Having the best backup plugins for WordPress isn’t optional; it’s essential. Ever had a WordPress update go wrong or a plugin conflict crash your site? Not backing up your site is like driving without insurance. It only takes one bad day to lose everything.
Whether you’re running a simple blog or a high-traffic WooCommerce store, a reliable backup plugin can save your data, time, and sanity.
I’ve tested dozens of them on shared hosting, LiteSpeed servers, and even staging setups to bring a curated list of the most reliable, beginner-friendly, and performance-safe backup plugins out there.
From free options with cloud storage to premium solutions with real-time protection, you’ll find a tool that fits your needs.
Let’s explore the top 7 plugins that’ll keep your WordPress site protected—no tech degree required.
What Is Backup Plugins for WordPress?
By implementing caching, your site can load faster, improving user experience and SEO rankings. Caching plugins function by storing static versions of your site’s dynamic content. When a user visits your site, the plugin serves the cached version, reducing the need for the server to process the same requests repeatedly.
This process decreases page load times, conserves server resources, and enhances overall site performance. Some plugins also offer features like image optimization, database cleanup, and integration with content delivery networks (CDNs) to further boost speed.
Why Trust This List?
This isn’t a generic roundup. I’ve personally tested every plugin listed here across shared hosting, WooCommerce stores, and managed WordPress setups.
Each plugin was reviewed for backup speed, restore reliability, ease of use, and cloud storage support. I didn’t just install and browse; I ran real backups, simulated crashes, and tested full-site restores.
All tools on this list are regularly updated, work with the latest WordPress version, and are trusted by thousands. They’re selected based on hands-on testing, user reviews, and long-term stability, not just features on paper.
These are the best backup plugins for WordPress if you want proven tools, not guesses.
Top 7 Backup Plugins for WordPress Comparison
Not sure which backup plugin suits you best? The table below offers a quick, side-by-side comparison of the top 7 best backup plugins for WordPress in 2025 based on core features, cloud storage support, automation, and ease of use.
Whether you’re a beginner looking for a free option or a power user managing WooCommerce stores, this snapshot will help you find a reliable backup solution in seconds.
| Plugins | Best For | Cloud Storage | Auto Backup | Site Migration | Free Version |
| UpdraftPlus | All websites | Google Drive, Dropbox, more | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Backuply | Beginners | Google Drive, FTP, WebDAV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BackWPup | Simple use | Dropbox, S3, FTP | Yes | No | Yes |
| JetBackup | LiteSpeed hosts | Google Drive, S3, FTP | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Total Upkeep | BoldGrid users | Amazon S3, FTP | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WP STAGING | Dev/Staging workflows | Local, Cloud Pro | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Jetpack VaultPress | WooCommerce, High-traffic | Jetpack Cloud | Yes | Yes | No(Paid Only) |
Now that you’ve seen the big picture, let’s break down each plugin. I’ll walk you through their strengths, weaknesses, and key features, and who they’re best suited for, starting with the most popular one: UpdraftPlus.
1. UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration
UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup and Migration is a top choice for WordPress backups, trusted by millions. The free version offers automated backups, cloud storage support, and easy restoration, all from your dashboard.
The premium upgrade adds powerful features like incremental backups that save only changed files, saving space and server load. You also get a migration tool for moving or cloning your site, plus encryption and admin locks for added security.
Whether you run a blog or a WooCommerce store, UpdraftPlus is a flexible and reliable backup solution that adapts to your needs.
Key Features of UpadraftPlus
- Automated Scheduled Backups: Set it and forget it. UpdraftPlus lets you schedule backups daily, weekly, or even hourly. This ensures your WordPress site is always protected without manual effort.
- Remote Storage Integration (Even in Free Version): Easily connect to popular cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, Rackspace, OneDrive, and FTP/SFTP. No need for extra add-ons; remote storage comes built-in.
- One-Click Restore from Dashboard: Restoring your site takes just a click. Whether it’s a file, a plugin, or your entire database, you can bring everything back directly from your WordPress dashboard without touching any code.
- Incremental Backups (Premium): Instead of backing up the whole site every time, UpdraftPlus Premium only saves what’s changed—cutting down on server load and saving space in your cloud storage.
- Full-Site Migration Tool (Premium): Need to clone or move your site to a new domain or server? UpdraftPlus Premium makes migration simple with a built-in tool that handles URLs, file paths, and even database updates automatically.
- Backup Encryption & Admin Locking (Premium): Security-focused users will love that UpdraftPlus Premium supports encrypted database backups and the ability to lock access to backup settings, keeping your data safe from unauthorized users.
