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Better WP Security vs Wordfence Security: The Battle For WordPress Best Security Plugin
We could have probably heard that website security is vital especially when hackers are all around nowadays. I am not going to leave any security loopholes in my WordPress site and I am sure you are either. When it comes to WordPress security plugin, there could have hundreds of plugins you can choose from but when you talk about the best, there could be two which comes to my mind.

Introducing Better WP Security and Wordfence Security.

Here are some information on both the plugins.

WordPress is the most popular blogging platform but security threats are very real

What is Better WP Security Plugin?

Created by: Bit51

What Better WP Security does:
- Remove the meta “Generator” tag
- Change the urls for WordPress dashboard including login, admin, and more
- Completely turn off the ability to login for a given time period (away mode)
- Remove theme, plugin, and core update notifications from users who do not have permission to update them
- Remove Windows Live Write header information
- Remove RSD header information
- Rename “admin” account
- Change the ID on the user with ID 1
- Change the WordPress database table prefix
- Change wp-content path
- Removes login error messages
- Display a random version number to non administrative users anywhere version is used
- Scan your site to instantly tell where vulnerabilities are and fix them in seconds
- Ban troublesome bots and other hosts
- Ban troublesome user agents
- Prevent brute force attacks by banning hosts and users with too many invalid login attempts
- Strengthen server security
- Enforce strong passwords for all accounts of a configurable minimum role
- Force SSL for admin pages (on supporting servers)
- Force SSL for any page or post (on supporting servers)
- Turn off file editing from within WordPress admin area
- Detect and block numerous attacks to your filesystem and database
What is Wordfence Security plugin?

Created by: Mark Maunder

What Wordfence Security does:
- Scans core files, themes and plugins against WordPress.org repository versions to check their integrity.
- Includes a firewall to block common security threats like fake Googlebots, malicious scans from hackers and botnets.
- Includes advanced IP and Domain WHOIS to report malicious IP’s or networks and block entire networks using the firewall.
- See how files have changed. Optionally repair changed files that are security threats.
- Scans for signatures of over 44,000 known malware variants that are known security threats.
- Scans for many known backdoors including C99, R57, RootShell, Crystal Shell, Matamu, Cybershell, W4cking, Sniper, Predator, Jackal, Phantasma, GFS, Dive, Dx and many many more.
- Continuously scans for malware and phishing URL’s including all URL’s on the Google Safe Browsing List in all your comments, posts and files that are security threats.
- Scans for heuristics of backdoors, trojans, suspicious code and other security issues.
- Checks the strength of all user and admin passwords to enhance login security.
- Monitor your DNS security for unauthorized DNS changes.
- Rate limit or block security threats like aggressive crawlers, scrapers and bots doing security scans for vulnerabilities in your site.
- Choose whether you want to block or throttle users and robots who break your security rules.
- Includes login security to lock out brute force hacks and to stop WordPress from revealing info that will compromise security.
- See all your traffic in real-time, including robots, humans, 404 errors, logins and logouts and who is consuming most of your content. Enhances your situational awareness of which security threats your site is facing.
- A real-time view of all traffic including automated bots that often constitute security threats that Javascript analytics packages never show you.
- Real-time traffic includes reverse DNS and city-level geolocation. Know which geographic area security threats originate from.
- Monitors disk space which is related to security because many DDoS attacks attempt to consume all disk space to create denial of service.
- Wordfence Security for multi-site also scans all posts and comments across all blogs from one admin panel.
- WordPress Multi-Site (or WordPress MU in the older parlance) compatible.
- Premium users can also block countries and schedule scans for specific times and a higher frequency.
I know the list is rather long but it is relatively easy to say that both are trying their best to compete with one another. I tested both Better WP Security and Wordfence Security for a week each on various websites and I was surprised at my decision…really. Let me tell you why.

Security effectiveness

Better WP Security – 9.5/10, Wordfence Security – 9.5/10

When it comes to security, I can tell you that both plugins look very seriously into the matter. Both actually impressed me more than what I actually expected them to perform. If you are going to install either one of these, rest assured your security effectiveness will be top of the chart. And that, I am definitely sure.

