Management dashboard comparison
Jetpack Manage is a free dashboard for Jetpack-connected sites, with backups, scans, and firewall sold as per-site Jetpack licenses. CMDPress includes maintenance, monitoring, SEO, client reports, teams, and AI in one $2.99 site rate.
The short version
WordPress management dashboard
A free dashboard from Automattic for monitoring many Jetpack-connected WordPress sites: backups, scans, uptime, stats, and Boost scores, plus bulk plugin updates and per-day Jetpack license billing.
Cross-host WordPress management platform
CMDPress connects the WordPress sites you already run, on any host, and puts updates, backups, security, uptime, SEO, client reports, teams, and AI agents in one workspace.
Where they overlap
Jetpack Manage is a window onto Jetpack products. CMDPress includes the tools for running client sites in one rate.
Side by side
From each vendor’s own pages. “Not listed” means we didn’t find it there, not that it can never be done.
| Decision area | CMDPress | Jetpack Manage |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Cloud dashboard with a lightweight WordPress agent plugin on each site | Cloud dashboard; Jetpack plugin on each site |
| Host requirement | Any host: shared, VPS, managed WordPress, or servers with no control panel | Any host meeting WordPress requirements; sites must be public with XML-RPC open |
| Installs WordPress | No. Connects the WordPress sites you already run | Can create WordPress.com Business and Commerce sites |
| Many hosts in one place | Yes. Every connected site on every host in one workspace | Yes, for any Jetpack-connected site |
| Updates | Bulk and per-site core, plugin, and theme updates | Plugin updates and auto-updates; theme and core not listed |
| Backups | Create, list, and restore backups per site with central oversight | Real-time backups with one-click restore on paid Backup licenses |
| Security | Vulnerability scans, HMAC-signed site requests, two-factor sign-in, role-aware access | Malware scanning and firewall on paid Scan or Security licenses |
| Uptime monitoring | Built-in uptime checks, response history, and alerts | Free 5-minute checks; 1-minute checks and SMS as an upgrade |
| Client reports and white label | White-label reports, invoices, branding, and client support | Not listed |
| Team access | Roles, invitations, and per-site access | Not listed |
| SEO and analytics | Technical SEO audits, GA4, Search Console, PageSpeed, AdSense, Cloudflare | Jetpack Stats and Boost scores; SEO not listed |
| AI | Built-in and custom AI agents, plus a ChatGPT plugin with 66 functions | Not in the dashboard; Jetpack AI is part of the Complete bundle |
| One-click admin login | Magic Login into every connected site | Link to each site’s WP Admin; single sign-on not described |
| Pricing model | First site free forever, then $2.99 per extra site monthly. No feature add-ons | Free dashboard; Jetpack licenses billed per site per day |
Where it runs
Host requirement
Installs WordPress
Many hosts in one place
Updates
Backups
Security
Uptime monitoring
Client reports and white label
Team access
SEO and analytics
AI
One-click admin login
Pricing model
Hosting and total cost
Jetpack Manage works on any host, but every site needs the Jetpack plugin, a WordPress.com connection, public access, and open XML-RPC. Coming-soon and maintenance-mode plugins block the connection.
CMDPress runs on its own cloud and works with WordPress on any host, so one workspace covers sites spread across providers.
| Sites | CMDPress | Jetpack Manage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 site | $0 | $0 dashboard, plus Jetpack licenses |
| 10 sites | $26.91 per month | $0 dashboard, plus Jetpack licenses per site |
| 50 sites | $146.51 per month | $0 dashboard, plus Jetpack licenses per site |
1 site
10 sites
50 sites
Backups, scanning, and firewall need paid Jetpack licenses, billed per active day. Retail Jetpack Security lists at $19.95 a month; agencies get 10% off at 5 licenses, rising to 80% at 100.
Honest trade-offs
Where Jetpack Manage is the better choice
Where CMDPress is the better choice
Recommendation
Yes. On sites already running Jetpack, its backups, scanning, and uptime alerts can sit alongside CMDPress, which runs updates, SEO, client reporting, and team work across all your sites.
Questions
The dashboard is free. Backups, scanning, and firewall need paid Jetpack licenses, billed per site per active day.
Yes. Every site needs the Jetpack plugin connected to a WordPress.com account, with public access and XML-RPC open.
Plugin updates are listed. Theme and core updates weren’t listed on the reviewed pages.
One site is free forever. Each additional site is $2.99 per month, with every feature included and no add-ons.
Research notes
Public pages from Automattic were checked on October 20, 2026. Prices and plans change, so confirm them with each vendor before you buy.
Decide with the product open
Open the demo workspace, then connect one WordPress site for free.