a problem if your traffic spikes.
• Less Control: You won’t be able to change server settings or install custom software that requires advanced configurations.

Best for: Shared hosting is an excellent fit if you’re launching a smaller site and don’t expect a lot of traffic right away. Here are some examples:

• New or Personal blogs: A place to share your thoughts, stories, or hobbies.
• Online portfolios: Ideal for freelancers, writers, designers, and photographers showcasing their work.
• Small business websites: Great for local shops, consultants, or restaurants sharing menus, contact info, and services.
• Nonprofits and community groups: An easy way to build awareness and share updates.
• Test projects: If you’re trying out an idea or learning WordPress, shared hosting gives you a low-risk place to start.

Once your site starts growing, you can always upgrade to something faster and more powerful, like cloud hosting or managed WordPress. See our article on explaining when you should change your WordPress web hosting.

Want to explore shared hosting providers? See my top picks for shared hosting.

What Is Cloud Hosting?

Cloud hosting is like renting several apartments across different buildings instead of just one room. If something goes wrong in one building, then your site keeps running because the others can pick up the slack.

Instead of relying on a single physical server, cloud hosting spreads your website across a network of connected servers. This setup helps balance traffic loads and improves uptime and performance, especially during traffic spikes.

You might also come across dedicated hosting while doing your research. With that setup, your site lives on a single physical server in one location, and you get all of its resources to yourself. It’s powerful, but not as flexible or beginner-friendly as cloud hosting, which spreads things across multiple servers and is easier to scale.

I’ve helped clients migrate to cloud-based setups when they needed better speed and reliability. Cloud-based hosting offers a solid middle ground—more power than shared hosting without the hassle of managing everything yourself.

Pros of Cloud Hosting:

• Scalable: Cloud hosting grows with your traffic. It can handle sudden spikes without crashing your site.
• Better Performance: You get more consistent speed and uptime because your site uses multiple servers behind the scenes.
• Resource Flexibility: Many cloud plans allow you to customize CPU, RAM, and storage based on your needs.
• Redundancy and Stability: If one server fails, another takes over, so your site stays online.
• Mid-Range Options: Some hosts offer affordable cloud plans that aren’t too technical, so you can get started without managing the setup yourself.

Cons of Cloud Hosting:

• More Expensive: Cloud hosting usually costs more than shared or basic managed WordPress plans, especially for higher-tier resources.
• Can Be Complex: Some cloud platforms require technical knowledge to manage, unless your plan is fully managed by the host.
• Pricing Can Fluctuate: Some cloud providers use usage-based billing, which makes monthly costs less predictable.
• Not Always Beginner-Friendly: Unless you’re using a simplified cloud hosting plan (like HostGator Cloud or Bluehost Cloud), it may feel overwhelming to new users.

Best for: Cloud hosting is ideal when your site is growing fast or if you expect traffic spikes. It offers more power and flexibility than shared hosting. Use cases include:

• Online stores: eCommerce sites that need consistent speed during busy sales periods.
• Business websites: Sites with increasing traffic that require better performance and uptime.
• Membership or course sites: Platforms where users log in and access content regularly.
• Media-heavy blogs: Blogs with videos, podcasts, or large images where loading speed matters.
• Projects that need room to grow: If you’re planning ahead for future growth, cloud hosting gives you breathing room.

Hosting providers like SiteGround and Bluehost Cloud offer managed cloud hosting solutions. These solutions are easier to use, as the host handles server management.

On the other hand, cloud platforms like AWS and Google Cloud require you to manage server resources yourself.

What Is Managed WordPress Hosting?

Managed WordPress hosting is like living in a fully serviced apartment where everything is taken care of for you. You don’t have to fix the plumbing, mow the lawn, or even take out the trash—the company handles all of it behind the scenes.

With this type of hosting, everything is optimized specifically for WordPress. You get faster load times, stronger security, automatic updates, backups, and expert support—all without lifting a finger.

When I finally switched to managed WordPress hosting, it felt like a breath of fresh air. I could focus on writing and growing my site instead of worrying about updates, security scans, or caching plugins. It wasn’t the cheapest option, but the time and stress it saved me were worth every penny.

Pros of Managed WordPress Hosting:

• Speed and Performance: Everything is tuned for WordPress, so your site loads faster right out of the box.
• Security Handled for You: Malware scanning, firewall protection, and login hardening are often built in.
• Automatic Backups and Updates: No more worrying about updating plugins or losing your data.
• Expert Support: The support team knows WordPress inside and out, so they can actually help with plugin or theme issues.
• Time-Saving: Great for business owners or content creators who don’t want to manage the technical side of things.

Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting:

• Higher Costs: Managed hosting typically starts around $15–$30/month and goes up from there.
• WordPress-Only: You can’t host other types of websites or apps—it’s just for WordPress.
• Some Plugin Restrictions: Certain hosts may block plugins that conflict with their built-in tools, like performance or backup plugins.
• Less Control: Advanced users might miss having access to full server settings or configurations.

Best for: Managed WordPress hosting is perfect for people who want a faster, safer site without managing any of the technical stuff. It’s ideal for:

• Busy bloggers: Focus on content while the host handles speed, backups, and security.
• Small business owners: Run your website without hiring a developer or learning server management.
• eCommerce stores: Faster checkout and reliable uptime help keep your customers happy.
• Non-tech creators: If you just want your site to work and not worry about how it works, this is the way to go.
• Agencies and freelancers: Reliable performance and support help streamline client work and reduce headaches.

To learn more, see our top picks for managed WordPress hosting with detailed reviews.

Shared vs Cloud vs Managed WordPress Hosting (Side-by-Side Table)

If you’re still unsure which hosting type is right for you, here’s a quick comparison to help you see the differences at a glance:

Each option has its place. It really comes down to how much traffic you expect, how comfortable you are with the technical stuff, and how much time you’re willing to spend managing your site.

How to Decide Which Hosting Is Right for You

Choosing a hosting plan doesn’t have to be stressful. The key is to think about where you are right now and where you want your site to go in the future.

Here are a few simple questions to help you narrow things down:

• What’s your budget? Are you trying to start with the lowest possible cost, or do you have room to invest in convenience and performance?
• How much traffic do you expect? Are you just starting out, or do you already have a regular audience that visits your site?
• How tech-savvy are you? Do you feel comfortable managing settings and updates, or would you rather have someone else handle it?
• How much time do you want to spend maintaining your site? Would you rather focus on your content and business, or do you enjoy digging into backend tools?

Still unsure? Let me walk you through a few common scenarios:

✅ You’re just getting started on a budget: Shared hosting is your best bet. It gives you everything you need to launch your site without spending much. You can always upgrade later.

🚀 Your business or blog is growing: Cloud hosting offers the speed and flexibility to handle more traffic without slowing down. It’s a good step up when your site needs more muscle.

🧘‍♂️ You want zero hassle and everything done for you: Managed WordPress hosting gives you peace of mind. You get great performance and expert support without dealing with updates or technical headaches.

The good news is that you can always start small and grow into what you need. Most hosting companies make it easy to upgrade your plan as your site evolves.

Our Personal Hosting Journey

I joined the WPBeginner team in 2012, and since then, I’ve worked with nearly every type of hosting while helping people launch and grow their WordPress websites.

In the early days, WPBeginner was hosted on HostGator, first on shared hosting, then on a custom cloud setup. It was affordable and flexible, which made it a good fit when we were focused on keeping costs low while handling decent traffic.

As the site grew, we moved to SiteGround, which is still our hosting provider today. We are on their Enterprise cloud infrastructure. But even their starter managed WordPress hosting plans are hosted on the Google Cloud, which is a massive upgrade from typical shared hosting platforms.

Our founder, Syed Balkhi, wrote a detailed case study explaining why we moved to SiteGround.

After testing SiteGround across multiple projects and seeing how well their platform handled real-world demands, I knew it was the right move for WPBeginner.

Syed Balkhi

Across our team and partner sites, we’ve used everything from shared hosting and managed WordPress plans to full cloud platforms. In most cases, I recommend starting simple, then upgrading only when you actually need more power or flexibility.

My Top Picks for Each Hosting Type

If you’re still unsure which hosting company to choose, here are my personal recommendations for each type based on real experience, performance, beginner-friendliness, and support.

These are the same providers we trust for our own projects and partner sites.

Best Shared Hosting: Bluehost 🏆

Bluehost is the easiest and most affordable way to get started. They’re officially recommended by WordPress, and WPBeginner users get a special deal starting at just $1.99/month—including a free domain, SSL, and 24/7 support (See my full Bluehost review for more details).

🔹 Alternatives: Hostinger (Starting from $2.69/mo) | DreamHost (Starting from $2.59)

Best Managed WordPress Hosting: SiteGround 🚀

SiteGround is what we use for WPBeginner. Their managed WordPress plans are fast, secure, and include powerful features like staging, backups, and expert WordPress support. Starting from $2.99/mo, they offer free domain, email accounts, SSL, and built-in caching (See my full SiteGround review for more details).

🔹 Alternatives: Rocket.net (Starts at $30/mo) | WordPress.com (Business plan starts at $12.50/mo)

Best Cloud Hosting: SiteGround ☁️

SiteGround makes it incredibly easy to host your site on Google Cloud without having to manage servers yourself. Their cloud plans are easily scalable and beginner-friendly. We host WPBeginner and several partner websites with SiteGround, and it has been a great experience all around. For superior performance, I recommend their GrowBig plan, which starts at $4.99/mo, or GoGeek at $7.99/mo.

🔹Alternatives: Hostinger Cloud (Starting from $7.99/mo) | Bluehost Cloud (Starting from $75/mo)

You can’t go wrong with any of these providers. They all offer great support, money-back guarantees, and plans that can grow with your site.

🔒 Get Worry-Free WordPress Maintenance From Experts

Tired of keeping up with WordPress updates, backups, and security fixes? Our team will handle everything behind the scenes so you don’t have to.

With 24/7 monitoring, expert support, and routine maintenance, you can focus on running your business while we keep your website safe and running smoothly.

👉 Learn More About Maintenance Plans 👈

Frequently Asked Questions About Hosting

Start Small. Grow Confidently.

Choosing the right hosting is a big decision, but you don’t have to get it perfect on day one. You can start small with a hosting type that fits your current needs and then upgrade.

Shared hosting is a great starting point if you’re building something new. Cloud hosting gives you room to scale. Managed WordPress hosting makes life easier when you’re busy running a site or business.

No matter where you begin, you can always switch later as your site grows.

If you’re still unsure, check out our in-depth hosting reviews—or feel free to reach out to me or someone from the WPBeginner team. We’re always happy to help!

Helpful Guides to Get You Started 🎁

Now that you understand the different hosting options, here are some beginner-friendly tutorials to help you move forward. Whether you’re ready to launch your site or still exploring, these resources will confidently walk you through each step:

• How to Choose the Best WordPress Hosting – A detailed comparison of top hosting companies, based on speed, support, and value.
• How to Make a WordPress Website (Step by Step) – Follow our beginner’s guide to create your own site in less than an hour.
• How to Learn WordPress Basics for Free (Step by Step) – A step-by-step WordPress learning plan using only free resources made specifically for beginners.
• Best Free Website Hosting Compared – Our tutorial explains why free hosting is bad and shows reliable hosting options that are affordable.

I hope this guide helped you understand the difference between shared, managed, and cloud hosting offers. If you are still unsure, remember you are not locked in—you can start small and grow from there. 🙌

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post Shared Hosting vs. Cloud Hosting vs. Managed WordPress – What’s the Difference? first appeared on WPBeginner.

Ever tried visiting a website only to find it’s completely gone? Chances are, someone forgot to check their domain expiration date. After helping many different people set up WordPress websites, I’ve seen this happen more times than I’d like to count.

Checking your domain expiration date is a simple but important task that many website owners overlook. But don’t worry – it’s actually pretty straightforward once you know where to look.

I’ve put together this easy-to-follow guide that shows you exactly how to check when your domain expires, using methods I’ve personally tested and verified over the years.

Why Check Your Domain Expiration Date?

Have you ever had that moment of panic when you go to your website, and it’s just gone?

I remember once I was launching a small side project. I’d registered a domain, set up a basic landing page, and was ready to go. Then, a few weeks later, the website vanished.

It turns out, in my excitement, I’d completely forgotten about the domain renewal date.

What happens when a domain name expires?

Your website essentially disappears from the internet. Visitors trying to find you will see a ‘This site can’t be reached’ error page, or maybe even a page full of ads put there by someone else.

Also, the email addresses linked to the domain will stop working. This can lead to missing important emails from clients or customers.

And it’s not just about your website and email. Your domain name is your online identity, so losing it can damage your brand and reputation.

Can You Recover a Domain Which Has Expired?

Now, here’s the somewhat good news. Sometimes, you can recover an expired domain. But it’s not always guaranteed, and it can get complicated and sometimes expensive.

Generally, after a domain expires, it enters a grace period for a few weeks. You usually have the first right to renew it during this time, often at the regular renewal price.

However, if you miss that grace period, things get trickier. The domain might go into a redemption period. This is another phase where you might still be able to get it back, but now you’ll likely face huge redemption fees on top of the renewal cost.

If you miss the redemption period, your domain will become available for anyone to register, including one of our competitors.

Prevention is always better than a cure. Regularly checking your domain expiration date and setting up renewals is way less stressful than the headache of trying to recover an expired domain.

Now, I will show you the best ways to check your domain expiration date:

1. Using Your Domain Registrar’s Account Page

If you’re wondering when your domain expires, your domain registrar’s account page is the first place I’d recommend checking. It’s quick, easy, and gives you all the information you need.

The domain registrar is the service where you first registered your domain name, such as Domain.com, Bluehost, GoDaddy, or Namecheap.

Most registrars make it super simple to find your domain expiration date right in your account dashboard. Simply head over to your domain registrar’s website and log in to your account.

Once you’re logged in, look for something like ‘Domain Management’, ‘My Domains’, or similar. It’s the place where you see a list of all the domains you own through them.

The expiration date is clearly displayed next to each domain or when you click on a specific domain to manage it. Often, it’s right there on the main domain overview page.

Another bonus is that you’ll usually find options to renew your domain right next to the expiration date.

2. Using WHOIS Lookup Services

WHOIS is like a giant, publicly accessible phonebook for domain names. Its database holds information about who registered a domain, when they registered it, and, importantly, when it expires.

There are tons of websites that offer WHOIS lookup services. But I recommend using the ICANN Lookup tool because ICANN manages domain names globally.

Other popular WHOIS sites include DomainTools and Whois.com.

Using these services is usually very simple. You’ll see a search bar right on the homepage. Just type in the domain name you want to check – like ‘example.com’ – and hit enter or click the ‘Search’ or ‘Lookup’ button.

The WHOIS service then fetches the domain information and displays it to you.

And buried in all that information, you’ll almost always find the expiration date.

I have found WHOIS lookup services, especially ICANN Lookup, to be incredibly convenient for quick checks. This is especially true when you just need to know the expiry date and don’t want to log into any accounts.

Tip: WHOIS Privacy

Now, a little heads-up about privacy. You might have heard of WHOIS privacy or domain privacy.

Many people use privacy services to protect their personal information from being publicly listed in the WHOIS database.

If a domain owner uses privacy services, then some of the contact details in the WHOIS record might be masked or replaced with generic contact information.

But the expiration date is still almost always publicly visible, or at least easily findable within the WHOIS output. It’s one piece of information they usually don’t hide.

So, even with privacy services in place, WHOIS and especially ICANN Lookup are still reliable for checking that domain expiration date.

3. Setting Up Domain Name Expiry Notifications

I’ve already shown you how to check your domain expiration date. But what about making sure you never miss it in the first place? That’s where domain expiry notifications come in handy.

They are like setting up a safety net for your online presence. The problem is, it’s easy to forget about domain renewals, especially if you have multiple domains or registered them a while ago.

Expiry notifications are your defense against this. They’re like little digital nudges, reminding you to take action before it’s too late.

Setting Up Domain Expiry Notifications With Your Domain Registrar

Where do you actually set up these notifications? The best and most direct place is usually with your domain registrar. They all typically offer built-in notification systems.

For example, Bluehost will send you automatic domain expiration notifications by default. They will email you at least two reminders within 60 days before the expiration date, and a final reminder 5 days before.

Some registrars let you customize these notifications. For example, you may be able to set the notification frequency to a 60-day, 30-day, or 7-day email reminder.

You might also be able to specify notification email addresses. This is useful if you have a team managing domains or want reminders sent to a different email address than your main account email.

Setting Up Third-Party Domain Expiry Notifications

If you’re really serious about long-term domain monitoring, then you could even consider using dedicated domain monitoring services like UptimeRobot.

You can use the service’s domain monitoring to receive alerts 30, 14, 7, and 1 day before your domain name expires and view the expiration date anytime in your dashboard.

Notifications can be sent via email, SMS, voice call, or through one of many integrations (such as Slack, Zapier, Splunk, and more).

But honestly, for most people, setting up email notifications through your domain registrar is more than enough to keep on top of your domain renewals and avoid an unexpected domain expiration.

4. Enabling Auto Renewals So Your Domain Doesn’t Expire

Want to know the absolute best way to make sure your domain never expires accidentally? It’s simple: set up auto-renewal.

Auto-renewal is a service your domain registrar provides that automatically renews your domain registration right before it expires. Think of it as an automatic bill payment for your domain name.

Typically, a few weeks or days before your domain expiration date, the registrar will automatically charge the payment method you have on file with them – your credit card, debit card, or whatever you use. This will pay for your domain renewal for another year (or however long you choose for your renewal period).

I’ve been using auto-renewals for years, and they make things much easier. I don’t have to remember renewal dates or manually renew each domain—it just happens.

If you haven’t already enabled automatic renewals on your domain, then you can do this easily next time you renew it. With most registrars, it is offered as a very clear option during the domain renewal process.

For example, with Bluehost, you will see buttons to enable or disable auto-renewal at the top of the Renewal Center page.

All you need to do is click the button labeled ‘Enable Auto-Renew’.

With Domain.com, the option is presented as a simple toggle switch instead. Just make sure the switch is enabled when you reach the Summary page before you pay for your domain renewal.

Simply look for the automatic renewal option on your domain registrar. This is a preferred method of payment, so it is normally displayed prominently.

You’ll find more information about the renewal process in our guide on how to renew a domain name for all major hosting registrars.

Plus, many domain registrars like Bluehost and HostGator offer domain expiration protection as an option. For a small fee, this will renew your domain for an additional year if your automatic payment is unsuccessful.

FAQ About Checking Domain Expiration Dates

Even after reading my guide on how to check your domain expiration date, you may still have questions. Here are answers to the questions I’m asked most frequently:

1. Why is it so important to check my domain expiration date?

Letting your domain expire can cause lots of problems. Your website could go offline, your emails might stop working, and you could even lose your domain name completely.

Checking the expiration date is a simple way to avoid these headaches and protect your online presence.

2. Do domain names expire automatically?

Yes, domain name registrations are typically for a set period—usually a year, but sometimes longer. If you don’t renew your domain registration before the expiration date, it will expire. It’s not a one-time purchase, but more like renting your domain name for a specific period.

3. What happens if I forget to renew my domain and it expires?

If your domain expires, then your website and linked email services will likely stop working. During a grace period, you might be able to renew it at the regular price.

But if you miss that, then you could face higher redemption fees, or even lose the domain name if someone else registers it.

4. Can I check the expiration date of any domain name, even if I don’t own it?

Yes, absolutely! Methods like WHOIS lookup services are designed to let you check the expiration date (and other public info) for almost any registered domain name.