User-friendly UI

Better WP Security – 9/10, Wordfence Security – 9.5/10

I have very split decision in this. I love Better WP Security’s direct layout but I prefer the Wordfence Security interface. Basically in Better WP Security, you will be able to see all the issues in different colours (red as dangerous, green as safe etc). With a simple click, it will redirect you immediately to the setting for you to do any adjustment required. Compared to Wordfence Security, the layout is more ‘WordPress-like’ (imagine using W3TC).

Both plugins layout are extremely versatile and easy to navigate through. At the same time, both the plugins developers are doing a great job by trying to provide a compact view on the plugin dashboard itself. Here’s are what both dashboards look like:

Better WP Security Dashboard

Wordfence Security Dashboard

Plugin usability

Better WP Security – 7/10, Wordfence Security – 9/10

When it comes to security plugin usability, this is where it makes all the difference. Better WP Security plugin is great but what makes it short from getting a higher score from me is because it requires a higher curve of WordPress understanding for a person to actually utilize it properly. In other words, you are open to all options to configure your WordPress but you are prone to create an accidental mistake if you have no idea what you are doing.

Compared to Wordfence Security, most options are pretty direct and even a beginner could use the plugin to the maximum of its capabilities. This definitely gives a better rating to Wordfence Security compared to the latter.

How important is website loading speed for you?

Better WP Security – 10/10, Wordfence Security – 8/10

To be very honest, I been trying to search for this answer but failed miserably. Whenever I use Wordfence Security, I noticed that my site is loading less than one second slower compared to the time I used Better WP Security. after checking with various programs and tools, it really seems like Wordfence Security’s firewall feature is creating a small ‘lag’ which affects the page loading speed. Maybe this could be me but I am not experiencing that when I am using Better WP Security.

My honest conclusion between Better WP Security and Wordfence

If I would to choose and could only choose one as my best WordPress security plugin, then my money is going to Better WP Security. I know! I love Wordfence Security plugin and it is very close to flawless.

However, having the small page load ‘penalty’ really turns me off. Regardless what WordPress security plugin you choose, I am sure both of these plugins will not let you down.

How about you? Do you have any favorite security plugins you would like to share? Or, maybe you have your opinion on both the plugins? Feel free to fill the form below and tell us what you think.

If you like this article, could you please share this for me using the red Google+ button below?
December 6, 2023
Exploring the Depths of Non-Sexual Intimacy: More Than Just Physical Connections
In a world where physical attraction and sexual chemistry often dominate discussions about intimacy, the profound importance of non-sexual emotional and physical bonds is frequently overlooked. Intimacy, at its core, is a multi-dimensional phenomenon that transcends mere physical interactions, shaping the foundations of meaningful and long-lasting relationships. It’s time to delve into the lesser-discussed but equally significant aspect of connectivity: non-sexual intimacy.

The Essence of Emotional Intimacy Without the Sexual Undertone

Emotional intimacy is a facet of human connection that involves sharing the most inner parts of ourselves with people we cherish and trust. It’s about being vulnerable and transparent, allowing our true thoughts, aspirations, fears, and disappointments to surface. Unlike its sexual counterpart, non-sexual emotional intimacy is an expression of our deeper self that is not entwined with carnal desires.

Cultivating Emotional Intimacy: Nurturing a Soulful Bond

To foster this form of intimacy, consider the following practices:
- Sharing Vulnerably: Exchange your most intimate thoughts and feelings, revealing your dreams and fears.
- Expressing Needs: Clearly communicate what you seek from the relationship, including your emotional desires.
- Experiencing Together: Spend quality time engaged in activities that bring joy and comfort.
- Being Curious: Ask questions about your partner’s life and feelings, illustrating genuine interest in their world.
- Listening Actively: Offer an empathic ear, focusing on understanding rather than judging.
Signs of a Rich Emotional Intimacy

When emotional intimacy thrives in a relationship, certain indicators emerge:
- Total Acceptance: A feeling of being entirely embraced for who you are.
- Unreserved Sharing: Comfort in exposing one’s deepest self.
- Mutual Understanding: A sense that your perspectives and emotions are grasped and valued.
- Profound Care: Reciprocal attentiveness to each other’s wellbeing.
- Unwavering Trust: Confidence that support is readily available when needed.
The Significance of Non-Sexual Physical Intimacy

Non-sexual physical intimacy is about the language of touch that communicates affection and closeness without steering towards any sexual overtures. It varies greatly from person to person and necessitates an understanding of personal boundaries and consent.

