Backup Migration vs WP STAGING (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Backup Plugins top 10: Backup Migration at #7 and WP STAGING at #10. WP STAGING leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Backup Migration
Backup, migrate, and create staging sites with free cloud storage and support.
WP STAGING
WP STAGING – WordPress Backups, Restore, Migration & Clone
WordPress backup plugin: backups, restore & migration in minutes. Clone or duplicate your site, test updates on a staging copy. 100% unit-tested.
Who leads on what
WP STAGING leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Backup Migration ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #10 in Backup Plugins.
WP STAGING has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 80,000+.
Backup Migration is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 1,331 reviews, against 4.8 from 2,464 reviews.
WP STAGING has more reviews behind its score: 2,464 against 1,331.
WP STAGING was updated more recently, on September 6, 2026; Backup Migration on August 11, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Backup Migration
Pick Backup Migration if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or the review score matters most to you.
WP STAGING
Pick WP STAGING if you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Backup Migration vs WP STAGING side by side
| Backup Migration | WP STAGING | |
|---|---|---|
| Backup Plugins ranking | #7 | #10 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 1,331 | 2,464 |
| Active installs | 80,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 2,583,363 | 6,009,913 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 11, 2026 | Sep 6, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 1, 2020 | Aug 5, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.6 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Backup Migration ratings
WP STAGING ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Backup Migration nor WP STAGING can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Backup Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Backup Migration vs WP STAGING: common questions
Is Backup Migration better than WP STAGING?
WP STAGING leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Backup Migration ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #10 in Backup Plugins.
Which has more users, Backup Migration or WP STAGING?
Backup Migration ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #10 in Backup Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Backup Migration or WP STAGING?
WP STAGING has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 80,000+.
Are Backup Migration and WP STAGING free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Backup Migration may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP STAGING is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Backup Migration and WP STAGING
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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