Table Of Contents
Introduction
If you run a WordPress website, losing data is not a question of if but when. A bad update, hosting failure, malware attack, or simple human mistake can wipe out months or years of work in minutes. Many site owners realize this only after something goes wrong. That is where a solid backup plugin becomes essential.
UpdraftPlus is one of the most widely used WordPress backup and migration plugins, trusted by millions of website owners. It promises easy backups, fast restores, cloud storage integration, and site migration without technical headaches. But popularity alone does not make a plugin right for everyone.
This review takes a close look at UpdraftPlus from a real user’s point of view. You will learn what it does well, where it falls short, and whether it is the right choice for your WordPress site. We will cover features, pricing, backup reliability, migration options, performance impact, and real-world use cases. By the end, you should have a clear answer to one simple question: is UpdraftPlus worth using on your site?
What Is UpdraftPlus and Why It Matters
UpdraftPlus is a WordPress plugin designed to back up, restore, and migrate WordPress websites. It allows you to create full backups of your site files, databases, themes, plugins, and uploads, then store them safely in remote locations.
Why backups are non-negotiable
Many site owners rely on hosting backups and assume they are enough. In reality, host backups often have limits:
- Short retention periods
- No control over restore points
- Slow recovery during emergencies
A dedicated backup plugin gives you control. You choose when backups happen, where they are stored, and how fast you can recover.
What makes UpdraftPlus popular
UpdraftPlus stands out because it balances ease of use with powerful options. Even beginners can set up automatic backups in minutes, while advanced users can fine-tune schedules and storage locations.
Key reasons people choose it:
- Works with most WordPress hosts
- Supports many cloud storage services
- Free version is usable, not crippled
- Reliable restore process
Core Features Explained in Plain Terms
UpdraftPlus offers many features, but not all are equally important. Let’s focus on what actually matters for day-to-day website management.
Backup options and scheduling
UpdraftPlus lets you back up:
- WordPress database
- Plugins
- Themes
- Uploads
- Other files
You can schedule backups to run automatically. Options include:
- Every 4, 8, or 12 hours
- Daily
- Weekly
- Monthly
Database and file backups can have different schedules, which is helpful for active sites.
Restore process
Restoring a backup is often where plugins fail. UpdraftPlus handles this well. From the WordPress dashboard, you can select a backup and restore individual parts or the entire site.
The restore wizard walks you through each step, reducing the risk of mistakes.
Cloud storage integration
UpdraftPlus supports remote storage, including:
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
- Amazon S3
- Microsoft OneDrive
- FTP and SFTP
- Email (not recommended for large sites)
Storing backups offsite protects you if your server crashes or gets hacked.
Manual backups before changes
Before updating plugins or themes, you can create a manual backup with one click. This is useful before major site changes or redesigns.
Free Version vs Premium: What You Actually Get
One of the biggest questions is whether the free version is enough or if you need the paid upgrade.
What the free version includes
The free version offers:
- Scheduled backups
- Manual backups
- Remote storage support
- Restore functionality
- Database and file backups
For small blogs and basic business sites, this can be sufficient.
What premium adds
Upgrading to UpdraftPlus Premium unlocks:
- Site migration and cloning
- Incremental backups
- Backup encryption
- More storage locations
- Multisite support
- Advanced reporting
- Priority support
Here is a quick comparison:
| Feature | Free | Premium |
| Scheduled backups | Yes | Yes |
| Remote storage | Yes | Yes |
| Migration tool | No | Yes |
| Incremental backups | No | Yes |
| Multisite support | No | Yes |
| Support | Community | Priority |
Who should upgrade
Premium makes sense if:
- You manage multiple sites
- You move sites between hosts
- You run large or busy websites
- You want faster backups with less server load
UpdraftPlus for Website Migration and Cloning
Migration is one of the most valuable premium features. Many users buy UpdraftPlus mainly for this reason.
How migration works
The process is simple:
- Back up the original site
- Install UpdraftPlus on the new site
- Upload the backup files
- Restore and replace the site
UpdraftPlus handles database search-and-replace automatically, which avoids broken links and missing images.
Real-world use case
Imagine moving a WooCommerce store to a better host. Manual migration can take hours and risks downtime. With UpdraftPlus Premium, you can move the site in under an hour with minimal issues.
Cloning for testing
Cloning lets you create a copy of your site for testing updates or redesigns. This is helpful if you want to try changes without affecting the live site.
Performance, Reliability, and Security
A backup plugin should not slow down your website or create new risks.
Performance impact
UpdraftPlus runs backups in the background. On shared hosting, large backups may still cause temporary load spikes, but incremental backups in premium reduce this problem.
Tips to reduce impact:
- Schedule backups during low-traffic hours
- Use remote storage instead of local
- Enable incremental backups if available
Reliability and success rates
In real use, UpdraftPlus is stable. Backups usually complete without errors, and logs clearly show what happens if something fails.
Email notifications help you monitor backup success.
Security features
Security-related features include:
- Encrypted database backups (premium)
- Secure remote storage connections
- Optional backup deletion after restore
While it is not a security plugin, it follows safe practices.
Pricing, Support, and Overall Value
Understanding cost and support helps you decide long-term.
Pricing overview
UpdraftPlus Premium pricing is based on the number of sites:
- Personal (2 sites)
- Business (10 sites)
- Agency (35 sites)
- Enterprise (unlimited sites)
Plans include one year of updates and support.
Support quality
Free users rely on community forums, which are active but slower. Premium users get direct support, usually responding within one business day.
Is it worth the price?
For site owners who value peace of mind, the cost is reasonable. Compared to manual recovery or lost revenue, backups are cheap insurance.
Conclusion
UpdraftPlus earns its reputation by doing the basics right. It backs up WordPress sites reliably, restores them without drama, and offers migration tools that save time and stress. The free version covers essential needs, while the premium upgrade adds serious convenience for growing sites.
It is not perfect. Very large sites need careful configuration, and beginners may need a few minutes to understand advanced settings. Still, for most WordPress users, UpdraftPlus is a dependable choice.
If your website matters to you, regular backups should be non-negotiable. UpdraftPlus makes that task simple, predictable, and manageable, which is exactly what a backup plugin should do.
FAQs About UpdraftPlus Plugin
What does UpdraftPlus do in WordPress?
UpdraftPlus creates backups of your WordPress files and database, stores them remotely, and allows quick restores after errors, hacks, or server failures.
Is UpdraftPlus free enough for small websites?
Yes, the free version supports scheduled backups, remote storage, and restores, which is sufficient for blogs, portfolios, and small business sites.
How often should I schedule backups with UpdraftPlus?
Active sites should back up daily or more often, while low-update sites can use weekly file backups with daily database backups.
Does UpdraftPlus slow down WordPress sites?
It has minimal impact when scheduled properly, especially if backups run during low-traffic hours and use remote storage.
Can UpdraftPlus migrate a WordPress site to a new host?
Yes, the premium version includes a migration tool that moves sites between hosts while handling database links automatically.
Where does UpdraftPlus store backups?
It supports cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, OneDrive, FTP, and local server storage.
Is UpdraftPlus safe to use on WooCommerce sites?
Yes, it works well with WooCommerce when backups are scheduled carefully and database backups run frequently.
Should I rely only on hosting backups instead of UpdraftPlus?
No, hosting backups offer limited control, while UpdraftPlus gives flexible scheduling, offsite storage, and faster recovery options.
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