5. Do I need to pay to use WHOIS lookup services?

Most basic WHOIS lookup services are free to check domain expiration dates and basic domain information. Some of these sites also offer more advanced paid services, but the basic lookup is usually free.

6. What is domain auto-renewal, and should I set it up?

Auto-renewal is a service offered by domain registrars that automatically renews your domain before it expires, charging your saved payment method.

I strongly recommend setting up auto-renewal! It’s the most foolproof way to prevent accidental domain expiration and ensures your website and email stay online without interruption.

7. I checked my domain expiration date, and it’s coming up soon. What should I do?

Renew your domain as soon as possible! The easiest way is usually through your domain registrar’s account page. You can typically renew for another year or multiple years. If you have auto-renewal set up, double-check that it’s enabled and your payment information is current.

I hope this tutorial helped you learn how to check your domain expiration date. You may also want to see our guide on how to check domain name availability or our expert pick of the best domain name generators to help you pick a domain fast.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Check Domain Expiration Date: Avoid Website Downtime first appeared on WPBeginner.

I started building websites in 2006, and like most beginners, I used shared hosting. It was affordable, simple, and got the job done for my early projects.

But as my online businesses grew, so did traffic, including on WPBeginner. Shared hosting started slowing me down—literally. I had to deal with downtime, slow page loads, and frustrating support.

Since then, I’ve tested just about every type of hosting you can think of—shared, VPS, dedicated, cloud, and even custom enterprise setups. I’ve seen what works, what breaks, and what actually helps websites grow without stress.

Today, most of my websites run on cloud hosting, and I couldn’t be happier with it. I can scale resources as needed and handle millions of pageviews without worrying about downtime.

This guide is based on my own experience, my team’s experience, and real testing. Whether you’re starting fresh or ready to scale, I’ll help you find the best cloud hosting—without wasting time or money.

Here’s why you can trust my recommendations:

• My team and I have used many of these cloud hosts for our own sites and side projects. (See our editorial process.)
• I test each provider using real WordPress installs, load testing tools, and performance monitors.
• With my annual survey, I review support experiences, pricing changes, and real user feedback from WPBeginner readers.
• My team and I have spent over 16 years working with WordPress hosting, and I still use these platforms today. (Meet my team members.)

If you want fast, secure, and beginner-friendly cloud hosting for WordPress, here are my top picks for 2025.

Top Picks (Quick Comparison)

Host	Starting Price	Load Time	Best For	User Score	WPBeginner Rating
	$100/mo	397 ms	🏆 Best All-Round Hosting	4.9/5	A++ (Review)
	$7.99/mo	374 ms	💸 Best Budget Cloud Hosting	4.9/5	A++ (Review)
	$75/mo	255 ms	🚀 High-Traffic Sites	4.8/5	A+ (Review)
	$30/mo	448 ms	⚡ Premium Performance	4.8/5	A+ (Review)
	$12.50/mo	636 ms	🛒 eCommerce & Small Business	4.8/5	A+ (Review)
	$4.50/mo	439 ms	🔧 Developer-Friendly Cloud Hosting	4.7/5	A (Review)
	$12.71/mo	362 ms	📦 VPS-Like Hosting on a Budget	4.8/5	A
	$25/mo	750 ms	👥 WooCommerce Store Owners & Agencies	4.9/5	A (Review)
	$30/mo	635 ms	💼 Premium Managed WordPress Hosting	4.9/5	A
	Varies	415 ms	☁️ Advanced Users & Server Controls	4.7/5	B+
	Varies	684 ms	🏗️ Infrastructure-Level Hosting	4.6/5	B+

Cloud hosting has become the go-to solution for WordPress users who need faster load times, better uptime, and the flexibility to handle growing traffic. But if you’re not familiar with how cloud hosting works, this section will help you understand the basics and how I test each provider.

What Is Cloud Hosting for WordPress?

Cloud hosting is a type of web hosting where your website runs on a network of connected servers, instead of being tied to just one physical machine like with shared or VPS hosting.

This setup allows your site to use more resources when it needs them, making it faster and more reliable, especially during traffic spikes.

Unlike shared hosting, cloud platforms don’t slow down when someone else’s site gets busy. And compared to VPS or dedicated servers, you don’t have to worry about manual upgrades or server maintenance.

It’s perfect for WordPress users who want better performance, more control, and room to grow without jumping through technical hoops.

The Best Cloud Hosting Providers for WordPress

Have you ever noticed how every cloud hosting provider claims to be the fastest, most reliable, and most scalable option for WordPress?

With dozens of companies offering similar-sounding features and using buzzwords like “infinite scalability” and “next-gen infrastructure,” finding the right cloud hosting solution can feel like trying to spot the differences in identical twins.

I’ve narrowed down the best WordPress cloud hosting providers based on real-world performance, value for money, and user experience. Let’s look at each one individually to see why it made the cut and what type of website it works best for.

1. SiteGround

SiteGround is one of the fastest and most dependable cloud-based hosting providers I’ve used. It’s one of the top-rated hosting companies and consistently delivers strong performance and top-notch support.

It’s built on Google Cloud infrastructure, which gives your site high-speed SSD storage (faster hard drives) and automatic scalability. I also like how beginner-friendly its custom dashboard is – no cPanel needed.

SiteGround includes a free CDN, daily backups, SSL, email hosting, and one-click staging. These features are especially helpful when managing multiple sites or testing changes before going live.

Most importantly, their live chat support is consistently helpful and WordPress-savvy. That’s a big reason I keep recommending SiteGround to business owners and bloggers.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 397 ms

Avg. Response Time: 123 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A++

User Rating: 4.9/5

Discount: SiteGround Coupon Code

Best For: Best all-round cloud hosting 🏆

Pros of Using SiteGround

• Built on Google Cloud for maximum speed and uptime
• Free daily backups, SSL, email, and staging tools
• Beginner-friendly custom dashboard (no cPanel)
• Excellent live chat support, available 24/7
• Highly rated by WordPress users and developers

Best For

• Bloggers and small business owners who want fast, scalable hosting
• WordPress users who value top-tier support and simplicity

SiteGround Performance Tests

Uptime

I recorded 100% uptime on my SiteGround test site — a great result for any cloud host.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time was 397 ms in my Pingdom tests across North America and Europe.

Stress Testing

Using K6 to simulate 50 users, SiteGround maintained stable speeds with no major slowdowns or errors.

Global Response Times:

Due to Google Cloud Infrastructure, SiteGround’s response time was great from all geographic locations. It was slightly higher in India, but still within an acceptable range.

My Experience: I host several sites on SiteGround, including WPBeginner. I’ve found it to be fast, dependable, and easy to use, which is everything you want in a WordPress cloud host. You can read more about it in the case study discussing why I moved WPBeginner to SiteGround. For a more in-depth analysis, take a look at my full SiteGround review.

2. Hostinger

Hostinger offers some of the most affordable cloud hosting for WordPress. Despite the low price, I’ve found their platform surprisingly fast and easy to use.

Their custom control panel (hPanel) is one of the cleanest interfaces I’ve tested. It’s simple enough for beginners but gives you control over advanced features like backups, staging, and caching.

Hostinger also includes LiteSpeed caching, a built-in Cloudflare CDN, and malware scanning on all plans. These are features I don’t usually expect at this price point.

If you’re just getting started or running a budget-conscious project, Hostinger is one of the best cloud-based platforms to grow with.

You can start with their Premium or Business plans. I found them to be quite excellent for smaller sites. You can also easily switch to their Cloud Startup plan for more resources as your business grows.

Performance

Uptime: 99.99%

Page load time: 374 ms

Avg. Response Time: 147 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A++

User Rating: 4.9/5

Discount: Hostinger Coupon Code

Best For: Budget-friendly cloud WordPress hosting 💸

Pros of Using Hostinger

• Lowest starting price for cloud-based WordPress hosting
• Clean, custom hPanel interface (great for beginners)
• Includes LiteSpeed caching, CDN, and malware scanning
• One-click WordPress installs and staging are available
• Consistent uptime and quick support response

Best For

• Beginners looking for affordable cloud hosting
• Freelancers, students, or side projects with growth potential

Hostinger Performance Tests

Uptime

Hostinger maintained 99.99% uptime over 30 days of testing using UptimeRobot.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time was 374 ms across multiple global Pingdom locations.

Stress Testing

During load tests with 50 concurrent users via K6, performance remained smooth with no timeouts.

Global Response Time:

My Hostinger test site had a great response time from all geographic locations.

My Experience: I often recommend Hostinger for beginners who want real cloud performance on a budget. It’s reliable, fast, and easy to manage even for non-technical users. I also like their fast and friendly customer support, which is available 24/7 via live chat. For more details, see my team’s full Hostinger review.

3. Bluehost Cloud

Bluehost Cloud offers premium hosting plans from a long-time WordPress-recommended provider. It’s built specifically for high-performance, cloud-native WordPress hosting and is ideal for serious sites that need speed and scale.

Unlike traditional Bluehost plans, this cloud platform is built on a multi-server architecture with instant scalability and enhanced caching. I also found the dashboard very clean and focused on WordPress users.

It also comes with free daily backups, staging, malware detection, and their WP Pro tools. The setup experience is smooth, and the speed improvements are noticeable, especially under load.

This platform is more expensive than shared hosting, but if you’re running an established business or an online store, it’s worth the investment.

Performance

Uptime: 99.98%

Page load time: 255 ms

Avg. Response Time: 118 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A+

User Rating: 4.8/5

Discount: Bluehost Coupon Code

Best For: High-traffic WordPress sites 🚀

Pros of Using Bluehost Cloud

• Built for performance with cloud-native architecture
• Excellent speed and load handling (great for eCommerce)
• Free domain, backups, malware protection, and staging
• Optimized specifically for WordPress use cases
• Easy dashboard with Pro features built in

Best For

• High-traffic blogs, WooCommerce stores, or agency websites
• Site owners ready to upgrade from shared or VPS to premium cloud

Bluehost Cloud Performance Tests

Uptime

I recorded 99.98% uptime using UptimeRobot with Bluehost Cloud.

Page Load Speed

It had one of the fastest page load times in my tests — just 255 ms across US and EU servers.

Stress Testing

K6 stress tests showed excellent stability with 50 users and no bottlenecks.

Global Response Time

Response times were strong in the US and Europe but slower in Asia and Australia.

My Experience: I’m a long-time Bluehost customer and have used Bluehost Cloud for business websites that needed premium speed and guaranteed uptime. It’s a big step up from shared plans and one of Bluehost’s best upgrades yet. For more details, take a look at my team’s full Bluehost review.

4. Rocket.net

Rocket.net is one of the fastest WordPress cloud hosting platforms I’ve ever tested. It’s fully managed and comes with Cloudflare Enterprise built in, which alone offers major value for money.

Rocket.net delivers excellent performance even under traffic surges. I didn’t need to configure caching or security — everything worked out of the box. The dashboard is incredibly simple, even for non-technical users.

It’s more expensive than beginner-focused hosts, but it’s perfect if you want top-tier speed, built-in CDN, WAF (Website Application Firewall), and expert support without lifting a finger.

If performance is your top priority, Rocket.net is one of the best premium WordPress cloud hosts I can recommend.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 448 ms

Avg. Response Time: 119 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A+

User Rating: 4.8/5

Discount: Rocket.net Coupon

Best For: Premium performance ⚡

Pros of Using Rocket.net

• Cloudflare Enterprise is included at no extra cost
• Blazing-fast speeds even under load
• One of the simplest managed dashboards I’ve used
• No need to configure caching or CDN manually
• Excellent support from WordPress experts

Best For

• Agencies and businesses that prioritize speed and security
• Users who want premium managed WordPress hosting with zero maintenance

Rocket.net Performance Tests

Uptime

Rocket.net maintained 100% uptime during my 30-day test window.

Page Load Speed

Pages loaded in just 448 ms on average (270 ms on the US East Coast) with no need for plugin-based optimization.

Stress Testing

Rocket.net held steady with 50 concurrent virtual users and didn’t show any traffic lag during K6 tests.

Global Response Time

I was delighted by the fast server response time from all geographic locations.

My Experience: I use Rocket.net for some of my businesses where I need top-tier speed with zero setup. Their Cloudflare integration and server stack make it feel like everything is pre-optimized out of the box. For more details, see my team’s full Rocket.net review.

5. WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a fully managed cloud hosting platform built by Automattic. I believe it is one of the easiest ways to launch a secure, fast, and scalable WordPress site without worrying about hosting setup or server tuning.

It includes built-in caching, CDN, backups, malware protection, and SEO tools. You also get access to WordPress.com’s own block editor enhancements and customer support, which I’ve found responsive and helpful for beginners.

What makes WordPress.com unique is how seamlessly it integrates WordPress hosting, security, and publishing tools under one roof. It’s a solid option for those who want simplicity without sacrificing performance.

Although it has some limitations as an all-in-one solution, it’s incredibly convenient for small businesses and bloggers.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 636 ms

Avg. Response Time: 148 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A+

User Rating: 4.8/5

Discount: WordPress.com Coupon

Best For: eCommerce and small business 🛒

Pros of Using WordPress.com

• Hosted by the folks who know WordPress inside out
• Built-in performance, security, SEO, and backups
• No need to worry about updates, caching, or plugins
• Beginner-friendly dashboard and editor
• Strong support and uptime for business websites

Best For

• Bloggers, freelancers, and small business owners
• Anyone who wants “set it and forget it” WordPress hosting

WordPress.com Performance Tests

Uptime

WordPress.com had 100% uptime during my tests, which is excellent for managed cloud hosting.

Page Load Speed

The site loaded in about 636 ms on average across key regions, which is slightly slower than developer-focused hosts but still fast.

Stress Testing

It handled 50 virtual users in my K6 test with no slowdowns, which shows their infrastructure is solid.

Global Response Time

WordPress.com had great server response times across the board.

My Experience: I recommend WordPress.com as an excellent option for beginners and small business websites. It does have some limitations, which is why I recommend starting with Business or Commerce plans, which offer more flexibility. For more details, see my team’s detailed WordPress.com review.

6. DreamHost Cloud

DreamHost Cloud is more developer-focused than some others on this list. It gives you full control of a cloud server without the limitations of managed plans, which makes it a great option for advanced users.

You can launch WordPress on their cloud compute platform using your own stack (LAMP, NGINX, etc.) and scale it however you want. I’ve used it for staging environments and sandbox sites where flexibility is more important than UI.

It’s not ideal for beginners, but if you know your way around Linux or want to manage your own cloud instance, DreamHost Cloud gives you tons of freedom at a very low cost.

It’s also great for developers who want to test applications or deploy advanced setups affordably.

Performance

Uptime: 99.89%

Page load time: 439 ms

Avg. Response Time: 174 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A

User Rating: 4.7/5

Discount: DreamHost Coupon

Best For: Developers and technical users 🔧

Pros of Using DreamHost Cloud

• Very low starting cost for full cloud access
• Great for developers needing sandbox or staging environments
• Custom stack deployment (LAMP, NGINX, etc.)
• Scalable compute and storage resources
• No fixed limits on bandwidth or site count

Best For

• Advanced users and developers
• Testing, staging, or custom WordPress cloud stacks

DreamHost Performance Tests

Uptime

Over 30 days, my DreamHost Cloud site maintained 99.89% uptime, which is solid for a self-managed setup.

Page Load Speed

The page load time was 439 ms — faster than I expected from a DIY setup.

Stress Testing

With K6, the server handled 50 concurrent users smoothly with minimal latency spikes.

My Experience: I have tested DreamHost Cloud for development sites and custom testing projects. I like that it gives total control without breaking the bank. My team has a detailed DreamHost review with more information on their regular WordPress plans.

7. Scala Hosting

Scala Hosting offers managed WordPress cloud hosting at an affordable price. I’ve used it on testing sites, and it consistently delivers solid performance, responsive support, and excellent value for money.

What makes Scala unique is its SPanel — an alternative to cPanel that’s lightweight, easy to use, and doesn’t require extra licensing. You get full control of your cloud VPS with a beginner-friendly dashboard.

Scala Hosting includes free daily backups, a built-in firewall, malware scanning, and fully managed support. Its plans are also scalable, so you can adjust resources as your site grows.

It’s especially good for those who want VPS-like power without managing everything themselves.

Performance

Uptime: 99.99%

Page load time: 362 ms

Avg. Response Time: 142 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A

User Rating: 4.8/5

Discount: Scala Hosting Coupon

Best For: VPS-style cloud WordPress hosting on a budget 🧰

Pros of Using Scala Hosting

• Includes free SPanel (cPanel alternative with no license fees)
• Fully managed VPS cloud with strong security features
• Excellent speed and uptime across global test locations
• Scalable RAM, CPU, and storage on demand
• Helpful and fast live chat support

Best For

• WordPress users who want VPS-style control with managed support
• Agencies, resellers, and site owners who need scalability

Scala Hosting Performance Tests

Uptime

Scala Hosting delivered 99.99% uptime during my monitoring period.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time was 362 ms based on Pingdom tests from the US and EU regions.

Stress Testing

K6 tests showed smooth handling of up to 50 virtual users with no performance dips.

Global Response Time

Response times were excellent, averaging just 120.4 ms globally, with faster results in the US and Europe.

My Experience: When I signed up for Scala Hosting, I enjoyed the smooth user experience. I also liked how it balances the ease of use of a managed WordPress host with developer-friendly flexibility. I reached out to support for some queries, and their response time and problem-solving skills were excellent. For more details, see our full Scala Hosting review.

8. Pressable

My team members and I have tested Pressable for WooCommerce stores and high-traffic blogs where stability really matters. It’s developed by Automattic, the same team behind WordPress.com and WooCommerce, so everything is optimized for WordPress right out of the box.

One thing I really liked was how smooth the onboarding felt. Migrations were handled for me, and I didn’t have to think about caching, CDN, or security setup — it’s all included. Their dashboard is simple but powerful, and I could spin up staging sites or clone installs with just a few clicks.

It includes enhanced security, daily backups, malware scanning, and server-side caching. I’ve tested it under load and found it to be fast and consistent, especially for dynamic WooCommerce pages.

It’s priced at a premium, but if you’re running a serious WordPress site, it delivers the kind of reliability and support I look for in client projects.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 750 ms

Avg. Response Time: 113 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A

User Rating: 4.9/5

Discount: Pressable Coupon

Best For: WooCommerce store owners & agencies 🛒

Pros of Using Pressable

• Created by Automattic (makers of WordPress.com & WooCommerce)
• Includes enhanced security, CDN, and daily backups
• Excellent speed under high traffic
• Easy-to-use dashboard with cloning, staging, and team tools
• Rock-solid uptime and responsive support

Best For

• WooCommerce store owners and business websites
• Agencies and professionals managing multiple client installs

Pressable Performance Tests

Uptime

Pressable held 100% uptime across my monitoring period using UptimeRobot.

Page Load Speed

The average load time was just 750 ms, with no need to configure extra performance plugins.

Stress Testing

During K6 load testing, it handled 50 concurrent users with zero slowdowns.

Global Response Time

Pressable gave an incredible server response time from all geographic locations.

My Experience: I liked the ease of use and smooth onboarding experience, which add great value for beginners who need premium performance without hiring a developer. Pressable offers a fully managed WordPress environment that works well out of the box. The performance, support, and security are top-notch, and it’s one of the few platforms where I rarely need to touch caching or CDN settings. See my team’s detailed Pressable review for more analysis.

9. Kinsta

I’ve used Kinsta on several business and client sites, and it’s easily one of the smoothest cloud hosting experiences I’ve had. Everything, from speed to support, just works.

