Hosting & Domain

Hosting & Domains

Setting up Sameness is simple — but there are a few things to know when it comes to hosting and domains. Here’s everything you need to stay on track (and avoid common pitfalls).

A Quick Note on WordPress

Don’t confuse WordPress.org with WordPress.com.
It’s a common mix-up, but they’re two very different things:

• WordPress.org is the free, open-source platform you install on your own hosting.

• WordPress.com is a hosting service (with paid plans).

Sameness is built for WordPress.org — the open-source version you host yourself. It gives you full control and flexibility. You don’t need a WordPress.com Business Plan (or any WordPress.com plan at all). As long as you’ve got your own hosting and a standard WordPress.org setup, you’re good to go.

Do I Need a New WordPress Install for Every Client?

Yes — each brand guideline should have its own WordPress install. It keeps things organized, secure, and easier to manage over time. Plus, each Sameness license is tied to one domain, so separate installs keep everything running smoothly.

Can I Use Sameness on Subdomains or Subdirectories?

Absolutely! Sameness works on both:

• Subdomains (e.g. brand1.yourstudio.com)

• Subdirectories (e.g. yourstudio.com/brand1)

Just note: you’ll still need a separate license for each brand — even if they’re under the same main domain.
Also, creating subdomains or subdirectories depends on your hosting setup, so you’ll need to do that through your hosting provider.

One License Per Domain: What That Actually Looks Like

Here’s how most users set it up:

1. yourportfolio.com/brand → License 1

2. brand.yourdomain.com → License 2

3. client.com → License 3

You can host it under your own domain, a subdomain, or the client’s — totally up to you. The key rule: one hosted brand = one license.

How Much Hosting Space Do I Need for Sameness?

Sameness is pretty lightweight.
You’re mostly hosting text, a few images, maybe some video or Lottie motion files. Most small-to-mid sites will run just fine on:

• 1GB+ of space

• 1 CPU

• PHP 7.4 or later

• MySQL 5.7+

WordPress version 6.0 or higher

• PHP version 8.0 or higher

• MySQL version 5.7 or higher

• HTTPS (SSL certificate installed)

• Recommended: At least 512MB RAM for better performance

If you’re working with lots of motion assets or HD video embeds, consider scaling up — but for most, it’s surprisingly lean.

Recommended Hosting Providers for Sameness

Sameness works on any hosting provider that supports standard WordPress installs. That means you’ll need access to install your own theme, manage files, and access the database.

• SiteGround
  Easy setup, solid performance, and great customer support.

• Cloudways
  Scalable hosting — good for studios managing multiple clients.

• WP Engine
  Premium managed hosting with strong performance and security.

• Kinsta
  Clean UX, fast servers, and strong developer tools.

• Namecheap EasyWP
  Budget-friendly, beginner-friendly dashboard, solid performance for the price.

• Hostinger
  Low-cost plans with decent speed — great for early-stage projects or personal sites.

• DreamHost
  Official WordPress.org recommended host with a good balance of cost and features.

• Bluehost
  Also recommended by WordPress.org — very beginner-friendly with simple setup flows.

How Do Clients Log In to Manage Their Brand Guidelines?

If your client needs to edit or manage the guidelines, they’ll just need a user account on the WordPress site where Sameness is installed. Once logged in, they can access and edit the guidelines directly from the WordPress dashboard — just like you.

If they’re only viewing the guidelines, no login is needed. Simply share the public link. You can also password-protect the site or specific pages if you’d like to keep things private.What Are the Options for Sharing Guidelines with Stakeholders?