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// compare · backup

UpdraftPlus vs Duplicator

The two names that come up whenever WordPress backups are discussed, built around different jobs. UpdraftPlus is backup-first: scheduled, automated backups to remote storage, in a friendly UI, with the largest install base in the category. Duplicator is migration-first: it packages a whole site into an archive plus an installer, which makes cloning and host moves its strength, and adds scheduled cloud backups in Pro. The question is whether you mainly want hands-off recurring protection or the ability to move and clone sites.

// at a glance
Product PriceLighthouseWP.orgOpen CVEsInstalls
UpdraftPlus $70964.8 ★03,000,000+
Duplicator $69—4.9 ★—1,000,000+

Lighthouse: reproducible median of 5 mobile runs · CVEs: open advisories, Patchstack + Wordfence · Ratings: WordPress.org

// the picks
Best for scheduled, hands-off backups
UpdraftPlus

Free scheduling, the largest install base, and remote storage plus a migrator in Premium. The default when you want reliable recurring backups running in the background without much thought.

Best for cloning & migration
Duplicator

The archive-plus-installer model rebuilds a whole site on any host in a few clicks, ideal for staging, host moves, and client handoffs. Near a five-star rating on WordPress.org. Scheduled cloud backups arrive in Pro.

// head to head

UpdraftPlus

Backup · Free, Pro from $70 · Since 2013
Full review

UpdraftPlus is the most-installed WordPress backup plugin. UK-based vendor, founded in 2013 by David Anderson. Free version handles scheduled backups to local storage with sensible defaults. Premium adds remote storage destinations (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, S3, more), incremental backups, multisite support, encrypted backups, and the migrator add-on for site-to-site transfers.

Pros

  • Free version is genuinely useful for scheduled local-storage backups
  • Largest install base of any WordPress backup plugin
  • Remote storage covers most cloud providers in Premium tier
  • Migrator add-on solves the WordPress site-to-site transfer problem cleanly

Cons

  • Premium pricing tiers can feel confusing
  • Admin UI shows its age compared to newer entrants like BlogVault
  • Restore process requires patience on large sites

Duplicator

Backup · Free, Pro from $69 · Since 2011
Full review

Duplicator's signature move is bundling an entire WordPress site — files and database — into a single archive plus a lightweight installer.php, so you can drop it on any host and rebuild the site in a few clicks. That makes it a favorite for developers cloning sites, moving between hosts, or spinning up staging copies. The free version handles manual backups and migrations this way; Pro layers on scheduled automatic backups, direct cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, S3), one-click restore, and multisite support. It carries one of the highest user ratings of any backup plugin on WordPress.org. Owned by Awesome Motive (Syed Balkhi).

Pros

  • The archive-plus-installer model is the cleanest way to clone or relocate a whole site
  • Excellent for developer workflows: staging, host migrations, local-to-live
  • One of the highest WordPress.org ratings in the category (near 5 stars)
  • Free version is genuinely capable for manual backup and migration

Cons

  • Scheduled backups and cloud storage are Pro-only — the free tier is manual
  • Renewals are billed at full price after a discounted first year
  • The installer-based restore is powerful but less beginner-friendly than a one-click UI
  • Very large sites can strain the packaging step on constrained shared hosting
The verdict

For set-and-forget recurring backups, UpdraftPlus is the stronger default — it schedules in the free tier and its Premium remote storage keeps copies safely off your server. For moving, cloning, or staging sites, Duplicator's installer approach is more flexible and its free tier already covers manual migration. Many sites end up wanting both jobs: UpdraftPlus for the recurring safety net, Duplicator when it's time to move or duplicate. Note UpdraftPlus free stores backups locally — add remote storage so a server failure doesn't take your backups with it.

// see also

Best WordPress Backup Plugins

The full ranked roundup, with the best pick for each use case.
// faq

Frequently asked questions

Is UpdraftPlus or Duplicator better for backups?
For recurring, automated backups, UpdraftPlus — it schedules in the free tier and offers broad remote storage in Premium. Duplicator's free tier is manual, with scheduled cloud backups reserved for Pro. If your priority is hands-off protection over time rather than moving sites, UpdraftPlus is the more natural backup tool.
Which is better for migrating a site?
Duplicator. Its archive-and-installer model is purpose-built for rebuilding a site on a new host, which suits migrations, staging, and cloning. UpdraftPlus can migrate too, but via its Premium Migrator add-on rather than as its core design. For moving or duplicating sites, Duplicator is the more flexible choice.
Do I need remote storage with UpdraftPlus?
Strongly recommended. The free version stores backups locally on the same server as your site, so a server failure or compromise can take the backups with it. UpdraftPlus Premium adds remote destinations (Dropbox, Google Drive, S3, and more) — getting backups off-server is the single most important thing you can do with it.
// methodology

Every figure in the comparison table is pulled from the same reproducible pipeline behind each plugin's detail page — Lighthouse scores are the median of five mobile runs on identical hosting, and open-CVE counts come from Patchstack and Wordfence Intelligence on every build. The editorial call is ours; the numbers are measured, not vendor-supplied.