You can run Advanced Coupons on a staging copy of your store and receive plugin updates there, without giving up one of the sites your plan covers. This article explains which staging addresses are recognised, how to activate one, and what to do when your staging address is not on the list.
How a staging site is recognised
Your license allows up to 3 staging sites in addition to the sites your plan covers. Staging sites use their own allowance, so activating one does not use up a paid site.
That only applies when the staging site’s web address matches one of the patterns below. The match is made from the start of the address, so the shape of the address matters. A staging site on an address outside these patterns is treated as a normal site and uses one of your paid activations.
localhost127.0.0.1*.dev*.local*.test*.staging*.example*.invaliddev.*(for example dev.yourstore.com. A digit is allowed, so dev2.yourstore.com also works)local.*(for example local.yourstore.com)test.*(for example test.yourstore.com)staging.*(for example staging.yourstore.com or staging1.yourstore.com)stage.*(for example stage.yourstore.com)preprod.*(for example preprod.yourstore.com)*staging.wpengine.com(WP Engine)*stg.wpengine.com(WP Engine)*dev.wpengine.com(WP Engine)dev-*.pantheonsite.io(Pantheon)test-*.pantheonsite.io(Pantheon)staging-*.kinsta.com(Kinsta)staging-*.kinsta.cloud(Kinsta)env-*.kinsta.cloud(Kinsta)*.cloudwaysapps.com(Cloudways)*.sg-host.com(SiteGround)*.myftpupload.com(GoDaddy)*.instawp.xyz(InstaWP)*.preload.site*.tempurl.host*-staging.wpdns.site*-staging.onrocket.site*staging.astahosting.com.au*staging.leserviceweb.com*-dev.ksysweb.com*-stg.ksysweb.com*.ngrok.io
If you are a web host that provides staging services and would like your address pattern added to this list, please reach out.
How to activate a staging site
- Open My Account, then Downloads and copy the license key for the plugin you want to use.
- Copy the activation email shown with the key. This is the billing email from the order that bought the license, not your WordPress login email.
- On your staging site, go to Coupons, then License.
- Enter the key and the activation email, then save.
A confirmation message appears once the staging site is activated.
If your staging address is not on the list
An address outside the patterns above counts as a normal site, so activating it uses a paid activation from your plan. If no activation is free, remove a site you no longer use first. The next section shows how.
If you are not sure whether your host’s staging address is recognised, contact us with the exact address and we will check it for you.
How to free up an activation
You can do this yourself and you do not need to contact us.
- Log in and open My Account, then Downloads.
- Find the plugin you are moving. Its row shows Site Activations with a count, for example 0 / 1.
- Click View Sites. The window lists your activated sites and your staging sites. Click the red cross beside the site you no longer need.
- Activate the plugin on the new site using the same license key and the same activation email.
Staging sites have their own limit, separate from your site activations. The window shows both counts.
Your license key does not change when you move a site, and you do not lose any of your subscription time.
Need help?
If you have a question or run into any issues, we are here to help.
- Premium users: Open a support ticket
- Free users: Visit the Advanced Coupons community forum
