WordPress plugin testing

Test your WordPress plugin with real users — before you ship.

Upload your zip. Each tester gets their own live WordPress environment — pre-installed, pre-activated, ready to test. Real feedback before your next release.

The gap

Your staging site is not the same as real-user QA.

Plugin developers searching for how to test with real users usually end up with bad options — friends who aren't testers, messy credential handoffs, or automated scans that miss UX problems entirely.

Asking friends in Slack

They install wrong, skip your settings screens, and send vague notes. You spend more time coordinating than fixing bugs.

Only testing on your machine

You know where every button is. Fresh eyes find broken onboarding, confusing labels, and edge cases you stopped noticing months ago.

Sharing wp-admin credentials

One staging login for everyone means overwritten settings, conflicting test data, and security you have to unwind after every round.

In beta · open to all developers How it works

Real WordPress. One sandbox per tester.

A live WordPress site, provisioned in seconds, destroyed after your test. Each tester gets their own wp-admin login, your plugin installed and activated, on an isolated subdomain.

Toggle WordPress plugin test when you create a test, upload your .zip, and QATested handles provisioning. Testers never share an environment.

Built for plugin and theme developers who need human QA before a wp.org submission or a major release — without spinning up staging or teaching testers how to install a zip.

WordPress login — per tester

your-plugin-a1b2c3d4.sandbox.qatested.io

wp_admin_847291
••••••••••••
Log in to wp-admin, test the installed plugin on the front end and in settings, then record and submit structured feedback.
1

Upload plugin zip

2

Sandbox provisions on claim

3

Tester gets WP credentials

4

Tests, records, submits

5

Sandbox destroyed at settlement

What you get

More than
"it worked on my site."

Every submission includes proof — not just a thumbs-up in a forum thread.

Screen recordings

Watch exactly what testers clicked in wp-admin and on the front end. Export MP4s with your submission data.

Structured answers

Custom feedback forms — ratings, multiple choice, free text. Export CSV, JSON, or a ZIP for your issue tracker.

Isolated sandboxes

One WordPress install per tester. No shared staging, no overwritten settings, no credential cleanup after the round.

Conflict testing

Find out if your plugin breaks with WooCommerce, Yoast, or Elementor before your users do. Pre-installed stacks are on the roadmap — start with a clean baseline today.

Before wp.org review

Catch settings bugs, broken onboarding, and UX friction while fixes are still cheap — not after a reviewer sends it back or users leave one-star reviews.

Upload and go

No staging server, no credential handoffs. Upload your zip once — every sandbox provisions with your plugin installed and activated automatically.

WordPress version

Latest stable on a clean install

Default stack

Fresh WordPress only — your plugin is the sole extension

Instance lifetime

Each sandbox is provisioned when a tester claims a slot. Sandboxes stay live until your test settles — after your deadline and review window — then they're destroyed automatically.

On the hosting side, reserved instances have a 30-day maximum lifetime. Typical tests close within a few days, well before that ceiling.

Compare options

How plugin developers test today
— and what's missing.

QATested sandboxes Shared staging Friends / community
Real human testers Yes — verified If you recruit Unreliable
Plugin pre-installed Automatic Manual They install wrong
Isolated per tester One sandbox each Shared login N/A
Screen recordings Built in Rarely Rarely
Structured feedback Custom forms Ad hoc Ad hoc
Setup on your side Upload zip only Host + credentials Coordination
FAQ

WordPress plugin testing questions

Common questions from plugin developers testing before release or wp.org submission.

How do I test my WordPress plugin with real users?
On QATested, toggle WordPress plugin test when you create a test and upload your plugin zip. Each verified tester who claims a slot gets an isolated WordPress site with your plugin installed and activated, plus wp-admin credentials. They explore your plugin, record their session in-browser, and submit structured feedback. You review recordings and answers before approving payment.
Do testers install my plugin themselves?
No. Your uploaded zip is installed and activated automatically when a sandbox provisions. Testers log in and start testing immediately — no manual installs, no wrong versions.
What WordPress version is used?
Each sandbox runs the latest stable WordPress on a clean install — no theme clutter and no mystery plugins. Your uploaded plugin is the only extension added by default.
How much does WordPress plugin testing cost?
You set pay per tester (minimum $5) and slot count (minimum 3). Each slot adds $4 for sandbox hosting. A 20% platform fee applies to tester pay plus sandbox fees. Example: 3 testers × $10 = $30 tester pay + $12 sandbox ($4 × 3) + $8.40 platform fee = $50.40 total at checkout. Unused slots refund automatically. See full pricing on the developer page.
Is my plugin source code kept private?
Your zip is used only to provision sandboxes for your test. Testers access wp-admin on isolated subdomains — they do not receive your source as a download. Sandboxes are destroyed when your test settles.
Can I use this before submitting to WordPress.org?
Yes. Many plugin developers run human QA before a wp.org review or a major release. Real testers catch UX friction, broken settings, and edge cases that automated checks and your own staging miss.
When are WordPress sandboxes destroyed?
Sandboxes are provisioned when a tester claims a slot and stay live until your test settles — after your deadline and review window — then destroyed automatically. On the hosting provider, reserved instances have a hard 30-day maximum lifetime. Typical tests close within a few days; you'll almost never approach that limit.
Can I test WooCommerce or other plugin stacks?
Sandboxes ship as a fresh WordPress install today. Pre-installed stacks such as WooCommerce or Yoast are on the roadmap. For now, you see exactly how your plugin behaves on a typical clean site.
Pricing

Simple pricing — you set the rest.

You choose tester pay (min $5) and slot count (min 3). Each slot adds $4 for sandbox hosting. A 20% platform fee applies to tester pay plus sandbox fees.

Example · 3 testers at $10

3 testers × $10$30.00
3 sandboxes × $4$12.00
Platform fee (20%)$8.40

$50.40

3 testers · $10 each · sandboxes included

Post a WordPress test

Unused slots refund automatically after your review window.

Ready?

Ship your plugin with confidence.

Upload your zip, pick your testers, and get recordings plus structured feedback from real humans on real WordPress — before your users find the bugs.

Built by a developer, for developers. Now in early access.