Kinsta runs on Google Cloud’s premium-tier network, and they handle all the heavy lifting: caching, security, backups, staging, and even performance monitoring. I didn’t have to configure anything — my sites were blazing fast out of the box.

What really stood out to me was their dashboard. It’s modern, easy to navigate, and built specifically for WordPress users. In seconds, I could switch PHP versions, clear the cache, and manage redirects.

If you want premium WordPress hosting without dealing with technical maintenance, Kinsta is one of the best investments you can make. It’s priced higher, but the performance and premium service justify the cost.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 635 ms

Avg. Response Time: 101 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A

User Rating: 4.9/5

Discount: Kinsta Coupon

Best For: Premium managed WordPress performance 💎

Pros of Using Kinsta

• Built on Google Cloud’s premium tier with global CDN
• Lightning-fast out of the box — no caching plugins needed
• Daily backups, one-click staging, and free hack fixes
• Excellent support from actual WordPress engineers
• Easy-to-use MyKinsta dashboard with tons of features

Best For

• Site owners who want high-end, fully managed WordPress hosting
• Businesses, agencies, and professionals who value speed and uptime

Kinsta Performance Tests

Uptime

Every site I tested on Kinsta had 100% uptime for the whole duration of monitoring.

Page Load Speed

With their built-in caching and CDN, I saw average load times under 635 ms — no optimization required.

Stress Testing

Even under 50 simultaneous users in my K6 tests, Kinsta held up with consistent response times and no server strain.

My Experience: I enjoyed testing Kinsta for internal projects and staging websites. It offers a clean and intuitive dashboard, which makes managing your website so much easier. It’s fast, secure, and supported by people who truly understand WordPress. If your business depends on uptime and speed, Kinsta is worth every dollar.

10. Google Cloud

I’ve used Google Cloud to host custom WordPress applications that needed full flexibility. It’s the same infrastructure used by SiteGround, Kinsta, and other major hosts, and it’s incredibly fast when set up correctly.

But I wouldn’t recommend it to beginners. You’re responsible for everything, including server setup, WordPress installation, caching, firewalls, and backups. When I used it for a high-scale project, I had to spend hours tuning the stack to get the performance right.

However, once it’s configured properly, the performance is incredible. I was able to scale up and down depending on traffic spikes, and I had full access to logs, resource usage, and network settings.

If you’re a developer or know your way around the terminal, Google Cloud is one of the most powerful platforms out there. Just know that going in, there’s no hand-holding.

As an alternative, I would recommend SiteGround, which is hosted on the Google Cloud platform but will take care of everything for you behind the scenes.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 415 ms (LEMP stack)

Avg. Response Time: 63 ms

WPBeginner Rating: B+

User Rating: 4.7/5

Discount: Free credits for new accounts

Best For: Advanced users & server controls 👨‍💻

Pros of Using Google Cloud

• Same infrastructure used by SiteGround, Kinsta, and major apps
• Unmatched flexibility for scaling and performance
• Access to the full server stack and network settings
• Pay-as-you-go pricing and generous free credits
• Fast SSDs, load balancing, and global CDN options

Best For

• Developers and agencies building custom WordPress stacks
• Advanced users who want full server control and automation

Google Cloud Performance Tests

Uptime

My custom VM stack on Google Cloud maintained 100% uptime over 30 days of testing.

Page Load Speed

After tuning the server, my site loaded in just 415 ms across global locations.

Stress Testing

In my K6 tests, it handled 50 users with no timeouts, but only after I configured load balancing and caching manually.

My Experience: I’ve used Google Cloud for projects that needed complete freedom, and I love the power and flexibility it offers. But unless you’re comfortable managing Linux servers, I’d stick with a managed cloud host from this list, such as SiteGround.

11. AWS (Amazon Web Services)

I’ve hosted WordPress on AWS (Amazon Web Services) for projects that needed enterprise-level flexibility. It’s one of the most powerful cloud platforms in the world, but it comes with a steep learning curve, which is why I wouldn’t recommend it to beginners.

You can run WordPress on Lightsail instances and select virtual machines for your own requirements. You will be responsible for load balancing, caching, scaling, and security. That’s a lot of moving pieces, and in my experience, it requires hands-on setup and regular monitoring.

Once properly configured, the speed and reliability are outstanding. I’ve seen it run traffic-heavy campaigns and product launches without breaking a sweat, but only because everything was optimized in advance.

If you’re a developer or agency managing custom infrastructure, AWS gives you unmatched flexibility. But for most WordPress users, I’d recommend a managed cloud host instead.

Discount: AWS Free Tier offers a free trial

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 684 ms

Avg. Response Time: 109 ms

WPBeginner Rating: B+

User Rating: 4.6/5

Discount: AWS Free Tier offers free trial

Best For: Custom enterprise-grade WordPress setups 🏗️

Pros of Using AWS

• Extreme flexibility for custom WordPress infrastructure
• Highly scalable with advanced security and monitoring
• Used by large enterprises and SaaS apps
• Global availability zones and CDN integration
• Free tier allows you to test with no cost for 12 months

Best For

• Developers and system admins managing high-scale WordPress environments
• Agencies and teams needing full-stack control and automation

AWS Performance Tests

Uptime

I set up monitoring just before stress-testing my AWS test site. The site remained up during the testing with 100% uptime.

Page Load Speed

My test site loaded in 684 ms on average without any caching or performance optimization.

Stress Testing

In my K6 load test, AWS held up under 50 concurrent users, but I had to set up caching and optimization.

My Experience: AWS provides flexibility and resources, but you will need to spend time configuring and managing it. It’s not beginner-friendly, but it delivers the power and reliability I expect from enterprise hosting for large, mission-critical sites. For those who want to try it out, my team has prepared a step-by-step beginner-friendly guide for installing WordPress on AWS.

My Verdict: Best Cloud Hosting Providers for WordPress

After testing dozens of platforms and helping site owners scale with confidence, these are the top 3 cloud hosting providers I recommend, based on real-world usage, performance, and value.

Best Overall Cloud Hosting: SiteGround

I use SiteGround for several businesses that need speed, uptime, and easy management. It runs on Google Cloud infrastructure and works great for blogs, business sites, and online stores.

Best Budget Cloud Hosting: Hostinger

If you’re on a tight budget but still want fast, cloud-powered WordPress hosting, Hostinger is a solid pick. Their dashboard is beginner-friendly, and support has always been helpful in my experience.

Best for Premium Cloud Features: Bluehost Cloud

Bluehost’s new cloud offering brings premium speed, built-in optimization, and scalability. It’s a great choice if you want performance without going full developer mode.

FAQs About Cloud Hosting for WordPress

Choosing a cloud hosting provider can be challenging, especially with so many technical terms and features.

Here are some common questions I get from readers and clients when they’re making the switch to WordPress cloud hosting, along with my honest answers.

Want to Learn More About WordPress Hosting?

These guides can help if you’re still exploring your options or want to better understand how WordPress hosting works:

• How to Choose the Best WordPress Hosting
• WordPress Maintenance vs Managed Hosting – Which Is Better?
• How Much Traffic Can WordPress Handle? (+ Expert Scaling Tips)
• Beginner’s Guide to WordPress Speed and Performance

I hope this guide helped you find the right cloud hosting for your WordPress site. If you still have questions or need help deciding, feel free to leave a comment or reach out — I read every message, and I’m happy to help however I can.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 11 Best Cloud Hosting Providers for WordPress in 2025 (Expert Pick) first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I first started working on my WordPress websites, I was mostly guessing what visitors wanted. It wasn’t until I started using heatmaps that I truly understood how people interacted with my site — where they clicked, how far they scrolled, and what actually caught their attention.

If you’re trying to improve your WordPress site but aren’t sure what’s working and what’s not, then heatmaps can give you some answers.

After testing several tools over the years, I’ve narrowed it down to 2 easy ways to set up heatmaps in WordPress: Microsoft Clarity and UserFeedback.

In this guide, I’ll go through each setup process step by step. By the end, you’ll have the tools you need to make data-driven changes to your site. 🔥

Why Do You Need to Set Up WordPress Heatmaps?

A heatmap is a visual tool that shows you exactly how visitors interact with your WordPress website. It uses color coding to highlight the most and least active areas on a page:

• Red, orange, and yellow (“hot” areas) show where visitors click, tap, or spend the most time.
• Blue and green (“cold” areas) show spots that get little or no attention.

By seeing this activity mapped out, you can stop guessing about what’s working and what’s not. In other words, heatmaps help remove the guesswork by giving you clear insights into visitor behavior.

They help you answer important questions, such as:

• Are people clicking your CTA buttons?
• Do they scroll down far enough to see your content?
• Are they clicking on things that don’t do anything?

With this information, you can make smart changes to your site. You’ll know what to fix, what to move, and what to improve.

You can use that insight to get more readers, boost sales, or increase inquiries from potential clients — all by making simple changes based on how people actually use your site.

In the following sections, I’ll share how to set up WordPress heatmaps using 2 of the best tools for adding heatmaps. One is completely free, and the other is a premium option with extra features.

Feel free to use the jump links below to go to your preferred method:

Step 0: Preparing Your WordPress Site for Heatmaps

Before you add heatmaps to your WordPress site, it’s important to make sure your site is properly prepared. Taking a few precautionary steps can help prevent any issues as you get started.

If you’re adding heatmaps to your live site for the first time, it’s a smart move to test everything on a staging site first.

A staging site is essentially a duplicate of your live website, where you can make changes and test new features without affecting your real website. It allows you to try out new tools, like heatmaps, safely, without risking any disruptions to the user experience.

Then, you can simply push the changes live to apply them to your real website.

If you use Bluehost, then you can easily create a staging site, thanks to their quick 1-click solution.

That said, if you don’t have access to staging through your hosting, then you can also use plugins like WP Stagecoach to create staging sites.

For a full walkthrough, you can check out our guide on how to create a staging site for WordPress.

Additionally, always back up your site before making any major changes. Having a backup ensures that, in case something goes wrong during the setup process, you can easily restore your site to its previous state without losing any important data.

Finally, remember that heatmaps work best when used alongside other analytics tools and user feedback.

Think of them as a starting point for uncovering potential issues or opportunities, not the only source of information. Combining insights from heatmaps with broader data gives you a clearer, more accurate picture of how visitors interact with your site.

Method 1: Set Up WordPress Heatmaps Using Microsoft Clarity

Microsoft Clarity is a free, easy-to-use heatmap and session recording tool that integrates seamlessly with WordPress. It’s best for overall site analysis, ideal for beginners, bloggers, and small business owners who want to understand visitor behavior.

That’s why we use it across some of our partner websites to track heatmaps and gain insights into user interactions.

Step 1: Create a Free Microsoft Clarity Account

To set up WordPress heatmaps with Microsoft Clarity, you’ll first need an account.

Go to the Microsoft Clarity website and click ‘Get Started.’

In the popup that appears, you’ll see that you can sign up with a Microsoft, Facebook, or Google account. Just click on the one you prefer.

For this tutorial, I’m going to select ‘Sign in to Google.’

After that, you can follow through the signup process by choosing the appropriate account.

Then, click ‘Continue’ on the confirmation page.

Upon signup, you’ll be asked to confirm your email address.

Don’t forget to check the Clarity Terms of Use and click the checkbox before continuing.

You’ll then be prompted to create a new project for your WordPress site.

You just need to give your project a name, enter your website URL, and choose your industry from the dropdown menu.

With that done, go ahead and click ‘Add new project’ to finish the setup.

With that done, you’re now ready to install the Microsoft Clarity WordPress plugin to set up heatmaps on your website.

Step 2: Install Microsoft Clarity in Your WordPress Site

In this step, you’ll install the Microsoft Clarity plugin and connect it to the account you just created.

From your WordPress dashboard, let’s go to Plugins » Add New Plugin.

Use the search bar to quickly find the Microsoft Clarity plugin.

Just click ‘Install Now’ on the relevant search result, and once again on ‘Activate’ when it appears. 

For step-by-step instructions, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, the next step is choosing a Clarity project to connect both tools.

You can navigate to Clarity from your WordPress admin area and choose the project you just created from the dropdown menu.

In the next few seconds, you should see a ‘Project integrated successfully’ notification.

For more details, you can see our guide on how to install Microsoft Clarity Analytics in WordPress.

💡 Note: If you are using a WordPress caching plugin, then you need to clear your WordPress cache after connecting Microsoft Clarity to your website. This is important because, otherwise, Microsoft will not be able to verify your site for a few hours.

Step 3: Set Up Heatmaps in Microsoft Clarity

Once you connect Microsoft Clarity, it will automatically start tracking your visitors — no need to paste any code manually or mess with theme files.

Inside your Clarity dashboard, you’ll find useful reports that give you an overview of how people interact with your WordPress blog or site.

Some of the key metrics include:

• Sessions – This shows how many individual visits your site received.
• Pages per session – Tells you how many pages a visitor viewed during one session.
• Scroll depth – Shows how far users scroll down each page.
• Active time – Tracks how long users are actively engaging with your page (not just leaving it open in a background tab).

You’ll also find pre-built widgets like the ‘User Overview,’ which highlights visitor types and devices.

Plus, there are behavioral insights such as rage clicks (when users repeatedly click in frustration) and excessive scrolling (when users scroll too much, possibly looking for something).

To see your heatmaps, go ahead and switch to the ‘Heatmaps’ tab.

Once inside, you’ll see a list of all the page heatmaps that Clarity automatically recorded.

Just click on a page you want to analyze.

Once you open a heatmap, you’ll see three main views: Clicks, Scroll, and Attention.

You can switch to ‘Click’ to see where visitors are clicking the most.

To find out your scroll depth, simply move to the ‘Scroll’ tab.

Here, Clarity will reveal how far users scroll down your page. This helps identify if they miss your key content.

Finally, go ahead and click on the ‘Attention‘ button to see the average time visitors spend on different parts of the page.

Red zones indicate higher attention, while blue areas get less.

That’s all – You’ve successfully set up WordPress heatmaps using Microsoft Clarity!

Method 2: Set Up WordPress Heatmaps Using UserFeedback

UserFeedback by MonsterInsights combines heatmap-style feedback with surveys and advanced targeting. It’s a powerful option for growing websites, online stores, and agencies needing deeper insights and more control over how to collect visitor feedback.

At WPBeginner, we have used UserFeedback to gain insights into what our web design customers want and expect from us. We’ve had a great experience with it, and you can check out our full UserFeedback review to see why we recommend it!

Step 1: Install and Activate UserFeedback

First, you’ll need to set up a UserFeedback account. You can do this by visiting the UserFeedback website and signing up for a plan.

Once you’ve signed up for an account, you’ll be redirected to your UserFeedback account dashboard, where you can find the download link to the UserFeedback zip file and your license key.

Now, it’s time to install the plugin.

From your WordPress dashboard, you need to go to Plugins » Add New.

On the next screen, let’s search for UserFeedback.

You can then install and activate the plugin like you would any other WordPress plugin.

New to installing plugins? Here’s a detailed guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once activated, you can enter your license key to unlock all the pro features that come with your plan.

To do this, you can navigate to UserFeedback » Settings. Then, simply copy and paste your license key from your UserFeedback dashboard into the ‘License Key’ field.

Go ahead and click the ‘Verify’ button to start the verification process.

In a few seconds, you should see a verification success message.

Step 2: Enable the Heatmaps Addon

Now, let’s go to UserFeedback » Addons to install the Heatmaps addon.

You can just scroll down the page to find the Heatmaps addon and click ‘Install Addon’ in the appropriate box.

Once installed, make sure it’s activated by clicking the ‘Activate’ button.

Step 3: Create a New Heatmap

With the Heatmaps addon activated, you can now create your site’s heatmap.

Let’s go to UserFeedback » Heatmaps in your WordPress dashboard, and click the ‘New Heatmap’ button.

In the popup that appears, expand the dropdown menu to select the specific page you want to track. For example, you can create a heatmap for your homepage, landing page, or blog post.

Go ahead and hit the ‘Create’ button to set up the heatmap.

Step 4: View Your Heatmap Results

After you create a heatmap, UserFeedback will start collecting user data immediately.

Let’s go to UserFeedback » Heatmaps and click on a heatmap to see detailed visual insights.

On the next screen, you’ll be able to view detailed insights about your visitors, including:

• Device Filter – Compare user behavior across desktop, tablet, and mobile.
• Clicks – See exactly where people are clicking on your page.
• Mouse Movements – Track how users move their mouse across the screen.

If you’re promoting your site across multiple channels, then you can also filter the data by UTM campaign, source, or medium. This helps you understand how visitors from different marketing efforts interact with your site.

And that’s all there is to it – You’ve successfully set up WordPress heatmaps using UserFeedback!

Bonus Steps: Maximize Your Heatmap Insights 🔥

Heatmaps are only useful if you know how to act on what they’re telling you. Here’s how to turn the insights from your heatmaps into real improvements for your WordPress site.

Fix Where Visitors Drop Off

You can use scroll maps to see how far down your visitors go on a page. If important content is buried too far down the page, then most people may never see it.

You can try moving key elements like CTAs or offers higher on the page, and break up long pages with smaller sections and clear headings. You can also use date filters to track how these changes affect visitor behavior over time.

This small change can reduce bounce rates and keep your visitors engaged longer.

Spot and Solve User Confusion

Sometimes, visitors try to click on images, icons, or text that aren’t clickable. This shows that they’re confused or expecting something different.

You can review your click maps and mouse movements to spot these areas. If necessary, you can link those images or add buttons nearby to make things easier for users.

You can also set up a quick survey with UserFeedback to ask what users were expecting to find.

Identify and Fix Navigation Issues

If you see visitors frequently jumping between pages without clear direction, it’s a sign that your navigation may be confusing.

Simplify your navigation by making sure information is easy to find and adjusting anything that could cause confusion. You can also walk through important steps on your site like a first-time visitor to ensure everything functions properly.

You may also want to see our guide on how to create a custom navigation menu in WordPress.

Make Your CTA Buttons Impossible to Miss

If your CTAs (call-to-action buttons) aren’t getting enough clicks, then I recommend adjusting their color, text, or placement to make them stand out more.

Go ahead and use your mouse movement insights to spot hesitation before clicking and check device filters to ensure your CTAs are visible and easy to click on all devices, especially mobile.

I hope this article has helped you set up WordPress heatmaps. Next, you might want to explore our expert-curated landing page tips to skyrocket WordPress conversions and our ultimate guide on geolocation targeting.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Setup WordPress Heatmaps (2 Easy Ways) first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I started working with small business owners, I noticed a pattern. Most of them were not using AI to its full potential, which created unnecessary work and left money on the table.

Some felt overwhelmed by the tech, and others were experimenting with AI but without seeing real results.

But once they understood what AI could actually do, everything changed. Suddenly, customer emails got answered faster, marketing became more impactful, and they had more time to focus on business growth.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how small businesses can use AI today to save time, reduce stress, and get more done. No fluff—just practical examples, tools, and strategies that actually work.

How AI Helps Small Businesses Thrive

Running a small business means doing more with less—less time, fewer staff, and tighter margins. That’s where AI becomes a game-changer.

Instead of hiring for every task or burning out trying to do it all, you can use AI to handle repetitive work, analyze data, and support customers faster.

Whether it’s writing emails, summarizing reviews, scheduling appointments, or tracking trends, AI tools can save hours of manual work each week. And for many business owners, that translates into real cost savings—sometimes thousands per year.

