Setup Hosting Demos
Setting up a hosting demo can be a great way to let users explore your platform. With InstaWP, it’s easier than ever to make that happen. You can launch instant, live WordPress sites that mirror your hosting environment. It’s fast, reliable, and scalable. Some of the top hosting companies are already using InstaWP to power their demos, and you can do it now, too.
This guide will walk you through how to set up a hosting demo using InstaWP, step by step. In this documentation, we'll be following this navigation:
Create a new Site
Setting up Hosting Demo
IWP Demo Helper
IWP Migration Helper
Save your site as a shared snapshot
Customize Snapshot
Keep the demo setup updated
Sync to Snapshot
Note: If you are not using InstaWP, sign up with our WordPress sandbox tool using this link.
Once you are signed in to the InstaWP dashboard, click on the Add New button. Now, you will see a modal/pop-up on your screen asking for some details to create your site. Make sure to choose the right PHP version and toggle on the switch for the permanent site. Set your site name and click Next Step.
To deliver a good hosting demonstration experience, make sure to change the Server Location as per your target audience's geography. Keep it closest to them.
Make other changes, as required, and hit Create Site when you are ready. InstaWP will auto-install it for you.
Use the Magic Login link and open the WordPress site's admin panel.
You have your demo site installed. Now, you need to prepare it for your prospects, so think accordingly.
A few things you can do at this stage are:
Install your plugin/theme and its dependencies (e.g., adding essential plugins and modifying essential settings).
Install a theme on your site and set up a landing page for your demo users.
Add some demo content, maybe create a sample page.
Add a message on the Dashboard on how to use your demo. (You can use a plugin like this or this, OR custom code inside the theme files).
Update the fields on the Settings > General page.
🎯 For Hosting Demos, there are plugins that hosting companies should install for better customer experience. One is IWP Demo Helper, and the other is IWP Migration Helper. Both plugins help users turn their demo site into a live WordPress site, but they work a bit differently. You'll get to choose the one that best fits your workflow.
👉 You can also use your own whitelabel suffix domain if you want for your hosting demo.
IWP Demo Helper offers a semi-automated flow. It adds a "Migrate" button to the demo site, which, when clicked, triggers the migration process and notifies your support team to take over from there.
This plugin can be used alongside temporary demos offered by Hosts. This plugin allows end users to request a migration from within the wp-admin panel. Access the plugin by clicking on this link, and click on the Code button. Click Download ZIP to download the plugin. Now, install the plugin and go to the settings page of the plugin.
When the plugin is installed on the master site and enter the plugin dashboard, it'll offer some options like API key, email, URLs, different customization options and custom CSS as well. You can add your data and your support email for further migration process.
After completing the process, if you don't want to show this plugin to your end users, you can hide the plugin, too. Simply check the Hide Plugin option and click Save Changes.
👉 Note: Before hiding the plugin for your demo you'll need to save the page URL of the plugin somewhere. Because once the plugin is selected as hidden it'll not show up and the plugin page will not be accessible through the dashboard.
Basically, this plugin helps to start the semi automated migration process, helps users to create a demo site, publish it, and make support request for the migration. After installing and setting up the plugin from the plugin page, your end users will be able to see the Migrate button.
Now, your users can click on the Migrate button and it'll display the option to start the migration process. Then, after clicking on the Begin Migration button from your user's end, a support request will be created to your support team on the support email you provided while setting up the plugin. Then you can migrate the website using our migration tool or any other migration process.
IWP Migration Helper, on the other hand, provides a fully automated experience. It adds a Publish button inside the WordPress admin, allowing demo users to instantly convert their sandbox into a live site—no manual intervention needed.
This plugin is aimed to be a companion plugin which acts as a bridge b/w the Destination WP site (where the plugin is supposed to be installed) and InstaWP Migration service. You can take the entire code and adopt it in your plugin, if you wish. Access the plugin by clicking on this link, and click on the Code button. Click Download ZIP to download the plugin.
IWP Migration Helper plugin will show pop up, if your end user have the demo (source) site and the hosted site created on the same email. This plugin has to be installed on the destination site, not on the master site. For example, your user need to migrate to your hosting platform. Then, the user will need to create a blank site on your hosting platform and install IWP Migration helper with the same email the user created the demo site with. Now, when the plugin is installed, and activated, it'll detect that a demo site is also created with that email. It'll show a pop up to your user asking about migration to the live site.
