Alexis Kestler
Having a backup of your WordPress site is crucial in case anything unexpected happens. Your site could get hacked, encounter a technical issue, or you may simply want to migrate it to a new host or domain.
Whatever the reason, having a proper WordPress backup and migration solution in place can save you from a major headache down the road. The good news is there are some excellent plugins available to handle all your backup and migration needs.
In this post, we‘ll cover the 11 best WordPress backup and migration plugins to keep your site protected.
Why You Need a WordPress Backup Plugin
Here are some key reasons it‘s important to have a WordPress backup plugin installed:
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Restore After Hack or Attack: If your site gets hacked, a backup gives you a way to fully restore it. No need to start over from scratch.
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Recovery From Technical Issues: Plugins, themes or WordPress core updates can sometimes cause issues. A backup provides a safety net to revert back if needed.
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Migrate to New Host or Domain: Switching web hosts or domains is easy with a full site backup. No need to manually move all your files and database.
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Protect Against Data Loss: Server crashes, corrupt databases, and accidental deletions can all lead to data loss. Backups protect you if disaster strikes.
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Staging and Testing: Easily duplicate a live site for staging, testing, or development purposes.
As you can see, the reasons for needing a backup solution are plentiful. The plugins featured below all provide an excellent way to fully backup and restore your WordPress site.
11 Best WordPress Backup Plugins
1. UpDraftPlus
UpDraftPlus is one of the most popular free WordPress backup plugins with over 3 million active installs. It can backup your entire site including the database, themes, plugins, media files and more.
Some key features include:
- Backups to local storage, cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, etc), FTP, and email
- Backup to multiple locations for redundancy
- Scheduled backups
- Backup integrity checks
- Selective backup of files and database tables
- Multisite network compatible
UpDraftPlus is easy to set up and flexible to meet different backup needs. The free version covers the basics while premium add-ons are available for more advanced functionality.
2. BackWPup
BackWPup is another great free WordPress backup solution. It gives you complete backups of your WordPress installation including your database, files and folders.
Features offered:
- Backups to local and cloud storage like Amazon S3, Azure, Dropbox
- Scheduled backups
- Archive formats like ZIP, TAR and TAR.GZ
- Exclusions to omit certain folders or files
- Multisite network support
- CLI for using WP-CLI for backups
- Lots of flexibility in scheduling and storage options
BackWPup is easy to configure and has a simple user interface. While it doesn‘t have all the bells and whistles of paid solutions, it covers the WordPress backup basics very well.
3. BlogVault
BlogVault provides automated WordPress backups along with a suite of security features. It has both free and paid plans.
Key features:
- Real-time automated WordPress backups
- Backup to cloud storage like Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3
- 1-click restore and migration capabilities
- Staging sites for testing
- Malware scanning and removal
- Automatic updates
- DDoS protection and firewall
- CDN and caching capabilities
BlogVault is an excellent all-in-one solution for backup, security and site management. It provides unmatched automation to keep your site protected 24/7.
4. VaultPress
VaultPress is a popular premium WordPress backup and security plugin from Automattic, the creators of WordPress.com.
It provides both real-time and scheduled backups of your entire site. Other key features include:
- Backups to cloud storage on Amazon S3 servers
- 1-click restores
- Anti-virus scanning
- Spam monitoring
- Automatic security and core updates
- Activity logs
- Brute force attack protection
- DDoS protection
VaultPress seamlessly handles WordPress backups, security, and maintenance. It‘s a complete set-it-and-forget-it solution for protecting your site. Pricing starts at $14 per month.
5. BackupBuddy
BackupBuddy from iThemes is a premium WordPress backup plugin that is packed with features.
Some highlights:
- Full database and file backups
- Backup to local, cloud (Dropbox, Amazon S3), FTP, and email
- Scheduled and one-click backups
- Multisite network support
- Migration and restoration tools
- ZIP file compression and encryption
- Database optimizations and repairs
- Dedicated BackupBuddy Stash Live site backups
BackupBuddy has been around for years and is trusted by hundreds of thousands of WordPress sites. It provides unparalleled backup customization tailored to your specific needs. Pricing starts at $80 for a single site license.
6. WP Time Capsule
WP Time Capsule is a set-it-and-forget-it automated WordPress backup solution. It handles everything for you in the background.
