BackWPup vs UpdraftPlus (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Backup Plugins top 10: BackWPup at #6 and UpdraftPlus at #1. UpdraftPlus leads on all 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
BackWPup
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin
Back up, restore, and protect your WordPress website with automated backups, cloud storage, one-click recovery, and AI-assisted backup management.
UpdraftPlus
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin
Backup, restore or migrate your WordPress website to another host or domain. Schedule backups or run manually. Migrate in minutes.
Who leads on what
UpdraftPlus leads on all 6 measures we track.
UpdraftPlus ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in Backup Plugins.
UpdraftPlus has more users: 3 million+ active installs against 400,000+.
UpdraftPlus is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 8,690 reviews, against 4.0 from 1,323 reviews.
UpdraftPlus has more reviews behind its score: 8,690 against 1,323.
UpdraftPlus was updated more recently, on October 19, 2026; BackWPup on October 14, 2026.
UpdraftPlus was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 6,090,163 times against 415,155.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
BackWPup
BackWPup does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
UpdraftPlus
Pick UpdraftPlus if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
BackWPup vs UpdraftPlus side by side
| BackWPup | UpdraftPlus | |
|---|---|---|
| Backup Plugins ranking | #6 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.0 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 1,323 | 8,690 |
| Active installs | 400,000+ | 3 million+ |
| Total downloads | 25,314,996 | 170,996,693 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 415,155 | 6,090,163 |
| Last updated | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 19, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 5, 2009 | May 22, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | – |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
BackWPup ratings
UpdraftPlus 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 BackWPup nor UpdraftPlus can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Backup Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
BackWPup vs UpdraftPlus: common questions
Is BackWPup better than UpdraftPlus?
UpdraftPlus leads on all 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. UpdraftPlus ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in Backup Plugins.
Which has more users, BackWPup or UpdraftPlus?
UpdraftPlus ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in Backup Plugins.
Which is rated higher, BackWPup or UpdraftPlus?
UpdraftPlus has more users: 3 million+ active installs against 400,000+.
Are BackWPup and UpdraftPlus free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. BackWPup is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. UpdraftPlus may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to BackWPup and UpdraftPlus
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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