It’s common when people break down websites while trying new plugins, themes, or any customization. To avoid such a disaster, you can take help from any reliable staging plugins.
This will save you from damaging your site by trying unsuitable features. For your convenience, we have featured the best WordPress staging plugins and ways to pick them.
10 Best WordPress Staging Plugins
There are numerous staging plugins on the web. After a thorough analysis based on popularity and user satisfaction, we were able to pick the best WordPress staging plugins listed below:
- BlogVault
- WP Staging
- UpdraftClone
- WP StageCoach
- WP Time Capsule
- BackupBuddy
- Total Upkeep
- WPvivid Backup Plugin
- WP Synchro
- Duplicator
- All-in-One WP Migration
1. BlogVault
This backup plugin works effortlessly and protects your site. You can easily install this one with one click. One of the unique features of this plugin is its selective merge procedure; you don’t have to replicate everything from your production site. So, BlogVault saves time and effort. You don’t have to compromise with WordPress web hosting as well.
Pros
- One-click installation procedure
- Provides safety tests
- Strong specific merge option
- Provides safe staging sites
- Supports multiple sites
Cons
- It’s a paid service.
2. WP Staging
Regarding quick cloning, WP Staging is a pioneer plugin with a handful of efficient features. To clone a site with the help of this plugin, you don’t need any domain configuration. The best feature of this plugin is it is fast. For storage, WP Staging uses the directory of the production site. On top of that, its password protects the staging site and the clone site from google indexing.
Pros
- Quick installation
- Safeguards the cloning site from google indexing
- Features multiple staging sites at a time
- Easy to use
- Affordable
Cons
- Not a good idea for large websites
- Each modification requires a login
3. UpdraftClone
UpdraftClone is a supplementary product of UpdraftPlus. With an effortless setup, you can use the UpdraftPlus server. For your convenience, you don’t require a list of hassle, just one click and you are ready to declutter the unnecessary stuff. The token-based payment system makes it more budget-friendly to the user. This plugin allows you to set a timer for your text.
Pros
- Simple setup
- The user can set the period of text
- Carries own server to clone your site
- Easy clean-up feature
- Ensures proper security
Cons
- Lacks multisite handling
4. WP StageCoach
Being one of the best staging plugins, WP StageCoach has many impressive features to make your cloning much easier. The best part of this plugin is it merges the clone site’s database with the live one. As a result, you don’t lose any subscribers. Since it uses its server, there is no risk of making your site slow. Moreover, you can easily add or exclude files without merging the database.
Pros
- Simple setup procedure
- Provides passwords to support the staging site
- Uses offsite staging
- Easy exclusion of files
- Features option to merge files
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Doesn’t offer multisite hosting
5. WP Time Capsule
Like BlogVault, WP Time Capsule is a backup-focused site. First, it will create a backup of your source website; then, this plugin will create a staging site. The best fact about this plugin is its ability to work with large websites. You will have the option to choose selective merge to include or exclude files.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Handles large websites easily
- Features selective merge
- Offers password protection
- Backup the live website
Cons
- The free version lacks staging.
6. BackupBuddy
BackupBuddy is quite famous for its solid and unconventional features. Though it backups up the live site, you need prior experience to handle this plugin. With a remarkable capacity to force prompt staging, this plugin features a unique push and pull edit method. You can dominate the changes in the live site through the active staging site. Also, it is designed to handle large websites.
Pros
- Easily loads large data
- Features strict editing features
- Backups the leading site
- Protects the staging site
- Easy to replicate comments to the staging site
Cons
- Merging is quite complicated
- Difficult to deal with changes
7. Total Upkeep
With 80000+ active installations, Total Upkeep stands out in the race of best WordPress staging plugins. It is powered by BoldGrid. With this, you can easily create a fully functional website with a few clicks. If you lose an auto-update, you can always restore the lost updates using the ‘Auto Rollback’ feature. Through the “Selective Staging” feature, you can clone any specific portion of your website.