Here are a few ways AI helps you save time, improve efficiency, and grow smarter:

• Save Time on Daily Tasks: AI tools can handle email replies, social media captions, and appointment bookings so you don’t have to.
• Make Smarter Business Decisions: Use AI to track customer behavior, spot trends, and find new revenue opportunities.
• Improve Customer Experience: AI chatbots and email assistants can respond faster and more consistently, even during off-hours.
• Cut Operational Costs: Automating routine tasks means you can grow without hiring more staff or outsourcing everything.
• Boost Marketing & Sales: From writing blog posts to analyzing ad performance, AI can help you grow your business without extra overhead.

The key is to treat AI as a helper, not a replacement. With the right tools in place, it’s like giving your business an extra set of hands, without the extra payroll.

Here is an overview of the topics I will cover in this post. Feel free to use the jump links to go to different sections:

Powerful Ways to Use AI in Your Small Business

If you’re running a small business, you know it means wearing a lot of hats. You’re often the CEO, the marketing manager, customer support, and maybe even the accountant!

Juggling all those responsibilities can feel overwhelming, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day.

What if you had a smart assistant to help manage some of the load? That’s essentially what AI can do for your small business.

AI is a practical tool that can automate repetitive tasks, analyze data to give you insights, and streamline your workflows.

It won’t take over your business, but it will free up your time so you can focus on what really matters. Now, let’s look at some of the best ways AI can help your small business.

1. AI for Customer Service & Communication 🤖

When you’re running a small business, missed messages can mean missed money. You don’t have time to reply to every email, answer every direct message, or chase down every form submission.

This is where AI can quietly step in and save the day, answering questions, booking appointments, and making sure no customer slips through the cracks.

For example, AI-powered chatbots can handle simple FAQs 24/7—like “What are your hours?” or “Do you offer free shipping?”—while you sleep or focus on other parts of your business.

I recommend ChatBot.com, which helps you capture leads, answer product questions, and even route chats to the right person. It also works with tools like Facebook Messenger, so you can respond across platforms without juggling inboxes.

For a full walkthrough, check out our guide on how to add a chatbot in WordPress.

Phone support can be just as stressful, especially when you’re short-staffed. That’s why we use Nextiva at WPBeginner. This AI-powered business phone service offers call summaries, real-time coaching tips, and smart analytics so you can improve team performance without hiring more reps.

Need more options? Here’s our full list of the best business phone services for small businesses.

Email is another time sink. I recommend using tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to draft customer replies, onboarding emails, and marketing messages in minutes, not hours. You should still personalize everything, but the heavy lifting is already done.

💡 Want help writing replies, subject lines, and follow-ups? Try our curated list of ChatGPT prompts for marketers.

And if you’re just getting started, check out our full beginner’s guide on how to use AI for customer service. It’s written specifically for small business owners.

2. AI for Marketing & Social Media 📱

Marketing often falls to the bottom of the to-do list when running a business. Creating posts, writing emails, and creating new content every week can feel like a full-time job.

But with the right AI tools, you can keep your marketing consistent, even if you’re short on time, budget, or ideas.

For example, I use All in One SEO to speed up content writing. It comes with a built-in Writing Assistant, which uses AI to optimize your content for search engines. This can help boost organic traffic and outrank your competitors.

AIOSEO can also generate SEO titles and meta descriptions, suggest internal links, and improve on-page SEO—all from your WordPress dashboard. This alone has saved me hours of manual work. For more details, check out my full All in One SEO review.

We’ve covered this in more detail in our guide on how to use AI for SEO, which includes tools for keyword research, headline writing, and more.

For visuals, Canva AI is great for generating quick graphics and branded content. Whether you need Instagram posts, blog banners, or product mockups, it makes design feel easy, even if you’re not a designer.

I also use ChatGPT’s 4o image generation to create AI images for blog posts and landing pages. This has saved me hundreds of dollars that I previously paid for stock images.

Plus, I use ChatGPT and Gemini to draft newsletter copy and social captions.

It’s not just about speed—it helps me stay consistent, even when creative energy is low.

💡 Need help getting started? See our free guide on using AI to boost your marketing for ready-to-use tips and tools.

3. Use AI for Sales & eCommerce 🛒

Most small business websites lose sales because product pages aren’t optimized, customers leave with unanswered questions, or follow-ups fall through the cracks. But hiring a full team isn’t always an option.

That’s where AI comes in. It helps you create better customer experiences, respond faster, and sell smarter without adding to your workload.

StoreAgent.ai is one of my favorite WooCommerce tools. It uses AI to generate product descriptions, answer FAQs, summarize reviews, and even create SEO-friendly tags—all with a single click.

It helps you keep product pages updated and optimized without getting stuck writing copy from scratch.

I also recommend SeedProd’s AI builder to launch sales pages, product catalogs, and checkout flows in minutes. Just give it a short prompt, and it will generate a clean, mobile-friendly layout for your business.

This is the same visual builder we use on some of our partner brands. It’s fast, reliable, and great for getting something live without touching code. You can read our guide on how to create a website with AI to learn more.

If you want 24/7 sales support, AI chatbots from tools like ChatBot.com can guide visitors during checkout, answer last-minute product questions, and recover abandoned carts. See our ChatBot.com review to learn more.

I also recommend using an AI-powered CRM like HubSpot for email follow-ups and turning leads into conversions. It tracks user behavior, suggests the best time to send follow-ups, and helps you close more sales without the guesswork.

Want to dig deeper? Just check out our guide on how to use AI to skyrocket your lead generation.

These tools don’t just save time—they help you convert more visitors, grow faster, and keep more revenue in your business.

4. Using AI for Customer Insights 📈

It’s hard to grow your business if you don’t know what your customers are doing on your site or how they feel about your products. But most small business owners don’t have time to dig through analytics dashboards or read dozens of reviews individually.

That’s where AI comes in. It turns complicated data into simple answers you can act on.

I use MonsterInsights to track how visitors behave on my website. Their AI Insights feature gives me clear summaries of what’s working, what’s not, and where my leads are coming from—all without opening Google Analytics.

Their Conversations AI tool lets me ask plain-English questions like “How’s my product page doing?” or “Where are my conversions coming from?” and get human-friendly answers right inside WordPress.

At WPBeginner, we use MonsterInsights for everything from content strategy to campaign tracking. You can read more in our full MonsterInsights review.

If you want to understand how your customers feel, not just what they click on, you can also try using ChatGPT for sentiment analysis. You can paste in reviews, survey responses, or social comments and ask it to identify what’s positive, negative, or neutral.

I’ve used this to quickly spot trends in feedback and even catch issues before they escalate. If you’d like to try it, our guide on the best ways to use OpenAI shows you how.

You can also use UserFeedback to run quick surveys and collect input directly from your visitors. Its AI summary feature turns all those replies into a digestible report, highlighting common requests, pain points, and suggestions.

5. AI for Security & Fraud Prevention 🔒

Security can feel invisible until something breaks. For small business owners, even one hacked site or fake transaction can mean lost revenue, chargeback fees, and less customer trust.

If you’ve been putting off security because it feels too technical or expensive, you’re not alone. The good news is that AI tools can protect your site in the background without adding to your workload.

At WPBeginner, we use Cloudflare to secure our website. It uses AI to monitor for bots, malware, and suspicious traffic, and stops attacks before they ever reach us. This protection runs 24/7, and it’s one of the reasons we feel confident launching new campaigns without worry.

If you accept online payments, then tools like Stripe Radar and PayPal Fraud Protection use machine learning to detect suspicious behavior.

They block high-risk payments before they go through, without any manual monitoring required on your end.

These systems get smarter over time, learning from global transaction data to stop even the newest scams. This kind of AI-powered prevention can save you from hours of cleanup and thousands in lost revenue.

If you’re using WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads, then both integrate easily with Stripe and PayPal. You get advanced security without any complicated setup.

For help getting started, see our complete guide on WordPress payment processing.

6. Create AI-Powered Automated Workflows 👷

As a small business owner, you probably have a long to-do list every day. But that doesn’t mean you need to do everything manually. AI-powered automation can handle repetitive tasks, freeing you up to work on the big stuff.

I use Uncanny Automator to connect my website tools and set up smart workflows. It’s like having a digital assistant that knows exactly when to act, based on what users do on my site.

Its OpenAI integration is where things get really fun. You can use it to:

• Generate blog content the moment you publish a podcast episode.
• Create a branded social post when you hit “publish” on a new product page.
• Translate articles into multiple languages with zero manual effort.
• Send a welcome email that includes personalized product suggestions.
• Auto-reply to customer queries using a curated AI knowledge base.

These kinds of automations used to take expensive tools and custom development. Now you can set them up in minutes and with zero code.

For a full walkthrough, check out our tutorial on how to create automated workflows in WordPress, along with our list of the best ways to use OpenAI on your site.

Getting Started with AI in Your Small Business

Getting started with AI doesn’t mean overhauling your entire business overnight. You don’t need to be technical, and you don’t need a huge budget. You just need to start small, with tools that solve real problems you’re facing today.

For me, that meant automating repetitive tasks, speeding up content creation, and reducing time spent replying to emails. Once I saw those wins, it became easier to build momentum.

Here are a few smart ways to begin:

• Pick your biggest time-waster: What drains your energy—support emails? Blog writing? Social posts? Choose one area and test an AI tool that can help.
• Start with free or low-cost tools: Many of the AI tools I’ve tested offer free trials or entry-level plans. You can experiment before investing.
• Don’t automate everything at once: AI works best when you give it clear, focused tasks. Let it help with one thing, then add more later.
• Keep the human touch: AI can speed things up, but people still want to hear from you. Use it to assist, not replace your voice or decisions.
• Track what’s working: Check results after a few weeks. Are you saving time? Getting more leads? Adjust if needed—or scale what’s working.

Trying AI for the first time can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Start with one problem, find one tool, and go from there. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it pays off.

How to Pick the Right AI Tools (Without Wasting Time or Money)

If you’ve ever Googled “best AI tools,” you know how fast the list gets out of hand. Hundreds of options, all promising to save time or boost results. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stuck.

But here’s the truth: You don’t need dozens of tools. You just need the right one for the problem you’re trying to solve.

Here are some helpful picks based on what you want to get done:

• For Content Writing: ChatGPT and Jasper are great for drafting emails, blog posts, and product descriptions. Jasper is better for polished marketing copy, but ChatGPT is perfect for quick drafts or brainstorming ideas.
• For Visual Content: Canva AI can help you design graphics, social media posts, and ads—even if you’ve never touched a design tool before.
• For Brainstorming and Research: Gemini (from Google) works well for outlining, summarizing articles, and researching content ideas.

Still not sure what to try first? Check out our guide to the best ChatGPT alternatives for bloggers and marketers. It breaks down what each tool is good at and who it’s best for.

The Best AI-Powered WordPress Plugins for Your Business

All the tools above are great for everyday business tasks, but what if you want to use AI directly inside your WordPress site?

That’s where AI-powered WordPress plugins come in. These tools bring AI right into your dashboard, so you can write, design, automate, and analyze without switching between platforms.

Here are the top AI-powered plugins I’ve tested that can save time, improve content, and help your business grow smarter:

• All in One SEO – Includes an AI-powered Writing Assistant (powered by SEOBoost) to help you craft optimized meta titles and descriptions. It also gives smart link suggestions to improve internal SEO.
• SeedProd – Comes with an AI-powered website builder. Just describe your business in a few words, and it creates pages, headlines, and layouts tailored to your niche.
• WPForms – Lets you build forms using AI. Just type a prompt like “contact form for bakery orders,” and it creates a complete form in seconds. See our full review →
• MonsterInsights – Uses AI to summarize analytics and provide plain-language answers to questions like “Which page got the most views last week?” See our full review →
• OptinMonster – Helps you build smarter popups with AI. It can adjust your offers based on user behavior to increase conversions. See our full review →
• Uncanny Automator – Connects your plugins and creates automated workflows with OpenAI support. You can use it to generate content, translate posts, send smart emails, and more. See our full review →
• Thrive Ovation – Uses AI to collect and showcase testimonials. It can even turn customer feedback into social proof for your homepage or landing pages.

Each of these tools solves a specific problem—from SEO and forms to automation and analytics. Pick the one that meets your biggest need right now, and you’ll see results faster.

For more options, check out our expert picks for the best ChatGPT WordPress plugins.

Final Thoughts: Avoiding Common Mistakes by Using AI the Right Way

AI is powerful, but it’s not magic. I’ve seen business owners get frustrated when they expect too much too fast, or when they try to automate everything and lose touch with their audience.

The biggest mistake? Thinking AI will run your business for you. It won’t. But it can help you run it more efficiently, especially if you stay in the driver’s seat.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you move forward:

• Review everything AI creates: Whether it’s an email, blog post, or chatbot response, read it. Edit it. Make it sound like you.
• Start small, then scale: Automate one thing, see the results, and add more. Don’t try to set up 10 tools at once or you’ll burn out.
• Don’t trust AI blindly: It gets things wrong. Always double-check facts, links, and any information you publish.
• Stay connected to your audience: AI can help you communicate faster, but it can’t replace your voice. Keep your human touch.

Used the right way, AI can give you time back, reduce stress, and help you grow smarter. The key is to treat it like a tool, not a replacement for your experience, your instincts, or your relationships.

Start small, stay curious, and let AI support the business you’ve worked hard to build.

Frequently Asked Questions About Using AI

Here are some of the most common questions small business owners ask us about getting started with AI.

1. Is AI expensive for small businesses to get started with?

Not at all. Many AI tools offer free plans or affordable pricing. Even small wins—like automating customer emails or speeding up content creation—can quickly save you time and money.

2. Do I need to be tech-savvy or know how to code?

No. Most AI tools we use are beginner-friendly and require zero coding. If you can type a sentence or click a few buttons, you’re good to go.

3. Is it safe to use AI with customer data?

Yes, as long as you’re using trusted tools that follow privacy standards like GDPR. Just be mindful of what data you input, and always check the tool’s privacy settings and terms of use.

4. What if AI says something wrong or sounds robotic?

This happens! AI can get facts wrong or miss your tone. That’s why I always recommend reviewing and editing anything AI writes before hitting publish or send.

5. Can AI replace my customer support or marketing team?

In many cases, yes—at least partially. If you’re trying to cut costs, AI can absolutely take over tasks like answering FAQs, replying to emails, creating social media content, and even writing marketing copy. It won’t replace your strategy or your brand voice, but it can handle a surprising amount of the day-to-day work.

That means you may not need to hire a full support or marketing team—just someone to oversee, edit, or fine-tune what AI produces. It’s a practical way to stay lean while still keeping your business running smoothly.

Explore More AI Guides for Small Business Owners

Want to keep learning how AI can support your business goals? Whether you’re just starting or ready to dive deeper, these handpicked guides will help you take the next step—smarter, faster, and with more confidence.

Some of these tutorials show beginner-friendly walkthroughs. Others will help you scale what’s already working. All of them are written with small business owners in mind:

• How to Write Powerful Headlines Using AI (Explained)
• Best AI Content Detectors for Writers & Site Owners (Compared)
• Tips to Grow Your Business Online (Without a Lot of Money)
• Are AI Website Builders Worth The Hype? (Honest Review)
• How to Make Money Using AI (8 Easy Ideas)
• 7 Best AI Website Builders for WordPress

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post A Small Business Owners’ Guide to Artificial Intelligence first appeared on WPBeginner.

From freelancer to successful co-founder, Ionut Neagu has worked with WordPress for 13+ years. Along the way, he has grown his company, Themeisle, into one of the most respected names in the WordPress ecosystem.

Their flagship products, including Neve and Hestia, are helping shape the future of website building and WordPress theme development.

Like many scrappy entrepreneurs, he started with little more than determination and a desire to learn. What makes Ionut’s story unique is his strong persistence and focus on creating genuine value.

In this interview with the WPBeginner team, Ionut shares his journey and offers valuable insights for anyone looking to build a lasting business in the WordPress space.

“I think intentions kind of matter… if you have the intention to create value through this process – for employees, for clients, for everyone that you work with… I think that also matters… my advice would be to be persistent, to try to focus on creating value and things will compound in time.”

Ionut Neagu – Co-Founder of Themeisle

Keep reading to learn how Ionut built and grew Themeisle into a household name. Whether you’re a brand-new WordPress freelancer or an experienced entrepreneur, his expert advice can help you grow.

Video Interview with Ionut Neagu

If you’d like to watch the complete video interview with Ionut Neagu, then you can see it here:

Or you can use the links below to see what we covered in the interview (and more):

🙋 Meet Ionut Neagu: WordPress Pioneer and Themeisle Co-Founder

Before we share Ionut Neagu’s valuable lessons, we have to revisit his beginnings as a web developer, before Themeisle existed.

Fresh out of college in 2010, armed with a computer science degree and a deep curiosity for learning, Ionut entered the tech world during an interesting time.

While the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis meant there were fewer traditional job opportunities, it also created space for innovative thinkers to create their own paths.

When chatting with Ryan Priddey from the WPBeginner team, Ionut reflected on these early days with his characteristic humility and a sense of humor.

“Someone took a chance on me and said, ‘Okay, we just need someone to help.’ I said, That’s me. I don’t know anything.”

This eagerness to learn and grow, even without immediate rewards or recognition, defined his early career. “I just knew I wanted to learn and prove myself,” he shared.

He even recalled how he once told a potential employer he didn’t need a salary—just the metro fare to come to work. That still didn’t get Ionut the job, but it also didn’t discourage him. He just laughed it off and kept on moving, which is an example of his persistence and resilience.

“What worked for me was curiosity and persistence and not thinking about necessarily the results.”

Ionut Neagu

At WPBeginner, we’ve seen many successful entrepreneurs start with this same combination of humility and determination.

Ionut’s story stands out because he has maintained this learning mindset throughout his 13+ year journey with WordPress, even as his company became a major force in the ecosystem.

Today, Themeisle’s WordPress themes and plugins power hundreds of thousands of websites worldwide.

As co-founder and product strategist, he’s involved in everything from theme development to exploring new acquisitions and future directions for the business.

His approach has never been about following a predetermined path or copying others’ success. Instead, he’s always focused on understanding problems and finding ways to solve them effectively.

Ionut’s story reveals how staying true to your core values can transform a simple freelance career into something much bigger.

👨‍💻 The WordPress Journey: From Freelancing to Themeisle

In his early days with web development, Ionut started by building one freelance project at a time. His first breakthrough came with a modest $30 jQuery slider project that took three days to complete.

Like many developers starting out, he was less driven by the money at this time, and more focused on building his portfolio and expertise.

Through persistence and dedication, he began to establish himself as a freelancer, although he knew there had to be a more sustainable path forward.

Around 2012, Ionut co-founded Themeisle, marking a shift from freelancing to product development. The early days brought important lessons about building a business.

“I had a lot of misconceptions because I thought by having a company, printing business cards, making the company website, we will get clients… but none of this contributed in any way.”

Ionut Neagu

These struggles are acknowledged outright on the ‘About Us’ page of the Themeisle website, which says they quickly learned to adapt because “three years without a sale will do that.”

In our opinion, Ionut’s humble and lighthearted attitude comes through here, as the team jokingly celebrates their early failures.

When asked about mistakes he’d learned from, Ionut acknowledged he has always been a bit risk-averse. He casually quoted one of his inspirations, Charlie Munger, who famously said, “All I want to know is where I’m going to die so I’ll never go there.”

But upon further reflection, Ionut also recognized that sometimes mistakes are just part of the learning process:

“A mistake, a little bit for me, is when you have all the information and you do some wrong judgment. I mean, for me back then, I had no information… I was just learning and yeah, finding my way.”

Ionut Neagu

The lesson here? It speaks to the importance of not being too hard on yourself when learning something new. Everyone has to start somewhere!