Features include:
- Automated scheduled backups
- Backups to cloud storage on Amazon S3
- 1-click restores
- Automatic updates
- Malware detection
- Activity log with notifications
- Staging sites
- CDN and cache management
WP Time Capsule eliminates the manual work of backing up your site. It keeps your site backed up, secure, and optimized automatically. Plans start at $96 per year for one site.
7. All-in-One WP Migration
All-in-One WP Migration is a free plugin that allows you to easily migrate your site from one host to another. You can also use it to clone or duplicate a site.
Key features:
- Full WordPress site migration exports with files and database
- Import backups to a new host or location
- Works with any hosting provider, domain or subdirectory
- Handles large sites by splitting data into chunks
- Exclude specific files/folders from exports
- File compression and encryption (Pro version)
For basic site migrations, All-in-One WP Migration works great. The free version covers the core functionality while the paid pro version adds storage and encryption capabilities.
8. Duplicator
Duplicator provides free WordPress migration, cloning, and backups. With over 1 million active installs, it‘s a popular choice.
Features:
- Self-contained site migration packages
- Migrate WordPress between hosts or environments
- Cloning for staging, testing and development sites
- Backups of site files, database, plugins and themes
- Handles large, complex sites
- Scheduled backups (Pro version)
- Cloud storage (Pro version)
Duplicator allows you to easily bundle up an entire WordPress site into a simple package for migration. Both the free and paid versions are great options for site backups and portability.
9. WP Migrate DB Pro
As the name suggests, WP Migrate DB Pro is focused specifically on WordPress database migrations. It allows you to quickly migrate your database between hosts and environments.
Features:
- Simple migration wizard walks you through the process
- Push and pull databases to and from remote servers
- Find and replace tool to update URLs and file paths
- Compatible with any MySQL database
- Multisite network support
- CLI access for using WP-CLI
- Encryption and compression
When you just need to move your WordPress database, WP Migrate DB Pro is a perfect fit. It‘s quick, affordable, and optimized for database migrations.
10. BackupCreator
BackupCreator is a straightforward free WordPress backup plugin. It allows you to easily backup your entire site with a single click.
Features:
- One-click backup of WordPress files and database
- Backups stored locally by default
- CRON scheduler for automated backups
- Backup retention settings
- Exclude specific files/folders
- Simple logs to track backup status
- External storage integrations (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc)
For a lightweight and user-friendly WordPress backup option, BackupCreator is a great choice. It handles the backup basics very nicely.
11. BackWPup Pro
BackWPup Pro is the premium version of WordPress backup plugin BackWPup. It includes all of the core functionality plus advanced capabilities.
Some key features:
- WordPress files, database and uploads automated backups
- Backups to local, cloud (Amazon S3, Azure, etc), FTP
- Scheduled and one-click backups
- Web API for managing backups externally
- Archive integrity checks
- Remote destination access via SSH and SFTP
- Multisite network support
For professional-grade, enterprise-level WordPress backups, BackWPup Pro is an excellent choice. It‘s ultra-flexible with extensive options to tailor it to your needs.
Choosing the Best WordPress Backup Plugin
All of the plugins above provide excellent WordPress backup and migration capabilities. Choosing the best one depends on your specific needs and budget.
Here are some things to consider when deciding which to use:
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Features – Do you just need basic backups or more advanced capabilities?
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Convenience – Are automated backups preferred or occasional manual backups ok?
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Storage – Where do you need to store backups (local vs cloud vs FTP)?
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Cost – Are you looking for a free plugin or willing to pay for premium features?
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Support – Do you want quality customer support in case issues arise?
Take stock of your requirements and priorities. This will help you select the ideal backup plugin for your site from the great options covered above.
Backing Up Regularly is Vital
No matter which plugin you end up choosing, the most important thing is to backup your WordPress site consistently. Don‘t just install a backup plugin and forget about it.
You should be creating regular backups on a schedule, such as:
- Daily database backups
- Weekly full site backups
- Monthly backup to alternate destination
Test your backups as well to verify they can successfully restore your site if needed. Never want to be caught off guard by having an outdated or incomplete backup.
Following a consistent backup schedule and testing protocol will ensure you have a reliable solution in place if disaster ever strikes.
Choose a Backup Plugin Today
Having a solid WordPress backup plugin in place provides tremendous peace of mind. It gives you the confidence of knowing you can fully recover your site should anything ever go wrong.
Hopefully this guide has helped you find the ideal backup and migration solution for your needs from the 11 best WordPress backup plugins available. Don‘t wait – install one on your site today!