Forms of Non-Sexual Physical Closeness

The spectrum of physical intimacy that doesn’t serve a sexual purpose includes:
- Subtle Proximity: Simply being in someone’s presence can feel intimate.
- Touch: Gestures like hand-holding, cuddling, and casual embraces can convey support and affection.
- Gesture: Small acts, such as a hand on the arm, can have significant emotional weight.
- Facial Expressions: Kissing on the forehead or sustained eye contact offers silent reassurance of one’s presence and care.
How to Navigate Your Partner’s Non-Sexual Physical Intimacy Preferences

To properly honor one’s comfort level with physical touch, it is crucial to:
- Communicate: Discuss preferences and boundaries openly before engaging in touch.
- Ask for Consent: Ensure that the gesture of physical closeness is mutually desired and respected.
- Observe Reactions: Pay attention to your partner’s body language to gauge their comfort with the level of physicality.
Addressing the Lack of Intimacy

The absence of non-sexual intimacy can leave an emotional void. Here’s how you can counteract this deficit:
- Seek Understanding: Talk with your partner about what intimacy means to each of you.
- Set Aside Time: Dedicate moments for non-sexual closeness, whether it’s through deep conversations or a simple walk together.
- Counseling: Professional guidance, like that offered at SHIPS, can assist in exploring and enhancing intimacy.
Non-Sexual Activities That Deepen Intimacy

Non-sexual activities to consider for fostering intimacy include:
- Mutual Hobbies: Engage in shared interests to build a non-sexual connection.
- Mindful Conversations: Delve into meaningful discussions that deepen your understanding of each other.
- Partner Exercises: Engage in physical activities that encourage trust and cooperation.
Addressing Common Concerns and Questions

What to do when there is no physical intimacy? Open communication is key. Explore the underlying reasons, and consider counseling if needed. Develop ways to rebuild intimacy through activities that both partners are comfortable with.

What is the most intimate non-sexual thing you do with your partner? This varies per individual but can include sharing secrets, fears, hopes, and dreams—the core elements that make up a person’s inner world.

What lack of intimacy does to a woman? Lack of intimacy can lead to feelings of loneliness, reduced self-esteem, and a disconnection from one’s partner. It is crucial to address the issue collectively and seek help if necessary.

In conclusion, while sexual intimacy is often highlighted as the pinnacle of closeness in relationships, the intricate layers of non-sexual emotional and physical intimacy are integral to the construction of a profound and enduring connection between individuals. These forms of intimacy are vehicles for profound understanding, care, and trust, providing the scaffolding upon which a resilient partnership is built.

If you resonate with these insights or seek further guidance, visit SHIPS’ resources or reach out for professional support. Your experiences and thoughts enrich the conversation, and continuous feedback helps us ensure the discourse on non-sexual intimacy remains inclusive and comprehensive.
December 6, 2023
Serve Static Content From Cookieless Subdomain for CloudFlare (Updated 2018)
Interesting read: Money Brighter is one of the best LLC in Texas! If you are thinking of speeding up your website, Google might be telling you the answer is to create a cookieless subdomain or domain. Well, that’s easy for you to say. How to serve static content from a cookieless domain? More importantly, what is a cookieless subdomain?

Instead, you can consider a cookieless subdomain is a term to describe data transferring from one point to another (in this case, data movement from subdomain to domain) has no cookies attached. Indirectly, this boost the loading speed of your domain.

This is what Google explain in its own words:

Why is serving static content over cookieless domain important?

