MagicChecklists, by the Magic Plugins team, steps up to solve a common challenge — how do we keep organized, on task, and efficient right inside our WordPress dashboard? Whether we manage client projects, recurring team tasks, or our own site maintenance routines, having an interactive checklist always within reach is a real productivity boost.
We share our first hands-on experience with MagicChecklists and share everything we discovered, from setup to advanced features and the real value it brings for teams, freelancers, and site owners.
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Overview of MagicChecklists Plugin by Magic Plugins
MagicChecklists is a plugin designed to help WordPress users create, manage, and share interactive checklists right within their site’s admin dashboard — or even on the frontend. Developed by the team at Magic Plugins, this is just the first release in their planned suite of site management tools.
The focus here is simple: keep track of workflows, project tasks, and repeatable routines efficiently. MagicChecklists lives inside WordPress, so you never have to leave your dashboard, open a third-party tool, or juggle browser tabs.
Key benefits include:
- Centralized checklists for all your workflows and recurring tasks
- Easy import/export for sharing or moving checklists across sites
- Flexible permissions so the right people see the right tasks
- Notifications, deadlines, and priorities to keep your team or clients on track
Here are some standout features in a quick list:
- Access checklists from any location on your WordPress site (front end or the back end)
- Customizable appearance, including dark mode and branding
- Shortcodes to place checklists inside any page or post
- REST API access for advanced integrations
- Collaborative features for shared or per-user progress tracking
- Import/export checklists as text or PDF for backup or sharing
- Role-based permissions and access controls
- Integration-ready: potential for MainWP, WP Umbrella, and other management tools
Initial Setup and User Experience
Installing and Activating the Plugin
We started with a clean testing site, installed MagicChecklists, and waited to see what would happen when we hit “activate.” The plugin added a new menu item in the WordPress admin, labeled “Magic Checklist,” making it easy to spot.
The first thing we noticed was a welcoming banner. It invited us to create and manage interactive checklists, hinting at use cases like workflows, project management, and recurring tasks. From here, options stood out for creating a new checklist or importing existing ones. The import/export feature really caught our eye, making it easy to move checklists between different sites or share with others.
Quick Tour of the Plugin Settings
General Settings
MagicChecklists packs a lot into its settings. Here’s what stood out:
- Checklist arrows for navigation: Quick switches between active checklists using arrow buttons.
- Data cleanup on uninstall: When you remove the plugin, you can choose to delete all plugin data. This avoids clutter, and we strongly recommend using it if you no longer need the tool.
- Menu position: Decide where MagicChecklists sits in your dashboard menu. Stick with the default or customize as needed.
Integrations
For power users, REST API access allows deeper integrations. If you use site management solutions like MainWP or WP Umbrella, you’ll appreciate this flexibility. The team at Magic Plugins is considering a MainWP add-on and welcomes suggestions for other integrations like ManageWP or ModularDS.
Other Options
- Webhook endpoints and logs support more advanced workflows
- Granular control over who can view or interact with each checklist
We appreciated the clarity and the ability to leave most settings at defaults, only tweaking the essentials.
Creating and Customizing a Checklist
Starting a New Checklist
Setting up a checklist was a breeze. Here’s the step-by-step process we followed:
- Create Checklist: Click “Add new checklist.”
- Name and Description: We entered a name, such as “IWP Partner Outreach,” and described the use case for clarity.
- Active Status: Toggle the checklist’s availability on your site. When marked active, it can be opened using a keyboard shortcut or floating button.
- Theme Customization: Choose dark mode (our favorite) or tailor the drawer with your site’s branding.
- Tags: Add tags like “Partners” or “Onboarding” to keep checklists organized.
Checklist Items Setup
Building out checklist items is simple:
- Add items: For example, “Send email,” “Follow-up,” and “Thank you.”
- Upload images: Attach images directly from your media library or do a quick upload — handy for visual guides.
- Reorder tasks: Drag and drop items to set the preferred sequence.
- Set priorities: Use color indicators or numeric values to highlight what needs attention first. Setting priorities is handled in the advanced settings.
- Save feedback: We noticed there could be clearer confirmation messages after saving changes, which would make it easier to know that everything updated correctly.
Advanced Checklist Configuration
Delving deeper into the settings, we found robust ways to fine-tune each checklist:
- Deadlines: Assign due dates to particular tasks.