As the Themeisle team grew, they faced new challenges. After working on a lot of different projects, from SEO to Java and PHP, Ionut realized they needed to laser focus on something. And that something was WordPress development.

The timing proved perfect – soon after, they released Zerif, their first theme in the WordPress repository.

“When we released Zerif… we saw early signs of success. That was a pivotal moment because then we stopped worrying about money and could focus on how to grow the business.”

This financial stability allowed Ionut and his team to think strategically and make long-term investments. They began developing Themeisle’s blog, knowing it might take two years to see results. The focus shifted from immediate gains to building lasting value.

At WPBeginner, we’ve seen that this kind of patient, long-term thinking often separates successful WordPress businesses from those that struggle to gain traction.

By 2015, Themeisle had established itself as more than just another theme company. Instead, it was becoming a team dedicated to pushing WordPress innovation forward. Plus, the Themeisle blog started to earn a reputation as a valuable resource for WordPress tutorials, roundups, and more.

But transforming successful product launches into a thriving business required more than just good code. It also needed a solid business strategy.

🔍 Business Growth Strategies & Themisle Products

As Themeisle grew, Ionut realized that sustainable growth required more than just great products. He needed systematic approaches to running the business.

A significant milestone for the team came when Ionut started using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Our founder, Syed Balkhi, uses this model for all of his businesses, so we’re huge fans of it.

In our interview, Ionut even fondly recalled discussing EOS with Syed and how meaningful those conversations were.

After that, Ionut talked about the importance of learning how to manage while scaling. “It was another meaningful moment when we started to work with an implementer that actually showed me how I can have the team more involved and not me deciding and telling different things.”

Around this shift in management style, Themeisle also made major changes to its operations. It moved from gut-feel decision-making to data-driven strategies.

“Before that, it was a lot of guesswork. We knew like everything goes fine, we make more money than we spend, and it looks good. And that was basically all the knowledge that we had on the business.”

“Now we have quite detailed P&L (profit and loss) for the business, for the product. We understand very well where are our costs, where we invest, how that investment is working or not.”

Ionut Neagu

At WPBeginner, we’ve seen how this systematic approach to business management can transform a WordPress company. It’s not just about creating great products—it’s about building sustainable processes that support long-term growth.

This strategic approach also helped Themeisle maintain focus on their core mission: creating value for users. They concentrated on understanding and solving real problems for their customers.

The result? They developed and launched some of the most popular WordPress themes and plugins today, including Neve, Hestia, and Optimole.

But building a successful WordPress business isn’t just about strategy and systems. Ionut also has some valuable advice for others looking to follow a similar path.

💡 Advice for Aspiring WordPress Entrepreneurs

When asked what advice he’d give aspiring WordPress entrepreneurs, Ionut emphasized the importance of genuine value creation over surface-level business tactics.

His own experience taught him that traditional approaches, such as polishing resumes or printing business cards, often matter less than solving real problems.

“You need to reflect and try to think what are your skills and adjust the people you work with, adjust the industry you go to, adjust your product to suit your skills,” he explained. This self-awareness, he believes, is crucial for long-term success.

“My advice would be to be persistent, to try to focus on creating value and things will compound in time.”

Ionut Neagu

“The skills you gain, the people you meet, the clients you work with, the employees that grow with you – it all compounds over time,” he explained.

At WPBeginner, we’ve seen this compound effect in action. The most successful WordPress entrepreneurs aren’t usually those who chase quick wins, but those who focus on building value consistently over time.

When it comes to technology and tools, Ionut is particularly excited about AI’s potential. “I feel AI will bring monumental change to how we do things, how we live, and how we work,” he said.

His advice? “Just using it and trying to involve AI in everything that you do.”

He talked about how his team is experimenting with using AI tools like Cursor, but also about how every aspiring entrepreneur should focus on how to most effectively use AI.

“It’s more to build the mental models, right? So it’s not to kind of just see what’s the latest cool and trick and so on. I think just to rewire a little bit and to create mental models, because after a couple of weeks, for example, what I noticed is that I start to think differently.”

Ionut Neagu

“So when I get into a problem, I would say, okay, for that problem, I would need to use this deep research. For that problem… I need to create the flow with agents and et cetera to handle it… for this problem, I would need to ask a reasoning AI… because they work differently and are helpful in different ways.”

“I would say that people are not spending enough time on this… this is the one thing I would be focusing on.”

💥 Related Article: Surprising AI Statistics – Everything You Need to Know

This focus on creating genuine value while embracing new technologies has served Themeisle well in the past. But what does the future hold for the company and its co-founder?

🔮 Looking Ahead: The Future of Themeisle

Rather than making grand predictions about the future, Ionut prefers to focus on the fundamentals that stay constant regardless of how technology evolves. “I have a hard time to think and to plan in terms of what’s the goal in five years,” he admitted.

Instead, he said he always concentrates on two key areas: maintaining strong relationships with existing customers and nurturing a capable team.

“We have those clients that are paying their yearly subscriptions. What I can do for them? How I can make sure they are happy?”

“Now and even in five years, whatever, it would be important to have smart people around you and to grow yourself and grow as well as a team. To be able to tackle any opportunities or challenges or markets.”

Ionut Neagu

This approach of focusing on fundamentals while remaining adaptable has served Themeisle well. When Ionut spots something truly promising, he’s ready to invest fully. “When I spot something unusual, then I will go all in on that,” he explained.

His current focus is exploring how AI can enhance WordPress development and user experience. He sees it as a tool to deliver more value to users.

“I’m trying to use it for everything pretty much… trying to map it with real needs that people have or businesses have.”

As WordPress itself evolves, Themeisle’s commitment to both innovation and fundamentals positions them well for continued success. But for Ionut, success isn’t just about business metrics. It’s also about creating lasting value for the WordPress community.

💭 Final Thoughts

Ionut Neagu’s journey from a curious computer science graduate to co-founder of Themeisle offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to build a lasting WordPress business.

His story shows that success isn’t about following a predetermined path but staying true to core values while remaining adaptable.

What stands out most is his consistent focus on creating genuine value. From his early freelancing days to leading Themeisle today, Ionut says that business success follows naturally from helping others solve real problems.

We also appreciated how Ionut seems to strongly value the potential of each unique individual and how that should be embraced on any entrepreneurial journey.

“No entrepreneur is the same… all the stories are different… so I think in terms of skills, it’s a great opportunity to craft your own journey that suits your strengths.”

Ionut Neagu

At WPBeginner, we’ve watched ThemeIsle grow from its early days to become a significant force in the WordPress community. Their success story reminds us that in WordPress, sustainable growth comes from combining technical excellence with a genuine desire to serve users.

Through economic challenges, technological changes, and evolving market demands, Ionut’s approach has remained consistent: focus on fundamentals, invest in people, and create real value.

💥 Bonus Guides and Resources

Looking to learn more about building a business around WordPress? Here are some helpful WPBeginner resources:

• WordPress Career Options – How to Make a Living With WordPress
• How Ben Rojas Rose From a Developer to the President of AIOSEO
• How Zac McDonald Grew Into the Top-Rated WordPress Freelancer on Upwork
• Blogger Turned WordPress VIP Partner: How WordPress Continues to Inspire Rahul Bansal
• The Future of WordPress: What to Expect (Our Predictions)

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post From Freelancer to Founder: Ionut Neagu’s Journey to Building a Successful WordPress Business first appeared on WPBeginner.

Last week, a friend who manages multiple WordPress sites called me in a panic. A routine plugin update had broken his client’s navigation menu, but he didn’t notice until customers started complaining.

This is a common problem I’ve seen countless times, and it’s exactly why visual regression testing is so important for WordPress website owners.

Visual regression testing might sound complicated. However, it’s actually a simple solution that can save you hours of manual checking and prevent embarrassing layout issues.

Typically, it works by automatically comparing before-and-after screenshots of your pages. This helps catch even the smallest visual changes that might break your site’s appearance. 🔍

In this guide, I’ll show you how to do visual regression testing on your WordPress site. After testing numerous tools and methods, I’ve found the most reliable solution that won’t require any coding knowledge or technical expertise.

What Is Visual Regression Testing, and Why Is It Important? 🤔

Every time you update your site — whether it’s a WordPress core update, a new plugin, a theme change, or just a minor code tweak — there’s a chance that something on the front end might shift out of place.

For example, a button could disappear, your layout might break, or a product image could stop loading properly.

The problem? These visual bugs often go unnoticed until a visitor points them out through a contact form or design feedback survey.

By then, the damage to your site’s user experience might already be done.

That’s where visual regression testing comes in.

The process is simple: take snapshots of your pages before and after an update, then compare them to spot anything that’s changed.

And if you’re testing on a staging site (which we recommend), you can safely make updates and run comparisons to catch visual issues before anything goes live.

The good news? You don’t have to do it manually.

With visual regression testing tools like VRTs, Percy, or BackstopJS, you can automate screenshot comparisons and check how your site looks across different screen sizes — helping you catch layout issues on desktop, tablet, and mobile.

Why is this important for WordPress users?

If you’re managing a WordPress website, visual regression testing is a time-saving safety net. Instead of clicking through every page after an update, this tool gives you a visual report of what changed — and whether it’s something you need to fix.

It’s especially helpful in many scenarios, such as agencies running updates across multiple WordPress sites, freelancers managing client websites, or online store owners who want to make sure the product and checkout pages stay intact.

In short, visual regression testing helps you avoid frustrating surprises, save time, and keep your WordPress site running smoothly.

With that said, I’ll share how to easily do visual regression testing in WordPress. Here’s a quick overview of all the steps I’ll cover in this guide:

Step 1: Install and Activate the Visual Regression Testing Plugin

In this tutorial, I’ll use the VRTs plugin because it’s beginner-friendly and super easy to use for visual regression testing. Whether that is a shifted layout, a missing button, or a broken element after an update, VRTs helps you spot it early.

Here’s how it works: The plugin takes screenshots of the pages you select. You can then trigger comparisons manually or schedule them to run automatically after making changes to your site, such as updating a plugin or tweaking your theme.

The plugin then compares the ‘before’ and ‘after’ screenshots side-by-side and highlights any visual differences.

So, instead of manually checking every page, you get a quick visual report showing what changed, and whether anything looks off.

To install the plugin, you first need to visit the VRTs website and sign up for a plan by clicking on the ‘Get started for free’ button.

You can then choose one of the plans. The free plan will allow you to test up to 3 pages per day on one domain and schedule daily tests.

On the other hand, paid plans will allow you to test a higher number of pages, run manual tests, and automatically run visual regression tests after WordPress core, plugin, and theme updates.

Simply click on ‘Buy now’ or ‘Install now’ underneath the plan you want to use.

Then, follow the instructions to sign up for an account on the VRTs website and add your payment details.

Once you have completed the payment, you will land on your VRTs dashboard, where you can download the plugin as a .zip file.

Then, simply head to Plugins » Add Plugin and click on the ‘Upload Plugin’ button. From here, you can choose the VRTs plugin .zip file that you just downloaded.

Make sure to activate the plugin once it has been installed. For full details, you can see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Configure the VRTs Plugin Settings

Once you’ve activated the plugin, it’s time to set up when your visual regression tests should run.

Head over to VRTs » Settings in your WordPress admin menu.

Once inside, you can scroll down to the ‘Triggers’ section — this is where you tell the plugin when to automatically take and compare snapshots.

Here are the available options:

• Run Tests every 24 hours (Free) – This is the default setting. VRTs will automatically check your selected posts or pages once per day for visual changes.
• Run Tests after WordPress and plugin updates (Pro) – Great for catching layout issues caused by updates, right when they happen.
• Run Tests with your favorite apps (Pro) – Connect VRTs with external tools or workflows using webhooks.
• Run Tests on demand (Pro) – Manually trigger tests whenever you need them, directly from your WordPress dashboard.

Once you’ve selected the trigger that fits your workflow (or your license), simply click the ‘Save Changes’ button at the bottom of the page.

Step 3: Add New Pages or Posts to Test

Once you’ve configured the plugin settings, it’s time to choose which pages or posts you’d like to include in your visual regression tests.

Let’s now switch to the ‘Tests’ tab, which is where you’ll manage and run your visual tests.

From here, you can click the ‘Add New’ button. This will let you choose posts or pages to test.

In the popup that appears, you need to choose the pages or posts you want to perform the visual regression testing on.

Then, click ‘Add New Test’ to confirm your selections.

The VRTs plugin will take an initial snapshot of each selected page. This acts as your baseline — basically a “before” version of how your posts or pages look right now.

After setting up your test, you’ll see an instruction to refresh the page to load the initial snapshot. Go ahead and do just that.

With that done, you’ll find a link to the page or post snapshot you added for testing.

You will also see that the ‘Test Status’ is automatically set to ‘Scheduled’ for the next day. This is because the free version of VRTs runs tests on a 24-hour schedule.

You can click the ‘View Snapshot’ link to check the initial screenshot.

It will open in a new tab like this:

Now, you can make any changes you need to your site. Then, come back tomorrow to review the comparison and spot any unexpected visual issues.

Step 4: Check for Visual Differences

Once the test is complete and any visual bugs are detected, you should see a notification alert in the VRTs » Runs tab.

Once inside, you can hover over the run with changes detected.

Then, click the ‘Show Details’ link when it appears.

On the next screen, you’ll see a side-by-side comparison of your page, showing the before and after versions.

The plugin automatically highlights visual differences, so you can quickly spot:

• Layout Shifts and Misaligned Elements: If your design changes after a plugin update or theme change, like buttons moving out of place or text jumping around, VRTs will flag it.
• Missing or Broken Elements: Whether it’s a missing image, CTA button, or embedded form, VRTs make it easy to spot anything that disappears unexpectedly, which is especially useful for eCommerce or landing pages.
• Unexpected Content Changes: The plugin will also alert you to changes in text, links, or images, so you can catch unauthorized edits or publishing errors before users do.

You can use the drag handle in the center of the screen to slide between the old and new versions and visually confirm the exact changes.

Step 5: Review and Take Action

After running a visual regression test, you can take action based on the results. Here’s what you can do next:

• Manually edit the page: If the changes are small, you can fix the issues directly by editing the page, such as adjusting the layout, moving elements, or adding back missing features.
• Revert to a backup: If the changes are bigger or harder to fix, you can restore the page to a previous version using your website backup or version history. This helps avoid leaving issues on your site.

FAQs for Running Visual Regression Testing in WordPress

If you’re just getting started with visual regression testing, you’re not alone. Here are some quick answers to common questions I often hear from WordPress users and developers.

What is the difference between snapshot testing and visual regression testing?

Snapshot testing checks if your website’s code or content stays the same, kind of like saving a backup of how things are supposed to be.

Visual regression testing, on the other hand, focuses on the appearance of your site. It compares screenshots before and after updates to catch layout changes, missing elements, or visual bugs you might not notice right away.

What is the best tool for visual regression testing in WordPress?

The easiest option is the VRTs – Visual Regression Tests plugin. It’s beginner-friendly, doesn’t require any coding, and runs directly from your dashboard. Plus, it has a free version that’s super easy to use.

How can I do regression testing manually?

Manual regression testing means going through your site and checking key pages after you make changes, like installing a new plugin or updating your theme.

You’ll want to visit your homepage, contact page, checkout process (if you have one), and any custom layouts to make sure everything still looks and works as it should. It works, but it can be time-consuming if you manage a large or busy site.

How do you speed up regression testing?

The best way to save time is to automate it. Using a plugin like VRTs – Visual Regression Tests lets you create snapshots of your important pages and quickly compare them after an update.

No need to manually click through every page — the plugin does the visual check for you.

You can also test updates on a staging site first, so you’re not fixing issues on a live site.

What are the best ways to test WordPress website design?

Here are a few tips to test your WordPress design:

• Use a visual regression tool like VRTs – Visual Regression Tests to spot design changes.
• Preview your theme and plugin updates on a staging site.
• Test on multiple screen sizes (desktop, tablet, and mobile).
• Use browser dev tools to check how your site looks in different viewports.
• Ask for feedback from users or clients — they often notice things you might miss.

I hope this article has helped you learn how to do visual regression testing in WordPress. Next, you might want to check our article on creating chat rooms in WordPress for your users and the best user experience feedback questions to ask site visitors.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Easily Do Visual Regression Testing in WordPress first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I launched my first online store years ago, I wanted to scale my business without spending more on marketing. That’s when I discovered affiliate marketing – it was like leading a team of salespeople promoting my products without any upfront costs.

But finding the right affiliate plugin for WooCommerce can be tricky. I’ve tested virtually every WooCommerce affiliate plugin on the market, learning the hard way which ones actually deliver results.

Today, I’m sharing my findings. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade your existing affiliate program, this guide will help you make an informed decision.

WooCommerce Affiliate Plugins: My Favorite Picks

In a hurry? No problem! I have summarized the best affiliate plugins you can use for WooCommerce in the table below:

Want more information? Just keep reading to learn more about each plugin.

My WooCommerce Affiliate Plugin Review Process

For most of the WooCommerce affiliate plugins on this list, I tested them thoroughly by setting up demo websites. This hands-on approach gives much better insights than simply reading feature lists or user reviews.

While I tested most plugins on demo sites, we’ve used tools like AffiliateWP in our own business for years, which has given me deep familiarity with using it to run affiliate programs.

For each tool, I first checked how easy it was to get started. For example, some plugins automatically create registration forms and affiliate dashboards when they are activated, which reduces the amount of setup.

I also paid close attention to commission flexibility. Can you set different rates for products? How about recurring commissions for subscriptions? The best plugins let you create various commission structures to match your business model.

On top of that, a good plugin should offer accurate performance reports. This will allow you to see how successful your marketing efforts are and which affiliates are bringing the best results.

Next, I also looked at how each plugin handles affiliate payments. The most useful plugins provide multiple payment methods, automated payouts, and flexible payment schedules.

Finally, I looked at pricing structures and what you get for your money. While most affiliate plugins require an investment, I highlighted which essential features are available in free versions and which are locked behind premium tiers. 

Now, let’s look at the best WooCommerce affiliate plugins I’ve tested and reviewed.

1. AffiliateWP – Best Overall WooCommerce Affiliate Plugin

AffiliateWP is the best plugin for starting and running an affiliate program in your WooCommerce store. Many of our partner brands have used it on their websites because it’s easy to set up and works well for managing affiliate partners.

What’s more, AffiliateWP offers a ton of features for online stores. You can create special affiliate landing pages, set up fraud protection, and customize your affiliate dashboard. I’ve covered the plugin more extensively in my detailed AffiliateWP review.

Getting started with AffiliateWP is super easy. Once the plugin is active, it automatically adds a sign-up form and creates a dashboard for your affiliate partners.

This beginner-friendly setup is one of the reasons why I put AffiliateWP at the top of my list.

I especially love the AI feature that helps review affiliate applications. It can look at each application and tell you whether to accept or reject it, along with clear reasons why.

Another thing that makes AffiliateWP really useful is its flexibility with payments. You can choose to pay your affiliates once, set up regular payments, or create different payment levels.

Plus, it sends automatic emails to keep you and your partners updated about sales and important changes.

