Install Simply Static

Simply Static comes in two parts. The free plugin gives you everything you need to generate a static copy of your WordPress site, and Simply Static Pro adds deployment integrations, forms, search, multilingual support, and more. This guide covers installing and activating both.

Before you start

Simply Static runs on a self-hosted WordPress site, meaning you can install plugins. It won't work on WordPress.com plans that don't allow custom plugins. For exports to run smoothly, your site should have:

  • WordPress 6.2 or newer and PHP 7.4 or newer
  • WP-Cron is set up and working
  • Read and write access to the uploads directory
  • A real domain connected to the site, not just an IP address

Installing Simply Static (free)

The free plugin lives in the official WordPress plugin directory, so you can install it straight from your dashboard.

  1. Go to Plugins > Add New Plugin.
  2. Search for "Simply Static".
  3. Click Install Now on Simply Static, then click Activate.

That's it. A new Simply Static item appears in your dashboard menu, ready for your first export.

Prefer to install it manually? Download the plugin ZIP from the WordPress plugin directory, then go to Plugins > Add New Plugin > Upload Plugin, choose the ZIP, click Install Now, and Activate.

Installing Simply Static Pro

Simply Static Pro is a premium add-on that builds on the free Simply Static plugin, so keep the free plugin installed and active, then add Pro on top.

After you purchase Pro, your download link and license key are sent to you by email. You can also download the ZIP and find your license key anytime in your account area. See Where Can I Download the Plugin? for the details.

To install it:

  1. Download the Simply Static Pro ZIP from your email or account area.
  2. In WordPress, go to Plugins > Add New Plugin > Upload Plugin.
  3. Select the ZIP file, then click Install Now.
  4. Click Activate.

Activating your license

When you activate Simply Static Pro, you'll be prompted to enter the license key from your purchase email. Enter it to unlock the Pro features and turn on automatic updates.

If you have trouble activating your license or need to move it to a different domain, the License & Activation section covers the most common situations, including offline activation for servers without internet access.

Running it locally

You don't need a live website to get started. Both the free plugin and Simply Static Pro run on a local WordPress install, for example, with LocalWP, which is a great way to test things before going live. See the Local WordPress section for setup help.

Next steps