Static content, such as images, JS and CSS files, don’t need to be accompanied by cookies, as there is no user interaction with these resources. You can decrease request latency by serving static content from a domain that doesn’t serve cookies. This technique is especially useful for pages referencing large volumes of rarely cached static content, such as frequently changing image thumbnails, or infrequently accessed image archives. We recommend this technique for any page that serves more than 5 static resources. (For pages that serve fewer resources than this, it’s not worth the cost of setting up an extra domain.)

What does this means to you?

All static contents or data that are transferred with the accompanied by cookies. Though cookies are not needed for any transaction and do not serve any advantage, they will automatically be available for all data transfer. The only way to avoid such is when static contents are obtained from a cookieless site.

Static content + cookieless domain?

Serving static content or resources from a cookieless domain reduces the total size of requests made for a page. It is also important to note that there is no point setting up static subdomain for this matter if you are using a powerful web host or having very less page.

Now that we had gone through the relationship between cookieless subdomain and serving static content, let’s explore the right way to serve the following static resources from a domain that doesn’t set cookies.

How to create a cookieless subdomain using CNAME?

When it comes to creating a cookieless subdomain, using a CNAME could be the easiest way of all (at least for me). This step is extremely easy to follow and after configurations, you can start serving static resources from a domain that doesn’t set cookies.
- Go to your cPanel (most shared web hosting offers this)
- Create a subdomain (any name would do, e.g. static.domain.com)
This subdomain will serve as a CDN subdomain which is the key criteria to enable the process of serving static content from cookieless domain.

Selecting the right installation path for the subdomain

In order to create a proper cookieless subdomain, you have to ensure that when you are creating your subdomain, make sure it is pointing to your root directory instead of creating a secondary one. For example, my root directory is /public_html and thus, it should be pointed or directed to /public_html and not the default, /public_html/static.

This is what you see when you are pointing to subdomain to the right path

Editing the DNS Zone

Once you have done pointing the subdomain, head over to your DNS Zone Editor. At times, these might be labeled as Simple or Advanced DNS Zone Editor for several types of cPanel but they are all alike.

Pointing subdomain to the right domain

You would need to either create or modify the Name to your subdomain name and CNAME as your main domain. Of course, for the Type, you would need to select CNAME. You may start this by hitting the create button and if there is already a record, you just need to modify the settings to the above.

Still not sure? Let me explain to you, in other words. When you create the CNAME record you want to enter your static domain/subdomain as the label, name or an alias and your A record domain as the content or value. (The CNAME term, which stands for Canonical Name, actually refers to the domain you are mapping to, not the alias. The common practice of referring to the alias as the CNAME is in fact backwards.)

Making sure the subdomain is cookieless

I could not emphasize how important this is but you must not skip this step no matter what. In WordPress, there are two common cookie-setters which are WordPress and Google Analytics. All you need is to do little changes in the configurations and you would be well on your way to a cookieless subdomain.

For WordPress, head over to your wp-config by login into your cPanel. Open it up and add this line to the file. If you are wondering where exactly you may place this file, you can place it at the bottom most of the script.

define(‘COOKIE_DOMAIN’, ‘www.yourdomain.com’);

This is definitely a no-brainer but just to make sure, do remember to change your domain to your own domain name. After that, save the file and you are good to go!

For Google Analytics, all you need to do is to search for the specific code you had earlier placed in on your site and replace the code with the below one. For a quick tip, most Google Analytics code is kept close to the <body>.

_gaq.push( [‘_setAccount’, ‘UA-xxxxxxx-1’], [‘_setDomainName’, ‘www.yourdomain.com’], [‘_trackPageview’] );

Again, change your domain as seen above to your own domain URL and save the file.

Important note: If you are using cloudflare or any type of Content Network Delivery (CDN), please get your hosting and CDN provider to verify on the CNAME. For example, using Cloudflare will give you an error when you are following the above guide in changing the CNAME. Basically, the hosting or CDN provider will give you a new A figure to place in.

You are all done!

