What is WordPress Multisite

What is WordPress Multisite? It’s a built-in WordPress feature that lets you run multiple websites from a single installation and manage them all from one central Network Admin dashboard.

In this beginner-friendly guide to WordPress Multisite, you’ll learn how a network of sites works, its pros and cons, and when using a Multisite setup is better than running separate WordPress installs.

What You Need to Use WordPress Multisite

• A self-hosted WordPress.org site (not WordPress.com).
• Administrator access to that site (wp-admin).
• Access to your hosting control panel or FTP/SEO and UX, and where you will see it in daily work.”>SFTP to edit files like wp-config.php and .htaccess.
• A hosting plan that can handle multiple sites (enough resources and allowed domains/subdomains).
• A recent full backup of your site and database before enabling Multisite.

Step 1: What Is WordPress Multisite, Exactly?

WordPress Multisite is a mode that turns one WordPress installation into a network of sites. You still have one set of core files and one database, but you can create multiple subsites that share:

• The same WordPress core and plugins.
• A shared set of themes (enabled per site).
• The same user table (one login can access multiple subsites).

Each subsite has its own dashboard, settings, posts, pages, and media library, but they all live inside the same network. A special “super admin” role manages network-wide settings, sites, users, plugins, and themes.

Step 2: How a WordPress Multisite Network Is Structured

When you enable WordPress Multisite, your original site becomes the main site in the network. New sites you create are called subsites. They can be addressed in different ways:

• Subdirectories: example.com/site1/, example.com/site2/
• Subdomains: site1.example.com, site2.example.com
• Mapped domains: different domains pointed at subsites (for example, brand1.com, brand2.com)

Behind the scenes, WordPress stores each site’s content in its own set of database tables, but they all share one user table and the same codebase. This makes updates and plugin management much simpler at scale.

Step 3: Pros and Cons of WordPress Multisite

Before you decide to use a Multisite network, it helps to clearly see the advantages and trade-offs.

Benefits of WordPress Multisite

• Centralized management: Update core, themes, and plugins once for the entire network.
• Shared users: A single user account can be given access to multiple subsites.
• Consistent setup: New sites can be spun up quickly with the same base configuration.
• Resource efficiency: One codebase and database can be easier to host and maintain than many separate installs.

Drawbacks and Limitations

• More complex: Network Admin and per-site Admin can be confusing at first.
• All eggs in one basket: If the main installation goes down, all subsites are affected.
• Plugin restrictions: Plugins are installed network-wide; individual sites cannot upload their own.
• Migration challenges: Moving a single subsite out of a network is more complex than moving a standalone site.

Step 4: When to Use WordPress Multisite

WordPress Multisite is powerful, but it’s not for every project. It shines in scenarios where you need many related sites under one umbrella.

• Universities or schools: Each department, course, or teacher has their own site.
• Large organizations: Separate subsites for departments, regions, or brands sharing common branding.
• Blog networks: Many blogs that share plugins, themes, and moderation policies.
• Franchise or multi-brand businesses: Local branches each have a site but follow central design rules.
• Multi-language using separate sites: One site per language that share a base setup.

Step 5: When WordPress Multisite Is Not a Good Fit

Sometimes it’s better to run separate WordPress installations instead of using a Multisite network.

• You only plan to run one or two small sites.
• Each site needs completely different plugins or server-level settings.
• Different teams require isolated hosting or separate databases for compliance reasons.
• You don’t have hosting access or comfort editing configuration files.
• Sites are unrelated and follow unique branding and technical requirements.

If your use case is simple, a normal single-site WordPress install with good backups is often the easiest and safest choice.

Step 6: How to Enable WordPress Multisite (High-Level Overview)

Turning on Multisite requires a few technical steps. Do this on a staging site first if you can.

1. Back up your site. Create a full backup of files and database.
2. Edit wp-config.php. Using FTP or your file manager, add this above the line that says “That’s all, stop editing!”:

   define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true ); 

3. Log in again. Go to Tools » Network Setup in your WordPress dashboard.
4. Choose subdomains or subdirectories. WordPress will ask how you want to structure your network.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions. It will give you extra code to add to wp-config.php and .htaccess.
6. Log in to Network Admin. After setup, you’ll access the Multisite dashboard under My Sites » Network Admin.

Step 7: Managing Sites, Themes, and Plugins in a Network

Once WordPress Multisite is enabled, you’ll have two levels of control: the Network Admin and individual site dashboards.

In Network Admin (Super Admin Level)

• Create, edit, archive, or delete subsites.
• Install and remove themes and plugins network-wide.
• Decide which themes are available for subsites to activate.
• Manage users and assign them to specific sites or multiple sites.

In Each Site’s Dashboard

• Site admins can activate or deactivate allowed plugins.
• Choose from network-enabled themes.
• Publish content, manage menus, and customize widgets for their own site.

Quick Comparison: WordPress Multisite vs Separate Installs

Use this table to decide whether a Multisite network or multiple single-site installations are better for your situation.

Conclusion: When WordPress Multisite Makes Sense

WordPress Multisite is a powerful way to manage a network of sites from a single installation. It works best when you have multiple related websites that can share users, themes, and plugins, and you want to maintain them from one central place.

If you only have one or two small, unrelated sites, a standard single-site install is usually simpler. But if you manage a growing group of sites for an organization, school, or brand family, learning how WordPress Multisite works can save you a lot of time and effort in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress Multisite