Pros of AffiliateWP:

• The plugin setup process takes less than 5 minutes, with the registration form and dashboard created automatically.
• Affiliates can create their own affiliate links right away through their dashboard, so they can start promoting your business.
• I love the AI Affiliate Review feature, which screens applications and accepts or rejects recommendations automatically.
• I’ve found the custom commission rules to be incredibly flexible. You can easily switch between one-time, recurring, or tiered payments, depending on what works best for your business.
• The automated email system keeps both you and your affiliates updated about new sales, payments, and important changes.
• The affiliate leaderboard feature has been great for encouraging partners to stay active.
• The fraud detection system protects you from fake sales by automatically blocking self-referrals.
• You can enable reCAPTCHA on your registration form to prevent spambots and scripts from signing up for your affiliate program.
• The reporting dashboard shows clear statistics about your total earnings, average referral amount, and paid or unpaid referrals.
• No matter which plan you use, you get multiple payout options, including one-click payouts and store credits.

Cons of AffiliateWP:

• You’ll need to pay to use the plugin, as there’s no free version available.
• Some useful features, like multi-currency support, are only available in higher-priced plans. So, you need to choose a plan based on the features you need, not the number of websites the plugin will be used for.

Why I recommend AffiliateWP: I picked AffiliateWP as my top choice because it’s powerful enough to handle big affiliate programs. But it’s still easy enough for beginners to use, making it perfect for most WooCommerce store owners.

Pricing: AffiliateWP has 3 main plans, ranging from $149.60 to $299.60 per year. The cheapest plan works great if you only have 1 website. You will get all the basic features you need: unlimited affiliates, 30 AI reviews, and tools to track sales.

I totally understand if this pricing seems steep for new small business owners. That’s why I am happy to share that WPBeginner readers can get up to 50% off their first purchase with our AffiliateWP coupon code!

2. RewardsWP – Best for Refer-a-Friend Programs

RewardsWP is a beginner-friendly plugin for setting up and running a refer-a-friend program in your WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads store. It rewards your existing customers for recommending your online store, which is a low-effort way to drive more sales and conversions.

It’s incredibly easy to get started. The plugin automatically enrolls customers into the referral program right after they make a purchase, making the entire process hands-off for store owners.

One feature I like is the customizable Rewards Widget, which appears automatically when a user logs in to your site. It displays a unique discount code that the customer can share with their friends, making it super easy for them to start referring right away.

You can personalize the widget by choosing your brand colors with a color picker, adjusting the launcher display settings, and selecting which social networks customers can use to share.

It’s a simple but highly effective way to boost customer engagement and word-of-mouth referrals.

With RewardsWP, I like that you’re not limited to offering just one reward or focusing on a single audience. It gives incentives to both the referring customer and the friend they invite.

This double-sided reward system is built right in, which boosts participation and encourages faster conversions. The referring customer gets rewarded for each successful referral, while the invited friend gets rewarded on their first purchase.

I was also really impressed with how the plugin automatically connects guest purchases to customer accounts. This ensures customers don’t lose their referral history or earned rewards if they later decide to create an account.

Pros of RewardsWP

• It includes built-in email notifications, which let you automatically send a welcome email, notify advocates when their friends make a purchase, and alert referred friends once they claim their rewards.
• You can easily track rewards and referrals right inside your WordPress dashboard.
• RewardsWP comes with powerful fraud protection features like duplicate detection, IP filtering, and email validation.
• It pairs effortlessly with AffiliateWP, which makes it simple to run both an affiliate and refer-a-friend program together.
• The plugin has a smart self-referral detection system that blocks users who try to refer themselves using the same or modified email addresses.

Cons of RewardsWP

• The plugin does not have a free plan.

Why I recommend RewardsWP: If you’re looking to create a refer-a-friend program for your WooCommerce or EDD store, then I recommend RewardsWP. It’s secure, beginner-friendly, and packed with powerful features that make running a referral program super easy.

Pricing: RewardsWP offers three paid plans, starting at $79.60 and going up to $159.60. The Basic plan is a great option if you simply want to create a refer-a-friend program on one website.

It includes unlimited members, unlimited rewards, and no monthly fees, making it an affordable way to get your referral program up and running.

3. Easy Affiliate – Best for Subscription-Based Products

Easy Affiliate is the ideal WooCommerce affiliate plugin for subscription-based businesses. It stands out because it offers a one-time commission option when affiliates drive new customers, as well as a commission option for all sales.

This way, you can create a commission structure that encourages affiliates to bring in quality, long-term customers. You can learn more about its features and capabilities in my complete Easy Affiliate review.

The affiliate dashboard is another standout feature. Unlike other plugins that can feel cluttered, Easy Affiliate organizes everything neatly in tabs.

Your partners can easily check their earnings, track their performance, and access marketing materials without getting overwhelmed.

What’s more, affiliates can generate their own tracking links and monitor how well each campaign performs. The dashboard shows everything from conversion rates to estimated payouts, keeping your partners engaged and motivated to promote your subscription products.

Easy Affiliate also integrates smoothly with popular email marketing services like Kit and ActiveCampaign. You can automatically add new affiliates to your email list and keep them updated about your products.

This helps you maintain good communication with your partners without extra work.

Pros of Easy Affiliate:

• The setup process automatically detects your eCommerce platform and helps you integrate it in minutes.
• During testing, I found that you can migrate your data from another affiliate plugin to Easy Affiliate in a few clicks. This way, you don’t need to set up your program from scratch.
• The affiliate registration system lets you choose between public signups, manual approvals, or invitation-only access.
• The Commission Levels add-on is useful for creating tiered rewards that keep top affiliates motivated.
• The PayPal Mass Payment feature makes it easy to pay multiple affiliates at once without manual processing.
• The plugin sends automatic email notifications whenever someone applies or earns a commission.
• The affiliate reporting system clearly shows your program’s performance, including subscription metrics and conversion rates.
• You can track affiliate campaign performance in Google Analytics by enabling UTM parameters with one click.

Cons of Easy Affiliate:

• You need to purchase an additional add-on to get protection against self-referrals.
• The plugin only supports PayPal or manual payments, which might limit your payout options.

Why I recommend Easy Affiliate: I recommend Easy Affiliate for subscription-based businesses because it offers the most comprehensive tracking and commission options for recurring payments.

Pricing: Easy Affiliate offers three pricing tiers from $99.60 to $199.60 per year. The cheapest Basic plan includes everything you need to start: unlimited affiliates, secure tracking, WooCommerce integration, and PayPal payments.

4. Advanced Coupons – Best Affiliate Coupon Builder

Advanced Coupons is primarily designed for managing online store coupons. But its integration with affiliate plugins makes it an essential tool for running successful WooCommerce coupon campaigns through your partners.

For a complete breakdown of its features, take a look at my in-depth Advanced Coupons review.

The timing of affiliate promotions can make or break their success. That’s why I love how Advanced Coupons lets you schedule campaigns in advance. Your partners can plan their promotions better when they know precisely when coupons will go live.

I was also very impressed with the auto-apply URL feature (since nobody likes typing in complicated codes, especially on mobile devices).

Your affiliates simply share a link, and when customers click it, the discount applies automatically. No copying and pasting is required.

The plugin also gives you a lot of control over your promotional strategy through its detailed rule system. This helps protect your profit margins while running affiliate campaigns.

Whether you want to set minimum purchase thresholds or limit usage per customer, Advanced Coupons lets you fine-tune every aspect of your affiliate coupon campaigns.

Pros of Advanced Coupons:

• You can create new coupons in just a few clicks through the simple dashboard interface.
• Instead of typing codes, customers can apply discounts by clicking a special URL link.
• You can set exact rules, such as minimum spending amounts or limiting coupons to specific products.
• Cart conditions let you create offers like “spend $50 to get free shipping” or “buy 3 items to get 20% off.”
• The coupon scheduling system automatically activates and deactivates coupons at preset times.
• The plugin offers multiple coupon types, including BOGO deals, percentage discounts, and free gifts.
• You can start with the free version to test basic coupon features before upgrading.
• The plugin works seamlessly with AffiliateWP and other major affiliate plugins, without any conflicts.

Cons of Advanced Coupons:

• You’ll need to purchase a separate affiliate plugin to access affiliate-focused settings.

Why I recommend Advanced Coupons: It’s my favorite pick for affiliate coupon management because it makes creating and managing affiliate coupon campaigns simple.

Pricing: Premium plans start at $59.50 and go up to $149.50 per year. The cheapest plan, Growth, includes essential features such as auto-apply coupons, URL sharing, and campaign scheduling tools.

I also have a special Advanced Coupons discount code for WPBeginner readers.

5. YITH WooCommerce Affiliates – Highly Flexible Affiliate Plugin

YITH WooCommerce Affiliates gives you complete control over how your affiliate program runs. I’ve tested many YITH plugins before, and they’ve always been reliable and user-friendly, and this one is no exception.

The reason I call it the most flexible is simple. There’s just one paid plan that includes all the features. Unlike other plugins that spread features across different tiers or add-ons, YITH gives you everything in one package.

Plus, you can add other YITH plugins if you need extra functionality for your WooCommerce store. For example, you can install a YITH plugin for creating a multi-vendor marketplace.

Creating affiliate forms is also super simple. You can ask for any information you need, from basic contact details to social media profiles.

Simply add these forms to any page on your site using a shortcode, and then review the applications from your dashboard.

Managing commissions is straightforward, too. You can set a basic commission rate for everyone and then create special rates for specific products or affiliates.

For instance, you could offer 10% on most products but give 15% on your premium items.

I also love the plugin’s payment system. You can choose to pay affiliates manually or automatically, set minimum payout amounts, and use PayPal, Stripe, or bank transfers.

You can even schedule payments for specific days of the month or when affiliates reach certain earnings.

Pros of YITH WooCommerce Affiliates:

• You can build registration forms that ask exactly what you want to know about potential affiliates, like their social media profiles, website URLs, or marketing experience.
• The dashboard clearly shows all affiliate activity, including clicks and sales, to help you identify which marketing channels are most effective.
• There is a feature that lets you decide whether the first or last affiliate click gets the commission. This way, you can fairly reward either the affiliate who initially introduced the customer or the one who made the final sale.
• During my tests, I found that you can use this plugin together with WooCommerce’s built-in coupon feature. Then, you can assign each coupon to different affiliates.
• The plugin handles payments automatically based on your rules, like paying affiliates monthly or when they reach $100 in earnings.
• You get clear WooCommerce reports showing which affiliates bring in the most sales.
• The plugin sends automatic updates to affiliates about their earnings through email notifications.

Cons of YITH WooCommerce Affiliates:

• The plugin doesn’t support multiple currencies.

Why I recommend YITH WooCommerce Affiliates: It offers an all-in-one solution that gives you complete control over your affiliate program without the complexity of multiple plans or add-ons.

Pricing: There’s a free version of YITH WooCommerce Affiliates that you can use to get started. But it lacks features like coupon assignment and commission notifications. You can also get the premium version for $179.99 per year, which includes all the features I mentioned in this review.

6. ShareASale WooCommerce Tracker – Best for Reaching Established Affiliates

ShareASale, now part of the Awin network, is one of the largest affiliate marketplaces in the world. This platform helps you connect your WooCommerce store with ShareASale’s vast network of pre-screened, professional affiliates.

The platform also handles everything from affiliate screening to payment processing, saving you countless hours of management work. This is why some of our partner brands use ShareASale and are satisfied with its performance.

One thing to note is that ShareASale is not a WooCommerce affiliate plugin. It is a third-party platform. However, it has a ShareASale WooCommerce Tracker plugin that lets you connect the platform with your website. The plugin makes integration surprisingly straightforward.

Once installed, you just need to enter your ShareASale Merchant ID in the WooCommerce Tracker settings. After that, the plugin automatically tracks all sales and commissions without any extra work on your part.

ShareASale’s reporting system gives you a clear view of your program’s performance. You can see which affiliates drive the most sales, track conversion rates, and monitor commission payouts, all from one dashboard.

Pros of ShareASale:

• You get instant access to thousands of professional affiliates looking for products to promote. Based on my research, this benefit is not offered by many affiliate plugins.
• The platform handles all the technical aspects, from hosting to tracking to payments.
• I found the analytics dashboard extremely detailed, showing everything from click data to conversion rates.
• ShareASale manages all affiliate payments automatically, saving you from having to process them manually.
• The platform screens all affiliates before they join, ensuring quality partnerships.
• The integration with WooCommerce works well with the official plugin.
• You can use the attribution tool to reward top-performing affiliates.

Cons of ShareASale:

• The initial setup cost of $750 and a 20% transaction fee on affiliate commissions paid might be steep for small businesses.

Why I recommend ShareASale: For businesses ready to scale their affiliate program, ShareASale’s established network and automated management system can make it worth the investment.

Pricing: ShareASale typically requires an upfront payment around $650 to $750, plus a deposit and monthly platform fee. There’s also a 20% transaction fee on affiliate commissions paid.

While these costs are significant, they give you access to one of the largest affiliate networks available.

7. Coupon Affiliates – Best Freemium Affiliate Plugin

Coupon Affiliates offers powerful affiliate features in its free version that you’d typically have to pay for in other plugins. Plus, you get 7 days to try all the premium features before deciding if you need them.

The free version gives you more than you’d expect. For example, you can create affiliate dashboards where your partners can view their stats, track the commission they’ve earned, and manage their own registration forms.

You can also choose how to pay them (either a percentage of sales or a fixed amount) and even set up recurring payments for subscription products.

I liked the referral link system that comes with the free version. Your affiliates can create their own tracking links, and when customers click these links, their coupon codes are automatically applied at checkout.

You can also view the most recent website visits via the affiliate coupon code URLs.

If you upgrade to the premium version, you get more special features. For instance, you can create groups of affiliates and assign them special commission rates.

This will be helpful if you want to reward your top performers with higher commissions or set up different rates for influencers versus regular affiliates. 

Pros of Coupon Affiliates:

• The free version displays important stats, such as total sales, clicks, and conversion rates.
• Affiliates can check their referral orders and filter them by date to track their performance.
• When affiliates share their referral links, their coupon codes are automatically applied at checkout.
• The premium version lets affiliates earn commissions from other affiliates they recruit. In my research, I’ve only seen a handful of plugins that have this feature.
• You can create different affiliate groups with their own commission rates and rules.
• The affiliate leaderboard feature helps motivate partners to sell more.

Cons of Coupon Affiliates:

• In my opinion, the dashboard design feels outdated and could use a modern refresh.

Why I recommend Coupon Affiliates: This WooCommerce affiliate plugin is perfect for businesses that want to start an affiliate program without a significant upfront investment.

Pricing: The free version of Coupon Affiliates includes core features like affiliate dashboards and commission tracking. Premium plans start at $19.99 per month or $12.99 per month with annual billing. There’s also a lifetime option at $599.99.

8. SliceWP – Simple, Easy-to-Use Affiliate Plugin

SliceWP makes managing affiliate programs feel effortless with its clean, modern dashboard design. During my tests of various affiliate plugins, I found SliceWP’s interface to be the most intuitive and easy to navigate.

The dashboard’s straightforward layout helps you evaluate your affiliate marketing performance without getting overwhelmed. You can see an overview of important statistics, including total referral revenue, the latest registered affiliates, and the latest commissions, among others.

The plugin strikes a good balance between simplicity and functionality. In the free version, you get essential features like unlimited affiliates, customizable tracking links, and basic commission management.

If you need more, the premium version adds powerful tools like custom commission rates and social sharing from the affiliate’s account page.

What I particularly like is how SliceWP handles add-ons. Instead of making you buy them separately, all add-ons with 24+ options are included with the premium plans. This means you get everything from PayPal mass payouts to multi-level affiliate systems in one package.

Pros of SliceWP:

• The affiliate dashboard shows clear statistics about clicks and sales.
• You can add unlimited affiliates, even in the free version.
• The affiliate plugin lets you review applications before accepting partners.
• The premium version includes all 24+ add-ons at no extra cost.
• You can set different commission rates for specific product pages or affiliates.
• Email notifications keep affiliates updated about their earnings automatically.

Cons of SliceWP:

• Based on my testing, I feel that the free version’s manual payout system could lead to errors since you have to select affiliates and amounts individually.
• Compared to other affiliate plugins, SliceWP’s core plugin doesn’t have as many features.

Why I recommend SliceWP: This plugin is great for businesses that want a clean, professional-looking affiliate program that’s easy to manage.

Pricing: There’s a free version of SliceWP to get you started. Premium plans range from $169 to $259 per year, and both include access to all add-ons.

What Is the Best WooCommerce Affiliate Plugin?

After testing numerous WooCommerce affiliate plugins, AffiliateWP is my top overall recommendation. Its combination of powerful features and a user-friendly interface makes it perfect for both beginners and experienced users alike.

Plus, the AI feature that helps you review applications is a game-changer for saving time on program management.

On the other hand, if you want to create a refer-a-friend program in just a few minutes, then RewardsWP is the ideal choice. It is powerful, beginner-friendly, and secure.

If you run a subscription-based business, then Easy Affiliate might be a better choice. It’s specifically designed to handle both one-time and recurring commissions, helping you reward affiliates for bringing in long-term customers.

For businesses focusing on coupon-based affiliate marketing, Advanced Coupons works great alongside these plugins. While it’s primarily a coupon management tool, its scheduling features and auto-apply URLs make running affiliate coupon campaigns much easier.

WooCommerce Affiliates: Frequently Asked Questions

After reviewing the best WooCommerce affiliate plugins, let’s answer some common questions about running an affiliate program on WordPress.

Does WordPress allow affiliate links?

Yes, WordPress fully supports affiliate links. You can add them to your posts, pages, or anywhere else on your website. Just make sure to follow proper disclosure guidelines and mark affiliate links as ‘nofollow’ for SEO best practices.

Can I use WooCommerce for affiliate marketing?

Yes, you can create an affiliate marketing program with WooCommerce. However, you’ll need a dedicated affiliate plugin because WooCommerce doesn’t include affiliate tracking features by default.

The best plugins are AffiliateWP for overall management, Easy Affiliate for subscription products, or Advanced Coupons if you want to run coupon-based campaigns.

How do you create affiliate links in WooCommerce?

The process depends on which plugin you use. With AffiliateWP, affiliates get access to a dashboard where they can generate their own referral links instantly.

They don’t need to wait for you to create links. Instead, they can start promoting your products right after being approved. Other plugins like Easy Affiliate also offer similar features.

Discover More WooCommerce Tips and Tricks

Looking to learn more tips and tricks for managing your WooCommerce store? Check out these beginner-friendly guides:

• How to Create a Loyalty Program in WooCommerce (Step by Step)
• How to Send a Coupon After a WooCommerce Product Review
• How to Schedule Coupons in WooCommerce (and Save Time)
• How to Offer a Shipping Discount in WooCommerce
• How to Create Smart Coupons in WooCommerce
• How to Add Advanced Gift Cards in WooCommerce (Easy Way)
• How to Create One-Time Personalized Coupon Codes in WooCommerce
• Best WooCommerce Plugins for Your Store (Most are FREE)

I hope this article has helped you choose the best WooCommerce affiliate plugin for your business. You may also want to check out our ultimate guide to WooCommerce SEO and our expert picks of the best WooCommerce product grid plugins.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 8 Best WooCommerce Affiliate Plugins Compared (Tried and Tested) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Last year, I saw someone miss out on their dream domain name because they didn’t know about domain backordering. They’d been waiting months for this domain to expire, but someone else swooped in and grabbed it the moment it became available.

Over the years, I’ve helped many different website owners secure their desired domain names through backordering. I’ve tested numerous domain registrars and backorder services, learning what works (and what doesn’t) when trying to grab an expiring domain name.

If you’ve got your eye on a domain that’s currently registered to someone else, I’ll show you exactly how domain backordering works.

I’ll also show you the best ways to increase your chances of securing that perfect domain name.

What Is Domain Backordering and Why Use It?

Did you know that thousands of valuable domain names expire and become available again every single day? Yet many people don’t realize there’s a systematic way to claim these domains before someone else snatches them up.