Now, treat yourself to a bottle of beer for the hard work and congratulations. You had managed to create a cookieless subdomain from scratch. This is one of the cheapest (and fastest) way to create a cookieless subdomain when it comes to serving static content to improve your website speed.
December 6, 2023
Types of Amazon Ads – The Complete Guide

Amazon’s advertising platform offers a range of options to help sellers and brands increase their product visibility and drive more sales. This comprehensive guide explores the various types of Amazon ads, providing a detailed understanding of each to help you choose the best options for your marketing strategy.

Understanding Amazon’s Advertising Landscape

Amazon’s advertising solutions are designed to cater to different marketing needs, from boosting product visibility to building brand awareness. Familiarizing yourself with the different types of ads is crucial for leveraging Amazon’s platform effectively.

1.     Sponsored Products Ads

Sponsored Products are among the most popular Amazon ad types. These ads promote individual product listings on Amazon and appear in search results and on product detail pages. They’re cost-per-click (CPC) ads, meaning you only pay when a shopper clicks on your ad. Sponsored Products are ideal for driving sales and increasing visibility for specific items. They’re particularly effective for new products or items in competitive categories.

2.     Sponsored Brands Ads

Formerly known as Headline Search Ads, Sponsored Brands allow businesses to advertise multiple products simultaneously. These ads appear at the top of Amazon search results, showcasing your brand logo, a custom headline, and multiple products. Sponsored Brands are ideal for increasing brand awareness and can direct shoppers to your Amazon Store or a curated landing page.

3.     Sponsored Display Ads

Sponsored Display Ads are a relatively new addition to Amazon’s advertising suite. They’re available to sellers enrolled in Amazon Brand Registry and vendors. These ads appear both on and off Amazon, targeting audiences based on shopping behaviors and interests. Sponsored Display Ads are ideal for retargeting customers who viewed your products but didn’t make a purchase, helping to increase conversions.

4.     Amazon DSP (Demand Side Platform)

Amazon DSP allows advertisers to programmatically buy display, video, and audio ads at scale. These ads can appear on Amazon’s websites, apps, and also on its publishing partners’ sites. Amazon DSP is unique in its ability to reach audiences both on and off Amazon, making it a powerful tool for broader marketing campaigns.

5.     Amazon Stores

While not traditional ads, Amazon Stores allow brands to create their own multi-page storefronts on Amazon. This feature is an excellent way for brand-registered sellers to showcase their story and entire product range. Amazon Stores can be customized with rich media and are free to create.

6.     Video Ads

Amazon Video Ads offer a way to engage potential customers through compelling video content. These ads can appear on Amazon’s own sites, like IMDb, devices like Fire TV, and across the web. Video ads are an effective tool for storytelling and can be used to showcase product features, tutorials, or customer testimonials.

Choosing the Right Amazon Ad Type

The key to successful advertising on Amazon is selecting the right type of ad that aligns with your marketing goals. Whether you’re looking to boost product sales, increase brand visibility, or engage customers with compelling content, Amazon’s diverse advertising options provide solutions for various objectives. By understanding the unique features and benefits of each ad type, you can craft a more effective and targeted Amazon advertising strategy.

December 1, 2023
5 Tips for Elevating Your Company’s Social Media Presence

To thrive in a cutthroat industry, businesses in the digital era need to maintain an active and interesting social media presence. Social media platforms offer a unique opportunity to interact with customers, build brand awareness, and enhance sales. However, it can be challenging for companies to succeed and stand out in the ever-evolving social media landscape. You can increase your company’s visibility on social media by following these five tips.

1. Create High-Quality, Shareable Content

Standing out in the crowded social media world can be difficult due to the abundance of available content. Creating excellent, shareable content is essential to attracting your audience. Visuals are highly effective tools in this endeavor. Engaging videos, educational data visualizations, and aesthetically appealing images consistently outperform text-based information in terms of user relevance across various platforms.