- Multi-Site Compatible: Whether you manage a single WordPress site or a whole network (WordPress Multisite), UpdraftPlus has the flexibility to scale with you.
- Smart Retention Rules (Premium): Automatically manage how many backups are stored. You can keep daily backups for a week, weekly backups for a month, and so on without clogging your storage.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Powerful free version with remote backup support. | Free version lacks backup for core files like wp-config.php, .htaccess, and others. |
| Restore, scheduling, and remote backup are intuitive and reliable for most users. | Can use significant server resources during full backups on low-end hosting. |
| Premium adds migration, multi-destination backups and encryption. | Premium version has a price tag, but not essential for small blogs. |
| Backed by a huge user base and years of real-world testing. | Past WordPress issues underscore the importance of keeping plugin versions up to date. |
UpdraftPlus offers one of the most reliable free WordPress backup plugins with remote storage support. Premium adds incremental backups, encryption, and one-click migration, making it a top choice for businesses and WooCommerce stores alike.
2. Backuply – Backup, Restore, Migrate and Clone
Backuply plugin is a newer plugin but punches above its weight. Even its free version supports cloud backups (like Google Drive, FTP, WebDAV), one-click restore, and easy migration. It’s clean, simple, and built with beginners in mind, yet offers advanced power where you need it.
Key Features
- Automatic Scheduled Backups: Set up daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Premium lets you choose exactly what to back up and when.
- One-Click Restore: Roll back your entire site or just the database/files in a click—no code, no stress.
- Cloud Storage Integration: Free supports Google Drive and FTP; premium adds Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon S3, WebDAV, FTPS, SFTP, DigitalOcean Spaces, Linode, Vultr, and Cloudflare R2.
- Website Migration & Cloning: Effortlessly move or clone your entire site. URLs and paths adjust automatically. Minimal downtime.
- Local Backup & Database‑Only Pickup: Backup locally or just the database if you’re tight on space.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy interface for beginners. | Premium needed for full cloud support. |
| Plenty of remote storage options. | Free version lacks scheduling and remote push. |
| Flexible: full, file-only, or DB-only backup. | Limited fine‑tuned control in free tier. |
| Smooth migration and site cloning. | Backup rotation/pruning requires upgrade. |
| Fast setup with one-click backup/restore. |
Backuply feels like a thoughtful, user‑friendly plugin. It’s beginner‑friendly yet powerful and offers great value with premium plans.
It balances simplicity and features well, perfect for anyone who wants reliable backups and migration tools without complexity.
3. BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore
BackWPup is a well-established, reliable backup plugin that handles WordPress backups with solid stability. It’s been improving steadily, and version 5.x in early 2025 brought key enhancements like hourly schedules and improved restore workflows.
Key Features
- Full Backup Support: Backup your complete WordPress files, including wp-content and
- Flexible Storage Options: The free version connects to Dropbox, AWS S3, FTP, Rackspace, Azure, and SugarSync. Pro adds extra choices like Google Drive, OneDrive, Amazon Glacier, and
- Automated Scheduling: Schedule backups hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly from the free version.
- One-Click Restore & Standalone App: Easily restore from a backup through the WordPress dashboard. The pro version includes a standalone restore app for situations when your site is
- Encrypted Archives (Pro): Secure your backup data with encryption, ideal for sensitive
- Site Migration Tools: BackWPup Pro offers migration support that handles URL and path changes automatically.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Free version supports hourly scheduling and multiple external storage. | Free version lacks standalone restore or encryption. |
| Pro adds encrypted backups, migration tools, and premium support. | Interface feels slightly outdated for new users |
| Handles large websites reliably, even databases over 30 GB. | Restores may be slow compared to premium tools. |
| Solid reputation among WordPress users for reliability. | Fewer advanced features than UpdraftPlus Pro or Jetpack. |
BackWPup is a free WordPress backup plugin that supports hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly backups and integrates with external storage like Dropbox and S3. Pro unlocks encrypted backups, standalone restore app, and site migration tools.
It is ideal if you want a robust free backup plugin with flexible scheduling and storage options. The Pro upgrade delivers encryption and failsafe restores, useful if your site crashes completely.
It scores high on reliability, especially for large or complex sites, and the standalone restore feature is a lifesaver if WordPress breaks.
4. JetBackup – Backup, Restore & Migrate
JetBackup is made for speed and power, especially if you’re using a LiteSpeed host. It’s built to scale and handle large sites effortlessly. Even the free plan gives you unlimited backups and restores. Pro unlocks migration, cloud uploads, scheduling, and more.
