The UpdraftPlus alternative that's faster where it runs every day
UpdraftPlus is the popular default. SafeGuard backs up faster than it on a public, reproducible benchmark, though UpdraftPlus restores quicker, with every feature included on every plan instead of locked behind paid addons.
Why people move to SafeGuard
It is genuinely faster
Backups and restores that don't crawl on large sites. SafeGuard is top-ranked on our public benchmark, backing up faster than six of the eight plugins tested and restoring faster than five.
Everything is included
Incremental, migration, multisite, staging and 20+ storage providers come on every plan. No per-feature addons or tiers to climb.
Claims you can verify
The benchmark is public and reproducible. Instead of trusting a marketing line, you can run the exact test yourself and check where each plugin lands.
SafeGuard vs UpdraftPlus
UpdraftPlus is a solid, popular plugin. Here is where the two differ in practice.
| Feature | SafeGuard | UpdraftPlus |
|---|---|---|
| Public benchmark | Faster backup (6.4s vs 9.2s) | Faster restore |
| Pricing model | Everything on every plan | Free core + paid Premium & addons |
| Incremental backups | Premium | |
| Site migration / clone | Migrator addon | |
| Multisite support | Premium | |
| Staging + push-to-live | ||
| Cloud relay for firewalled sites | ||
| Storage providers | 20+ (all included) | Some free, more in Premium |
| WP-CLI commands | 40+ | Basic |
| REST API | 55+ endpoints | |
| Money-back guarantee | 14 days | Varies |
Based on UpdraftPlus's publicly documented free and Premium feature split and the public Backup Arena benchmark. Verify anything for yourself.
Common questions
Is SafeGuard really faster than UpdraftPlus?
On a public benchmark (Backup Arena) that runs every plugin on identical hardware, the same site and the same database, SafeGuard backs up faster than UpdraftPlus, averaging 6.4s against 9.2s. UpdraftPlus is the quicker of the two at restoring. Both figures are published with the logs behind them, so you can check either.
Can I switch from UpdraftPlus to SafeGuard easily?
Yes. Install SafeGuard, connect the same storage you already use, and set your schedule. Your existing UpdraftPlus backups stay where they are, so there is no risky cutover. SafeGuard also includes site migration if you are moving hosts at the same time.
Does SafeGuard have a free version like UpdraftPlus?
No. SafeGuard is premium only, because the whole point is the performance and the features that usually sit behind paid addons elsewhere. There is a 14-day money-back guarantee, and the first 50 customers get a full year free.
Do I have to pay extra for incremental backups or migration?
No. Incremental backups, site migration, multisite, staging and all 20+ storage providers are included on every SafeGuard plan. The only difference between plans is how many sites you can activate.
Still weighing up the whole field? Our honest buyer's guide to the best WordPress backup plugin covers UpdraftPlus alongside every other serious option, including the cases where they are the better pick.
Ready to switch?
Every feature on every plan, a 14-day money-back guarantee, and the first 50 customers get a full year free.
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