UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup Plugin – The Ultimate Guide for Bloggers

Backing up your WordPress blog is like having an insurance policy for your website. If something goes wrong – a hack, server crash, or a facepalm-inducing mistake – a good backup plugin can save your bacon. UpdraftPlus is one of the most popular solutions for this job, known for its simplicity and powerful features. In this friendly expert guide, we’ll dive into what UpdraftPlus is used for, how it works, and how to back up & restore your site with it. We’ll also explore where it stores your backups (and how to download them), break down free vs. premium features (is Premium worth it?), discuss UpdraftVault cloud storage safety, why backups might be slow (and what your host needs to handle it), and finally compare UpdraftPlus to BlogVault and other WordPress backup plugins. Let’s get straight to the point – with a dash of wit – and get your blog’s backup strategy sorted!

What Is UpdraftPlus and What Does It Do?

UpdraftPlus is an industry-leading WordPress backup plugin (with both free and paid versions) that specializes in backing up, restoring, cloning, and migrating WordPress websites. In plain English, this plugin makes it easy to create full copies of your site (including the database, themes, plugins, uploads, etc.), store them safely, and bring your site back to life from a backup if needed. Millions of WordPress users trust UpdraftPlus for its comprehensive features, reliability, and affordability.

In a nutshell, UpdraftPlus allows you to:

• Back Up Your Site – manually or on an automatic schedule – so you always have a recoverable copy of your blog’s content and settings.
• Restore Backups Easily – either to the same site or a new location. With a few clicks, you can revert your site to a previous state if an update goes awry or content gets corrupted.
• Migrate or Clone Sites – (Premium feature) copy your site to a new host or create a staging site. This is useful for redesigns or testing changes.
• Choose Storage Locations – save backups to your own server or send them off-site to cloud storage like Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, etc., to keep them safe.
• Do it All Within WordPress – UpdraftPlus works right from your WP dashboard with an intuitive interface. No need to be a sysadmin or mess with code to back up or restore your blog.

Overall, UpdraftPlus is a “set it and forget it” WordPress backup solution that covers the needs of most bloggers and website owners. Next, let’s see how it actually works behind the scenes.

How Does UpdraftPlus Work?

UpdraftPlus operates as a standard WordPress plugin – meaning you install it on your site and access its settings in the WP admin area. Here’s a quick rundown of how it works:

• Backup Process: When triggered (either manually or by schedule), UpdraftPlus will zip up your website’s files and database into a series of archive files. By default, it splits the backup into components – e.g. a database backup, plugins, themes, uploads, and others – rather than one giant file. This granular approach is more reliable and gives you flexibility (for instance, you could restore just the database or just the uploads if needed). The backup archives are saved by default in the wp-content/updraft folder on your server. However, you can (and should, for safety) configure remote storage so UpdraftPlus automatically sends your backup files off-site to a cloud service of your choice.
• Remote Storage: UpdraftPlus Free supports many remote storage options out of the box – including Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, email, and more. This is a big plus, since storing backups on the same server as your site isn’t ideal (if the server dies, your backups die with it!). For example, you can authorize UpdraftPlus to upload backups to your Google Drive or Dropbox; once set up, every backup will be sent there automatically. (Tip: For maximum safety, always keep at least one copy of your backups off the web server – UpdraftPlus makes this easy by integrating with cloud storage.)
• Scheduling: In the settings, you can schedule automatic backups as frequently as you need. Options range from every 4, 8, or 12 hours to daily, weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. You can set separate schedules for files and for the database. For instance, a busy blog might back up the database daily (to capture new posts/comments) but the files weekly if they change less often. UpdraftPlus’s scheduler relies on WordPress’s cron system to trigger jobs in the background.
• Resource Usage: One concern with backup plugins is performance. UpdraftPlus is designed to minimize server load by working in small batches. Instead of trying to zip your entire site in one go (which could overwhelm some servers), it processes a bit at a time, yielding in between. This “incremental chunking” approach means backups take longer to complete if you have a large site, but it prevents your site from slowing to a crawl or timing out during the process. Essentially, it trades speed for reliability on low-resource servers – a smart move for shared hosting environments. (We’ll talk more about backup speed and what to do if it’s too slow, later on.)
• Backup Format: The result of a backup will be a set of files (e.g. ending in .zip for files and a .sql inside a zip for the database). UpdraftPlus also generates an index file (.json or .log) that keeps track of backup details. Rest assured, backups are complete – everything you need to restore your site is contained in those files (WordPress core can be reinstalled fresh, since the backup focuses on your content and config).
• Security: By default, backups are not encrypted (they’re standard ZIP files), but your backup archives are stored in a non-web-accessible directory for security. UpdraftPlus Premium does offer the option to encrypt your database backup with a password for extra security if desired. And if you use the UpdraftVault cloud (Premium feature), data is transmitted over secure SSL and stored encrypted on the server.
• Restoration: UpdraftPlus can restore backups directly through the WordPress admin interface. It will unpack the archives and replace the relevant files and database tables on your site. You have fine control over what to restore – e.g. you can choose to restore just the database, or just the plugins folder, etc., from a given backup set. We’ll cover the step-by-step restore process in the next section.

