WordPress backup plugins are essential tools for website owners to safeguard and secure their valuable content.
The best WordPress backup plugins not only secure the website data but also provide an easy way to restore the site in case of any mishaps.
However, with numerous options available in the market, choosing the best WP backup plugin can be a daunting task.
Hence, we have curated this article to help you find the best way to back up your WordPress site in 2024. We’ll also list a few standout solutions catering to user needs and preferences.
What to look for in a WordPress backup plugin?
- Ease of use: The plugin should be easy to install and use, especially for people with limited technical experience. Look for a plugin with a clean interface and clear instructions to help you configure the backup process effortlessly.
- Comprehensive backups: The best backup plugins should back up your entire website, including the database, files, themes, plugins, and media uploads. This ensures you can restore your site to its previous state in case of an issue.
- Backup scheduling: A decent plugin should allow you to schedule automated backups at predetermined intervals, such as daily, weekly, or monthly. This keeps your website consistently backed up and updated without any intervention.
- Incremental backups: These backups allow you to save only those changes made to your site since the last backup. This function reduces storage space requirements and speeds up the backup process.
- Multiple storage options: Select a plugin that supports various storage types, including local storage, cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3), and remote FTP/SFTP servers. This allows you to store your backups in several places, assuring data redundancy and ease of access.
- Encryption and security: The backup plugin should encrypt your data during storage and transfer to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, the plugin should adhere to standard security practices to ensure your website’s security.
Best WordPress backup plugins
1. Duplicate Pro
Duplicator Pro is a robust, easy-to-use WordPress backup plugin trusted by over 1.5 million website owners worldwide. It streamlines the process of backing up, migrating, and cloning your WordPress site, even for those with limited technical experience.
The plugin allows users to create either manual or scheduled WordPress backups and then securely store them on popular cloud platforms like Dropbox, Google Drive, FTP, OneDrive, and Amazon S3.
Managing backups is simple, and you can view them all directly from your WordPress dashboard. When restoring a backup, the Duplicator Recovery Wizard provides step-by-step guidance, ensuring a smooth process.
Duplicator Pro includes comprehensive backup features, such as full WordPress file and database backups, recovery points, archive encryption for added security, and more.
Additionally, the plugin boasts advanced migration capabilities, including an intuitive migration wizard, a streamlined installation process, server-to-server transfers, multisite network migrations, pre-configured site customization, and support for large sites.
According to WPBeginner, Duplicator Pro is highly reliable for a variety of website migrations, particularly when handling complex migration tasks.
Price: Starting at $49 for the premium version
2. UpdraftPlus
UpdraftPlus is the most widely used free WordPress backup plugin on the Internet, with over 3 million websites utilizing its services.
This versatile plugin allows users to create comprehensive backups of their WordPress sites and offers storage options on cloud platforms or direct download to their computers.
UpdraftPlus supports both scheduled and on-demand backups, allowing users to select specific files to include in the backup process.
The plugin seamlessly uploads backups to a variety of cloud storage services, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, S3, Rackspace, FTP, SFTP, and email.
In addition to creating backups for individual WordPress websites, UpdraftPlus also makes it easy to restore backups directly from the WordPress admin panel.
UpdraftPlus offers a premium version for users seeking additional functionality. This includes add-ons for website migration or cloning, database search and replace, multisite support, and more. Premium subscribers also receive priority support.
Price: Starting at $70 / year for the premium version
3. CodeGuard
CodeGuard is an automated website backup service that ensures the safety of your WordPress site. With daily backups, CodeGuard provides a robust solution to protect your website from data loss and security breaches.
CodeGuard offers seamless integration with WordPress, enabling users to easily set up and manage their backups. The plugin supports incremental backups, which means it only backs up changes made since the last backup, saving both time and storage space.
Users can store their backups on CodeGuard’s cloud storage, ensuring that their data is always accessible and secure. The plugin also provides a one-click restore feature, making it easy to revert to a previous version of your site if needed.
In addition to backup and restore features, CodeGuard includes website monitoring and malware detection, alerting users to any potential issues and helping them maintain a secure website environment.
