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Running a WordPress website without backups is risky. A single crash, hack, or update failure can lead to major data loss and downtime – it’s something no site owner wants to face.
That’s why taking a backup of your WordPress site is so crucial, and choosing the right plugin for it is also. These tools help you automatically save your site’s data and restore it whenever needed, giving you peace of mind and full control over your content.
As a trusted WordPress development company, we always recommend using reliable backup solutions. In this guide, we’ll explore the best WordPress backup plugins to keep your website safe and secure.
Table of Contents
Plugin | License & Pricing | Features | Ratings |
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Starts from $49.50/year for 2 sites | – Drag-and-drop site migrations – Scheduled backups – Military-grade encryption | 4.9(4734) |
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Starts from $70/year for 2 sites | – Free cloud integrations – Incremental backups – Flexible scheduling | 4.8(8063) |
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Starts from $59.40/year for 1 site | – Real-time backups – Activity logs for 30 days – Mobile restores via Jetpack app | 4.5(33) |
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Starts from $149/year for 1 site | – Real-time backups – Malware scanning and auto-cleanups – Built-in staging sites | 4.5(303) |
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Starts from $99/year for 1 site | – Daily activity timeline – Staging/deployment tools – AES-256 encryption | 4.3(6) |
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$30/year for 1 site | – Remote backups – Auto rollback features – Individual File Restorations | 4.8(423) |
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Starts from $69/year for 1 site | – Integration with cloud services – Complete site backup & database-only backup – Mobile app for emergency restoration | 4.0(1294) |
We don’t just recommend plugins based on popularity. We test every plugin. Backups may seem a minor thing, but when something goes wrong, they’re your website’s only safety net. That’s why our evaluation process is detailed and focused on what truly matters.
Here’s how we test each plugin:
With so many backup plugins out there, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. Some offer great features but are hard to use, while others are easy but lack flexibility.
Based on our hands-on testing and real-world experience, we’ve shortlisted the 7 best WordPress backup plugins that strike the perfect balance between reliability, ease of use, and performance. Let’s take a closer look at each one and see what makes them stand out.
Duplicator is one of the most trusted WordPress backup plugins, with over 1.5 million active installs. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user, it offers a smooth and powerful solution for handling backups and site migrations. Many of the websites we manage use Duplicator regularly.
During our testing, Duplicator handled full-site backups with ease, including all files, databases, and uploads. Another impressive feature that we found is partial backups if you only want to save specific sections, which is great for conserving storage space.
What we really appreciate about Duplicator is how intuitive it is. Even team members with little technical experience found it easy to set up and run, thanks to its step-by-step interface and clean layout.
Key features:
Pricing: Free version available. Pro plans start from $49.50/year and go up to $299.50/year.
Best for: Website owners looking for a beginner-friendly yet feature-rich backup and migration plugin that’s reliable for both small and large WordPress sites.
UpdraftPlus is one of the most well-known WordPress backup plugins, especially when it comes to remote storage support. What sets it apart is that it offers cloud backup integrations like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Amazon S3 right in the free version—no upgrade needed.
Our WordPress development team found its automatic scheduling features incredibly useful. You can set backups to run every few hours, daily, or weekly, which means your site is regularly protected without having to think about it. The dashboard is also beginner-friendly and offers one-click restore, making recovery quick and stress-free.
UpdraftPlus is a great choice for those who want reliable cloud backups without having to spend upfront. It’s flexible, easy to use, and gets the job done even in the free tier.
Key features:
Pricing: Free version available. Premium plans range from $70 to $399 per year.
Best for: Users looking for a powerful free backup plugin with remote cloud storage and flexible scheduling options.
Jetpack VaultPress Backup plugin is developed by Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com), so it’s no surprise it’s built with performance and security in mind. It’s especially useful for large websites and online stores that need dependable, real-time backup solutions.
What makes Jetpack stand out is that all backups run on its own servers, not yours. That means your website stays fast, even during full-site backups. We’ve tested it on busy sites, and the performance remained stable throughout. Plus, restoring your site is as simple as clicking a button, whether you need a full or partial recovery.
For WooCommerce stores, Jetpack VaultPress Backup is a solid option. It helps restore your site without losing recent customer orders or transaction data, which is a huge bonus.
Key features:
Pricing: No free version. Paid plans start at $4.95/month to $9.95/month (billed annually), ranging from $59.40 to $119.40 per year.
Best for: High-traffic websites or eCommerce stores that need real-time backups, minimal performance impact, and reliable restore options.
BlogVault isn’t a typical WordPress plugin; it’s a full-fledged SaaS (Software as a Service) solution. Instead of running backups directly on your website’s server, it creates and stores them off-site using its own infrastructure. This “zero-footprint” approach means your site’s performance stays fast and stable during backups.
We’ve tested BlogVault extensively and found it especially useful for eCommerce sites. It captures real-time changes in WooCommerce orders and customer data, which is crucial for store owners who can’t afford to lose transactions. The dashboard is packed with helpful tools, from uptime monitoring to malware scans and even Core Web Vitals tracking.
