6 Top WordPress Backup Recommendations
Web Development

6 Top WordPress Backup Recommendations

31st December 2013

Keeping your own website or blog takes time and effort but what happens if you lose even part of your information? Having to re-do content or scrape the Wayback Machine for indexed page records is time consuming and sketchy. Even after that there is no guarantee that you can retrieve all files.

Having recently experienced perils of cheap hosting on WordPress affiliate sites (cobbler’s children worst shod and all that),  I found out the hard way that not practicing what you preach to clients with regards to backing up database files can result in a lot of extra work and effort and of course lost income!

Even hardcore professionals suffer from procrastination when it comes to boring tasks like backups so I thought that I would share my plugin findings in the hope that it saves you data, time and prevents you from ever having to re-make anything ever again – [*disclaimer* – in theory]

WordPress Backup Plugins

A manual backup of any WordPress database via SQL or FTP is advised, but if you are not really sure about manual backups or are intimidated by the ‘geeky stuff – here are 6 Top WP backup plugin suggestions.

Obviously there are many more available and a whole host of cloud backup services, but I have kept this post as backup plugins that are tried, tested and come highly recommended by colleagues that are actually using the plugins.

vaultpress-logo1. VaultPress

Plugin URL: http://vaultpress.com/

This plugin came up several times as top notch. When colleagues use the word ‘special’ closely followed by the word ‘costly” it reminds you that sometimes you do  get what you pay for. According to Michel Wester our resident tools expert and Rhys Wynne at 3 Door Digital – VaultPress is a solid choice.

“If you have the budget, then I do recommend a monthly subscription to VaultPress. Set up is as simple as installing a WordPress Plugin on your site, and it carries out incremental backups, with your database getting backed up several times a day, and files getting backed up whenever they are subjected to any change.  Also it’s run by Automattic, the corporate arm behind WordPress, so it’s not going anywhere!” – Rhys Wynne, Digital Marketing Consultant at 3 Door Digital

Pros:

  • Simple interface
  • One-Click restore
  • Scheduling
  • Concierge Service – VaultPress security specialists additional services to help keep your website safe

Cons:

  • No option for where to store backup
  • Potentially, if the Concierge Service was compromised it ‘could’ allow unauthorised users into the back-end of your website (on the grounds that any software with 3rd party access carries a risk)

Costs:

  • Monthly Fee from $15 per month for basic, – $350 enterprise level per site

What it looks like:

vaultpress-screen
VaultPress Screenshot

backwpup-logo2. BackWPup

Plugin URL: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/backwpup/ Suggested by colleague Dan McGuire a seasoned WordPress Developer and ThinkVis Speaker and highly recommended by our very own expert Bastian Grimm – regular blogger and speaker with all things WordPress around the globe. Here are just some of the things they had to say:

“We’re heavily using BackWpUp since this one can also put your backups into Dropbox, G-Drive and other cloud storage services; Plus it has regular FTP backup options and such. Not talking about scheduling and the usual features. Also worth mentioning: It can basically back-up everything – including themes, uploads, plug-ins and whatever else you want it to do!” – Bastian Grimm – Founder and CEO of Grimm Digital

“I’ve used BackWPup for over 2 years now and I have yet to have any issues with it. I currently use Amazon S3 to store my daily backups, which I keep a week of, and Dropbox to store 1 backup per week just for ease of restore if needed. With such a wide array of backup locations, anyone should be able to backup any important areas of their website to a storage solution that suits them. And all of this for free. I couldn’t recommend it more.” – Dan McGuire – WordPress Developer

Positives:

  • Simple to use
  • Schedule multiple backup operations
  • Choices of place to store your backups:
    • Folder
    • FTP
    • Amazon S3
    • Google Drive
    • Miscrosoft Azure
    • Rackspace Cloud
    • Dropbox
    • Email
    • Control over what files/folders/database tables you backup
    • Simple restore

Negatives:

  • No warranty or support except via forums. This is true for most plugins except those you pay a monthly subscription for.