In short, UpdraftPlus works by packaging your site into neat little bundles and giving you multiple ways to stash those bundles safely. It automates the heavy lifting, so you can focus on blogging instead of worrying about FTP or cPanel backups. Now, let’s get hands-on: how do you actually use UpdraftPlus to back up and restore your WordPress blog?

How to Back Up and Restore Your Website Using UpdraftPlus

One of the best things about UpdraftPlus is that it’s pretty straightforward to use, even for beginners. Below, we’ll walk through the basic steps to set up a backup, run it, and then restore a backup. No IT degree required!

Backing Up Your WordPress Site with UpdraftPlus

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New, search for “UpdraftPlus,” and install it (the free version) if you haven’t already. Activate the plugin. You’ll now find Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups in your WP admin menu.
2. Configure Backup Settings: Click on Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups, then click the Settings tab in the UpdraftPlus interface. Here you can set your backup schedule and choose remote storage:
   • Schedule: Pick how often you want to back up your Files and your Database. For example, you might set files to weekly and database to daily if you publish often. If unsure, a common choice for a moderate-activity blog is weekly file backups and daily DB backups.
   • Retention: Choose how many backup sets to retain. UpdraftPlus can automatically delete older backups beyond this number to save space.
   • Remote Storage: Select a remote storage option by clicking its icon. UpdraftPlus free lets you use services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, OneDrive, email, etc. without any extra add-ons. After selecting, follow the instructions that appear (for example, for Dropbox, you’ll click a link to authorize UpdraftPlus to your Dropbox account, then hit “Complete Setup” to link it). Save your settings once done.
3. Run a Manual Backup: Now, go back to the Backup/Restore tab (the main UpdraftPlus page). To initiate your first backup, click the big blue “Backup Now” button. A modal will ask what to include – make sure “Include your database” and “Include your files” are checked for a full backup. There’s also an option to send this backup to your remote storage (keep that checked if you configured one). Then click Backup Now to start.
   UpdraftPlus will begin backing up; you’ll see log messages updating on the page. The time it takes varies – a small site might finish in under a minute, while a large site on shared hosting could take several minutes or more. (Remember, it may be pausing between steps to avoid overloading the server, so patience is a virtue here.)
4. Backup Completion: Once done, you’ll see the new backup listed under Existing Backups on the UpdraftPlus page. If you used remote storage, it will indicate that the files were sent to, say, Dropbox or Google Drive. You can now rest easy that you have a safe copy of your site! 🎉

   Pro tip: UpdraftPlus allows you to download backup files right from the dashboard if needed – for example, you could click “Download to your computer” for the database or plugins zip. You can also find the backup files via FTP or file manager in the wp-content/updraft directory on your server (they’re named with the date and component).

Restoring Your Site from an UpdraftPlus Backup

Nobody wants to have to do a restore – but if you ever face a site disaster or even just regret that last plugin update, here’s how to get your blog back using UpdraftPlus:

Scenario A: Restoring on the same site (site is still running) – This is the simplest case:

1. Go to Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups → Existing Backups. You’ll see a list of your backups. If the backup you need is not listed (for example, if it was uploaded directly to cloud and not in the list), you can use the “Rescan remote storage” link to have UpdraftPlus fetch the list of backups from your cloud account. Likewise, if you have backup files on your computer, you can click “Upload Backup Files” to import them into UpdraftPlus so that they appear in the list.
2. Once the backup you want appears in the list, hit the Restore button next to it. UpdraftPlus will ask which components you want to restore (plugins, themes, uploads, database, etc.). For a full restore, check all the boxes.
3. Proceed with the restoration wizard. UpdraftPlus will then fetch the backup files (from your server or remote storage) and begin unpacking them. It will replace your files and database with the ones from the backup.
4. After a few moments (longer for big sites), it should complete and let you know the restore was successful. Boom – your site is now reverted to the backup state. It’s wise to quickly browse your site and make sure everything looks okay.