Price: Starting at $49/ month for a professional version
4. Jetpack VaultPress Backup
Jetpack VaultPress Backup, developed by Automattic—the company founded by WordPress co-creator Matt Mullenweg—was originally launched as VaultPress. It has since been revamped and rebranded as Jetpack Backups.
Jetpack Backups provide automated daily and real-time cloud backups without compromising site speed. Setting up and restoring backups is a quick and straightforward process. Jetpack’s higher tier plans also include security scans and other robust features.
However, Jetpack backups present some challenges for beginners. First, the recurring cost for multiple WordPress sites can accumulate since pricing is per-site.
Second, the purchasing process is somewhat complex, requiring the installation of the Jetpack plugin to obtain a subscription. Fortunately, users can deactivate non-essential Jetpack features except for backups to prevent site slowdowns.
Finally, lower-tier plans only offer 30-day backup storage. Unlimited backup archives require a $4.95 monthly fee per website, which may be cost-prohibitive for beginners compared to alternative solutions.
Price: Starting at $120 / year for the premium version
5. Solid Backups
Solid Backups has gained recognition as a highly sought-after premium WordPress backup plugin. Over half a million WordPress sites utilize its services. The plugin enables users to schedule daily, weekly, and monthly backups effortlessly.
One of the primary benefits of Solid Backups is its compatibility with several cloud storage options, such as Dropbox, Amazon S3, Rackspace Cloud, FTP, and Stash (their proprietary cloud service), which also supports real-time backups. Additionally, users can have backups emailed directly to them.
Another significant advantage of Solid Backups is its non-subscription-based pricing model, eliminating monthly fees. According to the chosen plan, the plugin can be used on multiple websites. Users also enjoy access to premium support forums, regular updates, and 1GB of Stash Live storage for backup purposes. The iThemes Sync feature further enhances the plugin’s functionality by allowing users to manage up to 10 WordPress sites from a single dashboard.
Solid Backups also allows duplicate, migrate, and restore websites easily.
Price: Starting at $99 / year for the premium version
6. BlogVault
BlogVault distinguishes itself as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution for WordPress backups rather than a traditional plugin. By creating offsite backups on its servers, BlogVault ensures no additional load on your server.
BlogVault automatically creates daily backups, with the option for users to initiate unlimited on-demand backups as necessary. The service employs smart incremental backups that only sync changes, minimizing server load and maintaining peak performance for your WordPress site.
Restoring your website is simple with BlogVault’s backup archive. The archive offers 90-day storage on lower plans and 365-day storage on higher-tier plans, providing ample recovery options. Furthermore, in the event of server failure, BlogVault backups remain accessible for quick site restoration.
BlogVault also includes a built-in staging site feature for easy website testing and offers a convenient option for website migration to another host.
While BlogVault’s features cater to the needs of small businesses, it may be more expensive per site compared to self-hosted plugins like Duplicator, Updraft, or Solid Backups.
Price: Starting at $149 / year for the premium version
7. BoldGrid Backup
BoldGrid Backup offers Total Upkeep, an automated WordPress backup solution that streamlines the process of creating backups, restoring sites post-crash, and facilitating migration when switching hosts. Users can configure automated backups or manually initiate them with a single click.
Total Upkeep features automated fault protection, automatically backing up your site before updates. If an update fails, it promptly reverts your WordPress site to the most recent backup, ensuring protection against update errors.
With BoldGrid’s Total Upkeep, users can store backup archives on their dashboard and in remote storage locations, including Amazon S3, FTP, or SFTP.
Price: Starting at $30 / year for the premium version
8. BackWPup
BackWPup is a free plugin that enables users to create comprehensive WordPress backups at no cost. It supports various storage options, including cloud services (such as Dropbox, Amazon S3, and Rackspace), FTP, email, or directly on your computer.
The plugin boasts a user-friendly interface that allows users to schedule automatic backups based on the frequency of their site’s updates. Additionally, restoring a WordPress site from a backup using BackWPup is straightforward.
