With WP Ultimo no longer operating, thousands of agencies and freelance developers are looking for a solution that not only matches its capabilities but exceeds them.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best WP Ultimo alernative, learn how it works, and how you can start selling website packages to your clients today.
Table of Contents
The Challenge: Life After WP Ultimo
For years, WP Ultimo served as the go-to solution for agencies wanting to create their own website-building platforms. It allowed you to sell WordPress sites from a multisite network, manage subscriptions, and offer clients their own dashboard. However, the WordPress multisite approach came with significant limitations:
- Complex server management and scaling issues
- Database bloat as the network grew
- Plugin compatibility problems across the network
- Security vulnerabilities affecting all sites simultaneously
- Difficult migration if you needed to move sites off the network
With WP Ultimo no longer available, agencies need a solution that addresses these pain points while offering modern features that today’s clients expect. InstaWP WaaS delivers exactly that and more.
What is InstaWP WaaS?
Website as a Service (WaaS) is InstaWP’s answer to the growing demand for automated website provisioning. At its core, WaaS feature of InstaWP allows you to create pre-built website templates and combine them with hosting plans, enabling your customers to spin up fully functional WordPress sites in minutes.
Here’s what makes it different from the traditional multisite model:
Isolated Installations: Each site your customer creates is a completely independent WordPress installation. No shared databases, no network-wide vulnerabilities, and no plugin conflicts between sites.
Cloud-Based Infrastructure: Everything runs on InstaWP’s robust managed cloud hosting infrastructure, eliminating the need for you to manage servers, handle scaling, or worry about uptime.
White-Label Ready: Your customers interact with your branded landing pages and receive emails from your business. InstaWP remains invisible to your end users.
Built-In Payment Processing: Website as a Service at InstaWP comes with Stripe Express integration means you can start accepting payments immediately without setting up complex payment gateways.
Why InstaWP WaaS is the Ideal WP Ultimo Alternative
We’re pitching InstaWP’s WaaS the best WP Ultimo alternative for obvious reasons.
1. Zero Server Management
One of the biggest headaches with running a WP Ultimo setup was managing the underlying server infrastructure. As your network grew, you needed more resources, better WordPress caching system, and constant monitoring to ensure uptime.
With InstaWP WaaS, all of that disappears. InstaWP handles the hosting infrastructure entirely. You focus on what you do best, designing beautiful templates and acquiring customers. The technical complexity of server management, security updates, and performance optimization is handled for you.
2. Flexible Pricing Architecture
InstaWP WaaS gives you complete control over your pricing strategy. Here’s how it works:
When you create a hosting plan within your WaaS, you select an underlying InstaWP managed hosting site plan (like Starter, Growth, or Scale). This determines the resources allocated to each site and what you pay InstaWP. However, you can charge your customers whatever price makes sense for your market and templates.
For example, if you’re paying $9/month to InstaWP for the Plus site plan, you could charge your customers $49/month, $99/month, or any amount that reflects the value of your WordPress templates and services. This margin is yours to keep.
You can also choose between monthly and yearly billing cycles, giving your customers flexibility while potentially improving your cash flow with annual subscriptions.
3. Template Monetization Options
Beyond managed cloud hosting, InstaWP WaaS allows you to monetize your templates separately. When configuring your plans, you have two options:
Waive Template Price: Include the template free with the hosting plan. This is ideal if you want to keep pricing simple or if your templates are your competitive advantage that draws customers in.
Add Template Price: Charge a one-time fee for the template on top of the recurring hosting cost. If you’ve invested significant time building premium templates, this lets you capture that value upfront.
This flexibility means you can create different tiers; perhaps a basic plan with simpler templates included free, and premium plans where customers pay extra for your most sophisticated designs.
4. Multiple Templates in One WaaS
Unlike some solutions that limit you to a single template per product, InstaWP WaaS lets you offer multiple templates within the same WaaS setup. When your customers visit your WaaS landing page, they can browse through all available templates and choose the one that best fits their needs.
This is perfect for agencies serving diverse industries. You might offer a restaurant template, a law firm template, and a fitness studio template; all within the same WaaS. Customers self-select based on their industry, streamlining your sales process.
