I get a lot of questions all the time about what is the best method to back up your WordPress site. Here is the thing, I am a developer and I use two different methods for beta sites for my own website. I use a Local host and also a live beta aside from my site. However, I am certain most WordPress users that have asked are meaning that they are usually asking about my live site.
Ask Nile: What is the Best Method to Backup Your WordPress site?
Personally, I don’t use any plugins in WordPress or use the WordPress export feature. Because my hosting platform uses cPanel, I can do a full backup. For me, THAT is the best method to backup my WordPress site. This is a method that may not work for everyone, but if you use cPanel, it can be used as a quick restore point.
The problem is, not everyone is savvy with their web hosting or even with using WordPress, so truthfully, after some digging and experimenting, I found for people who need a solution for their site, BackupBuddy is a good fit. (Please note: The link to BackupBuddy is a direct link to the plugin and not an affiliate link.) It’s a plugin built by iThemes and allows you to choose several methods to be able to backup and download that backup to a few sources.
One other plugin that I have tried is BackupWordPress. However, I really don’t recommend keeping the plugin activated just to run an automatic update. You should really only run your backup plugins when you need them and not keep them on activated.
Please note that you SHOULD have a backup plan for your WordPress site as not all hosts do a daily backup because it does use bandwidth and data resource. For my server I do weekly, BUT my hostees on my dedicated server can produce and download a full backup any time they wish. Oh, and that’s another thing… not all web hosts allow you to do a full backup or if they do, they make you pay them to do it for you.
What backup plan do you use for your WordPress website?
You know I’m in love with CodeGuard. It’s an offsite cloud based solution that hasn’t missed a beat yet. I do a manual backup as well once a month and store a copy locally as well as on my DropBox.
I just don’t trust WordPress at all due to cache plugins fubaring any jobs that need to kick off to perform the backup.
I haven’t tried CodeGuard. cPanel has been something that works great for me. It’s all about what is easier for each person and it’s hard to convince others when the process is one step. I don’t really trust most plugins that are for backing up, for the same reason you do.
Also not using any specific wordpress plugin for backups, instead I do backups with my host of everything.
Glad to know I’m not the only one. 🙂
I am using the backup plugin that will backup my wordpress automatically every week. On above article you have mention on do backup using cPanel, i am using cpanel also. Could you share the tutorial on doing backup through cpanel?
Well, to be frank, I don’t use any plugin either. Well, When i’m in doubt i just keep downloading the backup file from the export option in the settings. That gives me enough relief and then I do not bother anymore. 😉
Myles,
If you are talking about Dashboard > Tools > Export. I believe you are only exporting your posts and pages. YOu are not saving your theme or your plugins. So if disaster strikes, it will not restore your site to working. You will only have your posts and pages once your rebuild your site.
Hopefully, Nile will shed some light on this and can correct me if I am wrong on this.
~ Jupiter Jim
I do use a plugin, not because I don’t know how to use the cpanel option, but more because I tend to forget if I don’t schedule it. So Backupbuddy is my go to plugin. I do a weekly complete backup (database and files) and a daily database backup (on blogs where a lot of content gets posted daily)
I have it sent to my amazon s3 account so I don’t have to worry about storing it either.
Hi Leslie! That sounds like a decent plan. I normally do my backup once a week, and then I have my server’s scheduled backup.
hi Nile
nice article you always tell nice tips. this time i am not used any type of plugin for back but in some time manner i backup my site using export in setting. thanks for sharing.
I’ve been doing it manually by exporting the backup. I guess I never thought about looking for a plugin to do it for me. I should take a look at that.
Backing up your site is usually a preference… if that seems easiest for you… stick with it. If you find a plugin that works better… great. 🙂
Personal Back up. Taking Database backups every 2-3 days is the safest choice and keep it in a safe way in my personal hardware device.
Thanks for such a good article. I would like to sum up what you wrote along with link to your write-up. My favorite part of your current article was basically in the different methods towards handling this concern. Now, because I love your article, I want to summarize this and add it to my blog with a link to your blog. I assume it can be Okay as long as one gives credit to the author and with link back to the source web page.
Thanks Nile,
fantastic article you whenever possible Suggest great suggestion,i do utilize a plugin for reinforcements, rather I do reinforcements with my host of everything.
My server backs up all my data nightly, but I have a very costly hosting plan as it also backs up my main site where there are over 10000 products on the site. I like the idea of being able to have my own access to backup as it gets scary having someone else to rely on. I will say that I am paranoid about backing up everything as it can be gone in a blink of an eye all the work that you have put into your business site.
I am very appreciative of this post because I would not want to lose all my data and posts and themes on WordPress, but manually backing up has been a hassle in the past. Thanks for the information!
WordPress platform have many plugin to backup there site but don’t really know which one is the best because am not on the platform but my buddy they are on wordpress platform make use of this.
hi thanks for the nice article I want to summarize this and add it to my blog with a link to your blog
Thank you Nile for answering this and sharing lot information with us.
Nile,
I have never heard of the BackupWordPress plugin.
I thought you recommended BackWPup plugin for clients who cannot afford a premium backup plugin? Would it be possible for you to compare the two? Or which do you like better? Because I am looking for free alternatives to offer clients if they cannot afford backup buddy.
I know you said clients should NOT leave the automatic backup function on in a backup plugin. However, I do have to strongly disagree with that. YOU will remember to backup your site. Most people will back it up ONCE when they install the plugin, and then forget it and Never back it up again! A year later, that one backup won’t do much good, in my opinion.
This is a very good topic and You’ve made some excellent recommendations for backing up one’s site!
Thanks so much!
