UpdraftPlus vs Jetpack: Which Is the Right Choice For Your WordPress Site?

You’ve sifted through endless backup plugins, dissected features, and devoured reviews. Now, you’re down to two contenders: UpdraftPlus vs Jetpack. Both promise powerful functionalities and stellar reputations. But, how do you choose the right one for your WordPress site?

We know: the fear of data loss is real. Hidden costs and unreliable backups only add to your stress. One wrong choice could jeopardize your website’s safety! So, how can you secure your site without constant worrying?

This is where we hop in. We did the heavy lifting for you and thoroughly tested both UpdraftPlus and Jetpack. After careful comparison, we’ve broken down the features, advantages, and shortcomings of both plugins. Use this guide to make an informed decision, free of guesswork, and, more importantly, free of doubt.

TL;DR: Among the two plugins, Jetpack is the better option with its automated backups and restoration. However, neither plugin offers all the features required for a comprehensive backup solution. BlogVault, on the other hand, delivers a complete package with 100% successful backups and restorations, all in an intuitive interface.

UpdraftPlus in a nutshell

UpdraftPlus breaks your WordPress site into five parts for backup: Files, Databases, Themes, Plugins, and Other components. While it defaults to Manual backup in the beginning, You can set it to Automatic, with frequencies ranging from every 2 hours to once a month. Note that frequent backups can slow down your site and are not necessary unless you run a busy e-commerce store.

The free version includes restoration capabilities, which is great if you’re on a budget. UpdraftPlus also supports multiple cloud storage options, but the free version restricts you to one location at a time. However, its premium version allows multiple concurrent storage options and includes 1 GB of UpdraftVault storage. Note that, after a year, you’ll need to pay for add-ons, which adds to your expenses.

Apart from the remote location limitation, the free version has several other notable constraints: it doesn’t back up critical core site files and lacks incremental backups. This can slow down your site by consuming server space, as they are stored locally, on the same server as your site. The free version also restores only UpdraftPlus-created backups. To restore backups created by other plugins, you will need to upgrade to its premium version. 

Note: It is advisable to stick to one backup plugin and get its premium version for restores instead of opting for another plugin’s premium version that will do the exact same for you.

When it comes to site migration, you will need to back up your existing site and restore it on your new server. So you can expect some downtime during this process. Additionally, backups are saved by date and time but can’t be renamed or annotated for easy identification.

Moreover, multiple site management is cumbersome; you’ll need to log into each admin panel separately unless you use an additional plugin.

Jetpack in a nutshell

Jetpack’s backup solution, branded as VaultPress, doesn’t offer a free tier for backups, which might dissuade budget-conscious users. Configuring the plugin isn’t exactly user-friendly either; entering your server’s SFTP details can feel like navigating a maze. However, once you’ve connected your site to the server, you can start creating backups.

Jetpack is unlike most other plugins in that it does not allow you to schedule backups. However, it operates on autopilot, performing daily backups with incremental updates every 24 hours. Keep in mind, though, that the first backup has to be executed manually. 

One backup a day is really good for regular blog sites but for intensive sites like e-commerce and news, choosing a different backup plugin that allows frequent backups is a better option.

While Jetpack doesn’t support partial backups, it does allow for partial restores, which can be incredibly useful for targeting specific parts of your site that need recovery.

In the event of a catastrophic site failure, Jetpack’s external dashboard lets you restore your site in its entirety. However, backups aren’t individually labeled; they are accessible by their date. The duration for which backups are retained depends on your chosen plan, ranging from 7 days to a full year.

Jetpack also supports site migration but doesn’t include extra features like creating a staging site. Your storage option is VaultPress’ own cloud storage starting from 10GB of storage space to 1TB, which is great for small sites. For larger sites, you are likely to run out of space quickly, so you may need to manually download and store backups.

To sum it up, Jetpack provides a solid, automated backup solution with essential features, though it lacks some flexibility and can be cumbersome to set up and manage.

Note: Jetpack needs XML-RPC to connect to your site. Numerous security recommendations advocate disabling XML-RPC for enhanced security, but if this file isn’t accessible, Jetpack can’t establish the necessary connection. This could potentially put your websites at risk.

Test site setup

To objectively assess the performance of both UpdraftPlus and Jetpack, we set up a test WordPress site with approximately 3.25GB of data. This allowed us to consistently and measurably gauge the hands-on performance of both plugins.

Backups

Verdict: Jetpack emerges as the more dependable backup solution. Despite setup hurdles and a lack of scheduling options, it offers full backups, incremental updates, and strong data protection. UpdraftPlus is favored for its free features and flexible scheduling, but full backups need premium features, and the plugin has comparatively high CPU usage.