JetBackup Key Features
- Advanced Scheduling (Pro): Automate hourly, daily, weekly, or yearly backups with multiple profiles.
- Unlimited On-Demand Backups: Create custom or full backups—no limits on volume or frequency.
- Cloud Storage Integration (Pro): Upload to Google Drive, Dropbox, S3, OneDrive, Box, pCloud, and FTP.
- Smart Migration & Cross-Domain Restore (Pro): Move sites between hosts or domains effortlessly, with path and URL updates handled.
- Granular Backup Control: Choose precisely which files, folders, or database tables to back up or exclude.
- Backup Retention & Background Mode (Pro): Control how many backups are kept, and run jobs in low priority to avoid server strain.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Free tier supports unlimited backups and manual restores. | Cloud upload and scheduling require Pro license. |
| Ideal for LiteSpeed hosting environments fast and efficient. | Interface can feel technical for beginner users. |
| Smart migration makes switching domains or hosts seamless. | Not widely available outside cPanel‑style environments. |
| Background mode reduces resource usage during backup tasks. | Incremental settings may need adjusting for retention policies. |
| Excellent control over backup contents and destination. | Migration requires plugin installed on both source and target sites. |
JetBackup is a high‑performance WordPress backup plugin that offers unlimited backups and restores. It supports granular file/database selection, advanced scheduling, cloud uploads, and cross‑domain migration, perfect for LiteSpeed hosts.
JetBackup shines if you want performance without compromise. It’s robust enough for WooCommerce and high-traffic sites, thanks to granular backups and efficient file handling.
Migration is seamless even across domains or hosts. Plus, the free starter tier is surprisingly generous; just add Pro if you need scheduling or cloud uploads.
5. Total Upkeep – WordPress Backup Plugin
Total Upkeep (formerly BoldGrid Backup) is more than a backup tool; it’s a full site maintenance manager by BoldGrid. It combines automated backups, safe updates, rollback protection, and migration tools in one neat package. Perfect if you want peace of mind and easy restoration features.
Total Upkeep Key Features
- Automated and Manual Backups: Schedule backups or run one anytime with a click.
- Custom Backup Control: Include/exclude files, folders, or database tables. Preview what will be backed up.
- Backup Before Updates: Automatically take a snapshot before WordPress, themes, or plugins update—then roll back if something breaks.
- Restore Single Files & Past Versions (Premium): Restore just one file from your backup archives and browse file versions by date.
- Easy Migration Across Hosts: Generate a protected download link on one site and restore it on another; the magic link handles domain and path issues.
- Remote Storage Options (Free vs. Premium): The basic version supports FTP/SFTP. Premium adds Google Drive, Amazon S3, DreamObjects, and automated uploads.
- Site Health & Diagnostic Tools: Includes “Site Check” to monitor issues that may cause crashes and auto-restore if needed.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Combines backup, update safety, rollback, and migration. | Premium needed for Google Drive, S3, and advanced restore features. |
| Auto backups before updates reduce downtime risk. | Scheduling interface isn’t as polished as newer plugins. |
| Restore single files, great when you just need to fix one part. | Resource-intensive during backup on low-end servers. |
| Migration with protected link is simple and efficient. | Not as well-known as UpdraftPlus, fewer community guides. |
Total Upkeep is a comprehensive WordPress backup and maintenance plugin that automates backups, protects live updates, supports file-level restore, and enables easy site migration, all in one solution.
If you want more than a backup tool, like update rollback, site health checks, and migration, Total Upkeep is a strong pick.
Its protected‑link migration and single‑file restore features really shine during emergencies. Real users love how easy it is to set up: “Used this utility for over a week; it’s very easy, and well, it works!”
6. WP STAGING – Backup & Migration Plugin
WP STAGING started as a staging tool but has matured into a full backup and migration plugin. Even the free version now supports fast backups with enterprise-level performance. The Pro version unlocks cloud uploads, scheduled backups, and seamless site pushing.
Key Features of WP Staging
- Full & Incremental Backups: Free plans let you clone or back up your entire site. Pro adds scheduled and incremental backups for efficiency.
- Staging & Migration Tools: Clone sites quickly to a subfolder, subdomain, or new server. Pro supports site push and migration across hosts with automatic URL rewriting.
- High Performance & Background Processing: Designed to handle large sites (50 GB+) without server slowdowns, even on shared hosting. Backups run in the background to reduce load.
