BackWPup earned its reputation as a reliable backup plugin for WordPress users who needed straightforward, scheduled backups. For years, it delivered exactly what it promised: automated backups that ran quietly in the background.
But the recent 5.0 update changed everything. Many users have been disappointed by failed automatic backups, dashboard crashes, and the removal of developer-friendly features they relied on.
If you’ve experienced the frustration of discovering your scheduled backups haven’t been running for weeks (especially when you actually need to restore something), you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Together, let’s find a more reliable way to protect your websites! I’ll show you a backup system that works when you need it most, handles sites of any size, and doesn’t leave you stranded when things go wrong.
Here are the key takeaways:
- BackWPup 5.0 problems: Scheduled backups failing, site crashes, removed developer features, and cloud storage issues
- Advantages of switching to Duplicator: Migration-ready backups that work even when WordPress is completely broken
- True disaster recovery: Two-file system (archive + installer) works independently of WordPress for emergency restoration
- Developer-friendly: Duplicator has WP-CLI support, detailed logging, and granular filtering maintained alongside beginner accessibility
- Proven reliability: Duplicator has a 4.9-star rating with 1.5+ million sites vs. BackWPup’s declining 4.0-star rating since 5.0 update
Table of Contents
Why Search For a BackWPup Alternative?
If you’re here, you’ve likely experienced some challenges since BackWPup 5.0 launched. Here’s what users are reporting about the new version:
- Scheduled backups not completing: Backups show as scheduled but don’t always save properly
- Site errors: Some users experience site problems after the update
- Changed developer features: The new version focuses more on beginners, with some advanced features modified
- Cloud storage errors: Some integrations had broken connections
- Interface updates: The UI was redesigned for beginners
While BackWPup has served many users well over the years, these changes have prompted some to look for alternatives that better fit their current needs.
A backup plugin should work consistently with your workflow. If your current tool isn’t meeting your requirements, exploring other options makes sense.
The Best BackWPup Alternative: 8 Reasons to Switch to Duplicator
Duplicator is a WordPress backup and migration plugin that’s been trusted by over 1.5 million websites worldwide.
We built Duplicator so that every backup should be migration-ready. When you create a backup with Duplicator, you’re protecting your data and creating a portable package that can rebuild your site anywhere.
This dual-purpose approach has made Duplicator the go-to choice for developers, agencies, and site owners who need reliable backups plus the flexibility to move or clone sites easily.
Now let’s address each concern you might have about BackWPup and show you exactly how Duplicator approaches these challenges differently.
- Consistent Automatic Backups: Rock-solid scheduling with email alerts and transparent status reporting
- Recover Completely Broken Sites: Two-file system works even when WordPress is completely inaccessible
- Developer-Friendly Features: WP-CLI support, detailed logging, and granular control maintained for technical users
- Site Migrations and Cloning: Every backup is automatically migration-ready
- Fast Support and Bug Fixes: Proactive compatibility testing and responsive technical support team
- Positive Customer Reviews: 4.9-star rating vs BackWPup’s declining ratings since 5.0 update
- Extensive Free Features: Duplicator Lite includes full migration capabilities without premium restrictions
- Easy Cloud Storage: Duplicator supports multiple providers with connection testing and detailed error notifications
Consistent Automatic Backups
One challenge some BackWPup users face is ensuring scheduled backups complete successfully every time.
Duplicator Pro’s automated schedules have been a core feature for years. We designed them to be reliable and transparent from day one.
Here’s how to set up automatic backups in Duplicator Pro.
Go to Duplicator Pro » Schedules » Add New.
By creating a template, you can select which files and databases to include in the backup. You should also choose your storage destination (local, cloud, or both).
Set your backup frequency. Duplicator supports hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or custom schedules.
Schedule the backup for the time when your server has low traffic. Then, save your automatic backup.
Once configured, backups will run automatically. You can set up multiple schedules to protect each part of your website.
Duplicator will send you email alerts if the backup encounters an issue. You’ll also get email summaries of your backup activity. This way, you always know the status of your backups.
Recover Completely Broken Sites
Your site crashes after a plugin conflict. You get a fatal error, a white screen, or a database corruption issue. You can’t log into WordPress at all.
With BackWPup, you’re stuck. The restore process requires you to log into your WordPress dashboard, navigate to the plugin, and run the restoration tool.
But if WordPress is broken, you can’t do any of that.
Duplicator’s installer works independently of WordPress. You don’t need a working WordPress installation to run it.
Every Duplicator backup has two files: an archive (your site’s data) and an installer (the restoration script). This design allows for emergency recovery even when WordPress is completely inaccessible.
If your site crashes, upload the installer and archive files to your server via FTP or your web host’s file manager. Then navigate to yoursite.com/installer.php in your browser.
The installer launches and walks you through the restoration process. It doesn’t matter if WordPress is completely broken or if the database is corrupted. The installer handles everything from scratch.
This is true disaster recovery. When your site is down and you need it back up immediately, Duplicator works.
Developer-Friendly Features
Many developers chose the old BackWPup specifically for its server-level control. You could set up cron jobs, fine-tune backup parameters, and integrate the plugin into your deployment workflow.
