Whether you’re a business with multiple branches, a university with different departments, or a web creator managing client sites, understanding how Multisite works can unlock new efficiencies. It offers a scalable solution for handling numerous websites, all while sharing the same core WordPress files, database, and hosting plan.

How Does WordPress Multisite Work?

At its core, a WordPress Multisite network shares a single WordPress codebase and database. When you activate Multisite, it adds new database tables to store data for each site in the network. It also modifies your wp-config.php file and adds a few lines to your .htaccess file to handle the network structure.

From a user’s perspective, a “Super Admin” role is created. This role has the highest level of access, with the ability to manage the entire network. The Super Admin can add new sites, install themes and plugins for all sites to use, and manage user access across the network. Individual site administrators, on the other hand, have control only over their assigned website(s). They can activate or deactivate themes and plugins made available by the Super Admin, but they cannot install new ones themselves.

Subdomains vs. Subdirectories: Choosing Your Network Structure

When you set up a Multisite network, you need to decide how you want to structure the URLs for the individual sites. You have two primary options:

  • Subdomains: Each site in the network gets its own unique subdomain (e.g., site1.yourdomain.com, site2.yourdomain.com). This structure is often used when the sites in the network are distinct entities, like different department websites for a university. To use subdomains, you’ll need to configure wildcard DNS settings with your hosting provider.
  • Subdirectories: Each site is housed within a subdirectory of your main domain (e.g., yourdomain.com/site1, yourdomain.com/site2). This approach is common for related sites, such as regional branches of a single company. This is the simpler option to configure as it typically doesn’t require any special server configurations.

It’s important to choose your structure carefully during setup, as changing it later can be a complex process.

Who Should Use WordPress Multisite?

WordPress Multisite is a specialized tool, and while powerful, it’s not the right fit for every situation. Understanding its ideal use cases can help you determine if it aligns with your goals.

Ideal Use Cases for Multisite

Multisite truly shines in scenarios where you need centralized management for a collection of related websites.

Businesses and Organizations with Multiple Branches or Departments

For companies with various locations or internal departments, Multisite provides a streamlined way to maintain a consistent brand identity while giving each entity its own web presence. A Super Admin can enforce brand guidelines by controlling the available themes and plugins, ensuring every site adheres to company standards.

Educational Institutions

Universities and schools often manage a vast number of websites for different faculties, research groups, and student organizations. Multisite allows them to provide a platform for these groups to create their own sites within a controlled and secure environment.

Web Creators and Agencies Managing Client Sites

Agencies can leverage Multisite to manage multiple client websites from a single dashboard. This simplifies maintenance tasks like updates and backups. With a tool like Elementor, you can create and execute stunning, custom designs across the entire network, deploying design kits and templates to new client sites with just a few clicks. This dramatically speeds up the development process and ensures a consistent quality of work.

Community Networks and Blogging Platforms

If you’re looking to create a network where users can sign up and create their blogs or sites, similar to WordPress.com, Multisite is the perfect foundation. It provides the necessary infrastructure for user registration and site creation.

When to Avoid WordPress Multisite

Despite its advantages, there are times when Multisite might introduce unnecessary complexity.

  • Distinctly Different Websites: If the websites you manage are for entirely separate clients with unique hosting, security, and plugin requirements, managing them as individual WordPress installations is often a better choice. Multisite networks share a database, which can become a single point of failure.
  • Need for Different IP Addresses: All sites in a Multisite network share the same IP address. If you require separate IPs for SEO or other reasons, you’ll need to use individual WordPress installations.
  • Limited Technical Expertise: While setting up Multisite is relatively straightforward for those familiar with WordPress, managing a network does require a bit more technical knowledge, especially when it comes to troubleshooting.

Pros and Cons of WordPress Multisite

Before committing to a Multisite network, it’s essential to weigh the benefits against the potential drawbacks.

Advantages of Using Multisite

  • Efficient Management: The ability to update themes, plugins, and the WordPress core for all sites at once from a single dashboard is a significant time-saver.
  • Consistent Branding and Functionality: Super Admins can control which themes and plugins are available across the network, ensuring a consistent look, feel, and feature set.
  • Scalability: You can add new sites to your network with ease, making it a highly scalable solution for growing businesses or communities.
  • Cost-Effective: Since all sites share the same hosting plan and WordPress installation, it can be more affordable than hosting each site individually.
  • Streamlined User Management: You can assign different user roles and permissions across the network, giving you granular control over who can access what.

