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Custom plugin development

Bespoke WordPress plugins, engineered to last.

When an off-the-shelf plugin doesn't fit, or twelve of them are fighting each other, we build one that does exactly what you need. REST APIs, WooCommerce extensions, Gutenberg blocks, CRM bridges and bespoke admin tools. Clean code you own, with tests, docs and a changelog.

  • PSR-12 PHP, unit tested, WordPress Coding Standards clean
  • Full source and Git repo delivered, no lock-in
  • Compatible with multisite, WooCommerce HPOS and PHP 8.2+
Custom plugin development at Sky Web Design
Plugin team
80+
Custom plugins shipped & maintained
12yrs
Building for the WordPress API, since 2013
100%
Pass WP Coding Standards on release
1
On the official wordpress.org directory

What we build

Six kinds of plugin we ship most often.

Your job probably sits near one of these. If it doesn't, ask: we've built stranger.

Payment & donation

Stripe, GoCardless, Apple/Google Pay, PayPal. Subscriptions, Gift Aid, receipts, webhooks. PCI-conscious by default.

  • Stripe Elements + SCA
  • HMRC Gift Aid submissions
  • Idempotent webhook handlers

WooCommerce extensions

Bespoke shipping methods, product configurators, B2B rules and subscription logic. HPOS-ready and HPOS-tested.

  • Custom payment gateways
  • Shipping / tax calculators
  • Role-based quotes & rules

REST / GraphQL APIs

Expose WordPress data properly. Rate-limited endpoints, JWT or OAuth auth, strict schemas and full OpenAPI docs.

  • Authentication (JWT / OAuth 2)
  • Rate limiting & throttling
  • OpenAPI 3.1 docs

Gutenberg blocks

Custom blocks with the real block editor: Inspector controls, InnerBlocks, block patterns. Not a re-skinned shortcode.

  • block.json registration
  • Dynamic + server-rendered blocks
  • Matching editor / frontend CSS

CRM / ERP bridges

Two-way sync to Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, Dynamics, Xero and Sage. Queue-backed, retry-safe and auditable.

  • Bi-directional sync jobs
  • Action Scheduler queues
  • Field-mapping admin UI

Admin & workflow tools

Internal dashboards, bulk editors, reporting, import/export. The things your ops team asks for, built once, properly.

  • Custom admin screens
  • Bulk & CSV pipelines
  • Role & capability control

Get a quote

Three shapes of plugin engagement.

Starting points: your exact brief shapes the final quote. Everything comes with a Git repo, tests and documentation, regardless of size.

Custom plugin development optionsScoped builds and support options. Every plugin ships with PHPUnit tests and a README.
Quoted after scope

Targeted

Single-purpose plugin

One job, done well. A Gutenberg block set, a single-gateway integration, a shortcode-driven widget.

Get a quote

Delivered in 2–3 weeks

Get a quote
Scope
Single feature
Admin UI
Settings page
REST endpoints
Up to 2
Custom blocks
Up to 3
Integrations
1 third-party
Tests
PHPUnit smoke
Documentation
README + PHPDoc
Warranty
30-day bug fix
Most popular

Platform

Multi-feature plugin

A proper admin area, several features, a REST API and a reporting dashboard. The size most client work lands at.

Get a quote

Delivered in 5–8 weeks

Get a quote
Scope
5–10 features
Admin UI
Full React admin
REST endpoints
Up to 10
Custom blocks
Up to 8
Integrations
Up to 3 third-party
Tests
PHPUnit + Playwright
Documentation
README + user guide
Warranty
60-day + 3-mo priority

Product

Distributable plugin

A SaaS-style plugin for your own customers. Licensing, auto-updates, multi-tenant and wordpress.org submission support.

Get a quote

Delivered in 10–16 weeks

Get a quote
Scope
Productised
Licensing
EDD / Freemius / custom
Auto-update server
Included
REST endpoints
Unlimited
Multisite / multi-tenant
Yes
Tests & CI
PHPUnit + GH Actions
wordpress.org submission
Supported
Warranty & retainer
90-day + ongoing

Technology

The engineering stack behind every plugin.