It’s definitely a premium option, but if you run a high-traffic or business-critical site, the added features and performance benefits are well worth the cost.
Key features:
Pricing: 7-day free trial available. Paid plans range from $149 to $499 per year.
Best for: Business and eCommerce websites looking for a secure, high-performance backup solution with advanced monitoring and real-time protection.
Solid Backups (previously known as BackupBuddy) is a cloud-based WordPress backup solution designed to keep your hosting server light. By handling backups off-site, it reduces the risk of slowdowns and performance dips during the backup process.
One of its standout features is the smart incremental backup system. Instead of backing up your whole site every time, it only saves changes made since the last backup. This keeps things fast and efficient, especially for content-heavy or frequently updated websites.
You also get flexible scheduling options and a clean interface to manage everything with ease. While it doesn’t work with every hosting provider, Solid Backups still delivers strong performance and useful features for most users.
Key features:
Pricing: Plans range from $6.99 to $69.96/month. A free version (Solid Security) is also available for database-only backups.
Best for: Users who want a fully cloud-based backup tool with smart incremental technology and strong encryption, all without needing to pay extra for premium features.
Total Upkeep is a great budget-friendly backup plugin that doesn’t compromise on core features. Starting at just $2.50 per month, it’s ideal for small business websites or personal blogs that need reliable backups without spending much.
What makes Total Upkeep stand out is its proactive approach to site safety. It includes a built-in Site Check tool that scans your website for potential issues before they cause damage. We also liked the auto-backup before software updates feature; it’s a smart way to avoid unexpected crashes.
If you’re looking for a low-cost plugin that offers both manual and scheduled backups, Total Upkeep is a solid pick. Just make sure it runs smoothly with your hosting setup.
Key features:
Pricing: Free version available. Premium plan starts at $2.50/month.
Best for: Website owners looking for an affordable backup plugin with smart safety features like automatic pre-update backups and system error detection.
BackWPup is a simple yet reliable WordPress backup plugin that’s perfect for users who don’t want to deal with complicated settings. It focuses on the essentials – backing up your site and restoring it when needed.
You can schedule automatic backups, store them remotely, and restore everything from within the WordPress dashboard. The interface is straightforward, making it easy for non-tech users to set up and manage their backups without confusion.
While its restore feature only works with backups made by the same plugin, BackWPup still offers excellent value, especially for small websites or personal projects.
Key features:
Pricing: Free version available. Paid plans range from $69 to $349 for the first year.
Best for: Bloggers, freelancers, and small business owners looking for a lightweight, easy-to-use backup plugin that focuses on the basics without unnecessary extras.
After thoroughly testing each plugin across different types of websites, here’s what our WordPress developers recommend:
If you want a reliable and full-featured backup solution, Duplicator is our top pick. Its simple interface, support for both full and partial backups, and advanced Pro features (like cloud storage and scheduling) make it suitable for almost every use case.
If you are looking for a powerful free plugin, UpdraftPlus is the right choice. It offers remote storage integrations like Google Drive and Dropbox at no cost, plus flexible backup scheduling.
Are you running a WooCommerce store? Jetpack VaultPress Backup is ideal. It keeps backups off your server to maintain performance and captures real-time order data for accurate recovery.
Whether you manage multiple WordPress websites, run an online store, or need custom backup automation, we can help. We offer complete WordPress development services, which include timely backups and maintenance checks. In one package, you can ensure reliable security, performance, and ongoing site management. Reach out to our experts to start your journey towards better WordPress management!
WordPress backups can be stored in different locations depending on the plugin or method you use. Common storage options include your website’s server, cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox, external servers, or local downloads to your computer. It’s best to store backups off-site for better safety and recovery.
By default, WordPress does not have a built-in backup tool. However, you can use popular backup plugins like UpdraftPlus, Duplicator, or Jetpack to create and manage backups easily. These tools let you automate backups and store them securely.
To set up automatic backups, install a backup plugin that supports scheduling, like UpdraftPlus, BlogVault, or Solid Backups. You can configure it to run backups daily, weekly, or even hourly, and choose where to store them (e.g., cloud or local).
You can back up your full WordPress site using a plugin like Duplicator or UpdraftPlus. These tools save all your files, database, themes, and plugins in one package.
For active sites, daily backups are best. For less frequently updated sites, weekly backups are usually enough. Schedule backups based on how often your content changes.
To upload a WordPress backup in cPanel, go to File Manager, navigate to your site’s root folder (usually public_html), and upload your backup files there. Then, use phpMyAdmin to restore your database. For easier restoration, some plugins also provide downloadable files with one-click restore options.
Choosing the right backup plugin depends on your website’s needs. After testing several tools, our team found Duplicator to be the best all-round solution for most WordPress users – it’s simple, flexible, and reliable.
If you’re looking for a free plugin with cloud storage, UpdraftPlus is a solid choice. And for online stores or WooCommerce websites, we highly recommend Jetpack VaultPress Backup for its real-time protection and performance-friendly setup.
If you need help managing multiple websites or building a custom WordPress solution, our development team is here to help. Contact us today to get started.