After clicking on the Transfer Site button, it'll start transferring the demo site's data to the live site.
After the migration is done, the final screen will look like this,
All done? Great. Let's move to the next step.
A Snapshot in InstaWP is basically a saved blueprint of a live WordPress site. You can reuse this snapshot to spin up new, identical sites anytime you need.
For hosting demos, you'll need to create a Shared Snapshot, since you're making it public and need others to access it easily.
When you mark a snapshot as a "Shared" snapshot, it is possible for you to share it with a link to anyone around the internet, for them to create a copy of your saved site.
The link will look something like this:
"https://app.instawp.com/launch?t=extendifydemo"
You can share this link to your potential customers, effectively creating a hosting sandbox/demo for your plugin, theme or SaaS business.
From the Staging page, click the Save as Template/Snapshot icon adjacent to your site.
Add a name, provide some description, select Snapshot, and mark your snapshot as Shared. You can also mark this snapshot as an Instant Snapshot to improve its load speed. Then, click Save.
Remember, these details will be visible to your users (and search engines) when they land on the demo page. So, keep them precise, crisp, and engaging.
To copy the link to this shared snapshot, from the Snapshots page, click on the Copy icon (next to your snapshot's name).
This link can be used on your landing pages, in your emails, and everywhere throughout your hosting promotion campaign.
You can customize the look and feel of your snapshot landing page. From the Snapshot page, scroll down to your shared snapshot, and click on the Edit button.
Now, you will find various options to help you control and customize your hosting demos more efficiently.
Modify the name, description, and other essential settings from here. For more information, refer to the Edit Setup document.
This section will let you customize your hosting demo to suit your brand's needs. Logo, email snapshot, privacy policy, custom CSS, and brand colors can be selected here. For more information, refer to the Edit Branding document.
Want to add one or more images related to your hosting on your hosting demo landing page? Do it here.
Full explanation of these snapshot options can be found here. However, here are a few notable ones:
Site Lifetime - Demo sites will be auto deleted after this.
Extend Site Lifetime - Guest user can extend the site lifetime by clicking on the link via webhook.
Enable Site Cloning - Switch this on, if you want to give access to clone site.
Auto Login to wp-admin - Automatically login to wp-admin panel, instead of showing credentials to users.
Redirect URL - Give a sitename for your the landing page of hosting demo.
At this point, your Hosting Demo is all set and you can pass the snapshot link to your users and post it on your website.
The snapshot landing page should look something like this
And when the user will click on the Launch Demo button, the next screen will be:
Upon clicking Proceed, your prospect will be able to find demo account details and use the Magic Logic link to directly enter the product demo. (If the auto-login is enabled, user will directly see the WordPress admin dashboard.
Next, if you have set a redirect URL (linking to a page in dashboard/frontend), your prospect will reach that page. Otherwise, the WordPress admin panel of this demo setup will open up.
👉 Did we miss anything in this WordPress product demo creation tutorial? Use the live chat option to ask us right now.
In the Snapshot > Email Collection section of our snapshot, the Reply-To Name and Reply-To Email fields allow you to specify the name and email address that appear in confirmation emails, enabling personalized and professional communication with users.
This feature ensures that recipients can easily identify who the email is from and reply directly to the specified email address for further communication. It's especially useful for maintaining a professional email interaction with users.
To keep our demo setup updated, you don't need to set up the demo each time. To add new plugin, theme, or code, just go to Sites page, click the horizontal ellipsis of your site, and select Tools > Code Editor.
Select your preferred editor and make your preferred change on the files, and Save. The changes will be implemented on your site once it is saved. You can reload your site to check.
Once the site is updated, you'll need to update the linked snapshot as well. To do so, go to the Snapshots page, click on the vertical ellipsis, and select the Sync from Site option. A modal window will appear.
Now, click on the Sync Now button from the modal window to align the updates with the site.
💡 Did you know - You can Setup Product Demos for your products, too. Learn how to setup product demos.
