The SaaS alternative to MainWP, with no server to manage
MainWP is free and open source, but self-hosted: it is one more WordPress to install, secure and maintain, plus extensions to configure. NexaWP Manager delivers the same multi-site control as a turnkey SaaS for €19.90/month. Honest comparison.
The real cost of MainWP is not the license
On paper, MainWP Pro costs less. In practice the tool runs on your server: you are the host, the sysadmin and the support of your own dashboard.
- •Pro license: $29/month or $199/year (free tier available)
- •Dedicated hosting for the dashboard WordPress: roughly €5-15/month
- •Installing, updating and securing the dashboard: one more WordPress site to maintain
- •Configuring extensions (backups, monitoring, reports) and their storage
- •If the dashboard goes down, you lose sight of your fleet until you fix it
- €19.90/month, unlimited sites
- Nothing to host: the dashboard is our infrastructure, availability included
- Backups, 24/7 monitoring, rollback and white-label reports included, no extensions to stack
- Automatic platform updates, French and English support
Public pricing from mainwp.com, August 2026: Pro at $29/month, $199/year or $599 lifetime, free tier available. Hosting estimate: common VPS/shared plans.
NexaWP Manager vs MainWP, feature by feature
| Feature | NexaWP Manager | MainWP |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Turnkey SaaS | Self-hosted plugin (open source) |
| Pricing | €19.90/month all included | Free; Pro $29/mo or $199/yr |
| Server to provide and maintain | None | Yes: your dashboard WordPress |
| Setup | 2 minutes per site | Dashboard + child plugin + extensions |
| Unlimited sites | ||
| Bulk updates (core, plugins, themes) | ||
| Automatic backups and their storage | Included, managed storage | Via extensions + your storage |
| 24/7 uptime monitoring | Included | Extension, depends on your server |
| White-label client reports | Included | Pro extension |
| French interface and support | ||
| Dashboard availability | Managed infrastructure | Your responsibility |
| All-inclusive trial | 7 days, no card | Free tier limited to free add-ons |
Comparison based on both services' public offers as of August 2026. Let us know about any changes.
Where MainWP is still strong
- Open source and self-hosted: full control over code and data, unlimited customization.
- The free tier already covers a lot if you accept managing everything yourself.
- An active community and a large extension library.
Where NexaWP makes the difference
- Zero infrastructure: no dashboard to host, secure, back up or troubleshoot. Your time goes to your clients, not your tooling.
- Everything included out of the box: backups with storage, monitoring, rollback, white-label reports, no extension stacking.
- European product: data hosted in the EU, GDPR-compliant, with a DPA available.
- A predictable cost that includes service availability, not just a license.
Migrate from MainWP in 5 steps
No data to export, no downtime: both tools run side by side during the transition.
- 1
Create your NexaWP account
7-day free trial, no credit card, dashboard available immediately: nothing to install server-side.
- 2
Connect a first pilot site
Install the NexaWP plugin on one WordPress site (2 minutes). The MainWP child plugin can stay active, both coexist without conflict.
- 3
Validate the key features
Update, backup, monitoring, white-label report: compare with your MainWP setup in real conditions.
- 4
Roll out to the rest of your sites
Repeat the installation site by site, at your own pace. Your clients see no interruption.
- 5
Decommission your MainWP dashboard
Once migrated, uninstall the child plugins and free the dashboard server: one less site to maintain and pay for.
Migration FAQ
How do I migrate my sites from MainWP?
Install the NexaWP plugin on each site and connect it to your dashboard: there is no data to export from MainWP. MainWP child plugins can stay active during the transition, then be uninstalled.
MainWP is free, why pay for NexaWP?
The MainWP license can be free, but the tool runs on your server: dedicated hosting, installing, updating, securing and troubleshooting the dashboard are on you, plus extension setup. NexaWP includes infrastructure, availability and every feature for €19.90/month: compare total cost, license plus server plus time.
Do I lose control of my data by moving to SaaS?
Your WordPress sites stay with your hosting provider, as with MainWP: NexaWP connects via a plugin. Management data is hosted in the European Union, GDPR-compliant, with a DPA available.
Does NexaWP really handle unlimited sites?
Yes, €19.90/month whatever the number of sites, like MainWP on that point: the difference lies in infrastructure and included features.
Can I try it without dismantling my MainWP setup?
Yes. The 7-day trial runs alongside your existing MainWP dashboard without breaking anything. You only decommission once convinced.
Ready to start?
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