Disadvantages and Potential Challenges

  • Shared Resources: All sites on the network share the same database and server resources. A traffic spike on one site could potentially slow down all the others. If one site is compromised, the entire network is at risk.
  • Plugin Compatibility: Not all WordPress plugins are designed to work with Multisite. You’ll need to ensure that any plugin you want to use is compatible with a network environment.
  • Single Point of Failure: If your single WordPress installation goes down, all the websites in your network will go down with it. Regular backups are crucial to mitigate this risk.
  • Hosting Requirements: A Multisite network can be more resource-intensive than a single site installation. You’ll need a robust hosting plan, like
    Elementor Hosting, which is built on Google Cloud infrastructure and designed for high performance, to ensure your network runs smoothly.
  • Complexity for Site Admins: Individual site admins have limited permissions. They cannot install their own themes or plugins, which can be a source of frustration if they require specific functionality not approved by the Super Admin.

How to Set Up a WordPress Multisite Network

Setting up a Multisite network involves a few key steps. Before you begin, it’s crucial to back up your website completely.

Step 1: Prepare Your WordPress Installation

  • Deactivate All Plugins: To avoid potential conflicts during the setup process, deactivate all active plugins on your site.
  • Check Permalinks: Ensure that you have a custom permalink structure set up. You can check this under Settings > Permalinks.

Step 2: Enable Multisite in wp-config.php

You’ll need to access your website’s files via FTP or your hosting provider’s file manager.

  1. Locate and open the wp-config.php file in the root directory of your WordPress installation.

Add the following line of code just above the /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */ line:
PHP
define(‘WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE’, true);

  2. Save the file. This step activates the Multisite setup feature in your WordPress dashboard.

Step 3: Configure the Network

  1. Log back into your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Tools > Network Setup.
  3. Choose between subdomains or subdirectories for your network structure.
  4. Enter a title for your network and the email address of the Super Admin.
  5. Click the “Install” button.

Step 4: Add Code Snippets to wp-config.php and .htaccess

WordPress will now provide you with two snippets of code.

  1. First Snippet: Copy the first block of code and paste it into your wp-config.php file, just below the line you added in Step 2.
  2. Second Snippet: Copy the second block of code and paste it into your .htaccess file, replacing any existing WordPress rules.
  3. Save both files.

After completing these steps, you’ll need to log in to your WordPress dashboard again. Your Multisite network is now active!

Managing Your WordPress Multisite Network

Once your network is up and running, your focus will shift to management. You’ll find a new “My Sites” menu in the top admin bar.

The Network Admin Dashboard

As a Super Admin, you have access to the Network Admin dashboard. This is your central command center for managing the entire network. Here, you can:

  • Add and Manage Sites: Create new sites and manage existing ones.
  • Manage Users: Add new users, edit existing user profiles, and assign user roles.
  • Manage Themes: Install, uninstall, and update themes for the entire network. You can also enable specific themes for individual sites to use.
  • Manage Plugins: Install, uninstall, and update plugins. You can choose to “Network Activate” a plugin, which makes it active on all sites, or you can simply make it available for individual site admins to activate on their own.
  • Configure Network Settings: Customize various settings for your network, such as registration options, default language, and upload file types.

Working with Elementor in a Multisite Environment

Elementor and Elementor Pro are fully compatible with WordPress Multisite, making it an excellent choice for designing and managing sites within your network.

As a Super Admin, you can network-activate Elementor and Elementor Pro, making the powerful drag-and-drop editor available across all your sites. This allows you to:

  • Create a Master Design System: Use Elementor’s Theme Builder to design and manage headers, footers, and templates for the entire network. This ensures brand consistency and saves a tremendous amount of time.
  • Deploy Site Kits: Create a complete website kit with all the necessary pages, templates, and settings. You can then export this kit and import it into new sites on your network, essentially creating a new, fully designed website in minutes.
  • Control Design Elements: With Elementor’s role manager, you can control which widgets and design features are available to individual site administrators, giving you the perfect balance of creative freedom and brand control.

By combining the managerial power of WordPress Multisite with the design flexibility of Elementor, you can build and scale a network of professional, high-performing websites with remarkable efficiency.