This guide will walk you through how to set up a hosting demo using InstaWP, step by step. In this documentation, we'll be following this navigation:
Create a new Site
Setting up Hosting Demo
IWP Demo Helper
IWP Migration Helper
Save your site as a shared snapshot
Customize Snapshot
Keep the demo setup updated
Sync to Snapshot
How to Setup a Hosting Demo using InstaWP?
Note: If you are not using InstaWP, sign up with our WordPress sandbox tool using this link.
Step 1: Create a new Site
Once you are signed in to the InstaWP dashboard, click on the Add New button. Now, you will see a modal/pop-up on your screen asking for some details to create your site. Make sure to choose the right PHP version and toggle on the switch for the permanent site. Set your site name and click Next Step.
To deliver a good hosting demonstration experience, make sure to change the Server Location as per your target audience's geography. Keep it closest to them.
Make other changes, as required, and hit Create Site when you are ready. InstaWP will auto-install it for you.
Use the Magic Login link and open the WordPress site's admin panel.
Step 2: Setting up Hosting Demo
You have your demo site installed. Now, you need to prepare it for your prospects, so think accordingly.
A few things you can do at this stage are:
Install your plugin/theme and its dependencies (e.g., adding essential plugins and modifying essential settings).
Install a theme on your site and set up a landing page for your demo users.
Add some demo content, maybe create a sample page.
Add a message on the Dashboard on how to use your demo. (You can use a plugin like this or this, OR custom code inside the theme files).
Update the fields on the Settings > General page.
🎯 For Hosting Demos, there are plugins that hosting companies should install for better customer experience. One is IWP Demo Helper, and the other is IWP Migration Helper. Both plugins help users turn their demo site into a live WordPress site, but they work a bit differently. You'll get to choose the one that best fits your workflow.
👉 You can also use your own whitelabel suffix domain if you want for your hosting demo.
IWP Demo Helper
IWP Demo Helper offers a semi-automated flow. It adds a "Migrate" button to the demo site, which, when clicked, triggers the migration process and notifies your support team to take over from there.
This plugin can be used alongside temporary demos offered by Hosts. This plugin allows end users to request a migration from within the wp-admin panel. Access the plugin by clicking on this link, and click on the Code button. Click Download ZIP to download the plugin. Now, install the plugin and go to the settings page of the plugin.
When the plugin is installed on the master site and enter the plugin dashboard, it'll offer some options like API key, email, URLs, different customization options and custom CSS as well. You can add your data and your support email for further migration process.
After completing the process, if you don't want to show this plugin to your end users, you can hide the plugin, too. Simply check the Hide Plugin option and click Save Changes.
👉 Note: Before hiding the plugin for your demo you'll need to save the page URL of the plugin somewhere. Because once the plugin is selected as hidden it'll not show up and the plugin page will not be accessible through the dashboard.
Basically, this plugin helps to start the semi automated migration process, helps users to create a demo site, publish it, and make support request for the migration. After installing and setting up the plugin from the plugin page, your end users will be able to see the Migrate button.
Now, your users can click on the Migrate button and it'll display the option to start the migration process. Then, after clicking on the Begin Migration button from your user's end, a support request will be created to your support team on the support email you provided while setting up the plugin. Then you can migrate the website using our migration tool or any other migration process.
IWP Migration Helper
IWP Migration Helper, on the other hand, provides a fully automated experience. It adds a Publish button inside the WordPress admin, allowing demo users to instantly convert their sandbox into a live site—no manual intervention needed.
This plugin is aimed to be a companion plugin which acts as a bridge b/w the Destination WP site (where the plugin is supposed to be installed) and InstaWP Migration service. You can take the entire code and adopt it in your plugin, if you wish. Access the plugin by clicking on this link, and click on the Code button. Click Download ZIP to download the plugin.
IWP Migration Helper plugin will show pop up, if your end user have the demo (source) site and the hosted site created on the same email. This plugin has to be installed on the destination site, not on the master site. For example, your user need to migrate to your hosting platform. Then, the user will need to create a blank site on your hosting platform and install IWP Migration helper with the same email the user created the demo site with. Now, when the plugin is installed, and activated, it'll detect that a demo site is also created with that email. It'll show a pop up to your user asking about migration to the live site.
