Two self-hostable approaches with very different philosophies β open-source plugin dashboard vs proprietary desktop app. Here's the side-by-side breakdown.
Back to all comparisonsTwelve dimensions agencies care about, side by side.
| WP Maintenance Manager | MainWP | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting model | Desktop app (Mac & Windows) | Self-hosted WordPress plugin (you run the dashboard) |
| Open source | No (proprietary) | Yes (GPLv2) |
| Connection method | SSH + WP-CLI (no plugin on managed sites) | MainWP Child plugin on each managed site |
| Where your data lives | On your own machine | On the WordPress site that hosts the dashboard |
| Per-plugin pinpoint rollback | Yes β built in | Not built in (manual via FTP / extension) |
| DB backup before every update | Always β 3 generations kept | Via paid extension (e.g., MainWP UpdraftPlus, BackWPup) |
| Visual check (screenshot diff) | Built in | Not built in |
| White-label PDF reports | Built in (Standard plan and above) | Via Pro extension (Pro Reports) |
| Free tier | 1 site, full features | Free core (unlimited sites, basic actions) |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly fee per plan tier | Free core + Pro $29/mo, $199/yr, or $599 lifetime |
| Setup complexity | Install desktop app, add SSH credentials | Spin up a WordPress site, install MainWP, install Child on each site |
| Server cost (dashboard) | None (your laptop) | You pay for the WordPress hosting that runs the dashboard |
If you only read one section of this page, read this one.
MainWP runs as a WordPress plugin on a site you host yourself β you need to provision, secure, and update that site forever. WP Maintenance Manager is a desktop app: install it on your Mac or Windows machine and you're done. Zero server to maintain.
MainWP doesn't have built-in per-plugin rollback. If an update breaks a site, you restore from a backup (extension required) or use FTP. WP Maintenance Manager updates plugins one at a time and reverts only the plugin that broke the site, automatically.
Both tools have a plugin requirement, but in different ways: MainWP requires the MainWP Child plugin on every managed site. WP Maintenance Manager requires nothing on the managed sites β it connects via SSH directly to the server.
MainWP's free core handles updates and basic actions. Backups, white-label reports, scheduled tasks, and most agency features require Pro extensions ($29/mo subscription unlocks all 32+). WP Maintenance Manager bundles maintenance, backups, rollback, visual check, and reports into one product.
For when you need the details, not just the headlines.
MainWP Child on each managed site and connect them. The dashboard WordPress install needs the same security/update care as any production WP site.
wp plugin install --version=X --force. Coupled with a DB backup taken before any update.
.htaccess-protected directory) and mirrored to your local machine. No add-on required.
Not every agency is a good fit for WP Maintenance Manager. Here's the honest version.
You don't have to switch all at once.
The two tools work fine in parallel. MainWP connects via the Child plugin; WP Maintenance Manager connects via SSH. They don't conflict. A common evaluation path:
wp plugin install --version=X --force) plus per-step HTTP checks, which is built into WP Maintenance Manager but isn't part of MainWP's default workflow.
No plugin install on your client sites. Mac & Windows desktop app.