Scenario B: Restoring to a new site or after a crash (site is down) – This is a bit more involved, but still straightforward:

1. If your site was wiped out (or you’re migrating to a new host/domain), first install a fresh WordPress. You’ll need a WordPress installation to import the backup into.
2. Install and activate UpdraftPlus on this new WordPress (it can be an empty site).
3. If your backups were stored remotely (e.g., Dropbox), go to UpdraftPlus Settings on the new site and set up the same remote storage (connect to the same Dropbox/Drive where your backup is). Save settings, then in the Backup/Restore tab click “Rescan remote storage”. UpdraftPlus will find your backup set in the cloud and list it under Existing Backups.
   If you have the backup files on your computer instead, you can alternatively use the Upload Backup Files link to upload all the pieces of the backup into the new site.
4. Click Restore on the desired backup from the list, select all components to restore, and proceed. UpdraftPlus will import all the data into this new site. In essence, you’ve just cloned or migrated your blog using the backup. Update any site URL settings if needed (UpdraftPlus will handle basic search-and-replace for the domain if it changed, as part of the restore).

After restoration, your site should be back online with all the content, themes, and plugins exactly as they were at the backup time. 🎉 UpdraftPlus makes this whole restore process surprisingly easy – even the free version lets you restore backups right from your WordPress dashboard, which not all backup plugins offer.

(One thing to note: If you used UpdraftPlus’s free version to migrate to a new domain, you basically did it by backup and restore. UpdraftPlus Premium has a dedicated migrator tool to streamline site migrations with one-click direct transfers, but free works fine with the manual method as described.)

Where Does UpdraftPlus Store Backups (And Can You Download Them)?

By default, UpdraftPlus stores backup files on your own web server, in the directory /wp-content/updraft/ within your WordPress installation. If you never configure a remote storage, all those .zip files (and the log files) just sit on your server. You can access them via the WordPress admin (using UpdraftPlus’s Existing Backups list to download each file) or through FTP/file manager by navigating to that folder. Yes, you can download your backups anytime – either one-by-one from the UpdraftPlus dashboard (click the “Download” links for database, plugins, etc.), or by grabbing the files directly from the server folder.

However, relying solely on local backups isn’t recommended. If your server has a hardware failure or your hosting account gets suspended or hacked, you might lose those backups. That’s why UpdraftPlus supports many remote backup locations for redundancy. You can easily configure UpdraftPlus to send backups to a cloud service or even multiple destinations. UpdraftPlus Premium specifically allows backing up to multiple remote locations at once for extra safety (e.g. send backups to both Google Drive and Amazon S3, etc.). Free version allows one remote destination per backup job (you can change it as needed).

Common remote storage options supported:

• Cloud Drives: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive (OneDrive is available in free now as well), Amazon S3, Rackspace Cloud, and more.
• Generic: FTP/SFTP to another server, WebDAV, etc.
• Email: You can have the backup emailed to you (not great for large sites, but okay for small backups).
• UpdraftVault: This is UpdraftPlus’s own cloud storage service (more on this shortly).

When a backup completes and is sent to remote storage, UpdraftPlus still keeps a record/log locally, but you can choose to have it delete the local copies once the remote upload succeeds (an option in settings) to save disk space. If you ever need to retrieve a backup from remote manually, you can log into that cloud account and download the zip files. But usually, it’s easier to just let UpdraftPlus handle retrieval during a restore.

In summary: UpdraftPlus stores backups locally by default, but you should definitely take advantage of its remote storage integrations for safety. And yes, you have full access to download and manage your backup files whenever you want.

Is UpdraftPlus Free or Paid? (Free vs Premium Features Breakdown)

UpdraftPlus comes in a free version (available in the WordPress plugin repository) and a Premium version (paid). The free version is remarkably feature-rich on its own – in fact, for many single-site blog owners, the free plugin might be all you ever need. That said, premium adds a bunch of useful extras. Let’s compare UpdraftPlus Free vs. UpdraftPlus Premium and see what you get.

UpdraftPlus Free – Key Features:

• Full manual and scheduled backups of files and database. You can do on-demand backups or schedule them, as we discussed.
• Multiple storage options: Even free, it supports saving to Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, OneDrive, FTP, etc., without needing an upgrade. This is a big advantage over some other plugins that lock cloud backup behind a paywall.
• Easy restore: You can restore backups directly from the WordPress admin interface (no premium needed for basic restore functionality).
• Basic reporting: It will email you (or log) when a backup completes or if there’s an error.
• Backup exclusions: You can choose files/database tables to exclude if needed (for instance, exclude a huge uploads subfolder).
• Migrator workaround: Technically, you can use the free version to migrate a site by making a backup and restoring it on another site manually (as described above). It lacks the one-click migrator tool but it’s doable.

