Select
Pick what to sync on the source site — settings, global styles, patterns, menus, structure — into one JSON bundle.
DriftSync
Ship WordPress config like software.
You changed a dozen settings on staging — now redo every one on production, from memory, without breaking the live site. DriftSync turns that into a release: export a bundle, preview the diff, apply with a snapshot, roll back in one click.
- Built by WP Dreams
- Makers of Ajax Search Pro
- GPL-licensed
- No code execution
driftsync-bundle.jsondry run
- options.blognameoverwrite
- theme.json › color.primaryadded
- nav_menu "Main"merged
- options.stripe_secret_keyheld
- options.siteurlskipped
14 changes1 heldnothing written yet
A dry-run diff writes nothing.Review it, then apply with a snapshot.
How it works
A release process, not a redo-from-memory chore
The same five steps every time — repeatable between staging and production, or across a fleet of client sites. Nothing is written until you have seen exactly what would change.
Preview
A dry-run diff shows every value that would be added, overwritten, merged or skipped, before anything is written.
Snapshot
A restore point is captured automatically before any change lands, so you always have a way back.
Apply
Write the changes with your choice of conflict handling: skip, overwrite or merge — you stay in control.
Audit & roll back
Every apply is logged and reversible. Undo the whole change in one click if it did not go as planned.
Features
Everything the release loop needs, in the free plugin
Free
Dry-run diff preview
See every add, overwrite, merge and skip side by side. The preview writes nothing to the target.
Free
Conflict handling
Skip, overwrite or merge — decide per apply exactly how existing values on the target are treated.
Free
Snapshot + rollback
A restore point is captured before every change, so any apply can be undone in a single click.
Free
Secret & URL redaction
Withhold secrets and URLs on export with presets. A held value is held, not blanked — never wiped on apply.
Free
No code execution
Bundles are human-readable JSON — never PHP, JavaScript or shell. Review them, and commit them to git.
Pro
Direct site connections
Push and pull bundles straight between two sites, or fan one bundle out to many at once.
Preview
See every change before it lands
- A side-by-side dry run shows exactly what would be added, overwritten, merged or skipped — nothing is written yet.
- Read the bundle the way you read a pull request: it is plain JSON, so the diff is honest and complete.
- Apply only when the preview looks right. There are no surprise writes.
dry run · staging → production
added6
overwritten5
merged2
skipped1
held (secrets)1
0 written — this is a preview. Apply when the diff looks right.
Safety
A restore point before every apply
- DriftSync snapshots the target automatically before it writes, so there is always a way back.
- Roll back a whole apply in one click if it did not go the way you expected.
- Every apply is logged, so you can see what changed, when, and undo it later.
restore points
- snapshot #24 · before apply · 2m agocurrent
- snapshot #23 · before apply · 1h agorestore
- snapshot #22 · before apply · yesterday
Secrets
Secrets scanned, held, never leaked
- Exports are scanned for secrets and URLs, with presets from none to strict, so keys never travel in a bundle by accident.
- A withheld value is held, not blanked — applying the bundle leaves the target’s existing key untouched.
- Share and commit bundles freely, knowing the sensitive values stayed behind.
preset: secrets + URLs
options.stripe_secret_keyheld
options.smtp_passwordheld
options.siteurlheld
options.blognamesynced
A held value is kept on the target, never blanked.
Cloud
An optional team layer for release discipline
DriftSync Cloud adds a shared, auditable workspace for teams and agencies. It never gates the core loop — local sync and direct site-to-site push both work without it — and it is bundled with every DriftSync Pro license.
fan-out · release 2026.74 targets
- prod-euapplied
- prod-usapplied
- staging-2pending
- demo-siteheld
Shared team library
Versioned bundles your team reuses, behind approval gates, with one shared audit trail across every apply.
Async handoff mailbox
When two sites can’t reach each other directly, drop a bundle in a mailbox and let the target pull it later.