That’s where domain backordering comes into play.

What Is Domain Backordering?

A domain backorder is essentially a service that attempts to register a domain name the moment it becomes available. When you use a backorder service, you are placing a reservation on a domain that’s currently registered to someone else.

It’s like standing first in line for a ticket to a sold-out show, hoping someone cancels so you can grab their spot.

And trust me, the thrill of finally acquiring that ideal domain is unbeatable.

Why Would You Backorder a Domain?

Sometimes, you’ll come up with a perfect domain name for your blog or online store, but it’s already taken. Perhaps it’s not being actively used — or worse, the domain is parked and gathering dust. That’s when domain backordering can be a game-changer.

Here are some reasons you might consider backordering a domain:

• You can potentially get a premium domain name that’s currently registered.
• It’s more cost-effective than buying directly from the current owner, who might demand a premium price.
• You get professional assistance in securing the domain the moment it’s available, saving you time and energy.
• Using multiple backorder services can boost your odds of success.

Challenges of Domain Backordering

I’ve also learned that domain backordering isn’t perfect. There are some challenges and risks.

Mainly, there’s no guarantee you’ll secure the domain because you might not be the only one who wants it. If multiple parties backorder the same domain, it could go to auction, driving up the price beyond what you might be prepared to pay.

I’ve also noticed that some services charge you even if the backorder attempt is unsuccessful. And sometimes, the current owner renews the domain at the last minute, resetting the whole process and leaving you back at square one.

If you don’t mind the risk that it doesn’t work out, keep reading!

What have you got to lose?

It might seem scary at first, but I’ve gone through the domain backordering process numerous times, both for myself and my friends.

Here’s a quick overview of what I’ll discuss in this article:

I’ll cover everything you need to know about domain backordering and tips to help you increase your chances of securing that perfect domain name.

The Domain Registration Life Cycle: How Does it Work?

Timing is everything when it comes to domain backordering. But when exactly is the right moment to place that backorder?

To answer that, you need to understand how domain names progress through their lifecycle. Here are the main phases:

• Domain Registration Periods: Every domain name is registered for a set period, usually ranging from 1-10 years. During this time, the owner has full rights to use and renew the domain as they see fit.
• Expiration and Grace Periods: When a domain’s registration period ends and it’s not renewed, it doesn’t become available to the public immediately. Instead, it enters what’s called a Grace Period. This typically lasts between 30 and 45 days. During this phase, the current owner can still renew the domain at the regular renewal price without any penalties.
• Redemption Period: If the domain isn’t renewed during the Grace Period, it moves into the Redemption Period, which usually lasts about another 30 days. Now, the original owner can still reclaim their domain, but they’ll have to pay a hefty redemption fee — sometimes up to $200.
• Pending Delete Status: After the Redemption Period ends, the domain enters the Pending Delete phase, which lasts around 5 days. At this point, the domain is scheduled for deletion, and the original owner can no longer renew it. No one can modify or register the domain during this time.

Once the registration status is deleted, the domain becomes available to the public!

Now, here’s an illustration that may help you visualize the lifecycle of a domain a little better:

If you discover your dream domain is in the redemption or pending delete phase, it may be time to act. But if you find your desired domain doesn’t expire for another 9 years, that’s probably your sign to be patient and check in later (or look for another domain).

In the next section, we’ll show you how to monitor a domain’s status. This way, you can decide whether it’s worth it to put in a backorder.

Doing Your Research Before Backordering a Domain Name

When you’re looking to backorder a domain name owned by someone else, it’s important to do some basic research first.

I’ve learned from experience that not all domains are created equal. Some might violate copyrights or trademarks, have been used to distribute malware or spam, or have been involved in other malicious activities. You definitely want to avoid those pitfalls.

But don’t worry — there are plenty of tools at your disposal to help you do your research.

Monitoring the Domain’s Status

Staying informed is half the battle in domain backordering. WHOIS tools provide you with historical WHOIS records for all types of domain names.

This helps you see when a domain name was created, when it was last renewed, when DNS changes were made, and other historical data.

By reviewing the historical WHOIS records, you can spot any red flags, such as frequent ownership changes, which might indicate issues.

Here are some tools I’ve found particularly helpful for monitoring a domain’s lifecycle:

• ICANN WHOIS Lookup: The official ICANN WHOIS lookup tool offers authoritative data directly from the domain’s registry. It displays important dates like creation, expiration, and last updated, as well as the domain’s current status codes.
• DomainTools: This website provides comprehensive WHOIS records along with historical data. It can help you track changes over time and see if the domain has gone through multiple expiration cycles.
• ExpiredDomains.net: This platform lists domains that are expired, pending deletion, or available soon. It’s a valuable resource for monitoring domains approaching the end of their lifecycle and identifying potential backorder opportunities.

By using these tools, you can keep a close eye on your desired domain’s status and be ready to place a backorder at the optimal time.

I’ve found that combining these monitoring tools with backordering services significantly increases my chances of securing the domains I want.

Checking for Trademarks

Next, you’ll want to make sure the domain name isn’t infringing on any registered trademarks.

According to ICANN rules, if a domain name violates a company’s registered trademark, then that company can claim the domain name or ask you to take it down. I’ve seen this happen, and it’s a situation you definitely want to avoid.

You can check the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s database to do a quick trademark search. Simply enter your desired domain name in the search box to see if it returns any matches.

Checking Past Domain Name Usage

It is also important to check how the domain has been used in the past. What kind of websites were associated with it? Was it linked to any suspicious activities?

I’ve made it a habit to check a domain’s history before proceeding.

The easiest way to do this is to use the Wayback Machine. It is a massive historical archive of the internet, with snapshots of websites archived regularly.

By entering the domain name, you can see past versions of the website and get a sense of its previous content.

Running a Domain Health Check Test

Finally, you need to make sure that the domain hasn’t been used for spamming, launching cyber attacks, or spreading malware. I’ve learned that inheriting a domain with a bad reputation can cause major headaches down the line.

You can use tools like MxToolBox’s domain health tool to check for any red flags. Simply enter the domain name, and the tool will run a series of checks to identify potential problems.

Choosing the Right Backordering Service

Selecting the right domain backordering service can make all the difference when you’re trying to secure that perfect domain name.

Not all backordering services are created equal. Some clearly show their prices and are helpful when you have questions. Others make it hard to get the information you need when you need it.

In my experience, here are the key criteria you should look for in a backordering service:

• Transparent Pricing and Policies: You don’t want any surprise fees popping up.
• Track Record: A service with a history of successful backorders increases your chances of securing that perfect domain.
• Good Customer Support: When questions arise, responsive support is very important.
• Clear Communication: Receiving timely updates keeps you in the loop.

Now, let’s dive into some of the popular domain backordering services I’ve encountered. I’ll highlight their key features to help you make an informed decision.

1. Domain.com

Domain.com specializes in premium domain acquisitions. They’ve helped me secure unique domain names that I couldn’t find elsewhere.

This is what I like about Domain.com:

• They keep a close watch on expiring domains, increasing your chances of acquiring them.
• Speed is critical, and they don’t waste any time when a domain becomes available.
• They have a curated list of premium domains that might just fit your needs.
• Their team is ready to assist with any questions or issues.

One thing to keep in mind is that pricing details can vary with Domain.com.

It’s best to check their current rates and policies directly. I’ve found their investment worthwhile when searching for a special domain name.

2. Namecheap

Namecheap offers a user-friendly backordering experience. I think it’s an especially good option if you’re on a tight budget.

This is what I like about Namecheap:

• You only pay if the backorder is successful.
• You stay informed throughout the process with up-to-the-minute information.
• If the domain goes to auction, then it’s all handled seamlessly within their system.
• The platform is straightforward to navigate, even if you’re new to backordering.

I’ve appreciated their straightforward approach. However, I’ve also found that they might have less aggressive drop-catching capabilities compared to some larger services.

3. Network Solutions

Network Solutions brings a wealth of experience, especially if you’re targeting niche or specialized domains.

This is what I like about Network Solutions:

• Ideal for industry-specific domain names.
• They don’t give up easily and keep monitoring for longer durations.
• Knowledgeable staff can guide you through the process.
• As one of the oldest registrars, they offer legacy domains and have a deep understanding of the domain landscape.

Network Solutions may be particularly useful if you’re working with clients in specialized fields. However, their pricing can be higher, and sometimes their interface feels a bit outdated compared to more modern platforms.

4. GoDaddy

GoDaddy‘s backorder service is popular because it is closely integrated into its comprehensive domain marketplace.

This is what I like about GoDaddy:

• Access to professional brokers who can assist if the domain doesn’t drop.
• They don’t just try once. They make several attempts to secure the domain.
• They carefully monitor your desired domain’s status.
• With a vast user base, they have a track record of successful acquisitions.

But one downside I’ve noticed is that competition can be fierce on GoDaddy. If multiple users backorder the same domain, then it could go to auction, potentially driving up the price beyond what you’re comfortable paying.

5. DropCatch

DropCatch has proven to be one of the most powerful backorder services available, especially for high-value and highly competitive domains.

This is what I like about DropCatch:

• With over 1,000 ICANN-accredited registrars, they send multiple simultaneous registration requests the moment a domain drops.
• They’ve invested heavily in their drop-catching systems, making them incredibly quick.
• Managing backorders is straightforward with their clean dashboard.
• If multiple users backorder the same domain, then they hold a public auction.

One thing to note is that the base price is higher than that of some competitors. Also, popular domains can end up in competitive auctions, driving up the final price.

An Overview of the Top Domain Backordering Services

You can use this table to compare the pricing and key features of each domain backordering service:

My Experience and Recommendations

I find that the best approach is to use multiple backordering services simultaneously. It increases your chances, especially for high-value domains where competition is fierce.

And remember, no service can guarantee success. It’s important to weigh the costs against the value of the domain to you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to customer support with any questions.

Selecting the right backordering service boils down to your specific needs, budget, and the domain you’re targeting. By understanding what each service offers and how they align with your goals, you’ll be well on your way to securing that perfect domain name.

Properly Placing a Backorder Domain

Once you have chosen a backordering service, you will need to sign up for an account if you don’t already have one.

This usually involves providing some basic contact information and setting up payment methods. I like to set this up in advance so I’m ready to act when the time comes.

Next, you should use the backordering service’s search function to locate the domain you want to backorder. Confirm that the domain is eligible for backordering and note any specific conditions or auction processes that may apply.

Simply follow the prompts to place your backorder. This typically involves agreeing to terms and conditions and making the necessary payment.

Some services only charge you if the backorder is successful, while others may require an upfront fee. I appreciate services that offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Monitoring the Domain Backorder Progress

When you place your backorder, make sure you enable notifications so you receive updates about its status. In my experience, staying informed is key, especially if the domain goes to auction or if additional action is required on my part.

Once your backorder is in place, it’s a bit of a waiting game. The domain will move through its expiration phases, and your backordering service will monitor it closely.

I recommend checking in from time to time to stay updated. If your service offers a dashboard, then use it to track the domain’s status.

Remember, patience is part of the process. Domains can take weeks or even months to become available, depending on where they are in the lifecycle. I like to set reminders for myself so I don’t become too fixated, but still stay on top of any developments.

Potential Domain Backorder Outcomes

When you place a domain backorder, there are a few possible outcomes. I’ve experienced all of them at one point or another. Understanding these outcomes can help you prepare for each scenario and decide your best course of action.

Outcome 1: Your Domain Backorder Is Successful

If your backorder is successful, you should celebrate!

But first, you’ll need to complete the registration process to officially secure the domain. This usually involves confirming your contact details and agreeing to any registrar terms. I like to double-check everything at this stage to ensure there are no hiccups.

Once registered, don’t forget to set up auto-renewal if you plan to keep the domain long-term. I’ve learned from experience that it’s easy to forget renewal dates, and auto-renewal provides peace of mind.

Outcome 2: The Domain Backorder Goes Up for Auction

Sometimes, several users will place backorders on the same domain. In such cases, the domain often goes to auction.

I’ve been through a few of these, and while they can be intense, having a strategy helps.

Here are some tips if you find yourself in a domain auction:

• Decide beforehand the highest amount you’re willing to pay and stick to it. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment, but you’ll thank yourself later.
• Some auctions are public, while others are private among the interested backorder parties. Knowing the rules can give you an edge.
• Auctions have time limits. Keep an eye on deadlines to ensure you don’t miss out.

I’ve found that staying level-headed during auctions helps. In my opinion, it’s better to walk away than overextend your budget for a domain that’s not absolutely critical.

Outcome 3: Your Domain Backorder Is Unsuccessful

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your domain backorder may be unsuccessful. It’s disappointing, but don’t give up. There are alternative paths you can take.

I’ll cover these alternatives in the next section, so keep reading for further guidance.

Alternatives to Domain Backordering

Don’t lose hope if your backorder attempt doesn’t pan out. I’ve helped many friends secure their desired domains through alternative methods that can be just as effective.

Contacting the Current Domain Owner

Sometimes, the direct approach is the most straightforward. If the domain you want is already taken, then reaching out to the current owner might be your best bet.

First, you’ll need to perform a WHOIS lookup to find the owner’s contact information. I show you how to do this in my guide on how to find out who actually owns the domain name.

When reaching out, keep your communication professional and courteous. Introduce yourself and express genuine interest in purchasing the domain.

I’ve found that being transparent about our intentions helps build trust. You might say something like:

“Hello, I’m interested in acquiring your domain example.com for my upcoming project. Would you be open to discussing a potential sale?”

Be prepared to negotiate on price. The owner might have a specific value in mind, or they may ask you to make an offer. It’s wise to have a budget in place and know how much the domain is worth to you.

In my experience, starting with a fair offer can move the conversation along more smoothly.

Considering Different Domain Extensions

If acquiring the exact domain name isn’t possible, then exploring alternative domain extensions can be a solid Plan B.

I’ve had friends who initially wanted a .com but found success with other top-level domains (TLDs) like .net, .org, or even newer extensions like .io or .co.

Here are some things to consider:

• Relevance: Choose an extension that makes sense for your industry or audience. For example, .org is commonly associated with non-profits.
• Availability: Alternative TLDs often have more availability, increasing your chances of finding the perfect name.
• Brand Consistency: Make sure that the new extension doesn’t confuse your audience. I’ve found that clear communication in marketing materials helps avoid this.

While .com is still the most recognized TLD, alternative extensions can offer a unique touch to your brand. In my opinion, it’s better to have a memorable domain with a different extension than an overly complex .com that no one can remember.

Modifying Your Desired Domain Name

Another option is to slightly modify your desired domain name. This could involve adding a keyword, using abbreviations, or incorporating your location.

Some strategies I’ve seen work well include:

• Adding Action Words: If ‘example.com’ is taken, consider ‘getexample.com’ or ‘tryexample.com’.
• Including Your Niche: Tailor the domain to your industry, like ‘examplemedia.com’ or ‘exampletech.com.
• Using Shortened Versions: Abbreviations or acronyms can make your domain concise and memorable.

Just make sure that any modifications still align with your branding goals. Consistency is key, and you want your domain to reflect your business accurately.

I’ve seen companies successfully rebrand around a modified domain, turning it into a unique asset rather than a compromise.

Considering Subdomains

Using a subdomain is another creative solution. If you already own a primary domain, then you can create a subdomain for your new project. For instance, if you already own ‘example.com,’ you could try ‘blog.example.com,’ or ‘store.example.com.’

While subdomains might not be ideal for standalone brands, they can be effective for different sections of your website or for launching new initiatives under an existing brand umbrella.

Final Thoughts

Missing out on a backordered domain can be frustrating, but it’s not the end of the road. I’ve navigated these challenges before and found that with a bit of creativity and persistence, you can secure a domain that works for you.

Remember:

• Be open to alternatives and consider how they might even offer new opportunities.
• Whatever route you choose, ensure it aligns with your overall brand strategy.
• The digital landscape moves quickly. Acting promptly increases your chances of securing the domain you want.

At the end of the day, your domain is just one piece of the puzzle. It’s important, yes, but what you build on that domain is what truly counts.

So keep moving forward, and don’t let a minor setback derail your plans.

Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Backorders

I’ve covered a lot of ground on domain backordering, but you might still have some questions. Here are answers to some of the most common queries I’ve been asked.

1. What exactly is a domain backorder?

A domain backorder is a service that allows you to ‘reserve’ a domain name that’s currently registered to someone else.

If that domain becomes available because the current owner doesn’t renew it, then the backorder service attempts to register it on your behalf the moment it drops.

2. Is there a guarantee I’ll get the domain I backorder?

No, there’s no guarantee. I’ve found that while backordering improves your chances, it doesn’t ensure success.

Other people might also backorder the same domain, or the current owner might renew it at the last minute. But using a reputable backordering service certainly gives you a fighting chance.

3. What happens if multiple people backorder the same domain?

If several parties place a backorder on the same domain, then most services will hold a private auction once they secure it. The domain goes to the highest bidder in that auction.

I recommend setting a clear budget before you start bidding.

4. Do I have to pay if the backorder isn’t successful?

It depends on the service. Some, like Namecheap, only charge you if they successfully secure the domain. Others might have non-refundable fees or processing charges.

I always read the fine print to understand any potential costs upfront.

5. How long does the backordering process take?

The timeline can vary. It depends on where the domain is in its lifecycle. It could take as little as 30 days if the domain is near expiration or several months if it’s just been renewed.

I’ve learned to be patient and keep tabs on the domain’s status through our backordering service.

6. Can I backorder a domain that’s already expired?

Yes, you can. If a domain has expired but isn’t yet deleted, then it’s often in the redemption or pending delete phase. This is a prime time to place a backorder.

In my experience, acting quickly during this window can improve your chances of success.

7. What if the current owner wants to sell the domain?

If the owner is open to selling, then you might consider reaching out directly to negotiate a purchase. I’ve sometimes found this to be a quicker route.

However, be prepared for the owner to ask for a premium price, especially if the domain has significant value.

8. Is backordering legal and ethical?

Absolutely. Domain backordering is a legitimate service offered by many accredited registrars. It’s a first-come, first-served system once a domain becomes available.

I always make sure I’m not infringing on trademarks or engaging in cybersquatting, which can lead to legal issues.

9. Can I cancel a backorder after placing it?

Policies on cancellations vary by service. Some allow you to cancel and get a refund if the domain hasn’t been secured yet. Others might not offer refunds.

I make it a habit to thoroughly review cancellation policies before placing a backorder.

10. What if the domain I want is in an auction?

If the domain is already in an auction, then you won’t be able to backorder it. Instead, you’ll need to participate in the auction to bid on the domain.

I’ve found that auctions can be competitive, so it’s important to set a budget beforehand.

11. Can I use multiple backordering services for the same domain?

Yes, and I often do. Using multiple services can increase your chances since different services might have different levels of success in capturing the domain. Just keep in mind that if more than one service succeeds, you might end up in multiple auctions.

Related Guides: Domains & How to Buy Them

I hope this tutorial helped you learn what a domain backorder is and how to place one properly. If you’re looking for more useful information about domain management, check out these guides:

• Beginner’s Guide: What Is a Domain Name and How Do Domains Work?
• How to Check Domain Name Availability (Easy Domain Search Tools)
• Best Places to Find Premium Domain Names for Sale (+ Expert Tips)
• How To Buy a Domain Name Anonymously (Easy Ways)
• Should You Choose a New Domain Extension for Your Website?
• What’s the Difference Between Domain Name and Web Hosting (Explained)
• The Best Domain Name Registrars (Compared)

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post What Is a Domain Backorder? (And How to Properly Place One) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Welcome to the April 2025 edition of WPBeginner Spotlight! The WordPress community has been buzzing this month with exciting updates, new tools, and important changes across the ecosystem.