5. Comprehensive Branding and Customization
Your WaaS landing page is fully customizable to match your agency’s brand identity:
Logo Upload: Display your agency logo prominently on the landing page.
Brand Colors: Set primary and secondary colors that reflect your brand, ensuring the checkout experience feels like an extension of your website.
Custom CSS: For agencies wanting pixel-perfect control, you can inject custom CSS to fine-tune every aspect of the landing page appearance.
Custom Email Configuration: Emails sent to customers come from your brand. You control the sender name, subject line, and email body content. InstaWP provides shortcodes so you can dynamically include site details, login credentials, and other relevant information.
Support Link Integration: Direct customers to your own support portal, not InstaWP’s. This maintains the white-label experience and keeps customers engaged with your brand.
6. Two Layout Options for Your Landing Page
InstaWP understands that design preferences vary. That’s why WaaS offers two distinct navigation layouts:
Side Navigation: Display your template options and WaaS information in a sidebar, giving customers a dashboard-like experience as they browse and select their preferred template.
Bottom Navigation: Present navigation options at the bottom of the landing page for a more traditional, scroll-based user journey.
Choose the layout that best matches your brand aesthetic and customer expectations.
7. Multilingual Support
Serving customers in different regions? InstaWP WaaS supports multiple languages for your checkout pages. Select your default language during setup to ensure your international customers have a seamless experience in their preferred language.
How to Create Your First WaaS With InstaWP
From the above text, one thing is clear: if there is any WP Ultimo alternative that you must try, it’s InstaWP WaaS. Let’s walk through the process of setting up your WaaS from start to finish.
Step 1: Create Your Template Sites
Before you can sell websites, you need to create the templates your customers will use to their website. In InstaWP, start by building out complete WordPress websites that showcase your design skills. These could be industry-specific themes, starter sites with pre-configured plugins, or fully designed pages ready for content customization.
You can check our guide on ‘Create Site‘ to learn about the process in detail. Start from clicking on ‘Add Site‘ inside your InstaWP dashboard. Choose the way you want to create your site. You can customize the entire configuration of the site.
For each template site:
- Install your preferred theme and plugins
- Create sample pages and content
- Configure settings and customizations
- Test thoroughly to ensure everything works
Step 2: Save Sites as Templates
Once your sites are ready, save each one as a template within InstaWP.
During this process, you’ll:
- Provide a template name and description
- Upload a thumbnail image (this displays on your WaaS landing page)
- Choose whether the template is free or paid
Even if you mark a template as paid here, you can still choose to waive the price when configuring your WaaS plans later. This gives you flexibility to run promotions or include templates free with higher-tier hosting plans.
Step 3: Set Up Your Payout Account
Before you can receive payments from customers, you need to configure your payout account. InstaWP uses Stripe Express for seamless payment processing.
Navigate to your account settings and select the Payouts option. Click “Setup Account” and follow the prompts to:
- Choose whether you’re registering as a company or individual
- Provide required business information
- Enter bank account details for receiving payouts
InstaWP processes payouts monthly, sending your earnings directly to your specified bank account.
Step 4: Create Your WaaS
Now for the main event. Navigate to the WaaS section under the Sell menu and click “Add New.” Here’s what you’ll configure:
WaaS Name: Choose a name that reflects your offering or target market.
Design Type: Select side navigation or bottom navigation based on your preferred layout.
Templates: Select which of your saved templates to include in this WaaS. You can select multiple templates, giving customers choices.
Language: Set the default language for the checkout experience.
Step 5: Configure Hosting Plans
This is where your pricing strategy comes to life. For each plan you create, you’ll specify:
Plan Name: What customers see when comparing options (e.g., “Starter,” “Professional,” “Enterprise”).
Plan Type: Free or Paid. Free plans are useful for testing your WaaS or offering limited-time promotions.
Site Plan: The underlying InstaWP hosting plan that determines server resources. This is your cost basis.
Plan Price: What you charge customers. Set monthly or yearly pricing.
Template Pricing: Choose to waive the template cost or add it to the hosting price.
WordPress User Role: Determine what access level customers get. Administrator gives full control, but you might choose Editor or a custom role if you want to restrict certain capabilities.
Suffix Domain: Select the domain suffix for sites created under this plan. You can use InstaWP’s default domains or configure your own white-label domain.