UpdraftPlus backup performance

UpdraftPlus lets you easily switch from Manual to automatic backups, allowing you to set separate schedules for files and databases, ranging from every two hours to monthly. With the premium version, you can customize these times to avoid peak traffic periods.

Note that the free version doesn’t take full backups—it only backs up what’s in the wp-content folder. Core file backups require a premium subscription, which can be a significant limitation since full backups are essential for reliable restores.

For non-WooCommerce sites, backing up every two hours may waste server resources unless you upgrade. In our tests of the free version, backing up a 3.25GB site took about four minutes but noticeably spiked CPU usage and affected site performance.

Fortunately, this resource hit is a one-time issue for regular backups, as UpdraftPlus employs incremental backups after the initial full backup—if all components are selected.

Despite these drawbacks, the backup process itself was seamless and without issues. This makes UpdraftPlus a viable option for those mindful of server resources and looking for a free solution, albeit with limitations.

Jetpack backup performance

Our experience with Jetpack’s backup performance was a rollercoaster. The first three backups failed, and troubleshooting revealed that entering the site’s server FTP details was a necessary but non-intuitive step. This initial hiccup can easily confuse users.

Unlike UpdraftPlus, Jetpack doesn’t let you schedule backups. The initial manual backup of our 3.25 GB site took 10 minutes but doesn’t include core files. Automatic backups take place every 24 hours, which might not be enough for high-activity e-commerce sites. Thankfully, incremental backups add only the changes, ensuring vital data like orders remains secure.

While you can’t perform partial backups—a feature common in many plugins but not recommended ever—Jetpack compensates with its incremental approach. Backup retention varies based on your plan, ranging from 7 days to a year. However, once you hit your retention limit, you can’t delete old backups to free up space; adjusting the retention span is your only option.

In short, Jetpack’s backup performance is reliable but comes with a few usability challenges and limitations, particularly in scheduling and storage management.

Backup restoration 

Verdict: Jetpack excels as the superior restoration solution, offering a straightforward, reliable process capable of both full and partial restores without a hitch. Meanwhile, UpdraftPlus can restore backups quickly but struggles with larger sites and manual old folder deletions.

UpdraftPlus restoration performance

Restoration with UpdraftPlus can be hit or miss. If you don’t delete old backup folders, the process will fail—this can be managed through a notification that will appear at the top of your screen. Restoring backup files from within the plugin is generally swift; for our 3.25 GB test site, it took about two minutes. Note that not all attempts were successful, especially with a large site loaded with media content.

For more comprehensive restorations, the premium version of UpdraftPlus can be a better choice. It lets you restore complete backups and backups created by other plugins. This is handy if you have archives from plugins you’re no longer using. 

However, we advise investing in the premium version of your current backup plugin for better consistency and support rather than switching to UpdraftPlus’s premium version solely for this feature.

While UpdraftPlus can manage partial restores, this capability is limited if you’re using the free version—particularly since core files aren’t backed up. The flexibility and reliability of restoration vary, making UpdraftPlus’s premium version almost a necessity for those serious about full-site coverage.

Jetpack restore performance

Jetpack’s restore performance impressed us with its simplicity and reliability. It took about 6 minutes to completely restore our 3.25 GB test site, and we encountered no issues during the process. The restoration process was smooth and easy to follow, unlike the initial backup setup, which can be somewhat confusing.

One of Jetpack’s handy abilities is performing partial restores. You can choose specific parts of your site to restore, such as databases, themes, or plugins. This flexibility is particularly useful if only a portion of your site needs recovery.

Additionally, Jetpack allows you to select a restoration date from a calendar for restores. You don’t have to scroll and hunt for a backup. Your backups are stored based on your retention period, which can range from 7 days to a year, depending on your plan. This makes it easy to roll back to a specific point in time, offering peace of mind and a tailored restoration experience.

For a more in-depth analysis, check out our Jetpack review to explore its features and overall performance.

Backup storage 

Verdict: Jetpack is the more comprehensive option, offering seamless cloud storage, flexible retention periods, and easy access from an external dashboard. You can also purchase additional storage to meet your needs. 

While UpdraftPlus in its free version provides local storage and one remote storage location, the premium version allows for multiple remote storage options and 1 GB of Vault storage. These options are free only for a year from your purchase date. 

UpdraftPlus storage options

UpdraftPlus offers a range of offsite storage options for your backups. Note that in the free version, you can only add one remote destination at one time. The premium version, however, opens up multiple concurrent storage destinations like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Amazon S3, and includes 1GB of UpdraftPlus Vault storage.

