After years of using various maintenance mode plugins for WordPress, I decided to build one that actually works the way developers need it to. Today, I'm excited to introduce Site Mode—a plugin that puts you in control.
The Problem with Existing Solutions
Most maintenance mode plugins fall into two categories:
- Too simple: Basic functionality with limited customization
- Too bloated: Packed with features you'll never use, slowing down your site
I wanted something in between—powerful when you need it, invisible when you don't.
What Makes Site Mode Different
Developer-First Design
Site Mode is built with developers in mind. Clean code, well-documented hooks, and sensible defaults that you can override when needed.
// Easy to customize
add_filter('site_mode_settings', function($settings) {
$settings['bypass_roles'] = ['administrator', 'editor'];
return $settings;
});
Performance Focused
The plugin adds virtually zero overhead to your site. When disabled, it's truly disabled—no database queries, no asset loading, nothing.
Beautiful Defaults
The built-in templates look professional out of the box. No design skills required, but full customization available for those who want it.
Key Features
- Multiple Modes: Maintenance, Coming Soon, and custom modes
- Role-Based Access: Let specific user roles bypass the maintenance page
- IP Whitelist: Allow access from specific IP addresses
- Custom Branding: Add your logo, colors, and messaging
- SEO Friendly: Proper HTTP status codes and meta tags
- Timer Integration: Countdown to launch with automatic deactivation
Getting Started
Installation is straightforward:
- Download from WordPress.org or install via the admin panel
- Activate the plugin
- Navigate to Settings → Site Mode
- Choose your mode and customize as needed
The Technical Details
Site Mode is built on modern WordPress best practices:
- Clean separation of concerns
- No jQuery dependency
- Minimal database usage
- Full multisite compatibility
- Translation ready
What's Next
I'm actively developing new features based on community feedback:
- Email capture integration
- Social media links
- Progress bar for launch countdown
- A/B testing for landing pages
Open Source
Site Mode is completely open source. Contributions are welcome on GitHub. Whether it's bug reports, feature requests, or pull requests—I'd love to hear from you.
Build something great. We'll keep your site covered while you do.