Keeping a WordPress site secure and functional often depends on how efficiently you manage plugin and theme updates. WordPress core includes a convenient auto-update option, but what if you could go a step further — adding intelligence, visual testing, and automatic rollbacks? That’s exactly what Smart Plugin Manager (SPM) by WP Engine offers.
But does that make it an agentic AI? Let’s explore how it works, how it differs from WordPress core’s built-in auto-update feature, and whether it can truly be considered “AI-driven.”
What Is WP Engine’s Smart Plugin Manager?
Smart Plugin Manager is an advanced automation tool designed to handle plugin and theme updates safely. It’s available as an add-on (or included in some WP Engine hosting plans). Its goal is simple yet ambitious — to keep your WordPress site up to date without risking breakage.
Here’s what sets it apart:
1. Automated and Scheduled Updates
SPM checks for plugin and theme updates on a daily schedule that you can control. You decide which plugins and themes should be updated automatically and which ones should be skipped. This offers finer control than the standard WordPress auto-update toggle.
2. Pre-Update Backup
Before applying updates, Smart Plugin Manager takes a full site backup. That means you can instantly roll back if something goes wrong — a critical safeguard missing from WordPress core.
3. Visual Regression Testing (VRT)
After updates are installed, SPM captures visual “snapshots” of your site before and after changes. Using machine learning, it compares the two sets of images to determine if any visual differences are potentially harmful — for example, broken layouts or missing content.
4. Automatic Rollback
If the visual regression test detects a problem, Smart Plugin Manager automatically reverts the plugin to its previous version. You also receive a detailed report outlining what was updated, what failed, and what was restored.
5. Cache Clearing and Reporting
SPM automatically clears caches on WP Engine (like Varnish and object cache) to ensure visitors see updated content. It also generates update history and downloadable CSV reports for transparency.
Is Smart Plugin Manager an Agentic AI?
In AI terminology, “agentic” implies some level of autonomous, goal-driven behavior — where a system doesn’t just follow rules but makes decisions toward an outcome.
SPM does display a degree of autonomy:
- It decides when to update plugins.
- It evaluates whether visual differences are acceptable.
- It rolls back automatically if something seems wrong.
That makes it an AI-assisted automation system, rather than a full agentic AI. It uses machine learning for visual analysis, but its decisions are still bounded by user-defined rules (schedules, update preferences, etc.).
So while you could describe SPM as “AI-powered”, it’s not truly agentic — it’s specialized automation with intelligence baked in.
How SPM Differs from WordPress Core’s Auto-Enable Option
Since WordPress 5.5, you can enable automatic updates for plugins and themes directly from the dashboard. This feature is useful but basic. Here’s how it compares:
| Feature | Smart Plugin Manager (WP Engine) | WordPress Core Auto-Update |
|---|---|---|
| Automation Level | Fully configurable, scheduled updates | Basic auto-update toggle |
| Pre-Update Backup | Yes, automatic backups | No built-in backup |
| Visual Testing | Yes, ML-based visual regression testing | None |
| Automatic Rollback | Yes, reverts if site breaks | No rollback feature |
| Update Reports | Detailed logs and CSV exports | Simple email notification |
| Cache Management | Automatic cache clearing | None |
| Customization | Choose which plugins/themes to update | Toggle per plugin/theme |
| Hosting Requirement | WP Engine hosting only | Works on any WordPress site |
| Cost | Paid add-on or included in some plans | Free, built into WordPress |
Pros and Cons of Smart Plugin Manager
✅ Advantages
- Safer updates thanks to pre-backups and rollback options.
- AI-aided visual regression testing ensures your site still looks right.
- Detailed reports and notifications for full transparency.
- Ideal for mission-critical or high-traffic websites.
⚠️ Limitations
- Available only on WP Engine hosting.
- Paid feature (not part of the free WordPress ecosystem).
- Occasional false positives in visual regression tests.
- More setup complexity compared to the core auto-update toggle.
Final Thoughts
Smart Plugin Manager represents the next step in WordPress maintenance — blending automation, safety, and machine learning. It’s not a fully autonomous agentic AI, but it does use AI-assisted decision-making to keep websites safe from faulty plugin updates.
By contrast, WordPress core’s auto-enable option is a simpler, “set-and-forget” feature that works fine for low-risk sites but lacks safety nets.
If your website plays a crucial role in your business — whether it’s an e-commerce store, membership portal, or content hub — Smart Plugin Manager gives you the peace of mind of AI-driven automation with human-level safety.