Built around the WordPress API, tested like production software, and integrated with the systems your business already uses: Stripe, GoCardless, HMRC Gift Aid, Salesforce, HubSpot and accounting tools.

WordPress-native logic.

Custom post types, admin screens, REST endpoints, cron jobs, permissions and settings built with the WordPress APIs instead of fragile theme hacks.

  • PHP 8.3
  • WordPress API
  • REST
  • WP-CLI

Admin interfaces people can use.

Clean wp-admin workflows with React where it helps, native list tables where they are faster, and clear states for staff who live in the dashboard.

  • React
  • TypeScript
  • Block editor
  • Accessibility

Commerce and CRM ready.

Payment, Gift Aid, quote, booking and CRM integrations are scoped as first-class workflows, not added as risky afterthoughts at launch.

  • WooCommerce
  • Stripe
  • GoCardless
  • CRM sync

Testing and quality

Quality gates before the plugin touches a live site.

Every serious plugin needs more than a happy-path demo. We check data, security, browser behaviour and future WordPress updates before handover.

  • PHPUnitCore logic and edge-case coverage.
  • PHPCS / PHPStanStandards, types and maintainability.
  • PlaywrightBrowser checks for critical admin flows.
  • GitHub ActionsRepeatable checks on every change.
  • Security reviewNonces, capability checks and sanitisation.
  • Upgrade pathMigrations, uninstall and versioned releases.

Process

From spec to shipped, in five stages.

Every plugin comes with a proper technical specification before a line of code is written. You approve the spec; we stick to it.

  1. 1Week 1

    Discovery

    What problem, what users, what integrations. We'll tell you if an existing plugin already solves this, saving you the build.

  2. 2Weeks 1–2

    Technical spec

    Data model, REST endpoints, admin UI wireframes, security model. You sign off. Fixed cost from here.

  3. 3Weeks 2–7

    Build & test

    Two-week sprints with a staging build and demo every Friday. PHPUnit + Playwright running on every PR.

  4. 4Weeks 6–8

    UAT & hardening

    You (and your users) hammer it on staging. Security review, WordPress Coding Standards pass, compatibility sweep.

  5. 5Week 8+

    Release & support

    Versioned release, changelog, docs, Loom walkthrough. Optional retainer for updates and WordPress core compatibility.

Questions

Plugin questions, answered.

Something else on your mind?

Ask us directly

Everything from a single Gutenberg block or payment gateway to full SaaS-style products with licensing and auto-updates: WooCommerce extensions, REST and GraphQL APIs, CRM and ERP bridges, and internal admin tools.

Yes. Every custom plugin ships with the full Git repository, README, CHANGELOG and developer docs. There is no lock-in, so any competent WordPress developer can maintain it.

Yes. We build to PSR-12 with strict types, pass the WordPress Coding Standards (PHPCS) and PHPStan, and test with PHPUnit and Playwright before handover.

Yes. We audit the existing code first, then extend, refactor or repair it, or recommend a rebuild if the code cannot be maintained safely.

Yes. We build and test against WooCommerce HPOS, WordPress multisite and PHP 8.2+, and keep pace with each WooCommerce and WordPress release.

Yes. We build queue-backed, retry-safe integrations with Stripe, GoCardless, HMRC Gift Aid, Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, Xero and custom REST or GraphQL APIs.

Yes. For distributable products we handle wordpress.org submission, along with licensing, an auto-update server and multi-tenant support.

A single-purpose plugin takes 2–3 weeks, a multi-feature plugin 5–8 weeks, and a distributable product 10–16 weeks. You get a fixed timeline at spec sign-off.

Every plugin is quoted to scope once the technical spec is agreed. Pricing depends on the features, integrations, testing and whether it is for one site or for distribution.

Yes. Every plugin includes a post-launch bug warranty, and most clients move to a retainer for updates, new features and WordPress core compatibility.

Got a plugin idea?
Let's scope it.

Tell us what the plugin needs to do, who uses it and where it fits in your stack. We'll come back within two working days with a real quote and a spec.

07495 462515info@skywebdesign.co.uk

Sky Web Design

Sky Web Design Verified

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