How to Backup Your WordPress Site in 2026: Complete Guide

WordPress backups are your safety net against hacks, errors, and data loss. Bluehost includes automated daily backups on every plan at $3.99/month. Combined with the free UpdraftPlus plugin for cloud storage redundancy, your site is fully protected. This guide shows how to backup WordPress in 2026.

3-Layer WordPress Backup Strategy

• Layer 1:Bluehost server backups (automatic): Daily server-level backups included at $3.99/month. Covers entire site (files + database). Restore via cPanel with one click
• Layer 2:UpdraftPlus cloud backups (free plugin): Schedule automatic backups to Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3. Off-site storage protects against server failure. Free plugin
• Layer 3:Manual backups before changes: Always backup before updating plugins, themes, or WordPress core. Use UpdraftPlus "Backup Now" button. Takes 2 minutes

How to Set Up WordPress Backups (Step by Step)

• Step 1:Get Bluehost at $3.99/month — automated daily backups are included automatically
• Step 2:Install UpdraftPlus plugin (free) from WordPress plugin directory
• Step 3:Go to Settings → UpdraftPlus Backups → Settings tab
• Step 4:Set backup schedule: Files = daily, Database = daily
• Step 5:Connect cloud storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3
• Step 6:Set retention: Keep last 14 backups (2 weeks of history)
• Step 7:Click "Backup Now" to create your first backup immediately
• Step 8:Test restore: Go to Existing Backups → Restore to verify it works

FAQ

How do I backup my WordPress site?

Bluehost automated daily backups ($3.99/mo) + free UpdraftPlus plugin for cloud storage. Schedule automatic backups to Google Drive/Dropbox. Always backup before updates. Store off-site.

Does Bluehost include WordPress backups?

Yes. Automated daily backups on every plan at $3.99/month. Covers entire site (files + database). One-click restore via cPanel. Add free UpdraftPlus for cloud redundancy.

Best WordPress backup plugin?

UpdraftPlus — free, scheduled backups, cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, S3), one-click restore. Use alongside Bluehost's server-level daily backups at $3.99/month for maximum redundancy.

How often should I backup?

Daily for most sites. Bluehost includes daily backups at $3.99/month. For e-commerce/high-traffic: hourly via UpdraftPlus. Always backup before updating plugins, themes, or WordPress core.

How much does WordPress backup cost?

Bluehost: $3.99/month with daily backups included. UpdraftPlus: free. Total: $3.99/month for hosting + automated backups + free cloud backup plugin. Premium services ($80-200/yr) unnecessary.

How do I restore from backup?

Bluehost: cPanel Backup Wizard → select date → Restore. UpdraftPlus: Settings → Existing Backups → Restore. Takes 5-30 minutes. Always test backups by verifying restore works.