The visual appeal of content is crucial for making an impact and encouraging shareability. Infographics help viewers better understand facts by presenting complex information in an aesthetically pleasing way. Captivating films, whether longer stories or brief snippets, attract audiences and increase engagement. Additionally, eye-catching photos thoughtfully chosen to complement your message or brand capture viewers’ attention and motivate them to share with others.

While seeking shareable content, the role of audio elements should not be underestimated. Incorporating stock audio and music into your social media content can enhance its appeal and engagement. Whether creating videos, animations, or simple graphics, the right soundtrack can evoke emotions, capture attention, and elevate the overall viewing experience. Versatile music and audio can be found on different websites, but if you want top-notch quality material, explore Dreamstime.

2. Define Your Brand Personality

Creating a personality for your brand is a fundamental step before entering the vast world of social media. This includes carefully analyzing the goals, values, and target market of your business. You can create a recognizable and genuine voice for yourself on social media by aligning your presence with these essential components.

Whether your brand is innovative, professional, or playful, maintaining a consistent tone across all channels is important. This consistency helps build a strong and enduring brand identity. Your audience can virtually interact with your brand through your social media platforms, which become an extension of it.

Furthermore, a lighthearted brand could use humor and informal vocabulary to appeal to a more relaxed audience. To establish credibility and trust, a professional brand, on the other hand, can choose to speak elegantly and clearly. Modern interaction can be facilitated by inventive marketing and creative thinking from a forward-thinking brand.

3. Engage with Your Audience

Social media is more than just a broadcast medium; it’s a dynamic, two-way conversation that relies on participation and interaction. It’s essential to actively engage with your audience by promptly answering messages, comments and mentions to fully realize its potential. By being proactive, you not only strengthen bonds with current clients but also make a strong impression on prospective ones by demonstrating how much you respect and cherish their opinions.

Responding to comments shows that you value candid communication and helps create a feeling of community around your brand. Establishing personal connections through messaging helps you build rapport and trust while giving your audience a sense of being heard and appreciated. Moreover, it enhances user-generated content and strengthens the bond between your brand and its followers when you respond to mentions or tags.

Furthermore, timely responses demonstrate attention to detail and concern in the dynamic social media world where interactions happen in real-time. This adds to a favorable brand perception in addition to improving the consumer experience. You can turn your social media presence into a living, breathing extension of your business and build enduring relationships with your audience by actively engaging in the ongoing conversation.

4. Leverage Paid Advertising

Although organic reach is still important, using paid advertising in your social media plan can significantly increase the visibility of your business. With the help of social media platforms’ extensive selection of choices for customized advertising, you can precisely target specific demographics based on variables like age, location, interests, and online behavior.

Paid advertising can effectively reach your target audience with your message. By leveraging the comprehensive user data that social media networks gather, you can customize your advertisements to appeal to the tastes and actions of your target audience. Focusing on the right audience increases the effectiveness of your efforts, ensuring that those most likely to interact with your brand see your content.

The measurable impact and scalability of sponsored social media advertising make it highly attractive. The ability to create precise targets and track performance indicators, regardless of your goals—whether increasing conversions, driving website traffic, or raising brand awareness—provides a degree of insight not seen in traditional advertising. Essentially, integrating paid advertising into your social media strategy enables data-driven decisions and real-time campaign optimization and ultimately improves your company’s online profile.

5. Stay Updated on Social Media Trends

Keeping up with the latest advancements is essential for navigating the ever-changing social media ecosystem, which continuously introduces new features and trends. Staying updated not only ensures your business’s continued relevance but also positions it to take advantage of new opportunities that can influence online interaction and brand awareness.

Because social media platforms are dynamic, staying informed requires a proactive strategy. Being informed about industry news, upgrades, and platform modifications helps your company quickly adapt and take advantage of new features. Whether it’s new content formats, algorithm changes, or interactive feature introductions, staying informed enables your business to remain innovative and ahead of the curve.

Furthermore, keeping up with the most recent social media trends provides insightful information on how user tastes and habits are changing. With this information, you can better focus your campaigns and content on the interests of your target market, strengthening your marketing approach.

