UpdraftPlus Review 2025: Is It Still the Best WordPress Backup Plugin?

Website crashes, hacks, and accidental data loss are more common than most WordPress users realize. Studies show that nearly 30,000 websites are hacked every day, while server failures and plugin conflicts can wipe out critical content in seconds. Without a reliable backup system, recovering your site can be costly - or even impossible. That’s why many turn to trusted tools like UpdraftPlus, the most widely used backup plugin for WordPress. This UpdraftPlus Review 2025 explores whether it still deserves its reputation as the best backup solution today.

With more than 3 million active installations and thousands of five-star reviews, UpdraftPlus has become the go-to choice for bloggers, business websites, and agencies alike. The plugin makes it simple to schedule backups, store them securely in the cloud, and restore sites with a single click. Its flexibility and user-friendly design have made it a top pick for years.

In this review, we’ll cover everything you need to know about UpdraftPlus - its features, setup process, pricing, pros and cons, and comparisons with other backup plugins. By the end, you’ll know if it’s still the best backup tool for your WordPress site in 2025.

What is UpdraftPlus?

UpdraftPlus is one of the most popular and trusted WordPress backup plugins, designed to help site owners back up, restore, and migrate their websites with ease. Developed by David Anderson and the team at Updraft, the plugin has grown into the leading solution for WordPress backups, boasting more than 3 million active installations and thousands of 5-star reviews.

At its core, UpdraftPlus simplifies one of the most critical aspects of website management: ensuring you can quickly recover your site if something goes wrong. Whether your website is hacked, a plugin update breaks functionality, or your hosting server fails, UpdraftPlus allows you to create full backups of your WordPress files and database. With just a few clicks, you can also restore your site to a previous version.

The plugin integrates with popular cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, OneDrive, and more, giving you flexibility in storing your backups securely offsite. While the free version provides powerful backup and restore tools, the Premium version unlocks additional features like incremental backups, multisite support, advanced reporting, and priority support.

In short, UpdraftPlus is more than a simple backup tool - it’s a comprehensive safeguard for WordPress websites, making it a must-have plugin in 2025.

Why Choose UpdraftPlus?

With dozens of WordPress backup plugins available, you might wonder why UpdraftPlus remains the most trusted option. The answer lies in its reliability, flexibility, and ease of use. Unlike some backup solutions that are tied to specific hosting environments, UpdraftPlus puts control directly in the hands of site owners.

One of its biggest strengths is automation. You can schedule backups to run daily, weekly, or monthly, ensuring your website is always protected without manual effort. Combined with one-click restore functionality, this makes recovering from hacks, crashes, or accidental mistakes quick and stress-free.

UpdraftPlus also offers unmatched cloud storage flexibility, integrating with platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, OneDrive, and more. This ensures your backups are stored securely offsite, protecting you even if your hosting server fails.

For users who want advanced functionality, UpdraftPlus Premium adds features like incremental backups, cloning and migration tools, multisite support, and priority customer support - making it a great fit for agencies and eCommerce sites.

In short, UpdraftPlus is trusted by millions because it delivers what matters most: reliable, automated backups and simple restores, all packaged in a plugin that’s both beginner-friendly and powerful enough for advanced users.

Key Features of UpdraftPlus

UpdraftPlus has become the most popular WordPress backup plugin because of its balance of reliability, flexibility, and ease of use. Whether you’re a beginner managing a personal blog or an agency running multiple client sites, UpdraftPlus offers a wide range of features to ensure your website data is always safe and recoverable. Below are its standout features in 2025.

1. Automated Scheduled Backups

One of the most important aspects of any backup system is automation. UpdraftPlus lets you schedule backups daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. This ensures that your site’s database and files are consistently backed up without requiring manual effort.

2. On-Demand Backups

In addition to scheduled backups, you can create backups instantly with a single click. This is particularly useful before updating themes, plugins, or WordPress core - times when things are most likely to break.

3. Database and File Backups

UpdraftPlus gives you flexibility in what you back up. You can back up your entire website (files + database) or only specific components such as:

• WordPress database
• Themes
• Plugins
• Uploads (media files)
• Other directories within wp-content

This selective approach ensures you have control over what’s saved, which is especially helpful for large websites.

4. One-Click Restore

Restoring a website from a backup can often be complicated with other plugins. UpdraftPlus makes it simple with one-click restore. From your WordPress dashboard, you can select a backup and restore the entire site or just the database, themes, or plugins.

5. Cloud Storage Integrations

UpdraftPlus integrates with multiple cloud storage providers, allowing you to securely store backups offsite. Supported services include:

• Google Drive
• Dropbox
• Amazon S3
• Microsoft OneDrive
• Rackspace
• DreamObjects
• WebDAV
• Email (for smaller backups)

This flexibility ensures you’re not tied to your hosting provider’s storage.

