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Introduction

Deploy a WordPress multisite on the Pantheon Platform.


This guide covers the process of requesting, configuring, and maintaining a new WordPress Multisite on Pantheon. We'll also explore supported use cases, considerations and some common troubleshooting tips.

About WordPress Multisite

Pantheon supports WordPress Multisite which lets you create a network of sites using a single copy of the WordPress codebase and a common database. For those responsible for maintaining several or dozens of similar sites, WordPress Multisite can make it much easier to fix bugs and deploy new features across all of those sites.

Multisite diagram

Supported Use Cases

Pantheon supports the most common use case for WordPress Multisites: a common codebase which powers a set of related sites. This includes, but is not limited to, networks of:

  • Blogs for faculty at a university
  • Franchise sites under a parent organization site
  • Sections within a media publication
  • Bedrock based or Composer based WP Multisite is a possibility and can be discussed during onboarding

Unsupported Use Cases

We do not support uses of WordPress Multisite that run functionally-different or uniquely-owned sites on the same WordPress installation. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Software as a service (SAAS) products
  • Agencies using one WordPress installation to support several customers
  • A network of one or more multisites on a single instance, commonly achieved via plugins like WordPress Multi-Network.
    • The supported alternative for this use case is to maintain a Custom Upstream that is based on Pantheon's WordPress Multisite framework, see the following section.

Request a WordPress Multisite

WordPress Multisite requires a special configuration that is only available to select customers. Access to WordPress Multisite requires a Gold, Platinum, or Diamond level Workspace plan.

By default, Pantheon employees must create new Multisites on your behalf. Reach out to your account manager to request site creation for a new WordPress Multisite.

If you want to create new WordPress Multisites self-serve and on-demand in the Pantheon Dashboard, reach out to your account manager and request a Custom Upstream for your workspace based on Pantheon's WordPress Multisite framework.

Existing WordPress sites cannot be converted to a multisite, however they can be migrated.

If you don't have an account manager, you can contact sales.

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