As a website owner, maintaining a professional appearance for your site is essential. This includes times when your site is undergoing updates, upgrades, or repairs. Displaying a “Website under maintenance” page clearly informs visitors about the current situation. If your website runs on WordPress, you can leverage a maintenance plugin to create a professional maintenance mode page with ease.
These plugins do more than just display a maintenance notice on your website; they also provide additional features. These can include a countdown timer to show when the site will be back online, an email subscription form, and social media integration to keep in touch with your audience.
This article will explore several top WordPress maintenance plugins for you to consider. We’ll cover their features, pros and cons, and reasons why you might choose one over the other. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What Is Website Maintenance Mode?
Website maintenance mode is a status where a website is temporarily made inaccessible to the public. This mode is activated for various purposes such as maintenance, content updates, and technical repairs. A common example is when a website encounters an error, like being unable to connect to its database.
When in maintenance mode, visitors are redirected to a special page that displays a message informing them that the site is currently undergoing work.
Why Is Website Maintenance Mode Important?
One of the primary goals of maintenance mode is to prevent visitors from seeing a broken page or incomplete content. Additionally, there are several other key reasons why maintenance mode is crucial:
- Prevents data corruption that can occur from crashing plugins or themes during updates.
- Acts as a communication channel between your website and your visitors or users.
- Protects your website’s SEO during downtime.
- Reduces your bounce rate by providing a clear explanation instead of an error page.
Key Factors in Choosing a WordPress Maintenance Plugin
When selecting a WordPress plugin, here are the factors you should consider:
1. User Access Control
User access control is the ability to exclude specific pages, posts, or user roles (like administrators) from maintenance mode. This factor is critical as it allows the website owner or development team to access and edit certain parts of the site without being blocked by the maintenance screen.
2. SEO Optimization
Look for features that protect your SEO while your site is in maintenance mode, such as the ability to set appropriate meta tags, URLs, or HTTP status codes (like 503 Service Unavailable). This is vital to prevent a drop in your search engine rankings, as a simple maintenance page might otherwise be flagged as an “error” by search engines.
3. Countdown Timer
This feature displays an estimated time for when the website will be active again. A countdown timer provides transparency to your visitors and can reduce their frustration by letting them know when they can expect the site to be back online.
4. Visual Customization
Professional customization refers to the ability to add your logo, custom backgrounds, custom CSS, and use responsive templates. This feature ensures that your maintenance page looks professional and remains consistent with your business branding.
5. Analytics & Communication Integration
Ensure the plugin you choose supports Google Analytics and offers communication features like email subscription forms and social media links. This integration is important for several reasons, such as tracking traffic during the maintenance period and providing a channel for visitors to stay connected with your brand.
Recommended WordPress Maintenance Plugins
1. Maintenance
Maintenance is a highly popular plugin in the WordPress ecosystem, with over one million active installations. Its main feature is easy content editing, allowing you to add a logo, background image, and custom CSS. The Maintenance plugin supports WordPress version 4.0 or higher.
The settings page for the Maintenance plugin. A toggle makes it easy to switch the website into maintenance mode.
In addition to CSS settings, this plugin also allows you to exclude specific pages that visitors can still access while the rest of the site is in maintenance mode.
The maintenance mode page created by the Maintenance plugin.
Pros:
- Ability to add a logo, background, and custom CSS.
- Includes a countdown timer.
- Supports Google Analytics tracking.
- Can exclude specific pages/posts from maintenance mode.
Cons:
- No dedicated themes available in the free version.
- Many advanced features require upgrading to the pro version.
- Image compression and multilingual features require installing supporting plugins.
Overall, Maintenance is a responsive and beginner-friendly plugin. It operates on a freemium model, meaning some advanced features are only available if you upgrade to the pro version.
2. Website Builder by SeedProd
SeedProd is an extremely popular maintenance mode and coming soon plugin among WordPress users, boasting over 800,000 active installations. Its standout feature is an easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder with a wide selection of professional templates. It also includes a countdown timer to inform visitors when the site will be live again. This plugin supports WordPress version 5.0 or higher.
One of the most popular maintenance plugins for WordPress.
The settings page for the SeedProd Website Builder plugin, showing a good selection of templates.
A landing page created with the SeedProd Website Builder plugin.
Pros:
- Intuitive drag-and-drop builder.
- Built-in SEO optimization features.
- Push notification capabilities.
Cons:
- Can be dependent on other plugins for full functionality.
- The free version has limited features.
- Access control is only available in the pro version.
In summary, Website Builder by SeedProd is very user-friendly. A key consideration is that many of its powerful features are locked behind the pro version.
3. LightStart
As its name suggests, LightStart allows users to create various types of landing pages for different needs, including a maintenance mode page. One of its standout features is a countdown timer, which is useful for informing visitors when your site will be back up. This plugin supports WordPress version 4.7 or higher.
The settings page for the LightStart plugin.
The settings page of the LightStart plugin.
The maintenance mode page created with LightStart.
The maintenance mode landing page view when Otter Page Builder is deactivated.