Conclusion

Increasing the visibility of your business in the ever-growing social media landscape requires a long-term strategy. Each component is crucial, from creating aesthetically appealing, shareable content to establishing a consistent brand personality, encouraging active interaction, utilizing paid advertising, and keeping abreast of market trends. By utilizing these pointers, your business can effectively navigate the ever-changing social media market, creating enduring relationships, optimizing visibility, and adapting to the rapidly changing digital scene. The key to success in social media lies in a calculated combination of originality, responsiveness, and flexibility.

November 27, 2023
WPMU DEV Hosting Review: A Comprehensive Look at Performance, Features, and Support
In the ever-expanding universe of WordPress solutions, WPMU DEV has carved out a name for itself by offering a plethora of tools and plugins to enhance the performance and management of WordPress sites.

But with the evolution of their services, WPMU DEV has embraced a new frontier—fully managed hosting. In this WPMU DEV hosting review, we delve deep to discover whether this hosting platform is the game-changer your WordPress site needs in 2023.

WPMU DEV: A Brief Introduction

WPMU DEV is part of Incsub—the parent company behind other WordPress stalwarts like CampusPress and Edublogs—securely positioning itself as an experienced player in the digital arena. What makes WPMU DEV stand out is its hands-on approach to providing an integrated ecosystem for websites, boasting a selection of premium services, themes, and plugins. Aimed at freelancers, agencies, and entrepreneurs, their hosting packages promise dedicated resources and top-tier performance.

Here’s what you will find in WPMU Dev hosting plans:
- Location Flexibility: Choose from a diverse selection of 18 data center locations for hosting your site, with options including various regions in the United States (both east and west coast), the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, among others to optimize for your target audience.
- Enhanced Security: Benefit from robust security measures with WPMU DEV’s in-house services like Defender and Automate that offer file scanning, an advanced firewall, and the added security of two-factor authentication.
- Optimized Speed: Experience lightning-fast hosting thanks to the integration of WPMU DEV’s wide array of services and tools, such as object and page caching, alongside the latest in technology with IPv6 and CDN (Content Delivery Network) support.
- Reliable Backups: Gain peace of mind with automatic incremental nightly backups and the convenience of a one-click restore feature to safeguard your site’s data.
- Effortless Staging: Take advantage of a dedicated staging environment to test and modify your site before pushing changes live with the simple click of a button.
- Seamless Migration: Transition your site smoothly to WPMU DEV hosting using the platform’s automated migration tools, or have the support team conduct the migration for you at no extra charge.
- Complimentary SSL Certificate: Secure your hosted sites out-of-the-box with a free SSL certificate provided through Let’s Encrypt, ensuring visitors’ connections to your site are encrypted.
But are they the right fit for you? Let’s find out.

The Hosting Experience with WPMU DEV

Choosing the right WordPress hosting service can hugely impact site performance—and ultimately, your bottom line. WPMU DEV is offering a fully managed VPS hosting solution that promises to elevate your website’s performance by providing isolated resources for each website. But what do these promises translate to in real-world applications? We put WPMU DEV to the test using industry-standard tools like Pingdom and K6 to monitor performance metrics that matter.

Testing the Performance

Our Pingdom tests returned varying load times, heavily influenced by the location of the test servers. Load times are indeed crucial, but WPMU DEV’s feature that allows you to choose a server location tailored to your target audience means you can minimize these disparities. For more globally balanced performance, setting up a CDN with WPMU DEV could be beneficial.

We initiated our website’s performance evaluation using five diverse Pingdom test servers located around the world. The loading speeds for our sample website from each location were as follows:
- Washington D.C.: 0.677 seconds
- San Francisco: 1.01 seconds
- London: 0.241 seconds
- Sydney: 1.98 seconds
- Tokyo: 1.64 seconds
These figures reflect tests conducted with the default Twenty Twenty theme of WordPress.

Observing the data, it’s evident that while the website loads reasonably quickly, the loading times demonstrate significant variation in relation to the geographical position of each server.