The new version prioritizes beginners, leaving developers without the tools they need.
Duplicator takes a different approach. We maintain powerful developer features while also providing user-friendly options for less technical users.
Our two-file system is particularly useful for developers. When I move a client site from staging to production, I create a Duplicator backup and deploy it quickly. The installer handles the entire WordPress setup process.
You can also create base site templates, package them with Duplicator, and set up new projects in the blink of an eye.
Developer features include:
- WP-CLI support for command-line backups
- Detailed logging that shows exactly what happens during each backup
- Granular filtering to exclude specific files, folders, or database tables
- Custom database table selection for complex configurations
We believe developers should have the control they need while keeping the interface accessible for everyone else.
Site Migrations and Cloning
Duplicator was built as a migration plugin. We’re experts at moving WordPress sites between servers, domains, and hosting providers.
BackWPup is primarily a backup tool that added some migration features later. It has a standalone restore app that you can use to migrate data, but it’s a premium feature.
In Duplicator, every backup is automatically a migration package. The same archive that backs up your site can also rebuild it anywhere else.
Here are the most common use cases:
- Changing web hosts: Create a backup on your old host, download it, and install it on your new host. The installer automatically updates all URLs and file paths.
- Moving to a new domain: The search-and-replace engine catches every instance of your old domain in the database, including serialized data that other tools miss.
- Creating staging sites: Clone your live site to a subdomain or development server for testing. Make changes safely, then push updates back to production.
The installer handles complex URL replacements that would break with simple find-and-replace tools. It understands WordPress’s serialized data structure and updates everything correctly.
Duplicator can even handle large websites. One of our customers uses the plugin to back up and migrate his 400GB site!
Fast Support and Bug Fixes
Plugin support quality can vary, and BackWPup users have reported mixed experiences with getting help for issues related to the recent update.
At Duplicator, we prioritize responsive support. Our team includes senior developers who understand our codebase thoroughly and are ready to help.
We also take a proactive approach to compatibility. Before each major WordPress or PHP update, we test thoroughly and release updates in advance when needed.
This forward-thinking approach helps prevent issues rather than just reacting to them after they happen.
Positive Customer Reviews
Numbers don’t lie, and the user ratings tell a clear story.
BackWPup currently has a 4.0-star rating on WordPress.org. Duplicator maintains a 4.9-star rating with over 4,500 five-star reviews.
But here’s what’s really telling: look at BackWPup’s recent reviews. Many of the negative ratings specifically mention problems with the newest redesign.
These show a pattern of reliability issues that started with the new version.
Duplicator’s recent reviews paint a very different picture. Users consistently praise the reliability, the migration capabilities, and the responsive support team.
Extensive Free Features
If you’re using the free version of BackWPup, you might worry that switching means losing functionality.
Actually, it’s the opposite.
Duplicator Lite (our free version) is remarkably powerful. You can create complete or database-only backups, migrate sites between hosts, and clone sites for staging—all without spending a penny.
The free version includes the same two-file system and installer technology as Duplicator Pro. The main difference is that Pro adds automatic scheduling, cloud storage, and advanced filtering options.
Many users run their entire backup and migration workflow on Duplicator Lite alone.
Easy Cloud Storage
Cloud storage integration is an area where some BackWPup users have experienced changes with the 5.0 update. Connection methods and interfaces have been modified.
Duplicator Pro offers straightforward cloud storage with multiple options:
The Test Storage button lets you verify your cloud connection before committing to a backup schedule. This helps identify any configuration issues upfront.
If cloud uploads fail, Duplicator sends detailed email notifications explaining what happened and how to address it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s the best free WordPress backup plugin?
Duplicator Lite is an excellent choice, especially for migrations and cloning. The free version includes a standalone backup installer, which many other plugins don’t offer. This will upload a site backup on a new server even if WordPress isn’t already installed.
What’s the best alternative to UpdraftPlus?
Duplicator is a strong alternative to UpdraftPlus, especially if you prioritize developer workflows and need reliable site migration features. It has off-site disaster recovery, custom backups, no-install WordPress migrations, and more.
Is it difficult to switch from BackWPup to Duplicator?
No, it’s not difficult to switch from BackWPup to Duplicator. Simply deactivate BackWPup and install Duplicator as a new WordPress plugin. If you’re using the premium version, enter and activate your license key.
Upgrade Your Workflow with Duplicator
BackWPup’s 5.0 update has shown that even trusted plugins can become unreliable overnight. You can’t afford to gamble with your website’s data.
Duplicator Pro gives you everything you need: rock-solid automatic backups, off-site disaster recovery, and powerful developer tools that actually work.
We’ve been perfecting our backup and migration technology for years. Over 1.5 million WordPress sites trust us with their most important data.
Your website deserves a backup plugin that works every single time. Duplicator delivers that reliability—without the headaches and without the silent failures.
Ready to switch? Download Duplicator Lite to test it risk-free, or upgrade to Duplicator Pro for automatic backups and cloud storage!
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Joella is a writer with years of experience in WordPress. At Duplicator, she specializes in site maintenance — from basic backups to large-scale migrations. Her ultimate goal is to make sure your WordPress website is safe and ready for growth.
