When multiple people need to work on the same website, it’s not enough for everyone to have the same login credentials. Access control is necessary to determine who can access administration and what capabilities different users have.
Both WordPress and SiteAdmin support multiple users with varying permissions. The key difference lies in how each system is structured.
WordPress features a comprehensive and flexible role system with capabilities. SiteAdmin adopts a simpler approach, making it easier to understand and manage.
WordPress’s Flexible Role System
WordPress includes built-in roles such as administrator, editor, author, contributor, and subscriber.
A user’s role dictates their actions. An administrator can manage settings and users, while an editor primarily works with content.
Additionally, WordPress allows customization through plugins and capabilities, enabling detailed permissions and unique roles.
This flexibility is particularly useful when multiple user types need different access levels.
SiteAdmin’s Simplified Model
SiteAdmin currently offers two main user levels for customers: Standard and Poweruser.
A standard user can manage typical website content, such as updating pages, text, and other content without needing to edit code directly.
A poweruser has the same basic functionalities but also has access to the website’s HTML and CSS.
This means a poweruser can open the code editor and directly modify HTML, CSS, and custom code. The feature resembles WordPress’s custom code blocks but is integrated directly into SiteAdmin.
Poweruser Gives Code Control
The difference between Standard and Poweruser roles isn’t just about additional menus in the admin panel.
Powerusers gain access to parts of the website where code can be directly altered. This makes the role useful for developers, technical managers, or individuals needing advanced customizations.
However, SiteAdmin currently lacks a system to create fully custom roles, such as granting access to HTML but not CSS, or allowing someone to edit blog posts only.
This is simpler than WordPress but also easier to understand.
Permissions Follow Customer Websites
SiteAdmin allows managing multiple websites under one customer profile. Users can be added or removed by the customer themselves.
Currently, permission levels are uniform across websites within a customer profile. If a user is a standard user, they are standard across all customer websites. If they are a poweruser, the poweruser permissions apply uniformly.
This means SiteAdmin does not yet offer WordPress-like capabilities to create a unique permission profile for each individual website.
For businesses managing a few websites with a small team, this model is straightforward.
Resellers Have Different Access
SiteAdmin also supports reseller accounts, which differ from standard user roles because resellers can manage both their own websites and those of customers.
This setup is useful for agencies or partners handling multiple customer websites from the same platform.
A reseller doesn’t need to treat each customer’s website as a separate system. Their own websites can be managed within the same platform.
Multiple People Can Work on the Same Customer
For businesses, a single person rarely manages the entire website.
One person might handle content, another the technical aspects, and a third assist with ongoing website maintenance. With SiteAdmin’s user management, multiple people can access the same customer profile without sharing login credentials.
This also provides a better foundation for agencies and teams working together with customers.
WordPress or SiteAdmin?
| Category | WordPress | SiteAdmin |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Users | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Roles | Multiple predefined roles | Standard and Poweruser |
| Custom Roles | Yes, can be extended with plugins and capabilities | Not available yet |
| Detailed Permissions | Highly flexible | More restricted |
| Code Access | Depends on role and configuration | HTML/CSS and code editor for Powerusers |
| Multiple Websites | Managed via different methods, including Multisite | Multiple websites can be under one customer profile |
| Resellers | Can be configured with various solutions | Built-in support for resellers |
Simplicity or Flexibility?
There’s no need to pretend the systems work the same way.
WordPress excels in flexibility. Its advanced role and capability system allows for highly detailed permission models. With the right plugins, you can customize the system far beyond the initial roles.
SiteAdmin wins on simplicity. Standard and Poweruser roles are easier to understand, and the reseller support is integrated into the platform. The customer can manage their users themselves without setting up a complex role system.
For larger businesses with many different user groups, WordPress’s flexibility can be a significant advantage. For smaller organizations, agencies, or businesses primarily needing straightforward access control, SiteAdmin’s simpler model is perfectly adequate.
The key is not which system has the most roles but how much control is actually required.