6. Incremental Backups (Premium)

For large websites, running full backups every time can be resource-intensive. UpdraftPlus Premium supports incremental backups, which only back up files that have changed since the last backup. This saves server resources and storage space.

7. Cloning and Migration

With the UpdraftPlus Migrator add-on (included in Premium), you can easily clone or migrate your site. Whether you’re moving to a new host or creating a staging environment, this feature makes it seamless to replicate your WordPress site.

8. Multisite Support (Premium)

For WordPress multisite networks, UpdraftPlus Premium provides full backup and restore functionality. Network admins can manage backups for all sites from a single dashboard, making it ideal for agencies and large projects.

9. Backup Encryption and Security

Database backups can contain sensitive information. UpdraftPlus offers the option to encrypt database backups, providing an additional layer of security for sensitive data.

10. Detailed Backup Logs

Each backup generates a log that records the process. This makes troubleshooting easier if something goes wrong. Logs can be viewed from the WordPress dashboard or downloaded for analysis.

11. WP-CLI Support

For developers and advanced users, UpdraftPlus supports WP-CLI commands. This allows backups and restores to be managed directly from the command line, which is especially useful for automated workflows.

12. Backup Reporting and Notifications

Premium users can receive email notifications on the status of backups, ensuring they know when backups succeed or fail. This proactive feature helps maintain accountability.

How to Set Up UpdraftPlus (Step-by-Step Guide)

One of the biggest reasons for UpdraftPlus’s popularity is how easy it is to use. Whether you’re backing up your site for the first time or restoring it after a crash, the plugin walks you through the process with simple settings and clear options. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started.

Step 1: Install and Activate UpdraftPlus

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Plugins → Add New.
3. Search for “UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup Plugin”.
4. Click Install Now, then Activate.

You’ll now see a new UpdraftPlus Backups option under the Settings menu.

Step 2: Open the Settings Page

• Go to Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups.
• The main dashboard shows options to Backup Now, Restore, Clone/Migrate, and Settings.
• This is where you’ll configure your backups and storage.

Step 3: Choose Your Backup Schedule

• Click on the Settings tab.
• Under File backup schedule and Database backup schedule, choose how often backups should run:

• • Manual

  • Every 4 hours

  • Every 8 hours

  • Daily

  • Weekly

  • Monthly

• Select how many backups to retain (e.g., keep the last 2 or 3 backups).

Pro Tip: For active websites like WooCommerce stores, daily or even every 12-hour backups are ideal. For blogs, weekly backups may be sufficient.

Step 4: Select Your Remote Storage

UpdraftPlus integrates with many cloud storage providers. To set this up:

1. Scroll to the Choose your remote storage section.
2. Pick a storage option (Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, OneDrive, etc.).
3. Authenticate your account by clicking the link provided.
4. Save changes, then complete the authorization process.

Storing backups offsite ensures you won’t lose data if your hosting server crashes.

Step 5: Run Your First Backup

• Go to the Current Status tab.
• Click Backup Now.
• Choose whether to back up:

• • Database

  • Files (plugins, themes, uploads, other)

• Click Backup Now again to start the process.

You’ll see progress logs in real time. Once finished, your backup will appear in the Existing Backups list.

Step 6: Restore from a Backup

Restoring a backup is simple:

1. In the Existing Backups list, click Restore.
2. Choose what you want to restore: database, plugins, themes, uploads, or other files.
3. Click Restore again.
4. Follow the prompts, and UpdraftPlus will automatically replace your current files with the backup version.

Step 7: Test Your Backups

A backup is only valuable if it works. Always test by restoring on a staging site or local environment before relying on it. The Migrator add-on (Pro feature) makes this especially easy.

Step 8: Explore Premium Features (Optional)

If you upgrade to UpdraftPlus Premium, you’ll unlock:

• Incremental backups (only back up changes).
• Multisite support.
• One-click migration/cloning.
• Advanced reporting and support.

These features are especially useful for agencies and eCommerce sites.

UpdraftPlus Pricing in 2025

One of the reasons UpdraftPlus is so popular is its flexible pricing model. It offers a free version with essential backup and restore tools, plus a Premium version for advanced functionality. This makes it accessible for beginners while still powerful enough for agencies and enterprises.

Free Version

The free plugin is more feature-rich than many competitors. It includes:

• Manual and scheduled backups
• One-click restore
• Cloud storage integrations (Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, OneDrive, etc.)
• Database and file backup options

For most small websites, the free version provides a solid foundation.

