A backup is the cheapest insurance you can take out for your WordPress site — and yet in initial consultations I regularly get asked: "backup? Doesn't that happen automatically?" No, it does not. Without a plugin, WordPress backs up nothing by itself. Three names come up in practically every search on the topic: UpdraftPlus, BackWPup and Duplicator. But one of the three is not actually a classic backup tool — it is something else that is often mistaken for one. In this article I clarify what each tool really does, what it costs and who each solution suits.
The three plugins at a glance
UpdraftPlus (a very capable free tier, Premium from around $70/year): with over 3 million active installations, by far the most widely used backup plugin for WordPress. Even the free version backs up files and database on a schedule and uploads to a cloud destination of your choice — Dropbox, Google Drive or your own server via FTP are all possible free of charge.
BackWPup (free version + paid Pro tiers from around $49/year for two sites): an open source alternative from WP Media (known for WP Rocket). Functionally solid, but the setup demands somewhat more technical understanding — jobs, schedules and target storage are configured more granularly than with UpdraftPlus.
Duplicator (free version + Pro plans from around $49.50/year for two sites): known as a migration and cloning tool, not as a backup solution in the narrower sense. Duplicator packs a complete WordPress installation into an installer package that you unpack again in a new location. That can be repurposed as a full backup — but it was not built for it.
Comparison at a glance
| Criterion | UpdraftPlus | BackWPup | Duplicator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | €0 (strong free tier) | €0 (free tier) | €0 (free tier) |
| Price for the full feature set | ~$70/year | ~$49–99/year | ~$49.50–299.50/year |
| Cloud storage options | Dropbox, Google Drive, S3, OneDrive and many more — already free | Dropbox, S3, FTP, SFTP (some Pro) | Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox (Pro) |
| Automated schedules | Yes, very granular | Yes, granular per job | Yes, from the Pro version |
| One-click restore | Yes, from the back end | Yes, but more manual | No — the focus is reinstallation via a package |
| Suitability for migration | Limited (Pro migrator add-on) | Limited | Very good — its core function |
| Performance impact | Low to medium | Low | Low (briefly higher while creating the backup) |
| Learning curve | Very shallow | Medium | Shallow for migration, medium when repurposed for backup |
UpdraftPlus — my first recommendation for most sites
Strengths: The free tier is already sufficient for a typical business site or a small shop: scheduled backups, a cloud destination of your choice, one-click restore directly in the WordPress back end. The interface is so understandable that in training I explain it to less technically confident participants in under ten minutes. Premium adds incremental backups, several cloud destinations at once and a migrator for domain moves.
Weaknesses: With very large databases (several GB) the first backup takes noticeably long. The free version limits the number of cloud destinations used in parallel.
When to choose UpdraftPlus: for practically every WordPress site I look after — from an association homepage to a mid-sized shop. It is my standard unless something specific argues against it.
BackWPup — solid, but with more configuration effort
Strengths: Fully open source at its base, with an active community. Backup jobs can be configured very granularly — different schedules for the database and media files, for example, or different target storage per job. A good choice for budget-conscious users willing to engage with the settings.
Weaknesses: The restore function is less comfortable than UpdraftPlus's — you work more often with manual steps rather than a single click. The interface feels more technical and less tidy overall.
When to choose BackWPup: when you enjoy configuring things yourself, have a tight budget and can live with a somewhat more technical restore process.
Duplicator — strong, but built for a different purpose
Here I have to be honest, even though it contradicts this article's premise of presenting all three tools as equivalent backup options: Duplicator's real strength is migration and cloning, not the ongoing, automated backup of your site. The tool packs WordPress files, database and configuration into a package along with an installer script, with which you set the complete site up again in a new location — a new server, a new domain, a local development environment. For exactly that, it is excellent.
Strengths: When moving a site to a new host or cloning it for a staging environment, Duplicator is hard to beat — the installer script takes most of the manual work off your hands.
Weaknesses as a backup solution: No genuine one-click restore process as with UpdraftPlus. Automated schedules only exist in the Pro version, and even then the workflow is geared towards "create a package and install it elsewhere" rather than "restore in seconds in an emergency". Anyone using Duplicator as their sole backup strategy does technically secure the site, but loses the comfort of a real backup routine with retention periods and fast restore.
When to choose Duplicator: when you are moving a site, cloning it, or need a copy for testing and development. For the question "how do I back up my site on an ongoing basis?" it is the wrong first choice. If migration is your actual topic, read my article All-in-One WP Migration vs. Duplicator vs. WP Migrate instead — there I compare Duplicator directly with the other migration specialists.