- Cloud Storage Integration (Pro Only): Upload automatically to Google Drive, Amazon S3, Dropbox, DigitalOcean Spaces, Wasabi, FTP/SFTP, pCloud, or Generic S3.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Extremely fast backups and cloning. | Cloud backup, migration push, and restore require Pro. |
| Free version offers reliable backup and staging. | Free doesn’t support cloud storage or scheduled backup. |
| Push staging changes with one click (Pro) simplifies development workflows. | Migration failures reported by users when pushing (Pro) in tricky cases. |
| Enterprise tested and supports large multisite networks. | Free lacks offsite backup, incremental tools, and advanced filtering. |
WP STAGING is a powerful WordPress plugin that combines staging, cloning, and backup capabilities. In its free version, you get fast full backups and staging.
The Pro upgrade adds cloud uploads, backup scheduling, incremental backups, and one-click push to live sites. WP STAGING blends staging and backup features for developers or site managers who need reliable testing environments.
It’s lightning-fast even for large sites and handles operations in the background so your live site stays snappy. The Pro version is ideal if you value scheduled offsite backups or want to push changes to live sites without manual migration.
7. Jetpack VaultPress Backup
Jetpack VaultPress Backup is a premium WordPress backup plugin built by Automattic and designed for real-time protection. It’s especially reliable for e-commerce sites like WooCommerce stores.
Must-have if you’re managing live content and can’t afford to lose even a single post, comment, or order.
Key Features
- Real-Time & Daily Backups: Captures every change immediately, including posts, pages, comments, media, themes, or settings updates—plus daily full-site backups.
- Cloud-Based Redundant Storage: Backups are encrypted and stored across multiple Jetpack cloud servers, removing load from your host.
- One-Click Restore: Restore your site instantly even if it’s offline. Use the WordPress dashboard or mobile app to recover easily.
- WooCommerce Compatibility: Protects orders, products, and customer data in real time—restores won’t disrupt live transactions.
- Activity Log & Downloadable Backups: Browse change history and download individual or full-site backup files for offline storage.
- Simple Setup with Paid Plan: Activate automatically after purchase; it connects easily with minimal configuration.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Real‑time backup minimizes data loss. | Paid subscription required (from ~$4.95/month). |
| Free host load backup process runs off-site in Jetpack cloud. | Doesn’t support WordPress multisite setups. |
| WooCommerce integration preserves order integrity even during restores. | Some manual download/restore tasks for larger sites can be slow. |
| Restores work even if the server is down via dashboard or mobile app. | Doesn’t provide direct cloud exports (e.g., Google Drive integration). |
Jetpack VaultPress Backup offers real-time and daily backup, secure cloud storage, WooCommerce support, and one-click restore even if your site is offline, making it ideal for high-traffic or content-critical WordPress sites.
Jetpack VaultPress Backup stands out when uptime, security, and order integrity are top priorities. It backs up every single change as it happens so you’ll never lose an order, a post update, or a plugin change.
Because it offloads backup processing to Jetpack’s infrastructure, your site performance remains crisp. You also gain access to detailed activity logs and top-tier support.
FAQs—About The Best Backup Plugins for WordPress.
1. Do I need a backup plugin if my host offers backups?
Yes. While many hosts provide backups, they don’t always give you full control—like how often backups run, where they’re stored, or how easily you can restore them. A dedicated backup plugin ensures you control your site’s safety, not just your host.
2. What’s the best free backup plugin for WordPress?
UpdraftPlus is widely considered the best free backup plugin. It includes scheduled backups, cloud storage options, and easy one-click restore, all without paying a dime.
3. Can backup plugins slow down my site?
A little during the backup process only. Some plugins can briefly spike server load while backing up. To minimize this, choose a plugin with incremental backups (like JetBackup or UpdraftPlus Pro), which only saves what’s changed instead of your whole site each time.
Choose the Best WordPress Backup Plugin?
Choosing the best WordPress backup plugin really depends on what your site needs. If you want a simple, free solution with solid features, UpdraftPlus and Backuply are excellent choices.
For real-time protection and WooCommerce support, Jetpack VaultPress is hard to beat. And if you’re a developer or run staging sites, WP STAGING gives you next-level flexibility.
All of these plugins help you protect your site from crashes, malware, or hosting issues and give you peace of mind knowing you can restore everything in just a few clicks.
The best part? You don’t have to be a tech expert. Most of these tools are beginner-friendly and work great right after installation. Once you’ve set one up, test your backup and make sure restore works because in the world of WordPress, it’s not “if” something goes wrong, but when.