Managing multiple WordPress sites for clients means dealing with a handful of plugins, tools, and tickets every day. We set out to find a solution that reduces the chaos and puts everything under one roof. Glow promises just that — a single place for support tickets, maintenance, uptime, performance checks, and client reports.
We went hands-on with Glow to see if it lives up to its claims and where it shines.
How to Get the Best Deal on Glow
InfluenceWP has an exclusive Glow deal.
Exploring Glow: Powerful Website Management and Support in One SaaS Platform
Glow is focused on WordPress agencies that handle regular updates, support tickets, and client maintenance. We noticed right away that Glow doesn’t try to do too much. Instead, it aims to solve the real problems agencies face: juggling tickets and updates without spreading tasks across five different dashboards.
Key Features We Noticed:
- Support ticketing, maintenance, and client reporting — all from one dashboard.
- Bulk updates for core, plugins, and themes.
- Real-time uptime monitoring with quick alerts.
- Integrated backups, performance testing, and time tracking.
- Free plan for up to three websites, including every feature.
The combination of support ticketing and maintenance tools in a single solution stood out. Most competing products separate these areas, meaning we often need another helpdesk plugin or subscription. Glow tries to close that gap and keep all the communication, logs, and actions together.
If you’re considering Glow, the free plan is a strong way to see if its features fit your workflow before you commit to a paid plan.
Navigating the Glow Website and Documentation
Our first stop on Glow’s website was the footer, which does a solid job of gathering quick links. Some highlights:
- Demo videos and booking for personal demos.
- Access to the partner program and affiliate opportunities.
- Links for viewing the feature request form, changelog, and roadmap.
We liked being able to submit feature requests with a simple form. This shows the Glow team is listening and collecting feedback as they iterate. The roadmap lists new features in development and recently launched changes.
The comparison section tackles alternatives like ManageWP, MainWP, and InfiniteWP, which gives potential users an idea of where Glow stands. For agencies, these comparisons help frame decisions around pricing and features.
Setting Up Glow: A Walkthrough of Onboarding a Client Website
Getting started with Glow is straightforward. Here’s a quick look at the steps we followed.
1. Adding Our First Website
Glow walks you through:
- Entering a company name.
- Adding the site’s domain (not the WordPress login or full admin path).
- Downloading and installing the Glow plugin on that WordPress site.
- Returning to the Glow dashboard to confirm a successful connection.
2. Dashboard Tour
Once connected, the dashboard opens up a trove of management features. Immediately, we saw the following:
Main Dashboard Sections:
- Core: Shows current WordPress version, bulk update capabilities.
- Plugins & Themes: Lists active/inactive plugins, version numbers, quick sorting, and filtering. Updates, activations, and deletions are available in bulk.
- Vulnerabilities: Quick glance at known issues on the site.
- Timeline: Logs all recent activity, including plugin installs, updates, or custom tasks.
- Stopwatch: Tracks manual work time for client reporting.
- Backups: Connects with UpdraftPlus to manage backup schedules and storage.
The sidebar keeps each function within one or two clicks. We liked the visual separation for quick context switching.
3. Timeline and Work Logging
Logging work is simple:
- Click the pencil icon to add a note about custom work.
- Attach the time spent, assign the date, and note if it should count toward client allotments.
- Entries appear in the timeline, making client-facing reports clear and actionable.
4. Time Tracking With the Stopwatch
Manual time tracking is supported instead of an automatic timer. We can enter the minutes spent on tasks and decide if they’re included in the client’s allotted monthly hours. For agencies selling care plans or retainer time, this makes billing transparent and workflow clearer.
By default, automatic recording happens for recognizable tasks (like plugin activations). The mix of manual and automatic entries keeps things flexible.
Key Functionalities in Glow
Glow stacks many of the essentials for agencies managing WordPress care and client support. Let’s break down the core modules:
Support Ticketing System
Glow’s ticket system integrates directly into the dashboard.
Ticket Features:
- Create tickets linked to specific clients and websites.
- Assign priorities, attach files, and add internal or client-facing notes.
- Track status: open, in progress, or closed.
- Assign tickets to teammates and track time spent on each ticket.
Client Ticket Submission Glow allows clients to open and reply to tickets by sending an email. This removes the need for extra logins or portals. While the concept is solid, it’s not clear what dedicated email address is used for this handoff; more documentation would clarify this. Regardless, the process keeps communication fast and central.
