How to Back Up Your Website — Tools, Methods and How Often

A website backup is a saved copy of your website’s files and database that you can restore from if something goes wrong. Without backups, a hacked site, a failed plugin update, or an accidental deletion can mean days of lost work or, in the worst case, starting from scratch entirely.

Backing up your website is not a one-time task. It is an ongoing process that should happen automatically in the background so that, whatever goes wrong, you always have a recent restore point. This guide covers the main backup methods, the best tools for WordPress sites, and how to think about backup frequency.

What Does a Full Website Backup Include?

A complete website backup has two components: the files and the database. The files include your WordPress core installation, themes, plugins, and all uploaded media (images, PDFs, videos). The database contains your posts, pages, settings, user accounts, and all the content you have created through WordPress — without it, your files alone are useless.

Some backup solutions back up files only, or databases only. Always ensure your backup method covers both. An off-site or remote copy — stored somewhere other than the same server your website runs on — is also essential. If your server is compromised or fails physically, a backup stored on the same server is not a backup at all.

Backup Methods and Tools for WordPress

The simplest approach is to use a WordPress backup plugin. UpdraftPlus is one of the most widely used: it backs up files and database on a schedule you set, and sends copies to remote storage such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, or a dedicated FTP location. The free version covers most needs; the premium version adds more remote storage options and site migration tools.

Your hosting provider may offer automated backups as part of your plan. Managed WordPress hosts like WP Engine or Kinsta include daily backups with easy restores as a core feature. If your host provides this, treat it as a supplement rather than a replacement for your own backup plugin — having two independent backup systems is better than one.

How Often Should You Back Up?

Backup frequency should match how often your site’s content changes. For a business blog that publishes two articles per week, daily backups are sufficient. For a WooCommerce store processing orders throughout the day, hourly backups of at least the database are wise — losing even a few hours of order data can cause real operational problems.

Before making any significant change to your site — installing a major plugin update, switching themes, or editing core files — always trigger a manual backup first. This gives you a clean restore point immediately before the change, regardless of your scheduled backup cycle. The two or three minutes it takes to run a manual backup before a risky change is always worth it.