You can create multiple plans with different pricing tiers, resource allocations, and included templates. This lets you serve different market segments — from budget-conscious small businesses to enterprises needing premium resources.
Step 6: Add Plan Features
In the Features tab, list the benefits and capabilities included with each plan. These features display on your landing page when customers compare plans.
Think of this as your sales pitch, highlight what makes each tier valuable:
- Number of pages included
- Plugin licenses included
- Support response time
- Backup frequency
- Storage limits
- Any other differentiators
Upload your logo, set brand colors, add custom CSS if needed, and configure your support link. This ensures every touchpoint feels like your brand.
Configure the emails your customers receive:
- Set the “From” name so emails appear to come from your business
- Customize the subject line for purchase confirmation emails
- Write the email body using your brand voice and InstaWP’s shortcodes to include dynamic site information
Step 7: Launch and Share
Your WaaS is ready. Click the Share button to get your unique WaaS link. This is the URL you’ll promote to potential customers through your marketing channels.
The Customer Experience
Understanding what your customers see helps you optimize your WaaS for conversions. Here’s the journey:
- Landing Page: Customers arrive at your branded landing page and browse available templates. Visual thumbnails and descriptions help them choose.
- Plan Selection: After selecting a template, customers choose a hosting plan. They see plan names, prices, and features you’ve configured.
- Domain Configuration: Customers receive a temporary domain using your suffix domain. They can customize the subdomain portion.
- Account Creation: Customers enter their name and email. If they selected a paid plan, they also enter payment information.
- Checkout Confirmation: A summary screen lets customers review their selection before completing the purchase.
- Site Provisioning: InstaWP automatically provisions the site using your template. This typically takes just moments.
- Access Delivery: Customers receive login credentials via your customized email. They also get a magic login link for instant access.
Final Thoughts
The end of WP Ultimo doesn’t have to mean the end of your website provisioning business. InstaWP WaaS offers a modern, scalable, and hassle-free alternative that eliminates the technical overhead of managing multisite networks while providing more flexibility in how you price and package your offerings.
For agencies and developers looking to generate recurring revenue by selling WordPress sites, InstaWP WaaS delivers everything you need: beautiful landing pages, flexible pricing, comprehensive branding, automated provisioning, and customer self-service; all without touching a server.
The future of WordPress site provisioning is here. It’s time to build your WaaS and start growing your recurring revenue stream.
Ready to create your first WaaS? Sign up for InstaWP and start building your website-selling business today.
FAQs
What exactly is InstaWP WaaS?
WaaS (Website as a Service) is InstaWP’s feature that allows agencies and developers to offer ready-made WordPress templates combined with hosting services. You create pre-built website templates, set your pricing, and your customers can purchase and spin up their own sites instantly — all under your brand.
How is InstaWP WaaS different from WP Ultimo?
WP Ultimo operated on a WordPress multisite network where all sites shared the same database and server resources. InstaWP WaaS creates completely independent WordPress installations for each customer site. This means no shared database vulnerabilities, no plugin conflicts between sites, and no complex multisite management. Plus, InstaWP handles all the hosting infrastructure, so you never touch a server.
Do I need technical knowledge to set up a WaaS?
No extensive technical knowledge is required. If you can build a WordPress website, you can set up a WaaS. The entire process — from creating templates to configuring pricing and branding — happens through InstaWP’s intuitive dashboard. There’s no server configuration, no code to write, and no complex integrations to manage.
Is InstaWP WaaS suitable for agencies of all sizes?
Yes. Whether you’re a solo freelancer selling starter sites to local businesses or an established agency serving enterprise clients, WaaS scales with your needs. You can start with a single template and one pricing plan, then expand as your business grows.
How do I get paid for WaaS sales?
InstaWP uses Stripe Express for payment processing. You’ll set up a payout account by providing your business information and bank details. Once configured, InstaWP processes customer payments and sends your earnings to your bank account at the end of every month.
Can I white-label my WaaS completely?
Yes. Your WaaS landing page displays your logo, uses your brand colors, and can include custom CSS for pixel-perfect styling. Emails sent to customers come from your brand name with your customized subject lines and content. You can also set your own support link so customers contact you directly, not InstaWP.