Ticket Notifications and Replies Ticket notifications are customizable. We can edit templates, adjust who gets emailed, and set up follow-ups. All ticket activity is tracked in the dashboard, so nothing slips through the cracks.
Backup Management Via UpdraftPlus
Glow integrates with UpdraftPlus for backups, letting agencies handle site security without extra subscriptions.
Backup Setup Steps:
- Install and activate UpdraftPlus directly from the Glow dashboard.
- Set schedules for file and database backups.
- Configure retention (how many backups to keep).
- Define storage locations within UpdraftPlus (email, cloud, etc.).
Best Practices and Observations:
- File backups are usually less frequent than database backups. For most sites, database content changes most often, so we back that up daily or multiple times a day for busy e-commerce or membership sites.
- File backups might run weekly or monthly unless user media is changing often.
A point of feedback: We must still work through the UpdraftPlus UI for deeper settings. We’d like Glow to smooth out the backup process, perhaps by integrating UpdraftPlus settings natively so we don’t need to switch between screens.
Uptime Monitoring and Alerts
Glow keeps close watch on website uptime, checking every 30 seconds. If downtime hits, alerts are sent by email.
Alert Options:
- Choose recipients (teammates and, if desired, clients).
- Specify the time delay for sending the alert after downtime occurs. A longer delay can cut down on false positives.
- Decide if all sites should follow these alert rules by default.
We recommend keeping alerts inside the team first; let clients know only after significant confirmed downtime to avoid unnecessary worry.
Performance Reporting
Glow runs automatic site performance tests for both desktop and mobile.
- Scores display in the dashboard for quick reference.
- Suggested improvements are listed (such as addressing render-blocking resources).
- We noticed the performance scoring sometimes seemed a bit off, but it still gives clear, helpful feedback.
Automated Client Reporting
Client reporting is one of Glow’s strengths. It pulls together site updates, uptime, backups, and custom work logs into one automated report.
How Reports Are Managed:
- Add a client contact, choose what data to show, and set the frequency.
- Customize which sections clients see (e.g., exclude time logs if not needed).
- Personalize welcome emails with placeholders to embed account details.
We can schedule reports for one client or create unique reports for each, adjusting permissions and access.
Agency and Team Management Features
Client, Website, and Reseller Management
Glow is built with agencies in mind. We can manage multiple clients, list all websites under care, and, if needed, act as a white-label provider.
The reseller option costs $2 per site per month and gives agencies full control to manage sites on behalf of others — ideal for larger or white-label partnerships.
User Roles and Permissions
Glow supports robust team management, letting us:
- Add teammates with ownership or limited roles.
- Decide who can log in as site admins, handle tickets, or see billing info.
- Assign tickets automatically as they come in.
Customization and Branding
White-label features mean we can make Glow feel like a true extension of our agency. We get:
- Brand logos, colors, and even domain customization.
- The ability to rename or rebrand the plugin client see in their dashboard.
- Integration with Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Slack for streamlined reporting and monitoring.
We also recommend enabling two-factor authentication for added account security.
Pricing, Plans, and Exclusive Offers
Glow stands out with its free plan for up to 3 websites, including all features. This isn’t just a trial — it’s the full product, perfect for small agencies or anyone getting started.
Pricing Snapshot:
| Plan | Included Sites | Features | Additional Sites | Reseller Add-On |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 3 | All Included | – | $2/site/month |
| Paid | Custom | All Included | $2/site/month | $2/site/month |
The reseller add-on puts agencies in control of offering white-label care, letting us manage sites for other agencies without mixed communication lines.
Before you jump into a paid plan, we suggest making the most of the free tier. Get comfortable and prove Glow works for your workflow.
Final Thoughts
Glow fits agencies that want less chaos and more control in their website care workflow. If you manage multiple WordPress sites and value integrated support ticketing along with standard maintenance tasks, Glow simplifies your day. Agencies offering white-label services also gain from branding options and the reseller add-on.
Where Glow Excels:
- Brings ticketing, maintenance, time tracking, and client reports into one place.
- Easy to use for both small and large agencies.
- Integrates key services like backups, uptime, and performance metrics.
- Streamlines client communication and demonstrates accountability with clear reports.
We’re always looking for tools that reduce hassle and help us serve clients better. With Glow, we found a strong option worthy of a close look — and maybe a spot in our daily workflow.