At a glance
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin
Backup, restore or migrate your WordPress website to another host or domain. Schedule backups or run manually. Migrate in minutes.
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin
Create a complete WordPress backup easily. Schedule automatic backups, store securely, and restore effortlessly with the best WordPress backup plugin!
Full Comparison
Technical Specs
| Metric | UpdraftPlus | BackWPup |
|---|---|---|
| Requires WP | 3.2+ | 5.3+ |
| Tested up to WP | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Plugin age | 14 yrs | 17 yrs |
Quick Verdict
UpdraftPlus is the better choice for most WordPress site owners. With 3.0M+ active installs and a 94% five-star rating, it dominates the backup plugin space. Its built-in migration tool solves a problem BackWPup doesn't touch. Unless you need a free, no-frills backup plugin for a single site, start with UpdraftPlus.
Feature Comparison: UpdraftPlus vs BackWPup
| Feature | UpdraftPlus | BackWPup |
|---|---|---|
| Site migration | Built-in migration wizard to move sites between domains or hosts | No built-in migration tool; requires manual database search-and-replace |
| Cloud storage destinations | Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, Rackspace Cloud, FTP, SFTP, email, and more | Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure, FTP, SFTP, email, and more |
| Scheduled backups | Hourly, daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or custom intervals | Hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly intervals |
| Database backup only | Yes, selectable from the settings panel | Yes, selectable from the job settings |
| Incremental backups | Not included in the free version | Not included in the free version |
| Backup encryption | Yes, via the premium add-on | Yes, via the premium version |
| Restore from backup | One-click restore from the backups list | One-click restore from the backups list |
Who Should Use UpdraftPlus
- Anyone planning to migrate a WordPress site to a new host: UpdraftPlus includes a migration wizard that handles domain changes automatically. 94% of users rate it 5 stars, and this feature alone saves hours of manual database work.
- Site owners who want the best backup plugin for WordPress by community trust: 3.0M+ sites already use it, and its 4.8/5 average rating from 8564 reviews reflects consistent reliability.
- Users who need to backup a WordPress site automatically on flexible schedules: UpdraftPlus supports hourly, daily, weekly, fortnightly, or monthly intervals, giving you control over how often backups run without a premium upgrade.
Who Should Use BackWPup
- WordPress administrators who want to schedule automatic backups with a straightforward interface: BackWPup's job-based system lets you set up multiple backup routines to different cloud destinations. It resolves 91% of support threads within two months.
- Users who prefer a plugin that focuses strictly on backups without migration features: If you never move sites, BackWPup's simpler feature set may feel less cluttered. It holds a 4.0/5 rating from its user base.
- Anyone looking for a free tool to backup and restore a WordPress site on a single host: BackWPup's one-click restore works reliably for same-server recovery, and its 69% five-star rate shows a loyal core of users.
Community & Support
UpdraftPlus handled 52 support threads in the last two months, resolving 87% of them. Its 94% five-star rating against just 3% one-star ratings signals a plugin that mostly works out of the box. BackWPup managed 22 threads with a 91% resolution rate, a strong ratio for a smaller plugin. However, its 23% one-star rating is unusually high, suggesting some users hit persistent bugs or setup issues. If you value responsive support for a widely-used plugin, UpdraftPlus's larger support team and community knowledge base give it an edge.
Verdict: UpdraftPlus or BackWPup for WordPress sites?
Pick UpdraftPlus if you want a plugin that handles both backups and site migrations. Its built-in migration wizard eliminates the need for a separate migration plugin or manual database edits. With 3.0M+ active users and a 94% five-star rating, it's the most trusted option in the WordPress repository.
Pick BackWPup if your needs are limited to scheduled backups on a single host and you prefer a smaller, simpler codebase. Its 91% support resolution rate shows attentive development, though its 23% one-star rating is a warning sign for compatibility issues.
For nearly every use case, UpdraftPlus wins on functionality, community size, and user satisfaction. Start there.
This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Q How many people use UpdraftPlus compared to BackWPup?
UpdraftPlus has 3.0M+ active installs while BackWPup has 500K+, meaning UpdraftPlus is used on more sites.
Q Which has better user ratings — UpdraftPlus or BackWPup?
UpdraftPlus averages 4.8/5 from 8,564 reviews, while BackWPup averages 4/5 from 1,320 reviews — UpdraftPlus has the higher average rating.
Q Which is more actively maintained — UpdraftPlus or BackWPup?
BackWPup was last updated on Jun 8, 2026 and UpdraftPlus on Jun 5, 2026, so BackWPup received the more recent update.
Q Which plugin has the better support response rate?
In the last two months, UpdraftPlus resolved 45 of 52 support threads (87%) and BackWPup resolved 20 of 22 (91%). BackWPup currently has the higher resolution rate.
Q Are UpdraftPlus and BackWPup both free?
Yes — both UpdraftPlus and BackWPup are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.
Q Is UpdraftPlus or BackWPup better for WordPress sites?
UpdraftPlus is better for most site owners because its one-click restore and migration tools make moving your site or recovering from a crash much simpler. BackWPup is a strong choice if you need deep control over your backup jobs and prefer a more technical, hands-on approach.
Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — UpdraftPlus or BackWPup?
UpdraftPlus is easier for a beginner. You can set up automatic backups to cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox in just a few clicks, while BackWPup requires you to configure each job step by step, which can feel overwhelming if you are new to WordPress.
Q What is the biggest feature difference between UpdraftPlus and BackWPup?
The biggest difference is that UpdraftPlus includes a built-in migration tool that lets you move your entire site to a new host without needing a separate plugin. BackWPup focuses on scheduled backups and database optimization but does not offer that same one-click migration feature.
Q Can you switch from UpdraftPlus to BackWPup (or the other way) without losing data?
Yes, you can switch between them safely because both plugins create standard backup files that the other can restore. Just make a full backup with your current plugin first, then install the new one and use its restore tool to import that backup file.
Q Which type of site should choose UpdraftPlus, and which should choose BackWPup?
Choose UpdraftPlus if you run a typical blog, business site, or online store and want a simple way to back up and migrate your site. Choose BackWPup if you manage multiple sites or need granular control over backup schedules, database cleanup, and log files.
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