Opting for the BackWPup Pro version gives users priority support, Google Drive storage capabilities, and other attractive features.
Price: Starting at $69 / year for the premium version
9. WP Database Backup
Backup for WP’s WP Database Backup simplifies the process of creating and restoring WordPress backups. Users can generate a backup or restore their site with just a single click. The plugin offers both manual and automatic backup options, with the ability to store backups on various third-party cloud storage platforms, including Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, and FTP.
Price: Starting at $149 / year for the premium version
10. WP Time Capsule
WP Time Capsule diligently backs up each modification made on your website, ensuring your files remain secure and up-to-date with automatic backups. This protection defends your site against hackers, providing peace of mind that restoration is just a single click away should your site be compromised.
Using WP Time Capsule, you can safely test updates and changes on a staging site, eliminating any downtime risks. Moreover, you have the option to store your backups using third-party tools, granting you total control over your backup management.
Price: Starting at $49 / year for the premium version
11. WPvivid
WPvivid is a versatile plugin that offers backup, migration, and staging features for your WordPress website. It is suitable for agencies, website owners, and freelancers alike.
The plugin is compatible with various third-party cloud storage options, enabling users to save their backups on platforms such as Amazon S3, DigitalOcean Spaces, Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, FTP, or SFTP.
WPvivid’s user-friendly design ensures that even complete beginners can easily install and utilize the plugin without any difficulties.
Price: Starting at $49 / year for the premium version
12. Backup Migration
Backup Migration is recognized as one of the most user-friendly WordPress backup plugins on the market. It allows users to easily schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups.
Additionally, the plugin enables complete website migration with just a few simple clicks.
Although Backup Migration may not boast the extensive feature set as some other WordPress backup plugins, it provides all the necessary tools for comprehensive backup and restoration of your entire website.
Price: Starting at $60 / year for the premium version
Why it is important to backup WordPress?
- Data protection: Websites face numerous threats such as hacking, malware, data corruption, and human errors. Regular backups ensure you have a secure copy of your website’s data, including files, themes, plugins, and databases, which can be restored if lost or damaged.
- Protect against updates and changes: Updates to WordPress core, themes, or plugins can create compatibility issues or even damage your site. Having a backup allows you to roll back to a prior, stable version of your site if an upgrade fails.
- Disaster recovery: Backups act as a backup strategy in case of server breakdowns, hardware problems, or hosting issues, allowing you to restore your website and reduce downtime swiftly.
- Ease of migration: Backups make it easier to transfer your website to a different hosting provider or server. You can easily restore the backup on the new host without manually transferring all files and databases.
- Peace of mind: Knowing your website’s data is securely backed up provides a sense of security and confidence. In the case of an unanticipated occurrence, you may restore your website and maintain your online presence with minimum inconvenience.
Final thoughts: Best WordPress backup plugins for 2024
As we navigate through 2024, website owners must prioritize the security and protection of their valuable content by utilizing the best WordPress backup plugins available. These top 12 backup plugins cater to a wide range of user needs, budgets, and preferences. Whether you want a free solution or a paid plugin with sophisticated features, these backup plugins provide ease of use, comprehensive backups, different storage options, and smooth restore capabilities.
By selecting the right backup plugin for your website, you can ensure your data is secure, quickly recoverable, and protected from potential errors or server outages.
WordPress backup plugins FAQs
The best way to back up a WordPress site is by using a reliable backup plugin, such as UpdraftPlus, Duplicator Pro, or Jetpack Backups. These plugins allow you to create complete site backups, schedule automatic backups, and store them on cloud storage services or your local computer.
To back up your WordPress plugin, select a backup plugin that includes plugin files in the backup process. Once you have installed and configured the backup plugin, it will automatically create a backup of your entire site, including themes, plugins, other files, and the database.
To automate WordPress backups, choose a backup plugin that offers scheduling options. Configure the plugin to perform automatic backups at regular intervals—daily, weekly, or monthly—to ensure that your site is consistently backed up and up to date without manual intervention.