For those needing more, you can choose from the options UpdraftPlus Vault offers—5GB to 250GB of backup space.

Note that the basic add-ons are free for the first year. After that, you’ll need to pay for each storage location separately. While useful, off-site storage with UpdraftPlus can get pricey over time.

Jetpack storage options

Jetpack leverages cloud storage through its VaultPress service, ensuring your backups are securely stored offsite. This is a great feature because if something happens to your server, your backups are not compromised. Depending on your plan, backups are retained for 7 days, 30 days, 120 days, or 1 year, catering to various needs.

You can access and manage your backups via Jetpack’s external dashboard, allowing you to restore from anywhere. Since your storage options are limited, you can download backups and store them offsite manually if needed. 

Jetpack manages your backup storage automatically based on your plan’s retention span. This reduces the need for manual intervention. However, you can’t manually delete old backups once you reach the storage limit. Instead, you have to adjust the retention span to manage space.

VaultPress cloud storage keeps your backups secure, and you can purchase extra storage in increments of 10GB, 100GB, or 1TB, tailoring your plan to fit your individual needs.

Site migration

Verdict: Jetpack stands out with its built-in, hassle-free migration capabilities, requiring no extra plugins or manual effort. It ensures a smooth transfer with automatic checks and troubleshooting steps. On the other hand, UpdraftPlus offers solid migration features but requires the premium version for more complex tasks like multisite network migrations.

UpdraftPlus migrations

UpdraftPlus’s free version allows you to transfer your WordPress site by downloading backups from your original site and restoring them to a new destination.

You can access the migration feature through the Migrate/Clone tab, within the plugin offering an efficient method to relocate your site. While they claim that migrating your site with UpdraftPlus reduces downtime significantly, it doesn’t guarantee zero downtime.

Consider BlogVault instead. Not only are your site migrations one click away, but we also guarantee zero downtime for your site!

Jetpack migrations

Jetpack streamlines the migration process by integrating built-in capabilities that let you transfer your WordPress site to a new host or domain with ease. There’s no need for additional plugins or manual steps, relieving you from an often complex task. 

The plugin performs comprehensive checks to ensure everything runs smoothly, identifying potential issues before they become problems. If any errors do occur, Jetpack offers clear, actionable steps for troubleshooting, making the entire process straightforward and less time-consuming.

Update management

When it comes to update management, UpdraftPlus vs Jetpack take different approaches to keep your WordPress site running smoothly.

UpdraftPlus offers a solution by creating pre-update backups. Before you apply updates to plugins, themes, or the WordPress core, you can configure UpdraftPlus to automatically back up your entire site. 

This ensures that if an update causes any issues, you can swiftly roll back your site to its previous state, minimizing downtime and potential disruptions. Additionally, with the integrated Easy Updates Manager, you get enhanced control over your WordPress updates. This allows for comprehensive management of plugins, themes, and core updates within the UpdraftPlus suite.

Jetpack, on the other hand, focuses its update management on plugins. You can track all your plugin updates in the Activity Log section, where you’ll see which plugins need updating and all recent activities on your site. 

Jetpack allows you to choose which plugins, including itself, you want to keep automatically updated. This means you won’t need to constantly monitor for new releases or manually update each plugin every time there’s a new version.

However, it’s worth noting that Jetpack doesn’t offer update management features for the WordPress core or themes, limiting its scope in this area.

Note that we do not recommend setting up auto-updates for WordPress core, plugins or themes.

Pricing

Jetpack and UpdraftPlus offer different pricing models, each catering to varying needs.

Jetpack uses a subscription model with monthly plans. The Jetpack VaultPress plan offers real-time backups and 10GB of cloud storage for basic protection. The Jetpack Security plan adds malware scanning and spam protection. 

At the top, the Jetpack Complete plan includes 1TB of storage, enhanced security features, ad-free video hosting, and site speed optimizations.

On the other hand, UpdraftPlus opts for one-time payment plans. The Personal plan covers 2 licenses with all premium features. The Business plan increases to 10 licenses. For agencies, the Agency plan provides 35 licenses. The Enterprise plan offers unlimited licenses, and the Gold plan, their most comprehensive option, includes additional storage and advanced features.

Critical features in a backup plugin

When it comes to choosing a backup plugin for your WordPress site, several critical features can make all the difference in maintaining data integrity and site security.

