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Nothing happens unseen. Every login, edit, and update goes in the permanent record. Sentinel+ watches when patterns start to smell wrong.
A Day in Your Site's Life
Watch a typical 24-hour period unfold. Illustrative examples of the logins, content changes, plugin updates, and security events Sentinel can record on your site.
Filter by category, pause playback, or drag the timeline on mobile. Hover an event after it appears to read what was logged.
Works with the plugins that matter most
WooCommerce, CF7, WPForms, Gravity Forms, and Yoast. Enable them in the Event Registry.
Used on WordPress sites we build and support
Your Command Center
Every event, every insight, organized in one elegant dashboard
Memory Insights
Track memory usage across plugins, themes, and core in real-time. Identify memory hogs and optimize your site's performance with detailed breakdowns.
Performance Status
Batch logging with dashboard health widgets. Light on your database.
Activity Timeline
Visual timeline of all site activity with instant filtering by category, severity, and user. See what's happening across your entire WordPress installation.
Event Distribution
Understand your site's activity patterns at a glance. Interactive charts show event distribution by type, helping you spot trends and anomalies.
Hourly Heatmap
Visualize activity patterns across 24 hours. Identify peak usage times, detect suspicious behavior, and optimize your site's resources.
Choose Your Sentinel Experience
Start free, upgrade when you need more power
Sentinel
Activity logging, free
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Real-Time Event Logging
Track logins, content edits, plugin activations, and settings changes with full context. See who did what, when, and where.
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Activity Timeline
Browse a chronological history of every event. Your site's transparent record, ready whenever you need it.
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Recent Activity Feed
Dashboard shows the latest events as they are logged.
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Dashboard Overview
See today's totals and critical stats at a glance in a clean, modern interface designed for clarity.
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Batch Logging Queue
Efficient logging that reduces database strain by writing events in batches. Keeps your site fast.
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Automatic Log Cleanup
Keeps your site lean by automatically purging old or irrelevant logs. Set it and forget it.
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Role Exclusions
Skip logging for specific roles (like trusted admins or devs) while still tracking critical changes.
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Export (CSV, JSON, XML)
Export logs for compliance or analysis. Included in Free.
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Basic file monitoring
wp-config and .htaccess change alerts on Free.
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Read-Only REST API
Fetch logs and stats for your own workflows.
Sentinel+
Incidents, files, response
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Everything in Free
All the features from Sentinel Free, plus the powerful additions below.
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Incident Detection
Brute force, enumeration, and XML-RPC bursts grouped into incidents.
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Response Modes
Observe, throttle, or block. Default is observe. See docs for setup.
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Extended File Monitoring
Theme, plugin, and custom paths plus diff viewer. Beyond Free's wp-config check.
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Custom Events
Register your own events in the Event Registry.
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Priority Support
Fast-track support with expert help tailored to your site's setup and specific needs.
Competitors
Basic logging, limited visibility
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Partial Activity Logs
Paid log plugins often cost more and log less. We focus on a complete free tier.
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No Real-Time Stream
Many plugins refresh on a schedule, not as events land.
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Clunky, Outdated UI
Older admin UIs. Sentinel's dashboard is built for 2026.
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No Batch Logging
Per-event writes can slow busy sites. Sentinel batches by default.
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No Incident Awareness
Logging without incident grouping. You spot patterns yourself.
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No Role Controls
Everything logged equally. Hard to filter admin noise.
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No API Access
No REST API on some tiers. Sentinel includes one in Free.
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Slow, Email-Only Support
Support varies. We use our contact form for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Sentinel
Will Sentinel impact my site's performance?
No. Sentinel is built for minimal performance impact. Events queue in the background and write to the database in batches, so page loads are not blocked. You can adjust batch frequency, retention, and rate limits in Settings if you need to tune further.
- Batch logging reduces database writes during busy periods
- Indexed queries keep the activity log fast to search
- Automatic cleanup runs daily to keep tables lean
How long are logs stored?
Active logs are kept for 90 days by default, then automatically archived. You have full control over retention policies.
- Configure retention from 30 days to forever
- Archived logs are stored separately for long-term compliance
- Automatic cleanup runs daily to maintain performance
What events does Sentinel track?
Sentinel tracks dozens of default WordPress events: logins, content changes, plugin updates, errors, and more. WooCommerce, Contact Form 7, WPForms, Gravity Forms, and Yoast SEO events are available when you configure integrations in the Event Registry. Custom events are a Sentinel+ feature.
- Login/logout attempts and failed authentication
- Post, page, and comment creation or modifications
- Plugin activations, theme changes, and system updates
Is my data private?
Your logs stay on your server. Sentinel does not collect or transmit your site activity. Sentinel+ licence validation calls getsentinel.dev when you activate a licence.
- Self-hosted activity logs under your control
- Optional IP anonymization after 30 days
- We provide GDPR tools (IP anonymization, data export, role-based access, and audit logs) to help you comply. How you configure and use them is up to you.
Can I export my logs?
Yes. Export logs to CSV, JSON, or XML for compliance, analysis, or external monitoring tools.
- One-click export from the admin dashboard
- Filter by date range, event type, or user before exporting
- Perfect for audits, compliance reports, or data analysis
Does Sentinel require configuration?
No. Sentinel works immediately after activation with smart defaults. Configuration is optional for advanced users.
- Automatic event tracking starts on activation
- Pre-configured retention and cleanup policies
- Customize logging levels, retention, and event types if needed
What's included in Sentinel+?
Sentinel+ adds incident detection, extended file monitoring with a diff viewer, custom events, and optional throttle or block response modes. Everything in the free tier stays free, including basic wp-config and .htaccess monitoring.
- Brute force, enumeration, and XML-RPC flood detection
- Theme, plugin, and custom file path monitoring
- Priority email support for Plus subscribers
Does Sentinel work with other plugins?
Yes. Sentinel follows WordPress coding standards and uses standard hooks, making it compatible with virtually all plugins and themes.
- Works alongside security plugins, caching, and page builders
- WooCommerce, Contact Form 7, WPForms, and Yoast when those plugins are active
- Custom event registration requires Sentinel+
See What's Happening on Your WordPress Site
A clear record of logins, edits, updates, and errors. Free to start.