UpdraftPlus vs Jetpack: Which is the best WordPress backup plugin?

When running your own website, it’s a given that the unexpected will sometimes rear its ugly head. One minute your WordPress website is running smoothly, the next, your entire site is compromised. That’s why keeping your WordPress site secure and having a reliable backup solution isn’t just practical – it’s critical.

In this blog, we’ll be putting two popular WordPress plugins head-to-head: UpdraftPlus (that’s us) and Jetpack. Both are big names when it comes to managing your WordPress site, but each have markedly different approaches to backups.

UpdraftPlus is a dedicated backup and migration plugin. We’re focused on doing those two things really, really well. Jetpack, on the other hand, is a multi-tool with a broader range of features, including backups alongside security, social sharing, and performance optimisation.

But which one is the right fit for you? Let’s find out.

• UpdraftPlus offers greater control over backups, storage and retention.
• Jetpack provides automatic daily and real-time cloud backups.
• UpdraftPlus has stronger migration and multisite capabilities.
• Jetpack suits users looking for a hands-off backup solution.
• UpdraftPlus is better suited to agencies managing multiple WordPress sites.

Before we delve a little deeper, we want to note that we are primarily comparing UpdraftPlus Premium with VaultPress Backup – Jetpack’s backup add-on.

There are a few things that stand out here. Firstly, UpdraftPlus offers a free version. And while its features are more limited when compared to the premium version, it’s a great way to kickstart any website’s backup infrastructure. While Jetpack itself has a free version, you need to pay extra for VaultPress Backup.

Secondly, we should talk about storage options. Currently, Jetpack lacks the integration with popular cloud services that you’ll find on UpdraftPlus, it instead stores backups in Jetpack’s own cloud infrastructure. Its current plans start with 10GB of backup storage, with retention options ranging from 7 days to one year depending on the plan. Additional storage can also be purchased.This might not be a big deal to some, but if you’re already using Google Cloud or Dropbox (or plan to migrate to another server), UpdraftPlus might be a better choice.

We should also mention the wide range of additional products on offer from Jetpack. This includes packages such as security, SEO, statistics, and AI content creation, although none of these are included in VaultPress Backup.

Backing up and restoring your site should be smooth, stress-free, and ideally take no more than a few clicks. Here’s how the two plugins compare.

Jetpack has an array of additional features, besides its backup functionality. As a result, the interface can feel a little more cluttered, especially for less experienced users. Backups can be restored from the Jetpack or WordPress.com dashboard, including restoring to a specific event or point in time. Users can also browse backup files and restore specific files or plugins rather than restoring the entire site.

UpdraftPlus has a very straightforward interface, making it ideal for expert and non-technical users alike. The layout is clean and uncluttered, with clear buttons for each function. Backing up and restoring your site takes just a few clicks, while a guided setup wizard will get you quickly up and running.

Now let’s see how the two handle scheduled backups.

UpdraftPlus offers exceptional control over your backup schedule. Simply go to Settings -> UpdraftPlus Backups -> Settings, and you’ll find dedicated sections for scheduling both your website files and databases.

Even with UpdraftPlus’ free version, you can choose a frequency that suits your needs. Backup your site as often as every 2, 4, 8, 12, or 24 hours for maximum protection – or even at specific low-traffic times with premium – or schedule your backups once a month, depending on how often your content changes. UpdraftPlus Premium also offers incremental backups, meaning you can back up only changes made to your site since the last backup, saving server resources (vs backing up in full each time).

Moving your WordPress site needs to be smooth and efficient. Here’s how the two compare.

If you want to migrate your site using Jetpack, this can be done with a few clicks. And while the process is rather straightforward for the initiated, as mentioned above, the Jetpack dashboard might be a bit too busy for some.

UpdraftPlus eliminates the need for large backup files by segmenting backups for easier management. Behind-the-scenes clean-up tasks ensure compatibility with other plugins, and a search-and-replace function automatically fixes broken links or missing files.

With UpdraftPlus, migrating your WordPress website to another web host or domain takes just a matter of minutes – and it’s even included in the free version. With the premium version, there’s no need to download and upload backups – simply connect the source and destination sites and you’re good to go. This is perfect for keeping a test site in sync with your live environment. Additionally, UpdraftPlus Premium provides granular control over what gets migrated, allowing you to select specific themes, plugins, and database tables.

Let’s compare Jetpacks VaultPress and UpdraftPlus pricing to see how cost-effective they are.

• Free – £0
• Personal – £70/year (2 sites)
• Business – £95/year (10 sites)
• Agency – £145/year (35 sites)
• Enterprise – £195/year (unlimited sites)
• Gold – £399/year (unlimited sites)

• Jetpack VaultPress Backup currently starts at $4.95/month for the first year when billed annually, rising to the regular listed price of $9.95/month. The plan includes 10GB of backup storage, real-time backups and one-click restores.

As you can see, after the first year, UpdraftPlus is more affordable, especially if you’re not running numerous sites.

UpdraftPlus and Jetpack are both popular options for a reason, but they take different approaches. UpdraftPlus is a dedicated backup and migration plugin, offering exceptional control over scheduling, storage (including popular cloud services), and restoration. It boasts a user-friendly interface, making backups a breeze.

Upgrade to UpdraftPlus Premium for features like incremental backups, automatic backups before updates, premium support and more.

It’s for these reasons that we have to give the nod to UpdraftPlus. As a dedicated backup and migration solution, it’s simply unrivaled in its field.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out the reviews and see for yourself.