Pros
- Supportive customer care
- Selective staging for a specific operation
- Easy to use
- Restores the update failure
- Offers a free version
Cons
- Doesn’t offer multiple-site hosting
8. WPvivid Backup Plugin
WPvivid Backup Plugin is one of the fast plugins that will let you do backup and staging simultaneously. You can push staging to a live site effortlessly. With robust functionality, you can easily apply staging to multisite. For security concerns, it provides data encryption while staging.
Pros
- Provides data encryption
- Fast staging performance
- Offers both backup and staging
- Easily backups entire website
- Affordable range of premium plans
Cons
- The package price may seem relatively high.
9. WP Synchro
WP Synchro is one of web developers’ safest and fastest staging plugins. With rigorous data encryption, this plugin will save you from any unwanted crashing. You can push and pull your database from the live website. The unique fact about this plugin is, it lets the user back up the data before migration. As the name suggests, this plugin syncs with the live site effortlessly.
Pros
- Safe data encryption for all sorts of action
- Ensures backup before the migration of data
- Features selective database movement
- Offers a free version
- Easy push/pull of database from one site to another
Cons
- Doesn’t load large databases or websites
10. Duplicator
Duplicator is a multi-threaded site plugin that goes well with large websites and databases. You can make any changes to your staging site without involving the production site. On top of that, Duplicator provides migration and cloning dropbox and google drive storage as well. You will get your update status through email notification.
Pros
- Ensures professional customer care
- Migration to google drive and dropbox
- Duplication without any interruption
- Provides professional customer care support
- Offers zero downtime
Cons
- Quite expensive
11. All-in-One WP Migration
The All-in-One WP Migration plugin is used for shifting features, but it also works for staging. This plugin has more than 4 million plus subscribers, which proves its reliability. This can quickly adapt to all versions of PHP, so you don’t have to put extra effort into that. You will get mobile experience on WordPress version 3.3.
Pros
- Works well for both migration and staging
- Flexible with all PHP versions
- Offers premium support through premium versions
- Easy to export WordPress files
- Offers free version
- Gets along with most web hosting providers
Cons
- Doesn’t handle large websites or database
Features to Look for in a Good Staging Plugin
Choosing the most useful staging plugin takes work. You have to figure out how it works to make your test easy. So we have attached the vital aspect you need to check on before finalizing a staging plugin.
Easy to use
The commands of the chosen plugin have to be easy to cope with. Only some people are web developers, so pick the straightforward one.
Secured
Since you are dealing with a backup site maker, plugin security is crucial in that aspect. So before making the final move make sure your plugin provides data encryption.
Offsite staging setting
Most of the staging plugins settle down on production, which may slow down your primary site’s performance. Choose the one who will restore your staging site on an offsite server.
Genuine technical support
It’s quite obvious to get into trouble while using your staging site. So ensure your chosen plugin is ready to provide the required support.
Price
You should carefully plan how much you want to spend on your plugin. There are some free plugins as well. Choose the one you can afford.
FAQs
Is WordPress Staging Good?
WordPress staging is the process of cloning your site so that you can try new theme, plugin or any other online tool.
What is the Difference Between WP Staging and WP Stagecoach?
Most staging plugins provide backups and migration with staging, while WP Stagecoach is designed to clone your site. WP Stagecoach doesn’t offer any backups or migration.
What is the WP Staging Plugin?
WP staging plugin is a tool that effectively backups up, migrates, and duplicates your production site. It creates an exact copy and backs up your website.
Does WordPress Offer a Staging Site?
Yes, it does. Navigate to the dashboard and click on WP Staging. It will initiate the process. Now, give a name to your clone site and click on Start cloning.
Conclusion
Managing WordPress sites requires a strategic approach. Choosing the best WordPress Staging Plugin is one of them.
In this article, we have listed the top 10 staging plugins of current times. So pick the one that serves your site. Best of luck!