Types of Site
WordPress sites in InstaWP are built in a safe sandbox environment where users can experiment with different themes, plugins, and codes without fear of harming the actual website. These sites are classified into several sorts based on how they were built or in which environment they were set up, allowing you to test different configurations and settings before going live.
In this documentation, we will explore the different types of sites and how they are created under the following categories:
Based on Expiry
Temporary Site
Permanent Site
Based on Setup
Staging Site
Template Site
Managed Site
Import Site
Hosted Site
Let’s get started 🚀
InstaWP enables you to build WordPress testing sites based on their expiration period under the following:
Temporary Site
Permanent Site
It refers to the site, which comes with an expiration of 2 days for the non-users (using InstaWP without signing up), 7 days for registered users (on free plan) and so on - depending upon the user's plan. Check the pricing page for more details.
On creating a site, you will find the expiration countdown in the Expiry section, as shown in the image below. For more information, you can refer to the Create Site document.
It refers to the site that does not expire (i.e. reserved) and stays in your account forever (unless manually deleted or marked as un-reserved).
As the site is created, you can reserve your site to Reserved Site status with no expiry countdowns. Use the option on the Sites page or mark a site permanent at the time when you create it. Refer to the Reserve Site document for more information.
InstaWP allows you to build WordPress testing sites depending on the environment for configuring the following types:
Staging Site
Template Site
Connected Site
Import Site
Hosted Site
Note: In your InstaWP account, Staging Sites will count as a limit for all kind of active sites, including template sites, connected or hosted sites.
It refers to the WordPress site, created and hosted in a sandbox environment with InstaWP to give the benefit of testing different configurations and settings without affecting the live website.
The site can be created from scratch (with custom configs & themes/plugins) or by templates within InstaWP. For more information on how to create a new site, you can refer to the Create Site document.
It refers to the site that is built from the template, including any installed plugins or new themes that were added while saving the template. It helps you ease your workload, increase flexibility and provide consistency across the project you are working on. For more information on creating a site from template, you can refer to the Using Templates document.
It refers to the staging site that is created by using the InstaWP Connect plugin, which is an exact copy of the live site hosted with your preferred hosting partner securely. This allows you to test as many changes as possible without affecting your live website. For more information, you can refer to the Add Connect Plugin to Site document.
It refers to the site that is created from backup, live, or beta sources up to 1 GB using InstaWP, WP Playground, UpdraftPlus or Duplicator for smooth staging site management directly from your local computer. For more information, refer to the Import Site document.
InstaWP allows you to create the following two types of hosted sites that are connected to a certain hosting provider.
Live Hosted Site
Third Party Hosted sites
It refers to the site that is created after selecting InstaWP Live as your hosting provider. For more information, you can refer to the Create Live Site document.
It refers to the site that is created after selecting from a third-party hosting provider such as Serverbolt, RunCloud, Pressable and ServerAvatar.
💡 Did you know - You can create 1-click staging websites by selecting a staging type like quick, full staging or custom from within the WP admin panel. Learn about Creating staging site.
In this documentation, we will explore the different types of sites and how they are created under the following categories:
Based on Expiry
Temporary Site
Permanent Site
Based on Setup
Staging Site
Template Site
Managed Site
Import Site
Hosted Site
Let’s get started 🚀
On the Basis of Expiry
InstaWP enables you to build WordPress testing sites based on their expiration period under the following:
Temporary Site
Permanent Site
Temporary Site
It refers to the site, which comes with an expiration of 2 days for the non-users (using InstaWP without signing up), 7 days for registered users (on free plan) and so on - depending upon the user's plan. Check the pricing page for more details.
On creating a site, you will find the expiration countdown in the Expiry section, as shown in the image below. For more information, you can refer to the Create Site document.
Permanent Site
It refers to the site that does not expire (i.e. reserved) and stays in your account forever (unless manually deleted or marked as un-reserved).
As the site is created, you can reserve your site to Reserved Site status with no expiry countdowns. Use the option on the Sites page or mark a site permanent at the time when you create it. Refer to the Reserve Site document for more information.
On the Basis of Setup
InstaWP allows you to build WordPress testing sites depending on the environment for configuring the following types:
Staging Site
Template Site
Connected Site
Import Site
Hosted Site
Note: In your InstaWP account, Staging Sites will count as a limit for all kind of active sites, including template sites, connected or hosted sites.
Staging Site
It refers to the WordPress site, created and hosted in a sandbox environment with InstaWP to give the benefit of testing different configurations and settings without affecting the live website.
The site can be created from scratch (with custom configs & themes/plugins) or by templates within InstaWP. For more information on how to create a new site, you can refer to the Create Site document.
Template Site
It refers to the site that is built from the template, including any installed plugins or new themes that were added while saving the template. It helps you ease your workload, increase flexibility and provide consistency across the project you are working on. For more information on creating a site from template, you can refer to the Using Templates document.
Managed Site
It refers to the staging site that is created by using the InstaWP Connect plugin, which is an exact copy of the live site hosted with your preferred hosting partner securely. This allows you to test as many changes as possible without affecting your live website. For more information, you can refer to the Add Connect Plugin to Site document.
Import Site
It refers to the site that is created from backup, live, or beta sources up to 1 GB using InstaWP, WP Playground, UpdraftPlus or Duplicator for smooth staging site management directly from your local computer. For more information, refer to the Import Site document.
Hosted Site
InstaWP allows you to create the following two types of hosted sites that are connected to a certain hosting provider.
Live Hosted Site
Third Party Hosted sites
Live Hosted Site
It refers to the site that is created after selecting InstaWP Live as your hosting provider. For more information, you can refer to the Create Live Site document.
Third Party Hosted sites
It refers to the site that is created after selecting from a third-party hosting provider such as Serverbolt, RunCloud, Pressable and ServerAvatar.
💡 Did you know - You can create 1-click staging websites by selecting a staging type like quick, full staging or custom from within the WP admin panel. Learn about Creating staging site.
Updated on: 03/04/2025
Thank you!