Backing up a WordPress site: why and how to do it
This article is 6 years old — prices and terms may have changed.
Backing up a WordPress site is an important instrument of data security. The operation often saves time and the results of dozens of hours of work by developers and the site's content managers.
Backing up the files of a site on the WordPress CMS includes saving:
- the full database, or selected parts of it;
- all the site's files;
- the contents of the mail;
- FTP accounts and so on.
In effect you duplicate the site into another storage and, if need be, will be able to recreate it in the same form on the same hosting. Although some important changes may be lost.
WordPress data can be backed up to the current server or to external backup servers. In the second case the storage can sit apart from the client's servers and even in a different data centre.
The second option is more expensive and more technically demanding, but it gives a greater degree of data security.
What is a WordPress backup for?
Copies of sites have to be made for several reasons. One of them is the technical failures that can occur when plugins are updated, new ones are installed, or the theme or the WordPress version is updated.
The second common situation is a site being hacked. In such cases files may be destroyed or damaged. A backup will help restore the site to its previous state. You will not have to rebuild it from scratch and spend money again.
How do you back up WordPress if you are not a web developer?
WordPress data backups can be set up on your own, even if you are not a developer
What should you do if you are running your site yourself and cannot hire a web developer? How do you settle the question of backups in that situation? It is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. There are several options.
The first way is to set up site backups with your host. Host4Biz provides backup hosting. We keep backups of sites on external servers. You can order this service together with WordPress hosting. You will be able to choose and configure backup hosting through the client area. Our support team will help you with any question.
The second option is WordPress backup plugins. Installing WordPress add-ons is fairly simple. In many cases you will not even have to change the default settings. Let us look at the best and most widespread backup solutions.
BackUpWordPress — saving quickly and free
It lets you copy just the database or the whole of your site. After the plugin is installed and activated, its menu shows two schedules for creating copies automatically. There are other useful functions:
- the ability to add your own backup schedules;
- adjusting existing schedules by several parameters;
- the ability to create several archives to save;
- setting up notifications to your working e-mail.
This plugin is 100% free.
The cloud service and site plugin from VaultPress
This tool integrates your site with the VaultPress cloud service for storing data. Bear in mind that this WordPress backup solution is paid. Once you have paid for one of the available plans you will get access to the admin panel. There you will find the full list of the backups created and the main settings.
With VaultPress you can not only copy a site to external storage but also restore it with a couple of clicks. For that you have to set up an FTP connection to the site.
You will also have access to a simplified version of the VaultPress panel in the site's console. Visiting the service itself is not required.
The plugin costs from 3.5 to 29 USD a month depending on the plan you choose. Pay for a year at once and you get a discount.
SnapshotPro — a professional tool
A backup created with this add-on can be kept on servers or in a cloud service account (the most popular being Amazon, Google Drive and Dropbox). You can also set copies to be created automatically on a schedule. The Time Machine option lets you create any number of copies of your database. Individual tables can be saved as well. The elements you need can be restored in a few mouse clicks.
This plugin differs a little from the rest of our selection. It is more of a professional tool with a large number of settings. Price: 49 USD a month. The first 30 days of use are free.
UpdraftPlus — for everyone, from beginner to professional
This is our editorial team's personal favourite. The plugin comes in a free and an extended version. It saves archived copies of the database and of the site files you need to cloud service accounts. You can choose one or several from a long list:
- Amazon S3;
- Google Drive (if you use this option, we recommend protecting your account additionally);
- Dropbox;
- an FTP account;
- OpenStack Swift;
- DreamObjects.
The paid version lets you save backups quickly and simply to an even greater number of services. Which of them to choose is up to you.
The plugin supports encryption for databases. That gives your data still greater security. If the site is large, the plugin will split it into several archives, so the backup takes less time.
The premium version costs 70 to 145 USD. If you have one or two sites, the basic version is quite enough.
BackWPup — simply fast and convenient
A very convenient, capable tool with a fully translated interface. Available in free and paid versions. The free version supports saving to the cloud. There are several convenient settings that make storing and restoring from a copy as easy as possible.
BackupBuddy
The plugin backs up WordPress sites. The information can be saved to your computer or to cloud service accounts (the more reliable option). It also makes it possible to save individual files. A site can be restored to its previous state in a couple of minutes.
This plugin pays off better with several sites. It costs 80 USD a year for one site and 100 USD for ten.
The service and plugin from WP Remote — more than storage
The plugin links your site to the WP Remote service. This tool is particularly interesting because it settles more than the question of backups. It is a versatile instrument for managing your site automatically.
Among its features:
- the ability to track available updates for plugins, themes and the WordPress core;
- automatic installation of all available updates;
- bulk updates of themes, plugins and the WordPress version across all your sites (webmasters and developers will appreciate it);
- reliable encryption of all backups;
- keeping a year's history of copies;
- fast, guaranteed restoration of the site from the archives created;
- detection of viruses and malicious code on the site (this scanner is considered one of the best among similar tools);
- a firewall for your sites working in real time;
- a quick check that the sites are up.
The plugin and the service have a free version with a fairly broad basic feature set. The plans are divided into three categories depending on the number of sites managed (up to 20, up to 50 and up to 100).
Which plugin should you choose?
Which of the components listed should you choose? The choice comes down to several questions:
- Is the free version's feature set enough for you?
- Can you afford a premium version, and if so, which one?
- Do you need to manage one site or several?
- Does the plugin support integration with the storage services convenient for you?
How to install WordPress backup plugins
Backup plugins are installed through the site's admin panel
A few words about installing the backup plugin you have chosen. First make sure that UpdraftPlus or something like it is not already running on your site. The add-on may be installed but not activated.
- Go to the site's admin panel and find the Plugins menu item there.
- The next step is the Installed tab. There you will see several sections, among them All, Active and Inactive.
- Look through the last two sections, and if there are no backup plugins there you can install the one you have chosen. That is done through Add New in the plugins tab.
- Simply type the name of one of the components described in this article into the search box.
Remember that the plugin has to be not only installed but also activated. And remember that all the site's add-ons have to be updated regularly.
Important! Do not try to install two or three backup plugins at once. They will conflict with each other and overload the site. For reliability it is better to set backups up with your host.
Conclusions
Backing up a WordPress site matters greatly for keeping data safe and saving money and time. We recommend setting up a regular automatic backup of your site. We also advise making a copy before any large-scale work on it.
Host4Biz will give your online projects reliable storage and the highest security. And in our blog you will find the freshest and most useful information about promoting and maintaining your sites and growing your business online.