Best WordPress Backup Services Compared (2026)
A hacked site, a bad plugin update or a server crash can wipe out years of work. That’s why every site needs reliable WordPress backup services. When this comparison first ran in 2010, many plugins only saved the database and VaultPress hadn’t launched yet. In 2026 the best tools back up your whole site automatically, store copies off-site and restore with a click.
Quick answer: The best WordPress backup services are Jetpack VaultPress Backup (real-time, cloud), BlogVault (off-site with test restores and staging), UpdraftPlus (free plugin that sends backups to Google Drive, Dropbox or S3), Duplicator (backups and migrations) and BackWPup. Use at least one off-site backup in addition to your host’s backups.
Table of Contents
WordPress backup services compared
| Service | Type | Full site | Storage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetpack VaultPress Backup | Paid cloud service | Yes, real-time | Jetpack cloud | Hands-off backups and one-click restore |
| BlogVault | Paid cloud service | Yes, incremental | BlogVault cloud | Test restores, staging and migrations |
| UpdraftPlus | Free plugin + premium | Yes | Google Drive, Dropbox, S3 and more | Free scheduled backups |
| Duplicator | Free plugin + Pro | Yes | Server, cloud in Pro | Moving a site to a new host |
| BackWPup | Free plugin + Pro | Yes | Dropbox, S3, FTP and more | Flexible free backups |
1. Jetpack VaultPress Backup
Made by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, it backs up every change in real time and restores from your dashboard or the Jetpack app. Read our VaultPress Backup review.
2. BlogVault
BlogVault runs backups on its own servers, keeps encrypted off-site copies, lets you test a restore before touching your live site, and includes staging and migration.
3. UpdraftPlus
UpdraftPlus is the most popular free backup plugin. Schedule backups and send them to your own cloud storage.
4. Duplicator
Duplicator packages your site into an archive you can restore or move to another host.
5. BackWPup
BackWPup is another free option that saves full backups to many cloud services.
What happened to the 2010 list?
WP-DB Manager and WP-DB-Backup only saved the database, which isn’t enough today. Automatic WordPress Backup is no longer maintained. BackupBuddy has changed owners and names over the years, so check its current status before buying. VaultPress, unreleased in 2010, is now Jetpack VaultPress Backup.
WordPress backup best practices
- Back up files and database, not just the database.
- Keep at least one copy off your hosting server.
- Back up daily, or in real time for shops and busy sites.
- Test a restore every few months; a backup you can’t restore is useless.
- Take a manual backup before major updates.
Originally written by guest author Akshat C, a system programmer and founder of BlogVault. Updated for 2026 by QuickOnlineTips.
FAQ
What is the best free WordPress backup plugin?
UpdraftPlus is the most popular free choice, with backups to Google Drive, Dropbox and more.
Are host backups enough?
They help, but keep your own off-site backup in case your host account has a problem.
How often should I back up WordPress?
Daily for most sites; real time for online stores and sites with frequent comments or orders.
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I have created a comparison of premium backup services for WordPress that allows you to search for features and compare prices. In case someone is interested you can find it here: http://wpscoop.com/comparisons/wordpress-backup-plugins-comparison/
I prefer WP-DB Manager is better than the others.
myRepono.com offers a website and mySQL database backup service which is fully automated and web-based. Prices start from just 2 cents per day!
Hello,
reading all this information, I’m seeing it so important that it have a backup of my site. I am not using any plugin for this, and I have not really thought too much about this, but I’m sure I will discuss each of them and I decide for some.
Thank you very much for talking about this, since many people have no idea what started it is important to do this.
Thanks!
Sergio Vergara
Are you sure Automatic WP Backup does not have restore features? They brag in their video that version 2 of the software which has been released focuses on easy restores.
Also, how easy is blogvault to a complete non-technical newbie? Can I follow a few simple procedures, click a few buttons and the script does everything automatically? Do I have to have any technical knowledge or just know how to push a few buttons in the right order and enter the correct information? Thanks
Backupify is a great alternative as well.
Don’t forget siteautobackup.com! It backs up your entire hosting account, wordpress, databases, and all.
It’s owned by Hostgator
WordPress is one of the best sites where you can start your own blog. A lot of people who want to make their own blog could start learning in wordpress. The only problem is that there are certain backup services were in it is very expensive or it needs a bit of knowledge about PHP, CSS and MySQL. But in the other hand, it is really easy to learn about it especially in wordpress. This is a great article (especially the diagram) so that people would know the basics and advance system of wordpress.
Great Article!
Alex
Hi kensai,
We backup all aspects of the blog including files, database, plugins, templates etc.
please feel free to contact me at akshatc [at] gmail [dot] com
Does Blogvault incluse data backup also or just DB backups?
Hi,
I am the author of the article and creator of blogvault. Please feel free to ask me anything related to the article.
Thanks,
Akshat