Our second evaluation involved conducting a load impact assessment, which entails emulating the behavior of 25 concurrent visitors on your website over a span of three minutes to observe any fluctuations in load times. The outcomes were quite remarkable.

In our WPMU DEV Hosting Load Impact Review, it’s evident that even though there was a minor increase in response time (depicted by the blue line), the scenario with 24 virtual users active on the site (indicated by the green line) resulted in a load time of merely 348 milliseconds.

Hence, if your venture involves running a modest-sized blog or commercial site on WPMU DEV hosting, you can be confident that increases in visitor traffic will not compromise your website’s load times.

Seamless Integration and User Experience

True to its ethos, WPMU DEV doesn’t just stop at hosting. It extends its interface—aptly named the Hub—for a comprehensive management experience. From site setup to activating various plugins and monitoring analytics, the Hub centralizes all operations in a user-friendly dashboard.

The question remains: does this integrated approach truly streamline the process for users from various backgrounds? Our experiences suggest a resounding yes; the processes are streamlined, and even WordPress novices can navigate the interface with ease.

Complementing Your Site with Pre-installed Tools

Upon setup, your WordPress dashboard will greet you with pre-installed WPMU DEV plugins, spanning across essential categories like security, optimization, and marketing. This preemptive measure ensures you’re equipped to tackle various aspects of site management right from the start, potentially saving valuable time and effort.

Support: WPMU DEV’s Safety Net

Beyond infrastructure and user interfaces, the soul of a hosting service often lies in its support system. WPMU DEV’s customer support includes not just a vast knowledge base but also dedicated support channels. Available membership packages provide various levels of access to these resources, allowing you to tailor your support experience to your specific needs.

Pricing and Plans

WPMU DEV offers a variety of membership options tailored to different needs.
- Agency Membership: For $33 monthly (Black Friday Cyber Monday deal only), enjoy the privilege of using all WPMU DEV services and plugins across an unlimited number of websites. Additionally, this plan includes a $144 credit that can be applied to any hosting package.
- Freelancer Membership: At a cost of $13 every month, this package allows the management of up to 10 websites and provides full access to the complete suite of plugins.
- Standard Membership: Priced at $5 per month, this option permits the setup of up to 3 websites while granting unrestricted access to all available plugins.
- Basic Membership: For an economical $3 monthly fee, this plan enables you to establish a single website and also ensures access to the full range of WPMU DEV plugins.
WPMU DEV acknowledges the diverse needs of WordPress sites by offering nine distinct hosting plans, each with varied resources and options.

Whether you manage a single site or a sprawling network, there’s likely a plan to match your requirements. A 30-day free trial sweetens the deal, granting you the freedom to evaluate their services without initial financial commitment.

WPMU DEV versus The Competition

While WPMU DEV’s all-in-one model presents a compelling proposition, it’s not without alternatives in the market. If you find yourself still on the fence, exploring other managed WordPress hosting services, such as those boasting lower price tags but still robust offerings, could be a beneficial exercise.

Final Thoughts: Is WPMU DEV the Right Choice for Your Website?

The hosting world is a battleground of promises, and WPMU DEV certainly makes some bold ones. With impressive performance test results, a user-friendly management dashboard, an array of plugins, and unwavering support, WPMU DEV positions itself as a premium, all-encompassing WordPress hosting solution.

Sites ranging from small blogs to business behemoths could find a home with WPMU DEV, assuming the pricing aligns with their budget. And with the option to trial the service free for 30 days, making an informed decision has never been easier.

We hope this deep dive gives you clarity on whether WPMU DEV is the hosting hero your WordPress site has been waiting for. Remember, the digital landscape is always evolving—stay informed, choose wisely, and may your site’s performance soar.

Is WPMU DEV the right hosting service for your WordPress site? Let us know your thoughts, questions, or experiences in the comments below. And for those still seeking, continue your journey with our collection of the best managed WordPress hosting services available today.

Have more inquiries regarding WPMU DEV? Whether it’s their legitimacy, offerings, or comparisons with other hosting providers, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your perfect hosting match awaits—and we’re here to help you find it.

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November 27, 2023