Build Guide

Build a Client Portal Without WordPress

Your clients deserve better than a WordPress login page. Build a portal that feels like a real product, not a plugin afterthought.

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The Old Way

The WordPress Approach

Required Plugins

1SuiteDash ($19-99/month) — all-in-one client portal (not a WP plugin but often compared)
2Client Portal ($199/year) — basic client area for WordPress
3WP Client ($99-249/year) — project management and file sharing
4SupportCandy ($59-149/year) — support ticketing
5Ultimate Member ($249/year) — custom member areas

Limitations

Client portals in WordPress are glorified private pages — not real dashboards
File sharing is limited to media library uploads with no version control
Invoice generation requires WooCommerce or a separate invoicing plugin
No real-time notifications — clients must log in to check for updates
White-labeling WordPress admin is hacky and breaks with theme/plugin updates

Typical Cost

$200-500/year in plugins or $19-99/month for SaaS alternatives

The Modern Way

The Modern Approach

Next.js + Supabase + Stripe Invoicing + Uploadthing

Build a branded client portal with Next.js. Supabase handles auth and data storage with per-client row-level security. Stripe handles invoicing. Uploadthing manages file uploads and sharing.

Custom-branded portal with your logo and colors — no WordPress branding to hide
Per-client data isolation via Supabase row-level security
Real-time project status updates and notifications
Professional invoice generation and payment collection via Stripe
Secure file sharing with version history and download tracking

WordPress vs. Modern Stack

WordPress

  • Client portals in WordPress are glorified private pages — not real dashboards
  • File sharing is limited to media library uploads with no version control
  • Invoice generation requires WooCommerce or a separate invoicing plugin
  • No real-time notifications — clients must log in to check for updates
  • $200-500/year in plugins or $19-99/month for SaaS alternatives

Modern Stack

  • Custom-branded portal with your logo and colors — no WordPress branding to hide
  • Per-client data isolation via Supabase row-level security
  • Real-time project status updates and notifications
  • Professional invoice generation and payment collection via Stripe
  • Secure file sharing with version history and download tracking

Recommended Tools

Supabase

Database, auth, real-time, and per-client data isolation

Free up to 500MB, $25/month Pro

Stripe Invoicing

Invoice creation, payment collection, and receipts

0.4% per paid invoice (min $0.50)

Uploadthing

File uploads with sharing links and access control

Free up to 2GB, $10/month starter

Clerk

Client authentication and organization management

Free up to 10,000 MAU

Vercel

Hosting with edge functions

Free hobby tier, $20/month pro

Step-by-Step Build Guide

1

Set up Next.js with Clerk for client authentication — branded sign-in page with your logo and colors

2

Design the Supabase schema for projects, tasks, messages, and files with client-level row-level security

3

Build the client dashboard — project overview cards, recent activity feed, and pending action items

4

Create the project detail view with status timeline, file attachments, and threaded messages

5

Integrate Stripe Invoicing for sending invoices and collecting payments within the portal

6

Add Uploadthing for file sharing — clients can upload deliverables and download your files

7

Set up real-time notifications via Supabase Realtime and email alerts via Resend

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my clients use this without technical knowledge?
Absolutely. The portal is a custom web app with a simple, intuitive interface. Clients log in, see their projects, download files, and pay invoices. No WordPress admin to navigate.
How do I handle multiple clients securely?
Supabase row-level security ensures each client can only see their own data. This is enforced at the database level, making it impossible for one client to access another's information.
Can I white-label this for my brand?
Yes. Since you're building it from scratch, every element matches your brand — domain, colors, logo, email templates. No WordPress branding to strip out or admin interface to hide.

Client Portal Guides

In-depth guides and tutorials to help with your migration

Ready to Build Your Client Portal?

Skip the plugin bloat. Build with modern tools or migrate your existing WordPress site.