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How WordPress backup plugins like UpdraftPlus and All-in-One WP Migration work, where backups should be stored, and who holds the keys.

A backup plugin is the difference between a bad afternoon and a lost business. This guide covers the two most common WordPress backup plugins, how they differ, and — the part people skip — where the backups actually go and who can restore them.

Quick summary

UpdraftPlus is for scheduled, ongoing backups sent to off-site storage like Google Drive or Amazon S3. All-in-One WP Migration is for one-off site moves and clones. A backup that lives only on the same server as your site is not really a backup. Store copies somewhere else, and make sure you — not just your agency — can reach them.

The two jobs people call "backup"

They sound the same and aren't:

Job	What it means	Typical tool
Scheduled backup	An automatic copy taken daily or weekly and kept off-site for weeks	UpdraftPlus
Migration / clone	A single export of the whole site, moved to a new host or a staging copy	All-in-One WP Migration

Using a migration plugin as your backup strategy is a common and expensive mistake — it produces one big file, taken manually, usually stored on the same server.

UpdraftPlus

One of the most widely used scheduled-backup plugins for WordPress.

How it works. It copies your database and files on a schedule, then pushes them to remote storage. Restores run from inside WordPress.

What to configure:

Set separate schedules. The plugin's Settings tab has two: File backup schedule and Database backup schedule. The database changes constantly (orders, comments, posts); files change rarely. A daily database backup with weekly file backups is a sensible default for most sites, and UpdraftPlus's own documentation calls that one of the most common setups. Busy stores want the database backed up more often.

Choose remote storage. Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, or similar. This is the single most important setting — see the warning below.

Set retention. Choose the maximum number of backups to keep, with separate limits for files and for the database; once a limit is reached, UpdraftPlus deletes the oldest backup automatically. Keeping only two is risky: if a problem goes unnoticed for a week, both copies may already contain it. Two-to-four weeks of history is a reasonable target.

Test a restore. An untested backup is a hope, not a plan. See restoring from a backup.

Backups stored on your own server are not backups

If the backup sits in a folder on the same hosting account as the site, then a hacked server, a failed disk, or a billing lapse takes the site and every backup at once. Always send copies off-site.

All-in-One WP Migration

Best at moving a site. It can make backups too, but scheduled backups and cloud storage are paid extensions.

Where it shines. Exporting a whole site into a single file and importing it on another host, or spinning up a staging copy. It updates the site's URLs during the import, which is the step that usually breaks manual migrations.

Where it bites. Imports are capped by your server's upload size limit. If that can't be raised, larger sites need the paid Unlimited Extension. It also puts the whole site into one large file, which is awkward to store and slow to restore.

Who holds the keys

This is the part that matters when relationships change:

The remote storage account should be yours, not your agency's. If backups land in an agency's Google Drive, you can't reach them without asking.
The plugin licence, if you're on a premium tier, should be registered to your email — see sharing licence keys.
Someone on your side should know how to restore. Even if you never do it, knowing it's possible is the point.

Your host probably backs up too

Most managed WordPress hosts take their own automatic backups. Those are excellent for "restore yesterday's site", but they're only kept for a limited time and they live inside your hosting account. Many hosts let you download a copy, but only by hand. A plugin backup to your own storage covers that gap. See what our care plan covers.

Common questions

How often should I back up?

Match it to how much work you'd accept losing. A brochure site that changes monthly is fine with weekly backups. A store taking orders hourly needs the database backed up at least daily, ideally more — a lost order is a lost customer.

Do backup plugins slow the site down?

Only while a backup runs, and mostly on shared hosting. Schedule them for your quietest hours (in UpdraftPlus, picking an exact time is a Premium feature). If backups are causing timeouts, that's usually a sign the hosting is undersized — see hosting and speed.

Can two backup plugins run at once?

Don't. They compete for the same server resources. Pick one.

What about the files that aren't in WordPress?

Backup plugins cover the WordPress database and the site's files. They do not cover your email, your DNS records, or anything hosted elsewhere. See backups explained for the fuller picture.

Need a hand?

If you're stuck, email support@chykalophia.com and we'll help. Include your website address and a screenshot if you can.

Learn more

Backing Up Your Database — WordPress Advanced Administration Handbook

Backup plugins explained