Importantly, UpdraftPlus Free lacks some advanced features that power users or multi-site owners might need. That’s where Premium comes in.

UpdraftPlus Premium – What You Get (and Price):
UpdraftPlus Premium is a paid upgrade (the Personal plan starts around $70 per year for 2 sites). You can also get higher tiers for more sites or lifelong licenses, but for a blogger with one site, the entry-level annual plan is the reference point. Premium unlocks all add-ons and comes with a year of support and updates. Here are the major perks of Premium:

• Incremental Backups: This is a huge one. Premium allows you to perform incremental backups, meaning after one full backup, it can back up only the changes (differential backups) on a daily or even real-time basis. This is much more efficient for large sites because it won’t re-copy everything each time – only new or changed files and database entries. If your blog is content-heavy or updated very frequently, this can reduce backup size and server load dramatically (and give you more restore points in between full backups).
• More Remote Storage Options & Multi-Destination: Premium adds support for a few additional cloud services like Microsoft OneDrive for Business, Backblaze B2, Azure, SFTP, SCP, and others. It also lets you use multiple remote destinations at once (e.g., send one backup to Google Drive, Amazon S3, and UpdraftVault simultaneously) for extra redundancy. The free version only allows configuring one remote target per backup schedule.
• Cloning / Migration (UpdraftMigrator): Premium includes the Migrator tool for easy site migration or cloning. This lets you copy a site to a new domain or host with one-click direct transfer, without manually downloading/uploading files. It handles serialized search-and-replace in the database, etc. Free can still migrate but it requires the manual process with backup files. If you plan to clone your site or move host occasionally, this feature is a time-saver.
• UpdraftVault Storage: Every Premium license comes with 1 GB of UpdraftVault cloud storage included. UpdraftVault is their integrated storage service (runs on AWS infrastructure) that you can use directly from UpdraftPlus. It’s convenient if you don’t want to fiddle with third-party cloud accounts. You can purchase more space (plans from 5GB upwards) if needed. (Is UpdraftVault safe? Yes – we cover that soon!)
• Pre-Update Backups: Premium can automatically backup your site before you perform plugin/theme updates or WordPress core updates. This is super handy – if an update breaks something, you can immediately roll back via the backup that was taken right before the update.
• Database Encryption & Security: In Premium, you have the option to encrypt your database backups with AES-256 encryption, adding a passphrase so that even if someone got hold of your backup file, they couldn’t read sensitive info without the key. Premium also lets you anonymize personal data in backups for GDPR compliance (e.g., remove or scramble user emails, etc.). Additionally, it has a feature to lock access to the UpdraftPlus settings with a password, to prevent other admins from messing with your backups.
• Custom Backup Content: Premium can back up more than just the standard WP files – for example, you can include any folder on the server, or additional databases/tables that have a different prefix. If your blog has some custom directories or you integrate WordPress with other apps in the same database, premium ensures they’re covered in the backup.
• Network / Multisite Support: If you run a WordPress Multisite network, Premium is almost a must. UpdraftPlus Premium fully supports network backups and even allows individual site restores from a network backup, migrate a single site out of a network, etc.. The free version isn’t network-aware (it would treat a multisite like a single site and you’d have to restore the whole thing, not ideal).
• Reporting & Alerts: Premium gives more detailed backup reports and the ability to send them to specific emails. You get info like which files were backed up, backup size, time taken, any warnings, etc.. Free just tells you success/failure (or logs details only in a log file).
• Priority Support: With Premium, you have access to the vendor’s support helpdesk (email ticket support). Free users are limited to the WordPress.org forums for community support. The developers have stated they can go much further in helping premium customers (for instance, analyzing log files, logging into your site if needed, etc.) – things they cannot do for free users on the .org forums due to guidelines.
• Bonus Tools: Premium also includes UpdraftClone tokens (to spin up a quick sandbox clone of your site on their servers for testing), and it integrates with UpdraftCentral (their central management console for multiple sites) without limitations. These are more advanced tools – not every blogger will use them, but they add value.

To sum up, UpdraftPlus Free is already very capable for basic backup needs. Premium extends that with advanced functionality like incremental backups, easier migrations, additional cloud options, encryption, and professional support. The cost is quite reasonable compared to other paid backup solutions (starting at ~$70/year for one site). If your blog is a mission-critical business or you have multiple sites, Premium might be worth it for peace of mind and convenience. On the other hand, if you’re a hobby blogger on a budget, the free version plus a solid remote storage strategy might serve you perfectly well.

