Overview
Levamo is built to get your WordPress site running at peak performance as quickly as possible. Whether you're launching a new site from scratch or migrating an existing one, the setup process follows a clear path from purchase to go-live.
This guide is the best place to start. It covers everything in order: purchasing a plan, deploying your environment, setting up your site, connecting your domain, and exploring the features that make the most of your hosting once you're live.
In this article, you will find a quick setup summary followed by step-by-step guidance for each stage of the process.
Quick setup summary
Whether you're building a new site or migrating an existing one, most customers follow this path to get live on Levamo:
Purchase a hosting plan to get started with your chosen environment size and features
Invite your team (if needed) so collaborators can assist with setup, domains, or site management
Deploy your environment and create a WordPress site using the guided setup flow in the dashboard
Request a free managed migration if you're moving an existing site, or proceed with manual setup or a fresh build
Preview your site on the environment domain to test before going live
Set up transactional email if your site needs to send password resets, confirmations, or notifications
Connect your custom domain using one of the Cloudflare-powered connection methods
Go live and explore key features like automatic backups, real-time stats, and Cloudflare-powered CDN and WAF protection
The sections below walk through each of these steps in detail.
Step-by-step setup guide
1. Purchase a plan
To get started, you'll need an active Levamo hosting plan. Plans are available on the pricing page, and each one maps to a specific set of environment resources including CPU, memory, and storage.
If you're unsure which plan fits your needs, our team is happy to help.
Contact sales for help finding the right fit
2. Invite your team
If you're working with developers, designers, or colleagues, invite them before setup begins. This ensures the right people have access to deploy sites, manage domains, and configure settings from the start.
To invite team members:
Go to your Levamo dashboard
Click Team in the main navigation menu
Click Invite people
Enter the email address of each person you want to invite
Select the appropriate permissions and send the invitation
3. Deploy an environment and create your site
Sites on Levamo live inside environments, and every environment is tied to a single plan. Your plan determines the technical specifications of the environment you can deploy. Once you have a plan, the next step is to deploy an environment and create your first site.
To get started, click Create site in the main area of the dashboard. This launches a guided setup flow that walks you through:
Selecting your plan
Configuring your environment (region, PHP version, environment name)
Entering your site details (site name, optional WooCommerce, etc.)
Once you complete the flow and click Add site, your environment will be deployed and your WordPress site will be ready in around 10 minutes.
Note:
Even if you plan to migrate an existing site, you still need to create a site first. Migration requests are made after the site is created.
4. Request a managed migration (recommended)
If you're moving an existing WordPress site to Levamo, we can handle the migration for you at no cost.
To request a migration:
Go to your site in the Levamo dashboard
Click the settings cog next to WP Admin
Select Migrate existing site
Complete the request form with your login details, server access, and go-live preferences
Our team will handle the transfer, testing, and DNS updates if you choose.
5. Build your site on Levamo (optional)
If you're not using managed migration, this is the stage where you build or move your site manually. Levamo gives you the flexibility to work your way, whether that's a fresh build or a self-managed transfer.
A few things to keep in mind before launch:
Temporary domain: Every site on Levamo is assigned a unique temporary domain. Use it to view and test your site before connecting your custom domain.
Transactional email: Levamo does not include mailboxes or transactional email by default. If your site sends system emails such as password resets or form notifications, you'll need to configure a third-party email provider.
Pre-launch checklist: This is also a good time to upload media and assets, install plugins and themes, verify caching settings, and configure backups and staging.
Once everything looks good on the temporary domain, you're ready to connect your custom domain and go live.
6. Connect your custom domain
If your migrations team is handling the go-live, this step is covered for you. If not, you'll connect your domain manually through the Levamo dashboard.
Levamo manages all custom domains through its Cloudflare integration. There are three connection methods:
Cloudflare API Managed by Levamo (recommended): Connect your Cloudflare account via API token and let Levamo manage all DNS, CDN, security, and Full Page Caching for the domain. No nameserver change required if your domain is already on Cloudflare.
Cloudflare API Managed in your Cloudflare account: Connect via API token, but retain full control of your Cloudflare zone. Levamo only manages the core DNS records needed to route traffic. Levamo's Enterprise Cloudflare features (CDN, WAF, Full Page Caching) are not available with this option.
Cloudflare Nameservers (NS): Update your nameservers at your registrar to the Levamo-provided Cloudflare nameservers. No Cloudflare account required. Levamo takes full DNS control from the start.
Important:
Going live on your custom domain means traffic begins routing to your site immediately. Make sure everything is tested and ready before connecting.
Not sure which method to use? See the Guide to Custom Domains for a full comparison, or go straight to setup with How to Connect Your Custom Domain to a Levamo Website.
7. Go live and explore key features
Once DNS has propagated and your domain is active, your site is live on Levamo. Here are a few features worth exploring as you settle in:
Cloudflare CDN and WAF: Depending on the domain connection method you chose, your site is automatically protected and accelerated by Levamo's Enterprise Cloudflare stack, including a global CDN for faster delivery and a Web Application Firewall for security.
Automated backups: Schedule backups during off-peak hours to protect your data without adding load to your environment during busy periods.
Real-time stats: Monitor performance and resource usage directly from your dashboard.
Conclusion
Once your environment is deployed, your site is set up, and your domain is connected, you're running on a managed WordPress platform built for performance and reliability.
Levamo gives you the tools to scale confidently from here, whether you're managing one site or many. If you ever need help, our support team is available 24/7.