Premium Version

UpdraftPlus Premium unlocks advanced tools for businesses and developers. Pricing in 2025 is:

• Personal - $70/year (up to 2 sites)
• Business - $95/year (up to 10 sites)
• Agency - $145/year (up to 35 sites)
• Enterprise - $195/year (unlimited sites)

Premium adds:

• Incremental backups
• Cloning and migration tools
• Multisite support
• Backup reporting and database encryption
• Priority customer support

Value for Money

Compared to other backup plugins, UpdraftPlus offers excellent value. The free version is reliable enough for small sites, while the Premium upgrade is affordable for agencies and eCommerce stores that require incremental backups, migrations, and multisite coverage.

Pros and Cons of UpdraftPlus

Like any plugin, UpdraftPlus has both strengths and limitations. Understanding these will help you decide if it’s the right backup solution for your WordPress site in 2025.

Pros of UpdraftPlus

1. Reliable and Widely Trusted: With more than 3 million active installations and thousands of five-star reviews, UpdraftPlus is the most widely used WordPress backup plugin, trusted by individuals, businesses, and agencies worldwide.

2. Feature-Rich Free Version: Unlike many competitors, the free version of UpdraftPlus includes scheduled backups, one-click restore, and cloud storage integrations - enough for most small to medium-sized websites.

3. Cloud Storage Flexibility: UpdraftPlus integrates with popular platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, and OneDrive, giving site owners control over where backups are stored securely offsite.

4. Incremental Backups (Premium): For larger websites, Premium supports incremental backups, reducing server load by only backing up changes since the last backup.

5. Migration and Cloning Tools: The UpdraftPlus Migrator add-on (included in Premium) makes it easy to move a site to a new host or create a staging site.

6. Multisite and Developer-Friendly: Premium supports WordPress multisite networks and offers WP-CLI integration, making it powerful enough for agencies and developers.

Cons of UpdraftPlus

1. Interface Could Be More Modern: While functional, the dashboard feels slightly outdated compared to newer plugins with sleeker designs.

2. Advanced Features Locked Behind Premium: Features like incremental backups, multisite support, and priority support require a paid upgrade, which may not suit budget-conscious users.

3. Support Limited for Free Users: Free version users rely on documentation and community forums; direct support is reserved for Premium customers.

UpdraftPlus vs Other Backup Plugins

While UpdraftPlus is the most popular backup plugin for WordPress, it’s not the only option. Several competitors - like Jetpack Backup, BlogVault, BackupBuddy, and Duplicator - also promise reliable backups and easy restores. Each has unique strengths and limitations, so let’s see how UpdraftPlus compares in 2025.

UpdraftPlus vs Jetpack Backup

Jetpack Backup (formerly VaultPress) is developed by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com. Its biggest selling point is real-time backups - every change, from a new blog post to an eCommerce order, is saved instantly. This makes it particularly appealing for WooCommerce stores where every transaction matters.

In contrast, UpdraftPlus uses scheduled backups (daily, weekly, or incremental in Premium). While this works for most websites, it may not capture every change on busy stores in real time. However, Jetpack Backup is subscription-based, starting at $59/year per site, which can become costly for agencies.

Choose Jetpack Backup for WooCommerce or high-transaction sites. Choose UpdraftPlus if you want flexibility and more affordable multi-site options.

UpdraftPlus vs BlogVault

BlogVault is another strong competitor, known for its offsite storage and staging environments. It stores backups on its own servers, reducing the load on your hosting environment. Additionally, BlogVault provides one-click staging, making it easy to test updates before pushing them live.

UpdraftPlus, on the other hand, allows you to choose your own cloud storage provider, giving you more control. Its Migrator add-on enables staging, but it’s not as seamless as BlogVault’s integrated solution. Pricing is another factor - BlogVault starts at $89/year, higher than UpdraftPlus Premium.

Choose BlogVault if staging and managed backups are your top priorities. Choose UpdraftPlus if you prefer flexibility and lower costs.

UpdraftPlus vs BackupBuddy

BackupBuddy, developed by iThemes (now SolidWP), has been around for over a decade. It offers scheduled backups, offsite storage, and a strong site migration tool. However, its popularity has declined as newer solutions like UpdraftPlus gained traction.

Compared to BackupBuddy, UpdraftPlus offers a stronger free version. BackupBuddy is entirely premium, with no free option. In terms of features, both support scheduled backups and site migrations, but UpdraftPlus has broader cloud storage integrations.

Choose BackupBuddy if you want a proven legacy tool with solid migration features. Choose UpdraftPlus if you want a widely supported plugin with an excellent free tier.

UpdraftPlus vs Duplicator

Duplicator is best known as a site migration and cloning tool, though it also handles backups. It’s popular with developers who frequently move sites between local and live servers. Duplicator Pro adds scheduled backups and cloud storage support.