Let’s directly address whether Premium is worth it for you.

Is UpdraftPlus Premium Worth It?

If you’re wondering whether to stick with free or upgrade, consider your use cases and risk tolerance. UpdraftPlus Premium is worth it if any of the following resonate with you:

• You run a revenue-generating blog or business site – When your website is tied to income, the cost of Premium is a small investment for enhanced backup security and support. Features like pre-update backups and priority support alone can save your bacon in high-stakes moments.
• You need frequent or real-time backups – If your site changes constantly (daily posts, lots of comments, or an e-commerce component), incremental backups in Premium will ensure no data is lost between backups and reduce server strain. Free is limited to the schedule you set (e.g. daily), so worst case you could lose a day’s work; Premium can do real-time or hourly backups if needed.
• You manage multiple sites – Premium’s licensing covers multiple sites (e.g., the $95/year Business plan covers 10 sites). If you have several blogs, the per-site cost becomes very low, and tools like UpdraftCentral (included) let you manage all backups from one dashboard.
• You plan to migrate or clone sites – Premium makes migrations a breeze with the direct site-to-site copy feature. If you’re not super technical and foresee moving hosts or making a staging site, this can save a lot of headache and time.
• Extra peace of mind – Features like encrypted backups, UpdraftVault storage, and professional support might tip the scale if you worry about backup integrity and want someone to turn to if something goes wrong.

On the other hand, UpdraftPlus Free might be enough if you have a straightforward single site and are comfortable handling things yourself. The free version already covers the core need: automatic backups to offsite storage and one-click restores. Many bloggers happily use free for years. You could always start free and upgrade later if you find yourself needing a Premium feature (UpdraftPlus makes it easy to import your settings into premium).

In short, Premium is worth it for serious bloggers and businesses that value convenience and advanced protection. But if you’re just starting out or on a tight budget, the free plugin has you covered for basic backup needs. It’s one of the most generous free backup solutions available.

(Fun fact: UpdraftPlus’s free version is often praised for being “less naggy” about upgrades compared to some competitors. The plugin gives you a lot for free without constantly badgering you, which contributes to its popularity.)

Is UpdraftVault Safe for Storing Backups?

UpdraftVault is the optional cloud storage service offered by the makers of UpdraftPlus. Instead of linking to Dropbox or others, you can use Vault for a seamless experience – it’s built right into the UpdraftPlus plugin interface. The big question: Is UpdraftVault safe and reliable?

The answer is Yes – UpdraftVault is very safe and extremely reliable. Here’s why:

• Powered by Amazon S3: UpdraftVault is built on top of Amazon’s industry-leading cloud infrastructure. In fact, they explicitly state that Vault stores redundant copies of your backups in multiple data centers and boasts “99.999999999%” (eleven nines) reliability for durability. That’s the same durability promise as Amazon S3, meaning the chance of losing data is near zero.
• Redundancy: The multiple copies in different locations mean even if one AWS data center has issues, your backup is still safe in another. You don’t have to worry about a single point of failure.
• Encryption: Data sent to UpdraftVault is transmitted securely over HTTPS, and it’s stored encrypted at rest on the server. This means if someone somehow accessed the storage, the files would be encrypted gibberish without the key. (Note: Encryption at rest requires your site to be on PHP 5.3+ – which almost every host is, since that’s a very old version).
• Security Options: You can still add your own encryption to the database via UpdraftPlus settings (with a passphrase) on top of what Vault does, for an extra layer.
• No Routing Through Third-Party Servers: UpdraftVault connects directly from your site to Amazon’s cloud to store the backup, not through some intermediate server on UpdraftPlus’s side. So your data isn’t being snooped or intercepted along the way – it’s a direct secure upload from your site to the Vault storage.

In practice, using UpdraftVault is as safe as using Amazon S3 itself. The integration is just tighter. Vault also has conveniences like easy quota management (you see your space usage in UpdraftPlus settings) and no need to maintain separate cloud credentials.

One thing to keep in mind: UpdraftVault is a paid service (beyond the 1 GB that Premium gives free). Pricing at the time of writing is roughly $35/year for 5 GB, $70/year for 15 GB, up to larger plans. It’s not the cheapest storage per GB, but you’re paying for the ease of integration and supporting the plugin development.

