WordPress maintenance plans vary enormously. Some are little more than an automatic update button. Others include real people who know your site. Here is what to expect.
What a good plan includes
- Updates to WordPress core, themes and plugins on a regular schedule, ideally tested on a staging site first
- Backups taken automatically and before every update, stored off-site
- Security monitoring for malware and suspicious activity, with cleanup if something is found
- Uptime monitoring so someone knows within minutes if your site goes down
- Performance checks to catch slowdowns
- Reports in plain language: what was updated, what was fixed, how the site is doing
- Support with response times in writing
Often included in higher tiers
- A monthly allowance for small fixes and content edits
- Accessibility scans and fixes
- SEO health monitoring
- Emergency response outside business hours
Usually not included
- Redesigns and new features
- Large content projects
- Fixing problems caused by changes made outside the plan
- Third-party subscription costs, such as premium plugins
Questions to ask
- Are updates tested before they reach the live site?
- What happens if an update breaks something?
- How fast do you respond, and is it in writing?
- Do I need to host with you?
- Can I cancel, and do I get my backups if I leave?
Compare our WordPress maintenance plans, each starting with a free site health check.
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