Overview
The Search Atlas CoWorker WordPress plugin and OTTO are two separate tools that can work independently of each other. A common point of confusion is whether activating the CoWorker plugin on a domain requires an OTTO project, and whether it uses up your available OTTO site slots. This article clarifies both questions and explains how multi-domain testing relates to your quota.
Does CoWorker Require an OTTO Project?
No. The CoWorker WordPress plugin does not require an OTTO project to function. You can install and activate CoWorker on any WordPress site purely as a standalone integration — including on a staging or test domain — without creating an OTTO project for that domain at all.
The two workflows are distinct:
- CoWorker only: Install the plugin on your WordPress site and connect it to your Search Atlas account independently. No OTTO setup is needed and no OTTO quota is consumed.
- CoWorker + OTTO: Create an OTTO project for a domain, then connect CoWorker to that same domain so OTTO can push optimisations directly to your WordPress site. This workflow does consume one OTTO site slot.
Does the CoWorker Plugin Count Against My OTTO Quota?
Only if you connect the plugin to an active OTTO project. Here is a simple breakdown:
- CoWorker plugin installed, no OTTO project created: Zero OTTO quota consumed.
- CoWorker plugin connected to an OTTO project: One OTTO site slot is used for that domain.
This means installing CoWorker on a test or staging domain without creating an OTTO project for it leaves your OTTO site slots completely untouched.
Multi-Domain Testing and Switching to Production
Because CoWorker and OTTO are independent, you can safely install CoWorker on a staging domain to verify it is working, and later install it on your production domain, without affecting your OTTO quota at any point during that process. Only when you choose to create an OTTO project and link it to a specific domain will a slot be consumed for that domain.
If you are unsure how to connect CoWorker to your Search Atlas account, or how to link an OTTO project to CoWorker once you are ready for production, our support team can walk you through the exact steps for your account setup.
When You Are Ready to Add OTTO to Production
If you later decide to activate OTTO on your production domain to automate on-page optimisations, you will need to create an OTTO project for that domain and link it to CoWorker. At that point, one OTTO site slot will be consumed. If you need help with this step, reach out to our team with your project name and the domain you want to activate OTTO on, so we can confirm the correct setup for your account.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.