Getting started

Using Client Portal without WordPress on your main site

Client Portal is a WordPress plugin and requires WordPress to function. If your main website runs on a different platform (like Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, or custom code), you can't install Client Portal directly on it. However, you can still use Client Portal by setting up WordPress on a subdomain.

This workaround requires basic DNS and hosting knowledge. Most hosting providers make subdomain setup straightforward through their control panel.

The subdomain approach

Instead of running Client Portal on your main site, you install WordPress on a separate subdomain and run Client Portal there. Your clients access their portals through this subdomain while your main site remains on its current platform.

Example setup:

  • Main website: www.yourbusiness.com (Squarespace, Wix, etc.)

  • Client portals: portal.yourbusiness.com (WordPress with Client Portal plugin)

Your clients would log in at portal.yourbusiness.com/client-portal-login/ to access their portals. You can link to this login page from your main site's navigation, footer, or client emails.

How to set this up

1. Create a subdomain

Log into your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, or your host's custom dashboard) and create a new subdomain. Common choices are:

  • portal.yourdomain.com

  • client.yourdomain.com

  • dashboard.yourdomain.com

Your hosting provider typically auto-configures DNS. If you manage DNS separately, add an A record or CNAME pointing the subdomain to your hosting server.

2. Install WordPress on the subdomain

Most hosts offer one-click WordPress installation. Select your new subdomain as the installation location. You'll get a fresh WordPress site that's completely separate from your main website.

Make sure your subdomain has an SSL certificate installed. Most hosts provide free SSL through Let's Encrypt. Client Portal requires HTTPS for secure file uploads and login.

3. Install and activate Client Portal

Once WordPress is running on your subdomain, install Client Portal like you would on any WordPress site. The plugin will automatically create a /client-portal-login/ page where clients can access their portals.

For detailed installation steps, see How to install Client Portal.

Add a link or button on your main website that directs clients to your subdomain login page. This could be in your navigation menu, footer, or in automated emails you send to clients.

Clients won't notice they're on a different subdomain — they'll just see it as part of your branded experience.

Licensing considerations

Your subdomain WordPress installation counts as a separate site for licensing purposes:

  • Single-site license: Covers one production domain (either your main site OR your subdomain, plus one local dev site)

  • Multi-site license: Covers unlimited domains, including your subdomain portal setup

If you're running Client Portal on a subdomain for your own business, a single-site license works. If you're an agency creating subdomain portals for multiple clients, you'll need the multi-site license.

A subdomain is technically a separate WordPress installation and requires its own maintenance — updates, backups, and security — independent of your main site.

Why this works well

Running Client Portal on a subdomain offers several advantages:

  • Keep your current platform: No need to migrate your main site to WordPress

  • Isolated performance: Portal traffic doesn't affect your main site's speed

  • Cleaner branding: Clients see a dedicated portal environment, which can feel more professional

  • Easier management: Portal updates and customizations don't risk breaking your main site

What about other options?

The subdomain approach is the only reliable way to use Client Portal without WordPress on your main site. Some alternatives don't work:

  • Embedding via iframe: Not supported due to authentication and cookie limitations

  • Standalone version: Client Portal doesn't exist outside of WordPress

  • API integration: Client Portal doesn't provide an external API for non-WordPress platforms

If you absolutely cannot add a WordPress subdomain and need portal functionality, Client Portal may not be the right fit. In these cases, consider platform-specific solutions or SaaS portal tools that don't require WordPress.

Once your subdomain is set up, creating portals works exactly the same as it would on a standard WordPress site. Check out Setting up your first portal to get started.

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