For many bloggers with modest sites, that 1 GB included might cover several backup cycles (since it only stores compressed files). If you have a media-heavy site, you might need more space or to prune older backups regularly.

Bottom line: UpdraftVault is a safe and convenient option if you want a “just works” backup storage. It’s on par with other top-notch cloud storage in terms of reliability, so you can trust your backups there. If you’re already Premium, no harm in using your free 1 GB Vault space for an extra backup copy. (And if not, using Google Drive or similar for free storage works too – just make sure you secure those accounts).

Why Does UpdraftPlus Take So Long? (Backup Speed and Requirements)

If you’ve noticed that backups via UpdraftPlus sometimes take a while, you’re not alone. This is a common question: “Why does Updraft take so long to back up my site?” The follow-up is often “Is something wrong, or is my host not powerful enough?” Let’s break down the factors at play and what requirements or tweaks can help speed things up.

1. The Plugin’s Design (Small Batches = Longer Time): As mentioned earlier, UpdraftPlus purposely does backups in small incremental steps to avoid hogging your server’s resources. This means a backup job might pause and resume many times (you can see this in the log messages – e.g., “Batch 1 done, rescheduling…”). The benefit is your site remains responsive during backup; the drawback is it can elongate the total backup duration. If your site is large (lots of images or a huge database), UpdraftPlus might take quite a while as it splits the job into manageable chunks. This is normal. In contrast, some backup solutions that try to do it all in one go might be faster if they don’t crash – but on cheap hosts, that approach often fails. UpdraftPlus opts for reliability.

What can you do? If the duration doesn’t bother you (it often runs in background at night, etc.), it’s fine. If it’s causing issues, you could consider Premium’s incremental backups – after the first full backup, subsequent ones will be much faster since they’re smaller changes only.

2. Web Hosting Limitations: Your host’s performance significantly affects backup speed. On shared hosting with limited CPU and disk I/O, creating zip files and querying the database can be slow. Backups especially slow down if:

• Your server has limited memory or older PHP version: Very low memory might cause it to use slower methods to compress files.
• No PHP Zip module: UpdraftPlus can use different compression methods. If the PHP native Zip extension is available, it’s faster; if not, it falls back to a PHP-only method (PclZip) which is older and slower. Ensure your host has the PHP Zip module enabled (most do by default nowadays).
• Disk Speed: If you’re on a slow disk (or your server is busy), writing out large backup files takes time.
• Server Timeouts: UpdraftPlus is pretty good at avoiding timeouts by breaking up tasks. But if your host has very short script time limits, you might need to adjust. You can increase the PHP max execution time (for example, to 300 seconds) to give it more breathing room, though UpdraftPlus typically auto-resumes anyway.

Requirements: Generally, UpdraftPlus doesn’t need much – it runs on almost any environment WordPress runs on. But having at least PHP 5.6 or higher (preferably 7.x or 8.x for performance), and ensuring a memory limit of 128MB or more helps. It’s also recommended to have some free disk space on your server equal to at least the size of your site (since it creates zip files, you need space to store them). If your disk is 95% full, backups may fail or slow down. UpdraftPlus documentation notes you should have enough free disk space or the backup won’t complete.

3. Large Files or Lots of Files: If your blog includes a massive file (say a 1GB video in uploads) or just tens of thousands of files, backup will obviously be slower. UpdraftPlus might even give warnings like “a very large file was encountered” or split the archive into multiple smaller zips. In such cases, you can do a few things:

• Exclude cache or backup directories (no need to back up backup-of-backup or cache files).
• If a specific huge file isn’t needed, exclude it.
• Use the “split archives every X MB” setting (under Expert settings) to force smaller chunks – e.g., split every 100 MB. This can sometimes help backups succeed on limited hosts by not handling too much in one file.
• As a last resort, increase PHP time limit or memory as mentioned.

4. During Backup vs After (Upload speed): Sometimes the backup creation is quick, but uploading to remote storage takes long. For example, if you backup 500MB and send to Google Drive on a slow internet connection (remember, it’s your server’s connection), it could take a while. If your host’s network is slow or if you’re using a distant server for storage, that adds to the total time. There’s not much to do here except maybe choose a closer storage region or just be patient. UpdraftPlus does show progress logs for uploading as well.

5. “Stuck” Backups: If you feel it’s too slow or stuck, check the UpdraftPlus Logs (you can access them from the Existing Backups list). It often tells you what it’s currently doing. If it’s truly hung, you might need to cancel and try again or consult support. Common causes for real stalls are hitting server limits (e.g., if you see an error about memory exhausted or a particular file causing trouble). In such cases, adjusting settings or temporarily disabling other heavy plugins during backup could help.

