Joomla Update Manager, central automation for Joomla updates
What is a Joomla Update Manager?
A Joomla Update Manager, also known as a Joomla Updates Manager, is a tool that controls every Joomla update centrally: components, modules, plugins, templates and the core update status. If you run a single Joomla site, the built-in Joomla updater in the backend is sufficient. But if you maintain several Joomla sites as an agency, freelancer or hosting provider, you need a tool that consolidates every site into one dashboard and runs Joomla updates in parallel.
That is exactly what UpdateKing does: a German Joomla Updates Manager delivered as SaaS, focused on automated updates, security and transparency. If you specifically want to automate Joomla updates, UpdateKing is built for it.
UpdateKing as a Joomla Update Manager: features
- Central dashboard for every Joomla site in your account
- One-click update for components, modules, plugins and templates
- Safe update order: extensions first, then core. The core button stays locked as long as extension updates are pending
- Core update detection with status per site in the dashboard, core update execution included in the Agency plan
- Automated updates via cron or triggered manually
- Update reports by email (daily or weekly)
- Audit log with timestamps, IP and action history
- Two-factor authentication via TOTP (Google Authenticator, Authy)
- Site screenshots for visual update verification
- Joomla 4, 5 and 6 support out of the box
- Officially verified in the Joomla Extensions Directory (JED), code-reviewed by the Joomla team, installable directly from the Joomla backend
- GDPR-compliant, servers in Germany
How UpdateKing works
- Create an account at updateking.de/register, free of charge, 1 site included (Starter plan)
- Install the plugin on your Joomla site (official UpdateKing plugin, compatible with Joomla 4, 5 and 6)
- Enter the API key, the plugin connects to the dashboard automatically
- Manage updates, from now on every pending update for the site appears in the dashboard
The plugin communicates exclusively over HTTPS with signed HMAC-SHA256 calls. No FTP, no SSH, no database credentials are shared.
Which updates can UpdateKing perform?
- Components: every component registered in the Joomla update manager (e.g. Akeeba Backup, sh404SEF, JCE, RSForm)
- Modules: sliders, forms, galleries, custom modules
- Plugins: system, authentication, content and editor plugins
- Templates: provided the vendor publishes updates through the Joomla update system (YOOtheme, Helix, Joomshaper)
- Joomla core: full detection across every plan, the dashboard reports every available core update. The actual core update execution is included in the Agency plan, with a security workflow "extensions first, then core" and a backup confirmation modal before the update. On the Starter and Pro plans, the core update is confirmed in the Joomla backend in the classic way.
Safe order: extensions first, then core
UpdateKing follows the order officially recommended by Joomla. First, every component, module, plugin and template is updated. The core update is only released for confirmation in the dashboard once no extension updates are pending. Background: extension vendors often publish compatibility patches shortly before a core release. Updating the core first risks incompatibilities: frontend errors, a white page, broken components.
With the UpdateKing order, this does not happen: your sites stay stable because extensions are brought to a compatible state before the core. The core button in the dashboard stays locked until every extension is up to date, with a clear notice of which updates are still missing.
Joomla Update Manager vs. individual backend logins
Maintaining Joomla manually takes roughly 8 minutes per site and maintenance run: login, 2FA, pre-update check, update, clear cache, verify the frontend. Across 30 sites that is 4 hours of pure maintenance per week. With a Joomla Update Manager like UpdateKing, this drops to about 30 seconds per site: a single login to the dashboard, multi-select, one click.
Detailed calculation: Joomla maintenance, time per site
Pricing
- Starter: 1 site, free forever, every update feature including site screenshots and uptime monitoring
- Pro: 10 sites, 5 EUR/month plus VAT, additionally email reports (daily/weekly)
- Agency: 30 sites, 15 EUR/month plus VAT, additionally Joomla core update execution with a security workflow
- Enterprise: unlimited sites, individual quote, every premium feature
Payment via PayPal, cancellable monthly, German invoice with VAT shown.
Frequently asked questions about the Joomla Update Manager
What is a Joomla Update Manager?
A Joomla Update Manager is a tool that controls Joomla updates centrally: components, modules, plugins and templates are updated with one click, and the core update status is monitored and reported per site.
Which is the best Joomla Update Manager in 2026?
For a single site the built-in Joomla updater is enough. For multiple sites under a maintenance contract, UpdateKing offers one-click updates across every site, German hosting and a free Starter plan for 1 site (Pro from 5 EUR/month for 10 sites).
Can I update Joomla automatically?
Yes. With UpdateKing you can roll out Joomla updates centrally and automatically across all of your sites.
Is a Joomla Update Manager GDPR-compliant?
UpdateKing is GDPR-compliant: servers are located in Germany (Mittwald), no US cloud, no tracking. Data processing agreement (DPA) available on request.
Does the Joomla Update Manager work with Joomla 3?
Joomla 3 has been end-of-life since August 2023 and is no longer supported. UpdateKing supports Joomla 4.x, 5.x and 6.x.
Further reading: Joomla Update Guide 2026 · Joomla maintenance for multiple sites · Joomla security checklist · Start for free