Compared to Duplicator, UpdraftPlus is more focused on automated, long-term backup management. It’s better suited for non-technical users who need regular backups and simple restores. Duplicator shines when moving sites or creating staging environments, while UpdraftPlus excels at ongoing site protection.

Choose Duplicator if migrations are your top priority. Choose UpdraftPlus if you want a full backup solution with user-friendly scheduling.

Bottom Line on Comparisons

• Jetpack Backup offers real-time backups, ideal for eCommerce, but at a higher cost.
• BlogVault provides managed offsite storage and staging, but with steeper pricing.
• BackupBuddy is reliable but dated, lacking the popularity and free tier of UpdraftPlus.
• Duplicator is excellent for migrations but not as strong for automated backups.
• UpdraftPlus remains the most balanced, affordable, and widely trusted solution, combining automated backups, cloud flexibility, and one-click restores.

Who Should Use UpdraftPlus in 2025?

With its mix of free and premium features, UpdraftPlus is versatile enough to serve a wide range of WordPress users. However, some groups will find it particularly valuable in 2025.

1. Bloggers and Small Website Owners

For personal blogs, portfolios, or small business websites, the free version of UpdraftPlus provides everything needed: scheduled backups, one-click restore, and cloud storage options. It’s an easy, budget-friendly way to safeguard your content without extra costs.

2. eCommerce Stores

WooCommerce shops can’t afford downtime or lost orders. With incremental backups in UpdraftPlus Premium, store owners can back up only recent changes instead of the entire site, reducing strain while ensuring transactions are preserved.

3. Agencies and Freelancers

Developers and agencies managing multiple client sites benefit from Premium’s multi-site plans, migration tools, and staging options. Features like cloning and scheduled backups make it easier to maintain several websites at once.

4. Large Websites and Enterprises

Enterprises with complex WordPress setups need reliable, secure backups. With multisite support, encrypted database backups, and WP-CLI integration, UpdraftPlus Premium is well-suited for bigger operations that demand advanced backup workflows.

Is UpdraftPlus Worth It for Your Website?

After a detailed look in this UpdraftPlus Review 2025, it’s clear why the plugin continues to dominate the WordPress backup market. With more than 3 million active installations, it has built a reputation for reliability, flexibility, and ease of use that many competitors struggle to match.

For bloggers, freelancers, and small business websites, the free version of UpdraftPlus is one of the most powerful options available. Features like scheduled backups, one-click restore, and cloud storage integrations give site owners essential protection without the need to upgrade immediately. This makes it especially appealing for budget-conscious users who still want peace of mind.

For eCommerce sites, agencies, and enterprises, the Premium version is a worthy investment. With tools like incremental backups, migration and cloning, multisite support, encrypted database backups, and priority support, it provides the advanced functionality needed to protect high-traffic or mission-critical websites. Considering its pricing starts at just $70/year, it remains more affordable than many alternatives offering fewer features.

Of course, UpdraftPlus isn’t perfect. Its dashboard design can feel a bit dated compared to newer competitors, and some of the most valuable features are locked behind the Premium upgrade. However, these are small drawbacks compared to the plugin’s proven track record and strong balance of free and paid features.

In conclusion, this UpdraftPlus Review 2025 confirms that the plugin is absolutely worth it for most WordPress websites. Whether you’re running a small blog, an online store, or managing multiple client projects, UpdraftPlus provides the reliability, control, and flexibility you need to ensure your site can be restored quickly if disaster strikes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is UpdraftPlus free?

Yes. UpdraftPlus offers a free version that includes manual and scheduled backups, one-click restore, and cloud storage options like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Amazon S3.

2. What does UpdraftPlus Premium include?

UpdraftPlus Premium (from $70/year) adds incremental backups, migration and cloning tools, multisite support, encrypted database backups, and priority support, making it ideal for businesses and agencies.

3. Can I use UpdraftPlus to migrate my WordPress site?

Yes. With the Migrator add-on (included in Premium), you can easily migrate or clone your website to a new domain, host, or staging environment.

4. Where are UpdraftPlus backups stored?

Backups can be stored in multiple cloud storage providers, including Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, Microsoft OneDrive, Rackspace, and more. You can also download them locally.

5. Does UpdraftPlus support incremental backups?

Yes, but only in the Premium version. Incremental backups save only the changes since your last backup, reducing server load and saving storage space.

6. Is UpdraftPlus worth it in 2025?

Absolutely. As this UpdraftPlus Review 2025 shows, it remains one of the most reliable and flexible WordPress backup plugins, trusted by millions of site owners worldwide.

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