Keeping a website online is hard work. Updates can break things, hackers do gain access and occasionally hosting companies suffer outages. A backup is your insurance policy — if something goes wrong you can restore a clean copy of your WordPress site without starting from scratch. WordPress’s own advanced administration handbook stresses that site backups are essential because problems inevitably occur. In other words, backups allow you to fix an issue and then get back to publishing or selling.
This guide explains what a WordPress backup actually contains and then walks through ways to protect your site. You’ll learn how to back up your WordPress website manually and via plugins, including both free and paid options. We’ll finish with best‑practice tips and a call to action to help you keep your site safe.
Understanding WordPress backups
A WordPress backup is a copy of your site’s files and database. It contains the core WordPress software, your themes, plugins, uploads (images, videos, PDFs), custom code and the database (posts, pages, comments, settings and user information). WordPress.com explains that full backups restore the entire site to the state it was in when the backup was made, whereas incremental backups only record and restore changes since the last backup. You generally need both files and the database to restore a working WordPress site, which is why manual file exports alone are not enough.
Full vs incremental vs differential backups
- Full backup – a complete copy of all WordPress files and the database. Restoring a full backup overwrites the entire site.
- Incremental backup – only new or modified items (e.g., new posts, updated plugins) are saved after the initial full backup. This saves storage space and speeds up backups.
- Differential backup – a variation of incremental backups where all changes since the last full backup are saved. When restoring, you apply the full backup and the most recent differential backup.
Most backup plugins offer a combination of full and incremental backups. Jetpack VaultPress, for example, provides real‑time incremental and differential backups, while the free version of UpdraftPlus performs full backups on a schedule.
Manual vs automated backups
- Manual backups give you full control but require you to remember to run them. You can download files via FTP or your hosting control panel and export the database using phpMyAdmin. WordPress’s handbook recommends keeping at least three backups in different places (e.g., on your computer, on a USB drive and in the cloud) to avoid data loss.
- Automated backups are triggered on a schedule or whenever changes occur. They eliminate the risk of forgetting to back up. Many plugins include options to store backups off‑site so that a hacked or crashed server does not affect your backups.
Manual backup methods (free)
Manual backups cost nothing but time. You’ll need FTP or file manager access to your server and a tool like phpMyAdmin for the database.
Back up WordPress files via FTP or hosting panel
- Connect to your site via an FTP client or your host’s file manager.
- Download the entire WordPress directory. WordPress’s handbook notes that your site consists of the WordPress core, plugins, themes, images and other files. Copy everything into a folder on your computer and compress it into a ZIP archive to save space.
- Store copies in multiple locations. WordPress recommends keeping at least three backups in different places to guard against corruption.
Export your database with phpMyAdmin
The database holds your posts, pages and settings. WPBeginner’s step‑by‑step guide outlines a simple process for exporting it:
- Log in to your hosting control panel and open phpMyAdmin.
- Select your WordPress database from the list on the left and click Export.
- Choose Custom export to see all tables, then select Save output to a file and pick zip or gzip compression.
- Click Go to download the SQL file. Store it alongside your file backup.
Pros and cons of manual backups
Manual backups are cost‑free and ensure you always have an up‑to‑date copy, but they require discipline. WPBeginner cautions that manual backups alone are not a proper backup solution because you may lose access to your database or forget to run a backup before an update. Automated tools free you from these risks.
Free WordPress backup plugins
Plugins automate backups and often store them off‑site. Here are reliable free options.
UpdraftPlus (free)
UpdraftPlus is one of the most popular backup plugins. The free version offers:
- Manual and scheduled backups; you can back up every 2–12 hours, daily, weekly or monthly.
- Storage to multiple locations, including Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, Rackspace Cloud Files, FTP, DreamObjects, OpenStack Swift and email.
- Restore functions from within WordPress. You can choose how many backups to retain.
Pros: It’s free, widely used and supports most cloud services. Cons: You cannot schedule backups for a specific time, and incremental backups, database encryption and automatic backups before updates are premium features.
BackWPup (free)
BackWPup lets you create complete backups of your WordPress site and store them on external services.
Key features:
- Choose what to back up (files, database and even non‑WordPress files).
- Flexible scheduling: run backups hourly, daily, weekly or monthly and use the Backup Now button for on‑demand backups.
- Store backups in different locations – the free version supports Dropbox, Amazon S3, FTP, Rackspace Cloud, Microsoft Azure and SugarSync.
