Your WordPress website is a product of hours of labor, hundreds of hard decisions, and tons of passion (WordPress is amazing after all). You wouldn’t have created the site if you didn’t care about the information you’re sharing!
The worst possible thing that could happen to your website is that the content disappears altogether and irretrievably. Maybe it all goes away as a result of a mistake you make updating the theme. Or maybe it’s a server failure by your website host. Perhaps your site is hacked and infected with a virus. It might even happen that you make a bunch of changes and then decide you don’t like them and want your old site back.
Whatever the reason, the possibility of losing all of your hard work is real.
Luckily, backup plugins exist. They will save your entire website so that you can put it back without much effort. It’s like having an extra copy of an important document stored somewhere safe. Some plugins store the information in the cloud, some on your computer, and some in a different section of your WordPress site. Which is best depends on your needs and preferences. Also, unlike web hosting, it doesn’t matter where in the world your back-up is stored, you could have your site hosting on a Canadian web host, and back-ups in Singapore, it all works.
Installing a backup plugin is one of the first things you should do when starting your WordPress website, even if you’ve chosen one of the best WordPress hosts (check our lists of the best WP hosts in Canada or Australia if you’re looking for one) that takes backups automatically. Whichever one you choose off of this list, your future self will thank you.
Backupbuddy Saves Your Entire Website to the Cloud.
Having your backup on the cloud ensures it’s there if you ever need it. Some backups will save to your computer, which is not an ideal option if computer failure or crashing is the cause of your data and website loss. The cloud will always be there keeping your backup safe and accessible.
With BackupBuddy, you can schedule how often it backs up the site so that you don’t have to remember to go in and keep it updated. With its cheapest plan beginning at $80, BackupBuddy isn’t the most affordable options. However, it is one of the best and most installed WordPress plugins.
UpdraftPlus Provides Lots of Choices.
Unlike BackupBuddy where your data is always stored on the cloud, UpdraftPlus gives you a choice between the cloud and your computer or both. You also can choose between scheduled backups and on-demand updates.
As a free plugin with a paid, premium option, UpdraftPlus is a more affordable option than BackupBuddy.
VaultPress: Brought to You By The Creators of WordPress
VaultPress offers either daily or real-time syncing. This means that your backup can be updated after you make even the slightest change to the site. Nothing will be lost if disaster strikes.
It also involves security scans to be sure your site isn’t backing up any malicious code or viruses, a benefit not offered by most backup plugins.
VaultPress is part of Jetpack and requires a subscription of $39 per year before you download the plugin. However, a site backup with the ability to delete potential malware and viruses with one click can be worth the investment.
BackWPup Makes Restoring Your Site Simple.
BackWPup will automatically backup your site and send the files to the cloud, your computer, your email, or a file transfer protocol (FTP).
Even the free version of BackWPup is easy to use and allows for site restoration. Some backup plugins require a paid version to restore your site, so be sure to know what to expect before making your final backup plugin selection.
Duplicator Allows You to Backup Your Plugins and Settings Too.
Duplicator puts all of your active WordPress files into a .zip file, including your themes and plugins. This makes transferring your site between servers a breeze. Having all of the information from your pre-configured site completely removes the need to rework anything to get your site up and running again.
Starting at $49/year, you need to consider if it is a necessary investment. If you plan on frequently moving sites around, it is most likely worth the price.
BackUpWordPress Doesn’t Require Any Setup.
Ready to begin working immediately after installation, BackUpWordPress is a simple, free option. However, it only backs up your files to a section on your website, leaving it vulnerable should there be an intrusion. If you prefer to have your backup stored elsewhere on the cloud or your computer, you’ll need to purchase the premium version.Like all WordPress plugins, your backup plugin should be regularly updated. Also, it’s essential to check that the plugin is updating according to schedule. It’s easy to unintentionally change a setting and not realize it until it’s too late.
Remember, whether you start with one of the more complete paid versions or a simple, free backup plugin, you are making a smart investment by protecting your website and your visitors.
