WordPress is the most used content management system in the world. However, this also means that it is a popular target for hackers. This is exactly why you should regularly back up your files and database.
To secure your WordPress website, there are several ways.
- Perform the backup yourself
- Use a plugin to create the backup automatically
- Use our WordPress maintenance packages
Today I would like to discuss with you the pros and cons of this option and present you the 5 best backup plugins.
Variant 1: Manual backup of files and database #
Personally, I prefer manual backup because then I don’t have to rely on any third-party software.
With manual backup, you first need to download your WordPress website files using an FTP client. Then connect to your database via PhpMyAdmin or a tool like Heidi SQL to export the database.
That’s all it takes. Depending on the size of the website, manually backing up your WordPress website may take some time.
Advantages of manual backup #
- No dependence on third-party software.
- Data is stored directly locally.
- Error messages are displayed directly.
Disadvantages of manual backup #
- Sometimes very time-consuming.
- Backups are not created automatically.
- Complicated for the layman.
Variant 2: Backup your WordPress site with a plugin #
WordPress wouldn’t be WordPress if it didn’t offer a plugin for backups. In fact, there are now a lot of them, so it is now difficult to keep track of them.
A backup plugin allows you to create backups automatically. You can define how often and at what time a backup should be created.
Many backup plugins even offer you the option to transfer the files directly to another server or to an online storage like Dropbox or Google Drive.
As a rule, you should never store your backups on the same server as your website. Hackers and bots have become very intelligent and know most of the backup plugins. Therefore, they also know where and how the data is stored. It is not uncommon that these are then also infected or deleted.
These are the 5 best plugins for WordPress backups #
Now let’s move on to the top 5 backup plugins.
BackWPup Free: Free plugin, ideal for smaller sites. #
Free but still perfectly suitable for WordPress websites. Already more than > 700,000 sites trust the plugin and have it in use.
With BackWPup you can create a backup of your entire website for free. You have several options for storing the backups. Among other things, you can back up your data to Dropbox, Amazon S3, FTP, email or directly to your local computer.
It’s extremely easy to use, so it’s ideal for beginners and non-professionals. Of course, BackWPup lets you automate your backups and configure a schedule according to your preferences.
The restore function completes the backup plugin and allows you to restore your files and database automatically.
UpdraftPlus: Free plugin, ideal for sites of any size. #
UdpraftPlus is the most used WordPress backup plugin currently available. More than 2 million websites are currently using the plugin.
With the plugin, you have the possibility to back up your complete website. The backup can be saved locally, on the server or on an external storage location.
In addition, it supports the automated creation of backups according to a schedule defined by you. You can also freely choose the files to be backed up.
Currently, UpdraftPlus supports automatic saving of files to Dropbox, Google Drive, SFTP/FTP and email, to name a few cloud storage.
Besides, you can always restore your website quickly and easily using the backup.
Not enough yet? With little effort, you can upgrade to the premium version. You will then receive additional functions for cloning and moving your website to another server. Multisite is also supported in the premium version.
VaultPress (Jetpack Backup), ideally suited for large sites. #
Jetpack Backup is a plugin from the company Automattic, founded by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg.
Originally, VaultPress was a standalone plugin, but it was integrated into Jetpack. Jetpack itself offers other features besides backups, such as downtime monitoring, anti-spam protection, protection against brute force attacks, and a content delivery network for images.
However, once you install the plugin, you can conveniently disable all the features you don’t want to use.
Backups are created automatically on a daily basis. But you can also start it manually at any time. The files and data are stored directly at Jetpack. Therefore, they are not available forever, but are deleted after a certain time depending on the selected plan.
Unlike other plugins, Jetpack requires you to pay monthly. However, you can restore the desired backup at any time with just one click. You even have unlimited storage space available for the backup.
Since the service is quite expensive over time, it’s worth it, especially if you have a large website or online store. Jetpack also works fine for websites > 250 GB.
BackupBuddy #
BackupBuddy has been around since 2010 and is used on more than 1 million websites. With little effort you can configure it to back up your website daily, weekly or monthly.
You also have several options for storing your backups. For example, you can store your backups in Dropbox, on Amazon S3 or via FTP. Alternatively, you can have the backup sent to you via email.
If you decide to use the Stash service, you can even perform your backups in real time.
In addition, BackupBuddy gives you access to support forums, regular updates and 1 GB of storage space for your backups.
You can also use BackupBuddy to duplicate, move and restore your website.
BlogVault #
BlogVault is a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution. Backups are performed directly from your servers, reducing the load on your server.
BlogVault backups are created on a daily basis. However, you can also create manual backups at any time. You are free to create complete backups or just save changes. This saves time and disk space.
Of course, you can restore your website at any time. To do this, simply select the desired backup and wait until the restore is complete.
Usually you can access backups of the last 90 days with the cheap packages. If this is not enough, you can upgrade your package and access more than 365 days.
You can also access a staging system for your website. There, you can test all changes before you apply them to the live system.
BlogVault offers services that are especially helpful for smaller companies.
Summary #
Whether you use WordPress or any other system, a backup is essential. Especially for smaller, private websites the plugins are sufficient. If you would like to have additional features like real-time backups or additional support, you should switch to the premium versions of the plugins.
Alternatively, you can also use our WordPress maintenance. There you will receive daily backups, telephone support, regular updates, malware scans and much more.
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