To put in perspective, a typical WordPress blog (~ hundreds of MB, moderate content) on shared hosting might take a few minutes to back up. If it’s taking hours, that’s longer than normal but not unheard of for very large sites or super constrained hosting. The key thing: UpdraftPlus prioritizes completing the backup safely over speed.

Tips to speed it up or ensure completion:

• Run backups at off-peak times (less load, and you don’t care if it takes 30 minutes at 3am).
• Make sure WP-Cron is working (if your site has low traffic, WordPress scheduled tasks might not run promptly – you can set up a real cron job to trigger WP if needed, or visit your site to kick it off).
• Utilize incremental backups (Premium) to reduce how much needs copying each time.
• Keep your UpdraftPlus plugin updated – performance improvements are made over time.
• Ensure the PHP Zip module is active (to use faster zip methods).
• If backups consistently fail due to speed, consider upgrading your hosting. Sometimes the bottleneck is simply that the server is underpowered. Alternatively, consider a cloud-based solution (like BlogVault, discussed next) that offloads the work.

In summary, UpdraftPlus can be slow because it’s playing nice with your server resources. This is usually a good thing. As long as the backups complete, the duration isn’t a big problem. But if you’re impatient or dealing with giant sites, you might explore ways to optimize or consider other solutions.

Speaking of other solutions – let’s see how UpdraftPlus compares with some popular alternative WordPress backup plugins, notably BlogVault, which often comes up in the same conversations.

How Does UpdraftPlus Compare to BlogVault and Other Backup Plugins?

UpdraftPlus is a fantastic plugin, but it’s not the only player in WordPress backups. BlogVault is one major alternative (it’s actually a paid SaaS service) that targets a more “premium” backup experience. There are also others like Jetpack VaultPress Backup, BackupBuddy/Solid Backups, BackWPup, Duplicator, etc. Here we’ll focus on UpdraftPlus vs BlogVault, with mentions of a couple others, to help you decide what’s best for your needs as a blogger.

UpdraftPlus vs BlogVault

BlogVault is a bit of a different beast. While UpdraftPlus is a plugin running on your site (using your server to do the work), BlogVault is a cloud-based backup service (SaaS) with a plugin acting as a connector. The BlogVault plugin sends your site data to BlogVault’s servers, where all the heavy lifting (storage, compression, restoration) happens externally. This “zero footprint” approach means no performance impact on your site during backups – a big selling point of BlogVault. UpdraftPlus, by contrast, does use your server’s resources to create backups (which, as we discussed, can slow things down temporarily).

Here are key comparisons:

• Pricing Model: UpdraftPlus Free is $0 and very functional; Premium starts ~$70/yr for 2 sites. BlogVault has no free tier beyond a trial – it’s a paid service with plans starting around $89/year for one site (Basic), and more common plans like Plus at $149/year per site. BlogVault’s higher tiers go up to $299 or $499/yr with more features or site licenses. So BlogVault is significantly pricier, especially if you have multiple sites. Essentially, with UpdraftPlus you pay once and can back up multiple sites (especially with higher license), whereas with BlogVault it’s generally a per-site subscription.
• Backup Frequency & Type: UpdraftPlus (free) is limited by WP cron scheduling – so typically daily or hourly at best. Premium can do incremental, even real-time, but it still runs via WP cron when there’s traffic or via manual trigger. BlogVault excels in frequency – it does real-time incremental backups out of the box for all plans (especially useful for WooCommerce to capture every order/change). BlogVault is continuously watching your site and backing up changes instantly (for e.g., new blog posts or comments are synced right away). This means if your site crashes at 3pm, BlogVault likely has a backup from 2:59pm; UpdraftPlus might only have last night’s backup unless you manually ran one.
• Restore Process: Both allow easy restores, but the mechanism differs. UpdraftPlus restores are initiated in your WP dashboard (or via reinstall WP then restore). BlogVault provides an external dashboard where you can trigger a restore to your site with one click, even if your site is down. That’s a big advantage – if your site is offline, BlogVault’s platform can still push a restore, whereas with UpdraftPlus you’d have to at least get WP running or do a manual restore. BlogVault also offers “test restore” functionality – it can spin up a temporary staging of your backup to verify it works before overwriting your live site (cool feature to avoid nasty surprises). UpdraftPlus doesn’t have test restore (unless you do it manually on a clone).
• Offsite vs Onsite: UpdraftPlus stores backups wherever you decide (including locally, which is risky if not also remote). BlogVault always stores backups on its own cloud (with unlimited offsite storage included in the price). You don’t worry about configuring Dropbox or S3 – it’s automatic and unlimited. For bloggers who don’t want to fiddle with storage accounts, BlogVault is hands-off. With UpdraftPlus, you might use your Google Drive (which has limits unless you pay Google for more space, etc.). It’s a bit more DIY but also more flexible (you control where backups go).
• Site Performance: During backup, BlogVault has zero impact on your site’s performance because your site simply streams data out, and all processing is elsewhere. UpdraftPlus, on a weak server, might slow things a bit or use resources while compressing, etc. If you have a high-traffic blog or very tight server limits, BlogVault is gentler on your environment.
• Security & Extras: BlogVault doubles as a security service – higher plans include malware scanning, a firewall, uptime monitoring, etc.. It’s almost like a backup + security bundle. UpdraftPlus is focused purely on backup (though the team also has a separate security plugin). So with BlogVault’s premium price, you do get an “all-in-one” safety net (they even have an integrated staging environment and site management tools). UpdraftPlus Premium, while much cheaper, would require adding other plugins or services if you wanted things like malware scanning or a firewall.
• Use Cases: For a freelancer or small business managing multiple client blogs, BlogVault can be attractive because of the centralized dashboard and hands-off nature – but the cost scales with sites. UpdraftPlus might be more cost-effective since one Premium license can cover many sites and you can manage via UpdraftCentral (which is free self-hosted or $… for their cloud version). For an individual blogger, the question is budget vs convenience: UpdraftPlus free/premium is wallet-friendly and works well, but BlogVault offers luxury convenience and some additional protection at a premium price.

