Developing Directly on Hosting (Remote)
Developing directly on hosting—often called remote development—means building and modifying your WordPress website on a live server or a staging server instead of on your own computer. In this setup, WordPress is already installed on a hosting provider, and all changes happen online. You log in through the WordPress dashboard, FTP, or a hosting control panel, and whatever you change is stored immediately on the server.
This approach is common for small sites, quick updates, or teams that need shared access. It removes the extra step of migrating a site later, because the website already lives where it will eventually be published.
How Remote Development Works
In a remote workflow, your hosting provider supplies everything WordPress needs: PHP, a database, and a web server. You either install WordPress directly on the hosting account or use a one-click installer provided by the host. From that point on, all development happens online.
You might edit pages in the WordPress editor, customize layouts with a page builder like Elementor, upload themes and plugins via the dashboard, or modify files using FTP or a file manager. Many developers also use a staging environment—an online copy of the site that is hidden from visitors—to test changes before pushing them live.
For example, if you’re building a client website, you might create a staging site on the hosting account, design the pages there, review them with the client, and then publish the changes to the live site with one click.
Advantages of Developing on Hosting
One major advantage of remote development is simplicity. There is no local setup, no need to install server software on your computer, and no migration step later. What you build is already on the server.
Collaboration is also easier. Team members, clients, or editors can access the same site from anywhere in the world. This is especially useful for content-heavy sites where multiple people need to review or update pages.
Remote development also allows for realistic testing. Emails, payment gateways, webhooks, and third-party integrations behave exactly as they will in production. This makes it easier to test forms, WooCommerce checkouts, or membership systems without extra configuration.
Disadvantages and Risks
The biggest downside is risk. When you develop directly on a live site, mistakes can affect real visitors. A broken plugin, a layout error, or a failed update can temporarily break the website.
Speed can also be an issue. Working on a remote server depends on internet quality and server performance, which is usually slower than a local environment. Small changes may feel slower, especially when uploading files or refreshing pages.
Another challenge is version control. While it’s possible to use Git on hosting, it’s often more complex than in local development. Without a clear workflow, changes can overwrite each other or become hard to track.
Best Practices for Remote Development
If you develop directly on hosting, always use a staging environment when possible. This keeps unfinished work away from real users. Regular backups are essential, so you can quickly restore the site if something goes wrong.
Limit who has access to make changes, and test updates carefully before applying them to the live site. For larger projects, combining remote development with a staging site and version control creates a much safer workflow.
When Remote Development Makes Sense
Developing directly on hosting works best for small sites, quick fixes, content updates, or teams that need shared access. For complex projects, many professionals combine local development for heavy work with remote hosting for final testing and publishing.