After clicking on the Transfer Site button, it'll start transferring the demo site's data to the live site.
After the migration is done, the final screen will look like this,
All done? Great. Let's move to the next step.
Step 3: Save your site as a Shared Snapshot
A Snapshot in InstaWP is basically a saved blueprint of a live WordPress site. You can reuse this snapshot to spin up new, identical sites anytime you need.
For hosting demos, you'll need to create a Shared Snapshot, since you're making it public and need others to access it easily.
When you mark a snapshot as a "Shared" snapshot, it is possible for you to share it with a link to anyone around the internet, for them to create a copy of your saved site.
The link will look something like this:
"https://app.instawp.com/launch?t=extendifydemo"
You can share this link to your potential customers, effectively creating a hosting sandbox/demo for your plugin, theme or SaaS business.
From the Staging page, click the Save as Template/Snapshot icon adjacent to your site.
Add a name, provide some description, select Snapshot, and mark your snapshot as Shared. You can also mark this snapshot as an Instant Snapshot to improve its load speed. Then, click Save.
Remember, these details will be visible to your users (and search engines) when they land on the demo page. So, keep them precise, crisp, and engaging.
To copy the link to this shared snapshot, from the Snapshots page, click on the Copy icon (next to your snapshot's name).
This link can be used on your landing pages, in your emails, and everywhere throughout your hosting promotion campaign.
Step 4: Customize Snapshot
You can customize the look and feel of your snapshot landing page. From the Snapshot page, scroll down to your shared snapshot, and click on the Edit button.
Now, you will find various options to help you control and customize your hosting demos more efficiently.
Setup
Modify the name, description, and other essential settings from here. For more information, refer to the Edit Setup document.
Branding
This section will let you customize your hosting demo to suit your brand's needs. Logo, email snapshot, privacy policy, custom CSS, and brand colors can be selected here. For more information, refer to the Edit Branding document.
Gallery
Want to add one or more images related to your hosting on your hosting demo landing page? Do it here.
Advanced Options
Full explanation of these snapshot options can be found here. However, here are a few notable ones:
Site Lifetime - Demo sites will be auto deleted after this.
Extend Site Lifetime - Guest user can extend the site lifetime by clicking on the link via webhook.
Enable Site Cloning - Switch this on, if you want to give access to clone site.
Auto Login to wp-admin - Automatically login to wp-admin panel, instead of showing credentials to users.
Redirect URL - Give a sitename for your the landing page of hosting demo.
At this point, your Hosting Demo is all set and you can pass the snapshot link to your users and post it on your website.
The snapshot landing page should look something like this
And when the user will click on the Launch Demo button, the next screen will be:
Upon clicking Proceed, your prospect will be able to find demo account details and use the Magic Logic link to directly enter the product demo. (If the auto-login is enabled, user will directly see the WordPress admin dashboard.
Next, if you have set a redirect URL (linking to a page in dashboard/frontend), your prospect will reach that page. Otherwise, the WordPress admin panel of this demo setup will open up.
👉 Did we miss anything in this WordPress product demo creation tutorial? Use the live chat option to ask us right now.
Configure “Reply-To Name” and “Reply-To Email” Fields
In the Snapshot > Email Collection section of our snapshot, the Reply-To Name and Reply-To Email fields allow you to specify the name and email address that appear in confirmation emails, enabling personalized and professional communication with users.
This feature ensures that recipients can easily identify who the email is from and reply directly to the specified email address for further communication. It's especially useful for maintaining a professional email interaction with users.
Keep Demo Setup Updated
To keep our demo setup updated, you don't need to set up the demo each time. To add new plugin, theme, or code, just go to Sites page, click the horizontal ellipsis of your site, and select Tools > Code Editor.
Select your preferred editor and make your preferred change on the files, and Save. The changes will be implemented on your site once it is saved. You can reload your site to check.
Sync to Snapshot
Once the site is updated, you'll need to update the linked snapshot as well. To do so, go to the Snapshots page, click on the vertical ellipsis, and select the Sync from Site option. A modal window will appear.
Now, click on the Sync Now button from the modal window to align the updates with the site.
💡 Did you know - You can Setup Product Demos for your products, too. Learn how to setup product demos.
Updated on: 20/06/2025
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