Multi-site fan-out
Roll one bundle out to many sites and watch each target on a per-target status board.
AI diff assistance
Explain-this-diff summaries and conflict suggestions help you read a change and resolve it with confidence.
Compare
A reviewable release, not a full-site migration
Most tools move whole sites or manage fleets. DriftSync does one thing well: turn a set of configuration changes into a reviewable, reversible release.
| Capability | DriftSync | WPChangeSync | WP Migrate | InstaWP | MainWP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reviewable dry-run diff | — | — | — | ||
| No code execution (JSON only) | — | — | — | — | |
| Secret & URL redaction on export | — | — | — | — | |
| Snapshot + one-click rollback | — | — | — | — | |
| Team library with approvals | Pro / Cloud | — | — | — | — |
| Multi-site fan-out | Pro | — | — | — | |
| Free tier on WordPress.org | — | Lite | — |
WPChangeSync is the premium incumbent (roughly $129–249, not on WordPress.org). Its sync applies changes through a command/shell step — the exact thing DriftSync avoids by keeping bundles to plain JSON with no code execution.
These tools span different categories — migration, staging and fleet management — so “—” usually means “not this tool’s focus,” not “impossible.” Compiled from public vendor sites; verify current details before relying on them. See the full comparison.
Why DriftSync
Built by WP Dreams, makers of Ajax Search Pro
WP Dreams has shipped WordPress plugins for over a decade. DriftSync applies that experience to the riskiest moment in a workflow — changing a live site — with a design that is safe on purpose.
GPL & free on WordPress.org
The free plugin is GPL-licensed and distributed on WordPress.org — a real product you download and host, not a time-limited trial.
No code execution
Bundles carry data, never PHP, JavaScript or shell. Nothing in a bundle runs, which is what makes DriftSync safe by design.
Human-readable source
Bundles are plain JSON you can open, read and diff, and the plugin ships human-readable source — no black boxes.
Local-only free tier
The free plugin runs entirely on your server: no account, no cloud, no telemetry. Nothing leaves your site.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Does it move my posts and media?
No. DriftSync syncs configuration and light structural content — settings, global styles, patterns, menus, post-type and taxonomy definitions — not your posts, pages, uploads or database at large. It is not a migration or backup tool, and it is happy to run alongside one.
Will it overwrite my database?
Only the values you exported into the bundle, and only after you confirm the dry-run diff. A snapshot is captured automatically before anything is written, so any apply can be rolled back in one click.
What happens to my API keys and secrets?
They are scanned on export and can be withheld with a redaction preset (secrets, or secrets + URLs, or strict). A withheld value is held, not blanked — applying a bundle never overwrites or wipes the target’s existing key.
Does it run any code?
No. A bundle is plain, human-readable JSON — never PHP, JavaScript or shell. Nothing in it executes; DriftSync only ever applies data to settings. That is what makes it WordPress.org-safe and safe to commit to git.
Is the bundle safe to commit to git?
Yes. Bundles are human-readable JSON with no executable code, so you can commit them, review them in a pull request, and diff them in any tool you already use.
Do I need an account or the cloud?
No. The free plugin is local-only — no account, no cloud, no telemetry — and covers the whole export → diff → apply → rollback loop across unlimited sites. DriftSync Pro adds direct site-to-site connections; DriftSync Cloud adds a shared team layer, and both are optional.
How is it different from a migration or staging plugin?
Migration tools copy whole sites — database and files — in one direction. DriftSync treats specific configuration changes like a software release: you select what to sync, review a diff, apply with a snapshot, and roll back if needed. It is meant to run repeatedly between environments, not once.
Still have a question? Get in touch and we’ll help.
Make your next change a release.
Start free on WordPress.org — the whole export, diff, apply and rollback loop, local-only. When your team needs direct connections and a shared library, DriftSync Pro and the Cloud are there.
Have a question first? Get in touch.