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Quick verdict on UpdraftPlus
UpdraftPlus is the most-installed WordPress backup plugin and a reasonable default choice for most sites. The free version handles scheduled backups to most major cloud providers (Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, OneDrive, Backblaze), which is what 90% of sites need. The Premium version adds incremental backups (only backing up changes, much faster on large sites), site migration tools, and additional storage options. For most blogs and small business sites, the free UpdraftPlus tier is sufficient — schedule daily backups to Dropbox or Google Drive and you've solved the disaster-recovery problem at no cost. For larger sites or sites that need fast restore times, BlogVault is the premium alternative — significantly faster restore process, but more expensive ($89/yr starting). For sites on managed WordPress hosts (Kinsta, WP Engine, Hostinger Business with backups included), the host's built-in backups may eliminate the need for a separate backup plugin entirely.
Specs at a glance
| Vendor | Updraft Software |
| Pricing | Free / Premium $70-$195/yr |
| Active installs | 3M+ |
| Type | Backup |
| Support rating | 4.8 / 5 |
| Released | 2011 |
What UpdraftPlus does best
Best for: Sites that need scheduled, off-site backups
- Scheduled backups
- Backup to Dropbox/Google Drive/S3/OneDrive/Backblaze
- One-click restore
- Incremental backups (Premium)
- Migration to new hosts (Premium)
Where UpdraftPlus falls short
Restore process can be slow on large sites; Premium pricing is mid-range
Should you use UpdraftPlus in 2026?
UpdraftPlus is a backup plugin from Updraft Software, used on over 3M+ WordPress sites worldwide. The pricing is Free / Premium $70-$195/yr. The recommendation depends on whether your situation matches what UpdraftPlus is best at: sites that need scheduled, off-site backups. If yes, install it. If your priorities are different, consider alternatives that fit better.
Common questions
Is UpdraftPlus free?
UpdraftPlus has a free tier. Paid tiers unlock additional features.
Does UpdraftPlus slow down WordPress?
Every WordPress plugin adds some overhead. The relevant question is whether the value justifies the overhead. For UpdraftPlus, the answer is generally yes — the plugin is well-optimized and impact on page load is minimal on well-configured hosting.
What's the best alternative to UpdraftPlus?
The most direct alternatives depend on what you're optimizing for. See our complete WordPress plugin rankings.