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Backups

Our Picks

Start with the first one. It covers the broadest use case in this category. The others are strong alternatives for more specific needs.

1

Duplicator

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4.9 2M+ from $99/year

The best plugin for moving or cloning WordPress sites. If you need to migrate between hosts or create staging copies, Duplicator is the go-to tool. For ongoing backups, pair it with UpdraftPlus.

Best-in-class site migration and cloning
Only migration tool that works on a completely empty server
Packages the entire site into a portable archive
Free version lacks scheduled backups and cloud storage
More migration-focused than backup-focused
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Excellent search-and-replace for URL changes
Drag-and-drop import
Large site packages can time out on shared hosting

Pro from from $99/year

Scheduled backups to cloud storage
AES-256 encryption for packages
Multisite network support
Recovery points
Larger site support
2

UpdraftPlus

4.8 3M+ from $70/year

The most reliable backup plugin available. When you need to restore a site at 2 AM, UpdraftPlus is the tool you want to have been running. The free version is genuinely complete for most sites.

Strongest free version among backup plugins
Backs up directly to Google Drive, Dropbox, S3, OneDrive, FTP
One-click restore that actually works reliably
Free version lacks incremental backups (full backup every time)
Can be resource-intensive on shared hosting for large sites
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Extremely well-tested across millions of sites
Interface is functional but not beautiful

Pro from from $70/year

Incremental backups (only saves changes)
Site cloning and migration
WP-CLI support
More storage destinations
Priority support
3

WPvivid Backup & Migration

4.9 300k+ from $49/year

The best all-in-one free backup plugin. If you want backup, migration, and staging without paying for three separate tools, WPvivid bundles it all in a clean free package.

Free version includes backup, migration, and staging, a rare combination
Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) in the free version
Clean, modern interface
Staging functionality can be buggy on some hosting setups
May struggle with very large sites (1GB+)
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Key-based remote migration
Smaller community than UpdraftPlus

Pro from from $49/year

Incremental backups
Larger site migration support
Custom content backup (specific folders/tables)
White-label for agencies
Priority support

The Popular Alternatives

These plugins work and many sites rely on them. We're not saying they're bad. But their dominance often reflects distribution advantages as much as product quality. Understanding why matters.

BlogVault 400k+

Well-regarded cloud backup service. Works well, but it's a SaaS product with ongoing costs ($89+/year). Free alternatives handle the same core job for most sites.

BackupBuddy N/A (premium only)

Established premium backup plugin by StellarWP (iThemes). Solid but no free version, and the StellarWP acquisition has shifted its direction.

Think differently

Your host's backup is a convenience, not a disaster plan. Always own your backups independently.

Full analysis

A reliable backup plugin is non-negotiable. It protects against hacks, failed updates, server failures, and human error. Without off-site backups, a single bad update can erase months of work.

Our general recommendation: This is one category where the popular picks are actually good. The key requirements are: automated scheduling, off-site storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, S3, not just your own server), and reliable one-click restore. Don’t rely on your hosting provider’s backups alone. They’re a convenience, not a disaster recovery plan. Always store at least one copy somewhere your host doesn’t control.

Backup vs. migration

Many backup plugins also handle site migration and cloning. If you need both, that’s a bonus, but don’t pick a backup tool based on its migration features. Prioritize backup reliability and restore speed.