Costs:

  • £FREE

 What it looks like:

backwpup screenshot
BackWPup Screenshot

backup-logo3. Backup

This one actually came out tops when searching for backup plugins on WordPress.org

Plugin URL: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/backup/

Positives:

  • Scheduling system for backups
  • Allow you to select what you want backing up
  • Can store backups on Google Drive or locally
  • Email notifications when an error occurs
  • Very easy to use
  • Free

Negatives:

  • No options for Dropbox or Amazon S3 for backup storage
  • Reading reviews it has had a few bugs in the past

 Costs: £FREE

What it looks like:

 Backup WP Screenshot
Backup WP Screenshot

4. WP-DB-Backup

A free On-demand backup of your WordPress database highly recommended by Rhys Wynne at 3 Door Digital as his “preferred free solution when backing up databases” Plugin URL: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-db-backup/

“WP-DB is relatively easy to set up, and does work with most hosting providers. However it’s limitations are that it only backs up the database, rather than the entire site, and sometimes it struggles with larger databases. However, I use it for all my own sites.” – Rhys Wynne3 Door Digital

Positives:

  • Very simple, low-impact script

Negatives:

  • Only backs up the database, no files
  • Is an old plugin that is no longer updated so may stop working with Word Press in the future
  • No option on where to store your backups
  • No support, even via forums

Costs: £FREE

What it looks like:

wpdb-screenshot
WP-DB Backup Screenshot

5. WP-DB Manager

Another suggestion from Seasoned SEO Consultant and WP Developer Dean Cruddace who uses WP-DB Manager as it emails a daily backup.

“This plugin is not as simple as some. Most people will head for the email daily back up option and that is not as straightforward as you would like it to be. It takes persistence to stick with this plugin but it is worth it” – Dean Cruddace, Freelance SEO Consultant

Plugin URL: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-dbmanager/

Positives:

  • Emails Daily Backup
  • Automatic repair and optimisation of database
  • Can speed up website

Negatives:

  • It is not immediately apparent where to start with it.
  • Entry level is not basic & you need to have server access as it is not always plug and play

Costs: £FREE

What it looks like:

wp-db-manager-screen
WP-DB-Manager Screenshot

6. BlogVault

blogvault-logoRecommended by Sos team member Carla Marshall and Director of Sorbet Digital as a well supported web based service that is easy to use and affordable.

Plugin URL: http://blogvault.net

Positives:

  • Free Trial
  • They take care of things so you don’t have to
  • Fast support response time
  • You can backup individual files
  • Easy blog migration

Negatives:

  • Web based service may annoy the geeks!

Costs: $9 per month for single site to $39 a month for 7 sites

 What it looks like:

blogvault-screen

Other Backup Plugins (not tried and tested)

I kept this post as tried and trusted from SEO colleagues but there were others that came up while doing the research. I can’t vouch for these, but they may be worth a look as they compare themselves to many of the above. I would be very interested in any comments you have or any that may have been missed out.

Quick List:

  • Backup Buddy and Backup Breeze both compare themselves to blog vault
  • WP Time Machine
  • Updraft Plus
  • Press Backup
  • Cloudsafe365
  • SME Storage

…and if you weren’t aware, you can also schedule backups of your files and databases to Google Drive.

dollar-sign

The real cost of not backing up your WP DB!

The cost of re-making data and the loss of affiliate revenue – even temporary loss on sites that are not hugely important were earning more per month than many of these services charge for a monthly fee (you certainly can’t beat FREE).

If you haven’t added ‘must backup files more often’ to your New Year Resolutions list – sign up to something, and at least take one copy of your site as it stands RIGHT NOW!

Huge thanks to all who helped and advised and a special thanks to Dan McGuire for helping me to sift through the suggestions and test the pro’s and cons!

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Written By
Jackie Hole is an Award Winning Search Marketing consultant specialising in Paid Search, Conversion Improvement and Organic Search / SEO for the USA, Canada and European markets. Starting out in Multimedia & Interface Design, Jackie has over 15 years experience in online marketing and was recently awarded European Search Personality...
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