• Automated backups at regular, specified intervals (daily, weekly, monthly) ensure data is consistently secured without manual intervention.
• Real-time backups are essential for sites with frequent updates, especially WooCommerce and high-traffic websites. This ensures that even the most recent changes are protected.
• Full and incremental backups should include all data, files, databases, and system settings. Incremental backups save only the data that has changed since the last backup, reducing storage needs and speeding up the process.
• On-demand backups provide the ability to initiate backups when required, crucial for situations that need immediate data protection.
• Remote storage integrated with cloud storage services like Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, and FTP/SFTP servers for additional security.
• Easy restoration offers user-friendly interfaces for restoring backups to minimize downtime and can restore a site even when it is completely crashed.
• Partial restore can restore specific files, databases, or settings without affecting the entire system, saving time and effort.
• Test-restore in a staging environment ensures backup integrity and functionality before applying changes to the live system.
• Backup encryption protects sensitive information by encrypting data during transfer and at rest.
• Resource efficiency ensures efficient use of system resources to prevent server overload during backup operations. Optimized backup speed is critical for larger websites.
• Zero-downtime migration supports site migration without affecting uptime, ensuring a seamless transition to new servers.
• Staging sites offer a safe space to test restores and updates. This feature should be password-protected to maintain the SEO integrity of the live site.
• Uptime monitoring with alerts for downtime incidents helps ensure that you are on top of your site’s online availability.
• Activity logs provide detailed records of all backup and restore activities for auditing and troubleshooting.
• Update management handles updates for your website, including options for auto-updates and safe updates to ensure compatibility and stability during the update process.

Finding all these features in a single plugin can be challenging, especially in free versions or even some premium offerings. This is why we recommend BlogVault as it contains an extensive array of features tailored to keep your site safe and secure.

A better alternative—BlogVault

BlogVault stands out in the field of WordPress site management with its comprehensive suite of features. It automatically backs up your site daily and incrementally, ensuring uninterrupted data protection by only saving changes since the last backup. This approach reduces server load and storage space requirements.

Additionally, we store your backups off-site independent of your servers, ensuring that your site performance is not affected.

Restoration is a breeze as it needs only a single click, which minimizes site downtime and your effort. Your backups are securely stored offsite on BlogVault’s servers, with additional integrations for Dropbox. For dynamic sites like WooCommerce, BlogVault offers real-time backup options as well to prevent any data loss.

BlogVault also includes a staging environment for testing changes before they go live, enhancing your site’s safety during updates. Migrating your site to a new host or server is straightforward, supporting over 5,000 hosts and making the process hassle-free.

BlogVault allows you to manage multiple websites from a centralized, intuitive dashboard. With uptime monitoring, you’re alerted immediately if your site goes down. The service also regularly scans for malware and provides user-friendly tools for their removal, significantly boosting site security.

You also receive comprehensive reports on backups, restores, and migrations to keep track of your site’s maintenance activities. And to resolve any issues quickly, responsive and knowledgeable customer support is always available at hand. 

Parting Thoughts: UpdraftPlus vs Jetpack – Which One Stands Out?

Choosing between UpdraftPlus and Jetpack comes down to your site’s needs. Both offer free version of backup plugins, but UpdraftPlus provides flexible one-time payments, detailed backups, and extensive storage options, ideal for those managing multiple sites.

Jetpack’s subscription model provides automated real-time backups, robust security, and seamless cloud storage but lacks scheduling flexibility and can be tricky to set up. UpdraftPlus excels in comprehensive backup features and scalability, whereas Jetpack excels with its automation and security suite. Evaluate your specific requirements and budget to decide which plugin ensures your WordPress site’s security and reliability.

For a better alternative pick BlogVault—an all-in-one backup solution. BlogVault offers all the advanced features you want to find in a backup plugin. 

FAQs

Which backup plugin is better for a budget-conscious user, UpdraftPlus or Jetpack?

For budget-conscious users, UpdraftPlus is generally a better choice due to its one-time payment options and free features, although premium features unlock full functionality. Jetpack requires a subscription, but it offers integrated features like security and plugin updates.

Which plugin offers better security features?

Jetpack offers a more comprehensive security package with automated malware scanning, and spam protection included in its plans. UpdraftPlus focuses more on backups and storage, although it can be paired with other plugins for enhanced security.

What is UpdraftPlus used for?

UpdraftPlus is primarily used for creating and managing backups on WordPress websites. It allows users to schedule automatic backups, perform manual backups, and restore their sites from backups easily. Additionally, UpdraftPlus enables off-site storage options, enhancing the security and reliability of the backup process.

Which plugin is best for backup in WordPress?

BlogVault is one of the best WordPress backup plugins due to its reliability and features. The plugin offers automatic daily backups, real-time and differential backups, and secure off-site storage on independent servers. With a 100% restore success rate and free staging sites for testing, BlogVault ensures your data is safe and easily retrievable, making it an excellent choice for robust backup management.