If you need to run multiple WordPress sites, you’ve probably considered WordPress Multisite. But there’s another approach that’s gaining traction: true multi-tenancy. Let’s compare both so you can make an informed decision.

WordPress Multisite: The Built-In Solution

WordPress Multisite has been part of core WordPress since version 3.0. It lets you create a network of sites that share a single WordPress installation.

How it works:

All sites share the same wp-content directory
Each site gets its own set of database tables (with unique prefixes)
A Super Admin manages the network
Themes and plugins are installed network-wide

Multisite Limitations

While Multisite works for some use cases, it has significant drawbacks:

Plugin conflicts - one bad plugin can bring down the entire network
Limited isolation - sites share themes, plugins, and uploads
Scaling challenges - large networks become difficult to manage
Migration complexity - extracting a single site from the network is painful

Multi-Tenancy: True Isolation

Multi-tenancy takes a different architectural approach. Each tenant site runs in complete isolation while sharing the underlying WordPress installation.

How GrabWP Tenancy works:

Each tenant has its own database tables with custom prefixes
Upload directories are fully separated per tenant
Tenants can have independent plugin configurations (Pro)
Domain-based routing determines which tenant to load

Multi-Tenancy Advantages

Feature	Multisite	Multi-Tenancy
Data isolation	Partial	Complete
Independent plugins	No	Yes (Pro)
Easy site extraction	Difficult	Simple
Custom domains	Requires plugin	Built-in
Performance at scale	Degrades	Consistent

When to Use Multisite

Multisite is still a good choice when:

You need a simple blog network with shared themes
All sites use the same plugins and configuration
You have fewer than 20 sites
Super Admin centralized control is a priority

When to Use Multi-Tenancy

Multi-tenancy is better when:

You’re building a SaaS product on WordPress
Each client needs isolated data and configuration
You plan to scale to hundreds of sites
Individual sites may need to be migrated independently
You need per-tenant plugin management

Making the Switch

If you’re currently running Multisite and hitting its limits, migrating to multi-tenancy with GrabWP is straightforward. The plugin includes a migration tool that extracts individual sites from a Multisite network into isolated tenants.

Read our setup guide to get started with GrabWP Tenancy.

WordPress Multisite vs Multi-Tenancy: Which One Should You Choose?