What’s the Best Way to Backup Your WordPress Website?

What’s the Best Way to Backup Your WordPress Website?

Reader Comments (34)

  1. How does this compare with VaultPress? Is it the same type of backup? Would I need both (or comparable)?

    • Myka, VaultPress is much like Code Guard in that they provide a time machine like backup of all components of your site and offer extended features such as security scanning on the backed up files. It is a great service. The downside to it is that a) the cost and b) reliance upon PHP plugin or giving SSH access to a 3rd party automated service. The cost is the big factor. A Premium Plan will set you back $40 per month where a Starter Plan at Synthesis provides malware scanning, our backups, and S3 Personal Backups for $27 a month plus Amazon fees (generally less than $5 a month). Still, VaultPress does offer some very nice “click a button and take me back functionality. The beauty of the WordPress world is you have choice. Still, using both is probably overkill.

      • Thanks Derick. Your explanation helps. Still working through all the terminologies, components and considerations of starting a new website/blog, so I wouldn’t be at the pro levels for much of anything just yet. That being said, however, like so many other items in life, buying separately (or inexpensively) isn’t always the best value. Thanks again.

  2. Totally agree that preventing a disaster is better than fixing it. I’ve been using VaultPress and have been very happy with it…but good to learn more about Synthesis.

  3. I have a confession to make. My friends call me for tech help and for the most part, I can figure out whatever it is they need me for. I feel pretty smart. But the truth is, when I see an article like this one where I know what the words mean but that’s the extent of it, I am faced with the truth: Sometimes I’m in over my head.

    I’ve done everything on my blog myself (except I got help moving it to a new server once) and I’m impressed with what I’ve figured out by sheer determination. Everything I’ve learned is like money in my pocket, in that I don’t have to hire someone for things that are really just basic tasks. And I own it all, unlike some surprisingly successful bloggers out there who are still using Blogger or WordPress.com.

    But sometimes I could use a nice, smart, techy blogging friend to help me- and in reading this post about back-ups, this is one of those times. Shoot.

    • Coco, you sound a lot like me actually. I barely knew the difference between WordPress and Blogger five years ago when I started working online, but like you, through sheer determination and the wonder of Google, I’ve been able to learn a lot. Still, I struggle with certain more in depth technical topics, even hosting (which is why it’s so great to have a brilliant team to lean on). Keep on learning! What’s nice in specific relation to backups is that there options like Personal Backups for S3 that make backing your site up and being prepared for problems or disasters relatively simple. And if you want to get really serious about having someone on hand who can help you out when you do get tripped up by something technical, consider managed WP hosting (if you don’t have it already). That’s where the true value is found.

  4. i have never backed up my website,which i think is very risky.So many hackers emerging these days.Like today they hacked AP (Associated Press).Its a wake up call am going to do it manually as i can see most guys do so.Does it include copying the entire public_HTML? May consider using the tools you have suggested when the website grows bigger and i can afford them.

    • Elvis, glad you are planning to start backing up. The most important elements of a WordPress install to back up are the database and the wp-content folder. You can always download a fresh copy of the latest edition of WordPress at WordPress.org, which saves you time and space from a backup perspective. The wp-content folder is the dynamic folder that stores uploads, themes, plugins, etc. And the database stores your content and settings. With those two backed up consistently, you’re always just an upload and DB import away from your site back as good as it was when you backed it up.

  5. With so many wordpress sites being hacked everyday, one need to keep backup of his site to protect it from hackers. I’m using a wordpress plugin which let me backup my database and files. Had no issues till now.

  6. and i was thinking that i have the best knowledge to take backup of my blog. The third point “Think β€œreplaceβ€? rather than restore.” was really amazing. Most of the time it is said to take backup and try to restore but your idea of replace was simply wonderful. Thanks a lot Jerod Morris for posting this article.

    • I have to credit Derick Schaefer (who commented above) for my line of thinking of replace rather than restore. My natural inclination was more like yours: to simply do a full restore when something went wrong. Why not right? Well, it not only takes longer but you lose any progress made since the restore. If you have easily accessible backups and can isolate your issue to a file or specific folder, it is way more efficient in so many ways to just do the replace. It was a valuable lesson to learn, so I’m glad I could share.

  7. It is very important backup one’s website. I have always used the host back-up, probably I may try the “personal backup for S# program”

  8. I personally use Better WP Security plugin in one of my wordpress website, it automatically back up my whole site everyday. πŸ™‚ Before this I used a plugin called “Backup Wordpres”, It was good but it doesn’t have some of the features that I wanted. That’s why I’ve shift to another plugin now. πŸ™‚

  9. Thanks for the reminder. I think many website owners out there are guilty of not backing up all their sites (especially on a regular basis). Most of us know we should, but just never get around to finding a permanent solution.

    And now I have another reason to start using Synthesis.

  10. Thank you for a very informative article regarding WordPress website backups. Backing up a website, no matter how small is important and this is a great article that explains simply why it is important and how to do it.

    Thanks again.

  11. Thanks, very useful information on distinguishing plugins vs server backups. Losing information could mean losing business – money. Sometimes we are so wrapped up in content creation and forget to “Back that Thang Up” ( I love it)

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