Docs About Instinctor Standalone vs WordPress

Standalone vs WordPress

Instinctor runs in two modes: Standalone (hosted on Instinctor's platform) and WordPress (installed as a plugin on an existing WordPress site). Both use the same Impulse builder and the same Pro license.

Standalone mode

In Standalone mode, the site is hosted on Instinctor's servers. No WordPress, no separate hosting account, no server configuration.

  • Site lives at instinctor.com/:user/:page-slug or a custom domain
  • You work in platform.instinctor.com
  • The platform has its own database, routing, and media storage
  • Publishing sends the page from the platform to the live URL
  • All Pro features are fully available: 3D effects, ecommerce, AI chat, SEO

Standalone is the primary mode. It is the simplest setup for most use cases.

Who uses Standalone: Anyone building a new site on the platform. Businesses that do not have or want a WordPress installation.

WordPress plugin mode

In WordPress mode, Instinctor runs as a plugin on an existing WordPress site. The Impulse builder creates and edits pages within WordPress's content model. Advanced features require the Pro license.

Free tier (available on WordPress.org):

  • Impulse builder and all blocks
  • Standard rendering (no 3D, no WebGL effects)
  • No Instagent, no SEO workspace, no ecommerce

Pro tier ($29.90/month, same license):

  • Full 3D and motion rendering
  • Instagent AI chat
  • Full SEO workspace
  • Ecommerce

Who uses WP mode: Designers or businesses already on WordPress who want to add the Impulse builder without migrating their site.

Custom domains

Both modes support custom domains. In Standalone, the domain is pointed at Instinctor's servers via DNS (A record or CNAME). In WordPress mode, the domain is managed through the WordPress hosting provider. SSL certificates are handled automatically.

Which mode to choose

Use Standalone if: Starting a new site. No existing WordPress dependency. Want the simplest setup. Want the platform to handle all hosting.

Use WordPress if: Already on WordPress. Have existing WP content that should stay in place. Want to use Instinctor alongside existing WP themes or plugins.

There is no migration path from WordPress mode to Standalone within the platform currently. Sites built in Standalone cannot be exported directly to a self-hosted WordPress install.

Platform vs plugin: what changes

The underlying page builder (Impulse) is identical in both modes. The difference is where the site lives and what handles routing, hosting, and publishing. Ecommerce, AI chat, and SEO work the same in both modes at the Pro tier.

instinctor.com vs platform.instinctor.com

instinctor.com is the public site: marketing pages, login, and published Standalone sites at instinctor.com/:user/:slug.

platform.instinctor.com is the dashboard and editor: where designers and owners log in to build, manage, and publish. Visitors to published sites never see the platform URL.