- Restore in a few clicks via the WordPress admin panel.
BackWPup’s free version is comprehensive. The Pro version adds more storage options (Amazon Glacier, Google Drive, OneDrive and HiDrive), encrypted backups, a standalone restore app and priority support.
Duplicator Lite
Duplicator is known for its migration features, but the free version also creates full backups. It packages your website files and database into a single archive that you can download and install elsewhere. The plugin is ideal for cloning and migrating sites. However, Duplicator Lite lacks scheduled backups and cloud storage; those features are reserved for Duplicator Pro.
Premium backup solutions
UpdraftPlus Premium
The premium version of UpdraftPlus builds on the free plugin with features that make backups more reliable and customizable:
- Schedule backups at specific times (e.g., overnight).
- Incremental backups that only save changes since the last backup, reducing server load.
- Automatic backups before WordPress core, theme or plugin updates.
- Back up to multiple destinations simultaneously and to services like Microsoft OneDrive, Backblaze, SFTP, SCP, Microsoft Azure, WebDAV, Google Cloud and pCloud.
- Database encryption, enhanced retention rules, WP‑CLI integration and multisite support.
UpdraftPlus Premium suits users who need granular control over scheduling, remote storage and security.
Jetpack VaultPress Backup
Jetpack VaultPress Backup is a paid service from Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com). The plugin requires a Jetpack plan that includes Backup.
Highlights include:
- Real‑time backups of every change, including orders for WooCommerce stores.
- One‑click restores from anywhere, even if your site is offline.
- Off‑site cloud storage on Jetpack’s secure infrastructure, ensuring no server load.
- Activity log to identify which change caused an issue and restore to a specific point.
Jetpack VaultPress Backup is ideal for e‑commerce and high‑traffic sites that need real‑time protection and simple restores. Because it’s a service, there is no free version; it requires a monthly or annual subscription.
BlogVault
BlogVault is a popular backup service that connects your site to off‑site storage. The plugin advertises a 100% successful restore rate.
Key features include:
- Incremental automatic backups that never overload your server.
- Free off‑site storage with 90 days of archives, extendable on paid plans.
- Fast recovery with differential restore and the ability to restore even if your website is offline.
- One‑click staging and merging to test updates.
- WooCommerce support with real‑time backups for orders.
- Manage multiple sites from a single dashboard.
BlogVault has no permanent free plan; instead it offers a seven‑day free trial. It’s best suited for agencies and e‑commerce stores that need incremental backups, staging and central management.
BackWPup Pro
BackWPup Pro extends the free plugin with additional cloud destinations such as Amazon Glacier, Google Drive, OneDrive and HiDrive. It adds encrypted backups, a standalone restore application for situations when you can’t access WordPress, site migration support and priority support. If you need more storage options and security than the free version offers, BackWPup Pro is a cost‑effective upgrade.
Duplicator Pro
Duplicator Pro brings scheduled backups, cloud storage integrations and multisite support to the free Duplicator plugin. It also offers 1‑click restores, drag‑and‑drop installs and partial backups (database‑only or media‑only). Duplicator Pro is useful for anyone who regularly migrates sites or wants scheduled backups without the overhead of a service.
Best practices for WordPress backups
Regardless of the method or plugin you choose, follow these tips for reliable backups:
- Back up regularly. The frequency depends on how often your site changes. WPBeginner notes that backups should be run before any upgrade and at intervals that match how often you publish.
- Store backups off‑site. Don’t keep backups on the same server as your website; if the server fails, you lose everything. Choose cloud storage or an external drive.
- Keep multiple copies. WordPress’s handbook recommends at least three backups stored in different places.
- Test restores. Make sure you can restore from your backups. Many plugins include 1‑click restore features; test them on a staging site.
- Use incremental backups for large or dynamic sites. Incremental backups reduce server load and allow real‑time protection for stores and membership sites.
- Combine manual and automated methods. Even if you use a plugin, occasionally download a manual backup to ensure you have an independent copy.
Next steps
Backing up your WordPress website isn’t optional; it’s a necessity. Whether you choose a free plugin, invest in a premium solution or perform manual backups, make sure you have multiple, recent copies stored off‑site. If you need help setting up a robust backup strategy or want to build a secure, high‑performing website, contact our WordPress design and marketing team. We specialize in designing, optimizing and protecting WordPress sites so you can focus on growing your business.