These include everything from the launch of WordPress 6.8 to major plugin releases like RewardsWP, product milestones, and upcoming events. Overall, there’s no shortage of news for site owners, developers, and WordPress enthusiasts alike.

In this roundup, we’ll highlight the biggest announcements and latest developments in the WordPress world.

aThemes, Maker of Popular WordPress Themes, Joins the WPBeginner Family of Products

WPBeginner has announced the acquisition of aThemes, a well-known provider of beautiful and easy-to-use WordPress themes.

aThemes is widely recognized for popular themes like Sydney and Botiga, which are favored by small businesses, freelancers, and creative agencies.

As aThemes is now part of the Awesome Motive family, users can expect faster innovation, enhanced customer support, and deeper integrations with other tools and plugins designed to make WordPress easier for everyone.

Syed Balkhi, CEO of WPBeginner, explained one of the reasons for the acquisition:

“In our annual WPBeginner reader survey, one of the user suggestions that we always get is to build a FREE WordPress theme that makes it easy to create stunning websites.”

Existing customers will continue to receive support and updates without disruption. WPBeginner plans to build on aThemes’ strong reputation and expand their offerings with additional features and design improvements over time.

WordPress 6.8 Released with Speed Boosts, Design Tools, and Security Upgrades

WordPress 6.8 is now officially available. It’s packed with a lot of exciting improvements for users and developers alike. This release focuses on performance gains, improved design tools, and stronger security protocols.

See the Full Story 🔗: What’s New in WordPress 6.8? (Features and Screenshots)

One of the standout features is the introduction of Speculative Loading. This new enhancement intelligently loads the next page that a user will likely access.

This results in a faster browsing experience and significantly reduced page load times.

The release also brings major updates to the Site Editor, including new design tools like section patterns, custom spacing presets, and enhanced typography controls.

These updates make it easier for users to create visually consistent and polished websites without needing custom code.

Security enhancements include transitioning to bcrypt for password hashing, which offers stronger protection against brute-force attacks and aligns WordPress security practices with modern standards.

Developers will also appreciate the additional APIs, block editor refinements, and expanded options for building custom blocks and plugins.

Charitable Pro Launches with Donor Dashboard, Recurring Giving, and Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Charitable, a leading WordPress donation plugin, has launched Charitable Pro, which is a major upgrade packed with powerful new fundraising features.

Charitable Pro introduces a streamlined Donor Dashboard. It allows supporters to manage their giving history, download receipts, and update payment information directly from the nonprofit website.

This improvement creates a better experience for donors and encourages them to make repeat contributions.

Organizations can also view detailed donor profiles, with options to easily download donor lists as CSV files, contact individual donors by email, and create more effective fundraising campaigns.

The new recurring donation feature allows nonprofits to easily set up monthly or annual donation options. Supporters can also choose to give automatically, helping organizations build sustainable revenue streams.

Peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities have also been added. This enables individual supporters to create personal fundraising campaigns, which can help organizations reach a wider audience through their community.

Plus, Charitable Pro continues to offer zero transaction fees, giving nonprofits an affordable and flexible solution to boost their online fundraising efforts.

WordPress Core Shifts to Annual Major Releases, Starting with 6.8

The WordPress project has announced a major shift in its core release schedule. Beginning with version 6.8, WordPress will now move to a single major release each year.

This new model is designed to create a more predictable timeline, allowing contributors, developers, and site owners to better prepare for updates.

Related🔗: How You Can Get Involved With The WordPress Project

It will also allow more time for larger features and innovations to be fully developed and tested before deployment.

Commenting on the change, Mary Hubbard, Executive Director of WordPress.org, explained:

“This decision reflects current realities — particularly the energy and resources being diverted due to ongoing legal matters. If those lawsuits are dropped or resolved, we’ll revisit this cadence and strongly consider returning to a three-releases-per-year schedule. That remains the ideal for a fast-moving, community-driven project like WordPress.”

According to project leadership, the move will improve stability while encouraging more participation in the release process. Maintenance and security updates will continue throughout the year as needed.

WPConsent Now Blocks Third-Party iframe Content Like YouTube, Google Maps, and reCAPTCHA Before User Consent

WPConsent, the privacy compliance plugin for WordPress, has released a major update with a new Content Blocking feature.

This feature allows site owners to block embeds, such as YouTube videos, Google Maps, and reCAPTCHA forms, until users explicitly provide consent.

The new feature is an essential tool for improving compliance with the GDPR and other privacy regulations.

This update also includes a redesigned preferences panel that gives users more intuitive control over the data types they agree to share.

Overall, the updated interface aims to improve transparency and encourage informed consent among website visitors. This can help website owners meet global privacy standards with minimal effort.

AffiliateWP Launches RewardsWP: A Refer-a-Friend Plugin for WordPress and WooCommerce

AffiliateWP, a leading WordPress plugin for creating and managing affiliate programs, has launched RewardsWP. It is a new refer-a-friend plugin designed specifically for WordPress site owners.

RewardsWP was created in response to user requests for a simple, customer-first referral solution that works directly inside WordPress.

It runs as a standalone plugin, meaning you don’t need AffiliateWP to use it. However, the two plugins work smoothly together if both are installed.

With RewardsWP, customers are automatically enrolled in referral programs after purchase. A customizable Rewards Widget appears across the site, allowing customers to share referral links via social media or email and redeem earned rewards without leaving the site.

The plugin supports a range of reward types, including discount coupons, free products, free shipping, and percentage-based discounts.

It also includes features like automatic enrollment for new and existing customers, guest purchase support, fraud prevention safeguards, and automated email notifications.

Plus, RewardsWP works out of the box with WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads. This makes it easy for store owners to launch customer referral programs without relying on third-party platforms.

WordPress.com Launches AI Website Builder for Instant Site Creation

WordPress.com has introduced a new AI Website Builder that is designed to help users create fully personalized websites in minutes using artificial intelligence.

The AI Website Builder asks users a few simple questions about their goals, preferred styles, and content needs.

Based on this information, it automatically generates a custom website layout, including recommended pages, starter text, images, and navigation menus.

This new tool aims to simplify the website creation process, especially for beginners and small businesses that want to get online quickly without having to design from scratch. After generation, users can still customize the results using WordPress.com’s standard editing tools.

WordPress.com says the AI Builder will continue to evolve with more advanced features over time, helping site owners launch, adapt, and scale their websites more quickly and efficiently.

The feature is available now for WordPress.com users and will roll out additional customization options in future updates.

Related🔗: Best AI Website Builders for WordPress (Expert Picks)

In Other News 🗞️

• Uncanny Automator released a new update that adds support for Facebook Lead Ads, new Bluesky triggers, and more automation options for platforms like LearnDash and LifterLMS.
• WordCamp volunteers can now earn profile badges on WordPress.org that recognize their important contributions to WordPress events and community-building efforts.
• WPCode’s Search & Replace Everything released an update that brings media backup features, smarter image detection, and drag-and-drop support for replacing content across WordPress sites.

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• Thrive Themes introduced a new built-in Font Library. This gives users GDPR-compliant typography management without relying on third-party font providers.
• WordCamp Europe 2025 tickets are now available, with this year’s event taking place in Basel, Switzerland. It will feature workshops, networking sessions, and keynotes from top WordPress leaders.
• AdTribes added a new Product Feed Validator tool to help WooCommerce store owners catch listing errors early and ensure smoother marketplace submissions.
• MonsterInsights introduced TikTok Ads tracking with a one-click pixel setup, making it easier for WordPress site owners to track ad conversions directly in their dashboards.

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• WordPress VIP achieved FedRAMP Moderate Authorization. This expands its ability to work with U.S. government agencies and large enterprises that need rigorous cloud security compliance.
• PushEngage rolled out a native Shopify integration, which allows stores to send real-time order notifications without complicated custom setups.
• Easy Digital Downloads released a new update with built-in checkout address field customization. It gives digital product sellers more flexibility to adjust their checkout forms without extra coding.

New Plugins 🔌

• RewardsWP 🔥– A powerful refer-a-friend plugin for WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads. It lets you create customizable referral programs that reward both the referrer and the referee.
• Acknowledgify – A lightweight plugin that lets developers and agencies acknowledge their work on a website with a virtual humans.txt file, meta tag, and front-end attribution.
• Meet the Team Lite – A simple, responsive plugin that lets you display team members with photos, bios, and social links using Gutenberg blocks or shortcodes.

That’s a wrap for this month’s WPBeginner Spotlight! 🎉 We hope you enjoyed catching up on the latest news and updates from the WordPress ecosystem.

Got a product launch, feature update, or cool project you think we should cover? Send us a message, and we might feature it in our next edition.

We’ll see you again next month with another round of WordPress news. Thanks for reading and being part of the WPBeginner family!

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post WPBeginner Spotlight 11: WordPress 6.8 Launch, Core Release Changes, and Major Plugin Highlights first appeared on WPBeginner.

Since Threads launched in 2023, I’ve been experimenting with different ways to share my WordPress blog posts there automatically. Like many website owners, I initially posted manually, but that quickly became time-consuming as I managed multiple sites and social channels.

Between summarizing content, researching the right hashtags (and even emojis!), and formatting everything, I was losing valuable time that could be better spent growing my business. 

That’s why I started looking for an alternative that could speed up the entire process. And after testing a few different tools, I found a plugin that allows you to automatically post from WordPress to Threads — no coding required.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through straightforward steps that connect your WordPress site to Threads, allowing you to grow your audience and say goodbye to tedious manual posting.

Why Share Your Content on Threads?

For small business owners, one of the best ways to grow and get traction is to build a loyal community. One easy way to do that is by engaging with your users directly on social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and now Threads. 

Threads launched in 2023 as a Meta (formerly Facebook) product to compete directly with X (previously Twitter).

Within 5 days, Threads had over 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Plus, at the time of writing, there were over 320 million active users every month.

With those types of numbers, you can assume that many of your users and customers are active on Threads!

While there are many similarities to X (Twitter), Threads has some key differences:

• There’s a higher character limit than with X’s free accounts (500 vs. 280).
• There’s no advertising.
• Direct messaging isn’t supported.
• The interface is simpler and more streamlined.
• Only 1 tag is allowed per post.

Of course, the biggest reason to integrate your WordPress site with Threads is that you can do so with very little cost and effort. With an automation plugin like Uncanny Automator, you can set up an automated workflow that posts periodically to your Threads account with no oversight needed.

This is exactly what I do on my own small business website. As new blog posts are published, I share them automatically on Threads.

I also use Automator to share occasional tips about buying and selling secondhand clothes. And in this article, I will show you how to create these types of recipes on your own WordPress site.

Related Posts: Learn how to automatically post your WordPress content to Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Step 1: Install Uncanny Automator on Your Website

In this tutorial, I will show you how to use Uncanny Automator to automatically publish from WordPress to Threads.

Uncanny Automator is the best WordPress automation plugin that lets you build automated workflows with no code. It connects with hundreds of plugins and third-party apps, including social platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, X, and more.

You can read this complete Uncanny Automator review for more information.

By connecting your WordPress site to Automator, it can automatically generate and share your posts in the background while you create content on your WordPress site. 

Besides Threads, Uncanny Automator also connects directly with OpenAI, which is how we will create shareable, high-converting posts on Threads. The post content will be generated automatically based on guidance we send to OpenAI, with no user oversight needed.

You can use the free version of Uncanny Automator for this tutorial, along with an OpenAI API key. The free plugin license uses a credit system, and if you need a higher posting limit, then Uncanny Automator Pro licenses provide unlimited posting credits. 

First, you need to go to Plugins » Add New Plugin and search for the free Uncanny Automator plugin. Click to install and activate it.

This will then launch the onscreen setup wizard.

You can either continue with a free account or sign up for a paid Uncanny Automator account. Just follow the onscreen instructions to finish the setup.

If you need any help, see this guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Connect WordPress to Threads

After setting up Uncanny Automator, the next step is to connect Threads to your WordPress site. You must have a Threads account set up and ready to use with Automator.

To connect your Threads account, just go to Automator » App integrations.

In the list of integrations on the left side of the page, scroll down to ‘Threads’.

You have to click that to see the details for the integration, and then click the ‘Connect Threads account’ button at the bottom of the frame.

You will be directed to Threads to sign in and give Uncanny Automator access to your Threads account.

Just follow the prompts to connect Threads to Uncanny Automator.

After allowing the connection, you will be returned to your website, and you can start using the Threads integration in your Automator recipes.

Step 3: Connect to OpenAI

Next, we need to connect OpenAI, which you’ll use to generate the content for your social posts on Threads.

While still on the App integrations page in Uncanny Automator, scroll up to ‘OpenAI’ in the menu on the left. Then, follow the ‘Setup instructions’ by clicking the button. This will walk you through the process of connecting your OpenAI account to Uncanny Automator.

Make sure that your OpenAI API account has been funded (this is different from a ChatGPT account) and that there’s a balance available so that you can access the latest GPT models. 

After generating and copying your API secret key, paste it into the ‘Secret key’ field and click ‘Connect OpenAI account’.

Step 4: Create a Trigger to Post From WordPress to Threads

Now that the Threads and OpenAI accounts are connected, we can create the automation that will automate our Threads posting. In Uncanny Automator, this is known as a “recipe”.

On my website, one of my objectives with Automator and Threads is to automatically share summaries of new blog posts with my followers on Threads.

So, that’s what we’ll be covering in this recipe example: an automated workflow that is started whenever a new blog post is published (the “trigger”) that generates suitable content for a social post that is then shared on Threads (the “actions”).

Once the recipe is set up, it will run automatically for all future blog posts.

To create this recipe, you need to go to Automator » Add new recipe.

Uncanny Automator offers a choice of recipe types.

Because this recipe will start when a WordPress user publishes a new blog post, it will always be linked to an account (the account linked to the user publishing the post). So, choose ‘Logged-in users’ and click ‘Confirm’.

Choose a title for the recipe and enter it. For this example, we’ll use ‘Share new blog posts on Threads’.

In the Trigger section, you need to choose ‘WordPress’ because the recipe will run when an activity happens on WordPress (in this case, when a user publishes a post).

In the list of available WordPress triggers, you need to choose ‘A user publishes a post’.

Just click on it to select it

We want to make sure that the recipe runs for blog posts only, so it’s important to narrow the scope of the trigger to the ‘Post’ section in the ‘Post type’ field.

After selecting the post type, simply click ‘Save’ in the trigger.

Step 5: Set Up Actions for Posting to Threads From WordPress

We need to add actions to the recipe next, which define what happens when new blog posts are published.

To get started, click the ‘Add action’ button in the ‘Actions’ section of the recipe.

The OpenAI action must be added first, because it will generate the content to share on Threads. The order of actions in a recipe is important since we need to use the output of the first action in the second action.

Choose the ‘OpenAI’ integration to see a list of possible actions.

We’ll use the ‘Use a prompt to generate text with the GPT model’.

This is because it provides the most flexibility and model options.

Inside the OpenAI action, several fields are required, and others are optional.

Here’s an outline of how we’ll use the fields in this recipe:

• Model: To keep costs down but still return high-quality output, we’ll use the gpt-4o-mini model. OpenAI models change periodically, so you may not see this model as available.
• Temperature: A value of ‘0.5’ balances creativity with a focused response.
• Maximum length: Blog posts on many websites are typically under 2,000 words. We’ll use ‘4000’ tokens as a safe upper limit (and also to keep costs a bit lower).
• System message: We won’t use one for this example.
• Prompt: These are the instructions we’re sending to the OpenAI model that will yield a response. 

Writing a great prompt is perhaps the hardest part of this recipe. It should include clear instructions for OpenAI so that it understands exactly what to do.

Ensure that it also understands that the response will be posted as-is to social media and won’t be reviewed by a human.

Here’s a basic prompt that we might use for this purpose:

You may also want to see this roundup of the best ChatGPT prompts for bloggers, marketers, and social media for more inspiration.

In the image above, you will notice some dynamic values identified by grey oval shapes. These are called ‘tokens’, and they’re used in Uncanny Automator recipes to add dynamic data.

In this example, we’re pulling in records related to whichever post triggered this recipe. 

Start by adding the prompt you want to use into the ‘Prompt’ text area in the action.

Then, to add the tokens you need, you must click the asterisk (*) icon to the right of the ‘Prompt’ field.

Clicking the asterisk shows all available tokens for the action, grouped by token type.

After adding the post title, you have to move your cursor to the location in the prompt where you want to populate the post body.

Next, click the asterisk again to choose a token, and this time choose ‘Post content (raw)’ from the tokens in the ‘A user publishes a post’ list. 

Once your prompt is set up with your instructions, click ‘Save’ in the action.

That’s all we need to do for that section.

Next, we need the Threads action to take the response from OpenAI and post it to our Threads account.

So, we need to click on ‘Add action’.

Next, choose the ‘Threads’ integration.

You can just click to select it from the list of integrations.

You have to choose the ‘Create a thread post’ action to add it to the recipe.

Click to select it.

The action requires the ‘Content’ for the post first, so we’ll click on the asterisk again to choose tokens for our post body. 

Since we want to use the OpenAI response primarily in the body, just expand the OpenAI action tokens section and choose the ‘Response’ token.

We also want to include the URL of the post in the body.

So, consider adding some text and then a token for the post URL (from the trigger) to the body as well.

In the ‘Image URL or Media library ID’, you need to click the asterisk to show a list of available tokens.

In the ‘Trigger’ section, expand ‘A user publishes a post’ and choose the ‘Post featured image URL’ token.

Assuming that your post has a featured image, completing this step will include the image in your Threads post.

Now that you’ve followed all these steps, your ‘Create a thread post’ action should end up looking something like this:

To save your changes, just click ‘Save’ in the action.

The recipe isn’t live yet, but we have added the triggers and actions that we need for the automation.

To take the recipe live, you need to look for the ‘Draft’ toggle on the right side of the page and click it so that it says ‘Live’.

Once the recipe is live and the switch is a solid blue, all new blog articles will generate posts on Threads automatically!

For example, on my website, this recipe runs about 4 times per month as new posts are published about buying and selling secondhand clothing.

Posting to Threads manually previously took me about 15 minutes per post, so taking 20 minutes to set up this one recipe saves our organization approximately 12 hours per year!

If your business posts more frequently, then this automated workflow can save you even more time and let you invest your time more productively instead.

Bonus: How to Publish Automated, Recurring Posts on Threads

With the Pro version of Uncanny Automator, you get more triggers and actions, unlimited posting, and lots of additional features.

One of those extra features is the Schedule integration, which allows recipes to run automatically on a recurring basis. 

For instance, we use a recipe with the Schedule integration as a trigger to post content automatically on Threads. Every few days, we share thrifting and resale tips on our Threads profile. This allows us to generate content automatically and engage with our users without any extra manual work.

Here’s what the Trigger part of the recipe looks like:

And here is the first part of the Actions section.

It has the OpenAI prompt to create the content for the Threads post.

Finally, this is the final Action.

It actually posts this content to Threads.

This recipe won’t work for all industries, of course, but it’s a useful example of how you can generate and post social content automatically. This type of recipe will also become a lot more useful when the OpenAI API supports external sources and calling URLs directly. That way you can pull content directly from your website.

We hope this article helped you learn how to automate posting to Threads from your WordPress website. You may also wish to see our post on how to add your social media feeds to WordPress or our expert pick of the best social media plugins for WordPress.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Automatically Post to Threads From WordPress first appeared on WPBeginner.