To illustrate, here’s a quick Pros and Cons table comparing UpdraftPlus Free vs UpdraftPlus Premium vs BlogVault for bloggers:

As you can see, UpdraftPlus Free wins on cost/value for basic needs, UpdraftPlus Premium adds powerful features at a reasonable price, and BlogVault offers a deluxe, worry-free experience at a premium cost.

For most bloggers (especially beginners or those with a small budget), UpdraftPlus free or premium is usually the go-to. It’s no coincidence it’s one of the top-ranked WordPress backup plugins on the market. You get full control and you’re not locked into a service.

However, if your blog is more than a hobby – say it’s generating income or you just want absolute ease – BlogVault can be worth looking at. The peace of mind of real-time backups and an external restore mechanism is something some site owners happily pay for.

Other Noteworthy Backup Solutions

• Jetpack VaultPress Backup: Automattic’s own backup service (formerly VaultPress) is another option. It’s similar to BlogVault in that it’s a subscription, but more affordable (plans from ~$60/yr). It also does real-time backups and offloads work to their servers. The downside is you must use Jetpack (which some folks don’t like), and restores are via their interface. It’s very reliable though, and a good middle-ground if you want offsite real-time backups but find BlogVault too pricey.
• BackWPup: A free plugin alternative that can also do scheduled backups to various destinations. It’s a bit less user-friendly and lacks an integrated restore interface (you’d restore manually), but it’s a solid free option. UpdraftPlus free generally has a nicer interface and easier restore, so it often edges out BackWPup for users.
• Duplicator: Known more for migrations, but it can be used for backups too. Duplicator (free) is great for making a one-off full site package (used to move sites), but it’s not automated. Duplicator Pro has schedules and cloud storage integration, with pricing starting at ~$49/yr. It’s a strong competitor, but for pure backup ease-of-use, UpdraftPlus is usually simpler for non-technical folks.
• WPVivid, All-in-One WP Migration, etc.: There are many others. Some excel at migrations, some at ease-of-use. Each has pros/cons, but UpdraftPlus consistently ranks at or near the top because of its balance of features, reliability, and cost effectiveness.

In conclusion, UpdraftPlus holds its ground well against any backup plugin. BlogVault and similar services might outperform it in speed and convenience, but at a much higher cost. For a typical blog owner, UpdraftPlus provides an excellent mix of power and affordability, which is why it’s often the first recommendation. Just make sure whichever solution you choose, you actually set it up and test your backups – a backup is only good if it works when you need it!

Internal Links: If you found this guide useful, you might also enjoy our related posts on WordPress Security Tips and How to Optimize WordPress Site Speed – after all, a well-backed-up blog that’s also secure and fast is the ultimate win-win.

External Sources: UpdraftPlus official documentation on restoring your site and free vs premium features were referenced for accuracy. We also considered third-party reviews from Elegant Themes and WPBeginner, as well as insights from the WordPress community on backup best practices.