Would you rather not guess, but see once, live, what a clean backup setup looks like — including a restore test? In my online course I set up UpdraftPlus completely and show what really matters when restoring. → To the online course
Direct comparison: the details that count in an emergency
| Feature | UpdraftPlus | BackWPup | Duplicator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incremental backups | Premium | No | No |
| Encrypted backups | Premium | No | Pro |
| Multisite support | Premium | Yes (Pro) | Pro |
| Backup verification/log | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email/report notification | Yes | Yes | Pro |
| Database search & replace | Premium (migrator) | No | Yes — core function |
| Server-to-server migration | Premium (migrator) | No | Yes — core function |
| Create a staging environment | Not directly | No | Yes |
| Retention policies | Yes | Yes | Limited |
The differences show a clear pattern: UpdraftPlus and BackWPup are designed for ongoing, plannable backups. Duplicator is designed for one-off, complete transfer. The two purposes overlap technically, but the workflow and the developers' priorities differ.
Prices compared (as of 2026)
| Plugin | Free tier | Pro entry price | Price for agencies/more sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| UpdraftPlus | Very capable | ~$70/year (2 sites) | up to $195/year (unlimited) or $399/year (Gold, 50 GB storage included) |
| BackWPup | Solid base | ~$49/year (2 sites) | up to ~$99/year (50 sites) |
| Duplicator | Basic migration | ~$49.50/year (2 sites, Personal) | up to ~$299.50/year (Elite) |
All three providers use tiered annual licences based on the number of websites. With UpdraftPlus the free tier is already entirely sufficient for many solo projects — with Duplicator, Pro only pays off if you actually carry out migrations regularly (as an agency handling client moves, for example).
Who is each one suited to?
The solopreneur with a business site: UpdraftPlus free is entirely sufficient in most cases — a scheduled backup to Google Drive, done. Premium only pays off when you need several cloud destinations at once or incremental backups.
The small business owner with technical interest and a tight budget: BackWPup free or the inexpensive Pro tier. You invest a little more time setting up the jobs and save on the licence.
The agency that regularly moves or clones client sites: Duplicator Pro as a supplement — not a replacement — for a real backup solution. UpdraftPlus or BackWPup remains responsible for day-to-day security; Duplicator comes into play for server changes, domain moves or staging clones.
My conclusion
For the vast majority of my clients, UpdraftPlus remains my first recommendation — the free tier is strong, the interface is simple, and the restore process works reliably in an emergency with a few clicks. BackWPup is a legitimate alternative if you can live with somewhat more configuration effort or deliberately want open source. I would not use Duplicator as your backup solution — it was not built for that. It is an excellent tool for migration and cloning, and that is exactly what you should use it for. My complete backup strategy including schedules and retention periods is in the article WordPress backup strategy 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set up regular backups with Duplicator?
Technically yes, from the Pro version with its scheduling function. In practice I would advise against it — the workflow is optimised for "create a package, install it elsewhere", not for restoring quickly in an emergency. For ongoing backups, UpdraftPlus or BackWPup are the more suitable tools.
Do I even need UpdraftPlus Premium?
For most solo sites and small shops: no, the free tier is enough. Premium pays off with several websites, when you need incremental or encrypted backups, or when you want to use the built-in migrator for a domain move.
Where should I store my backups — isn't my own server enough?
No. A backup that sits only on the same server as the live site does not protect you against a total server failure or a hacked account. Always include at least one external destination such as Google Drive, Dropbox or S3 — all three plugins support this.
How often should a WordPress backup run?
For blogs and content sites, daily is usually enough. For shops with ongoing orders I recommend several times a day for the database and daily for files. More on this in the article WordPress backup strategy 2026.
Can I use UpdraftPlus and Duplicator at the same time?
Yes, without any problem — their functions barely overlap. Many of my clients use UpdraftPlus for ongoing backups and only reach for Duplicator additionally during a specific migration project.
What if I am about to migrate the site anyway — wouldn't Duplicator do for everything?
No. Migration is a one-off event, backup an ongoing process. Set up both separately. For the migration decision itself, my article All-in-One WP Migration vs. Duplicator vs. WP Migrate is worth a look.
You will find an overview of all my WordPress tool comparisons — from page builders through SEO to hosting — in the tool comparisons overview. And if you are fundamentally unsure which plugins you need at all, it is worth starting with my pillar article WordPress plugins 2026: which ones do you really need?
If you want not just to set up your backup strategy but also to have practised a real restore before the emergency arrives, my online course is the practical route there. → To the online course
Image source, featured & inline: illustrations created specifically in the pletzenauer design (no stock photos).
Tags