- Auto reset schedule: Enable the checklist to reset automatically on a regular basis — very useful for repeated routines like SEO or backups.
- Access control: Open checklists to visitors or lock them down by role.
- Rate limiting: Prevent misuse by managing how often actions can occur, based on user roles.
- Invitation links: Generate shareable links with expiration and usage limits.
- Loading conditions: Select where checklists should appear — sitewide or only on specific pages.
- Force delete lock: Use this if an editing session gets stuck, ensuring no one else loses their work.
All these options give a lot of flexibility, and while some screens could use more visual guidance, most steps flow smoothly once learned.
Accessing and Using Checklists on Your WordPress Site
Front-end and Back-end Accessibility
Accessing checklists from anywhere is a standout feature.
- Floating button: Place a button in the bottom right corner of every page, letting users pull up their checklist with a click.
- Keyboard shortcuts: For those who prefer keyboards, it’s just as quick.
- Interactive UI: Once open, checklists let you check off items, rearrange steps, or add new tasks in real time. Each item can also trigger more settings, such as adding images, setting deadlines, or toggling a progress status.
- Shortcodes: Place checklists directly within a post or page — for example, a homepage, a recipe, or a tutorial — using a simple shortcode.
User Permissions and Role-Based Access
MagicChecklists brings solid control over who can view or edit each checklist.
- Role-based access: Limit interaction by WordPress role, so only admins, editors, or specific users see certain lists.
- Collaborative options: Allow a checklist to track progress for all users (global state) or give personalized tracking for each user.
- Invitation links: Share checklists with specific users through invite-only links, controlling who can participate and for how long.
This makes it easy to manage client workspaces, internal teams, or large communities with different access needs.
Exporting and Sharing Checklists
MagicChecklists’ import/export tools let you move lists between sites, back up your processes, or share with others.
Export options:
- Plain text file: Download your checklist structure as a text file for backup, easy import elsewhere, or simple sharing.
- PDF export: Create a branded PDF from any checklist — customize the logo, header, footer, and contact information for a professional look.
Sometimes, export features may be in progress or not fully polished. We had minor hiccups with PDF downloads in our first try, but text export worked as expected.
Practical uses include: migrating standardized checklists to new client sites, sharing curated task lists among staff, or distributing best practices checklists to your users.
Potential Use Cases and Practical Applications
Workflow and Project Management
MagicChecklists fits right in for agencies, remote teams, or solo site managers.
- Standardize your outreach and onboarding.
- Track steps in web design or development projects.
- Keep team members aligned on recurring workflows.
Client Collaboration and Dashboards
Clients often need personalized lists. MagicChecklists lets you create role-based checklists visible only to the right people.
- Build client dashboards with site maintenance or SEO routines.
- Assign editorial or marketing checklists to specific authors or contributors.
Content Enhancements
Checklists bring interactive elements to your posts:
- Checklist for recipes (helpful for cooking blogs)
- DIY tutorials or equipment setup guides
- Student progress lists in LMS setups
Security and Site Maintenance
Checklists for security checks and regular maintenance give peace of mind for site owners and editors. Assign lists for backups, updates, and vulnerability scans to keep your WordPress installs in shape.
Monetization Ideas
The founder suggested a potential marketplace for selling pre-made checklists. Picture a store where you could buy or sell ready-to-use lists for various industries, training programs, or content needs.
Insights About Magic Plugins and Founder
Magic Plugins is just getting started, and MagicChecklists shows thoughtful planning and a clear interest in user needs. Christian, the founder, brings a hands-on approach and genuine excitement for performance and collaboration. He welcomes feedback and fosters open dialogue, making it easy to have your voice heard in future updates or integrations.
Christian’s attention to support, openness to integrations (with tools like WP Umbrella or MainWP), and commitment to ongoing development mean MagicChecklists will likely continue to evolve alongside your business needs.
Final Thoughts
MagicChecklists delivers a strong solution for managing step-by-step processes in WordPress. With features like customizable appearance, robust permissions, and multiple export options, it quickly fits into a variety of workflows. From site owners to agencies, anyone can benefit — and with planned integrations and marketplace ideas, it’s set to become even more useful.
As with any tool, a few interface tweaks and polishing will help, but the first release is packed with real value. For those looking for a flexible checklist system in WordPress, MagicChecklists is well worth a try.