~ Jupiter Jim
Jim- you are keeping a plugin on your site that opens up your web hosting account… What if you get hacked? Worst case scenario is that you’ve just blown wide your MySQL and your web host’s server. It has happened…I know… I got involved in cleaning it and the host had to step in to clean even deeper and that client was on a shared server where their account being infiltrated had ended up infecting more than 300 hostees on that server.
This is one of those plugins, just like the managing database plugins or your htaccess file from the WordPress backend.
I currently use Vault Press after having major problems with Backup Buddy. I had a rather urgent need to change web hosts and generated the file (name escapes me) that would activate the backup on the new host. I tried to access the file and it said error in file. Got the same error on two other sites and that was enough. I used the WordPress export service and it worked great. A lot more work however. I purchased the Vaultpress service and a backup is done automatically when any change is made to the site. They store a backup and I have one as well. Big comfort factor!
Well, i’m currently using “BackWPup”. It’s a really simple pluggin cause i don’t like complicated things ^^
Those how does not use cpanel hosting they should use backup plugins…My host is in one.com which does not have cpanel…and I am using pressbackup to backup my blog…
Hi Shamim! What kind of web host management tool does your web host company use? I’ve actually been trying to get a few people to volunteer to allow me temporary access to their web hosting in order to create a tutorial for – 1) resetting a WordPress password through their web hosts’ data base and 2) backing up a website through their web host.
This is the best idea to make back up so if you lost any post or google delete it so you can recover it very fast….
I do back up my WordPress blogs manually by using cPanel
Hello Nile! It’s good to know I’m not the only fan of cpanel backup. It works great – and it’s free!
Hi Nile,
I was so curious to see your recommendations for backing up a WordPress blog. This is an important post, especially for new bloggers. Knowing your plan and how you are going to back up needs to be done early. Start with good habits!
It is helpful that you gave a couple of suggestions for back up plugins for people who are not technical savvy as you. Can any hosting that has C-Panal access back up the way you do it? Thanks!
Raena Lynn
It depends on the host. I don’t know every web host’s policies on backups, but your should ask if your web host allows them. Some don’t, others may only allow partial backups, and for full backups, other web hosts may require a fee to do the backup for you.
Frankly, if your web host is not allowing full backups or makes you pay them to do a full backup, you might want to go to a different web host.
Cpanel provides a basic and easy way to obtain automated backups of our site files as well the databases.
Very good article and usefull comments. How is everyone validating their backup? Isn’t it important to execute a restore test now and then?
If you are using cPanel, its just a simple step to restoring the backup. Same goes in BackupBuddy, and they even have a cleanup option.
If you are skeptical about your restore, I am sure you can try it elsewhere. If you are just backing up the WXR then I’m sure you can test it on another install. If you are downloading the files via FTP and the database separate (the longer method), you can test it locally or in another WordPress install.
I use Cpanel since 2011 and it works very well! I would not change for anything!
thanks for sharing useful tools . and very nice article . good job .
This is a Great Tool that everybody must use and I am also using it bcoz i always have Problems with mY hosting provider.
Yesterday I have heard that WordPress have lunched new WordPress Version 3.6. When I read this I shocked because Its long time I heard about this. People have waited too long. But I was happy that finally, its lunched.
After that I just come to this post and learned that now we can save our website and we can take backup with out too much effort of your hosting. Now in this task iTheme is helping to website owners.
WordPress 3.6 launched on August 1st.
Nile,
I like the idea of doing it manually using cpanel. What are your thoughts on using the WP import tools that creates an XML file to save on your computer?
Hi Nile, I would have no idea how to use my C-Panel of if I can even get to it so I do use the BackupBuddy Plug_in I do have a question for you though? How oftedn should we back up our wordpress blog? I do a new blog post each week should I do it each week or is once a onth sufficient enough? Thanks for the tips.. Chery 🙂
Ive been using WP Backup plugin for backing up my wordpress site but I guess I try this backupbuddy plugin for backing up my website.
I use Hostgator and they tell me that backups are done daily. Isn’t that sufficient?
Like Jeannette, I’d like to see you do an article about how to do backups via c-panel.
For extra security, I also have an automatic WP backup plugin, but your discussion with Jim has convinced me that I should deactivate it, and manually schedule activating it maybe once a month. That sounds a lot safer based on your recommendation.
Thanks for some excellent guidance on backing up your WP sites, Nile.
Hi Nile,
Site security is a very, very important problem. I am always searching for better methods to backup my site.
The system I use is the following:
wordpress database backup plugin – it saves the wordpress core tables
Export option in wordpress – it saves the xml file
PhpMyAdmin – it saves the whole database.
Now, I didn’t know about the Backup in Cpanel. I have just checked it and it says:
“A full backup includes all of the files in your home directory, your MySQL databases, and your email forwarders and filters.”
My question is: this full backup is really “full”. It really saves everything?
Another thing I have noticed about cPanel backup: it is manual.
What I really need is a system that automatically backup everything and it is not a plugin.
Thank you for the post.
Have a nice day
Hi Nile,
upgrading WordPress used to give me the heepy jeepies.
Since I realized that everything is in the cpanel and how to use it I have relaxed more about it.
I appreciate that you are sharing your knowledge and expertise.
Only activating a plugin when backing up makes sense.
Thank you for this post and your recommendations!
Cheers,
Yorinda
Thanks a lot! I need to backup my website right now before a catastrophe happens 🙂
Hi Nile
nice article backup is very important for any website admins in current time i am not used any plugin. but now i think backupbuddy is nice plugin. thanks for sharing tips with us.
Nile, thx for sharing your experience and knowledge:)
I tried using BackupBuddy and find that it works pretty good for me.