Compare backup features

The tables below compare the many ways the web hosts we’ve reviewed deliver backup services.

When it comes to backups, there are a few things to consider:

• Frequency: web hosts vary in the frequency of their backups e.g. some will backup weekly, others will backup daily;
• Database and files: if you run a WordPress installation, or any CMS, your website will comprise both a database and web files. Some backups only target web files, others target web files and your database;
• Restoration: while many web hosts may backup your website daily or weekly, these backups aren’t always made available to you; some paid backup options, as well as a handful of free back options, allow you to restore your website to a specific data from your admin panel;
• Restoration timeframe: web hosts vary in the duration they retain backups i.e. some may retain backups for two weeks, others for months.
• Manual backup: while some web hosts disable the manual backup option in cPanel, you can always backup your files and database via FTP/phpMyAdmin.

A quick analysis:

• Just Host provides a free backup and restore option in its admin panel. That said, its restore functionality only appears to apply to web files.
• Siteground offers free daily backups of your website for a period of up to 30 days (you may have to pay to restore). Its paid backup service allows you to restore your website from your admin panel;
• Contrary to claims on its website, Bluehost no longer appears to support its free backup and restore service Site Backup Pro. It’s no longer accessible in its admin panel and it’s now promoting a paid service called CodeGuard;
• According to its help pages, HostGator offers a free automated weekly backup (however its help pages are rarely updated). Like Bluehost, it offers CodeGuard as a premium solution;
• GreenGeeks provides “nightly backups”. Like other hosts it has disabled the manual cPanel backup tool, citing “resource” issues.