Pros:
- Offers multiple page templates: Coming Soon, Maintenance Mode, Landing Page.
- Includes a countdown timer feature.
- Allows you to add a Google Analytics tracking ID.
- Drag-and-drop functionality.
Cons:
- The image and speed optimization option requires installing an additional plugin (Optimole).
- Includes a form for visitors to send messages to the site owner.
- Relies on other plugins for full functionality.
- Freemium model.
LightStart is a responsive and relatively easy-to-use plugin. However, it depends on other plugins like Otter Page Builder and Optimole to unlock its full potential, which might be inconvenient for some users.
4. WP Maintenance
WP Maintenance is a free plugin that allows users to create a responsive maintenance mode page. A key feature of this completely free plugin is user access control, which isn’t always available in free maintenance plugins. WP Maintenance supports WordPress version 3.0 or higher.
The WP Maintenance plugin page.
The countdown timer settings page in WP Maintenance.
Pros:
- Allows customization of font type, size, and color.
- Includes a countdown feature.
- Provides SEO settings.
- Offers user access control.
Cons:
- No pre-built templates.
- No live editing functionality.
If you’re looking for a completely free plugin for website maintenance, WP Maintenance is a solid choice. However, if you need drag-and-drop functionality, this plugin is not recommended.
5. Under Construction
In the maintenance plugin category, Under Construction Page is another popular choice, with over 700,000 active installations. To use it, you’ll need WordPress version 4.0 or higher.
The Under Construction Page settings screen. The toggle makes it easy to manage
The theme selection page for the Under Construction plugin. The selection is limited in the free version.
The maintenance mode landing page created with Under Construction.
Pros:
- Freemium model.
- Simple on/off toggle for maintenance mode.
- Whitelist user role control.
- Custom CSS support.
- A selection of templates is available.
- Compatible with Google Analytics.
- Includes a countdown timer.
Cons:
- Limited template selection in the free version.
- Requires an upgrade to the pro version for integration with other plugins.
If you’re looking for a responsive plugin with a comprehensive feature set, Under Construction is a great option. The main consideration is that, as a freemium plugin, you’ll need to upgrade to the pro version to access all its features.
6. Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode by Colorlib
This is a free WordPress maintenance plugin with a solid set of basic features. Two standout features of the Coming Soon plugin are its countdown timer and pre-built templates. It also supports custom CSS. This plugin is compatible with WordPress version 4.8 or higher.
The Coming Soon by Colorlib plugin.
The settings page for Coming Soon by Colorlib. It includes a live preview, so you don’t have to switch pages to see changes.
The countdown timer settings in the Colorlib plugin.
Pros:
- Includes a countdown timer.
- Provides pre-built templates.
- Supports custom CSS.
- Features a subscription form.
- Includes social media buttons for engagement.
Cons:
- Limited selection of templates.
- Minimal customization options.
As a relatively new plugin, Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode by Colorlib offers an easy way to create a maintenance page. However, its template options are limited, and customization is minimal. To get the most out of it, you’ll want to use the custom CSS feature.
7. Minimal Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode
Minimal Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode allows users to create a landing page while their website is under construction. This drag-and-drop plugin features cache support, custom CSS, and Google Analytics integration. It supports WordPress version 4.0 or higher.
The Minimal Coming Soon plugin.
The page layout settings for the Minimal Coming Soon plugin. Unfortunately, the countdown timer is only available in the Pro package.
The Minimal Coming Soon plugin by WebFactory.
Pros:
- Easy customization.
- Includes an email subscription form.
- User-friendly interface.
Cons:
- Customization is limited in the free version.
- You must purchase the pro version to display a countdown timer.
Overall, Minimal Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode is quite easy to use. However, to optimize all its features, you’ll need to upgrade to the pro version.
WordPress Maintenance Plugin Comparison Table
Here is a table comparing the basic features of each WordPress maintenance plugin:
| Plugin | Drag & Drop | Countdown Timer | Email Integration | Customize | Responsive | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Freemium |
| Website Builder by SeedProd | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Freemium |
| LightStart | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Freemium |
| WP Maintenance | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Free |
| Under Construction Page | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Freemium |
| Coming Soon & Maintenance | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Free |
| Minimal Coming Soon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Freemium |
Which WordPress Maintenance Plugin is Right for Your Website?
That wraps up our list of top WordPress maintenance plugins for you to consider. Most of the plugins above share similar basic features. The main differentiators are usually found in advanced functionalities like SEO synchronization, email integration, and drag-and-drop builders. The best choice is the plugin that aligns with your website’s specific needs.
For those who want to focus on growing their business without the headache of managing a WordPress site, consider entrusting your site to Tonjoo, a professional WordPress website maintenance service provider in Indonesia.
If you’re interested in collaborating, you can reach the Tonjoo team through our contact page.
Read similar articles by Moch. Nasikhun Amin on the Tonjoo blog about WordPress, WooCommerce, plugins, and other web development topics.
Updated on October 28, 2025 by Moch. Nasikhun Amin
