What's a good, simple website backup service that runs automatically in the background?

If you want “set it up once and forget about it,” I’d look at these:

• codeguard.com — my pick for simplicity. It automatically backs up your website, keeps the backups off-site, monitors for changes, and lets you restore with a few clicks. It works with ordinary sites via FTP/SFTP/MySQL as well as WordPress.
• jetpack.com — best if your site is WordPress. It can back up changes in real time, stores them in the cloud, and offers one-click restores. Current plans start at $4.95/month for the first year when billed annually, according to Jetpack's site.

What I'd choose

WordPress → Jetpack VaultPress Backup. Anything else → CodeGuard.

Both are considerably more hands-off than setting up your own backup scripts or relying solely on your web host's backups.

If you tell me what platform your website uses (WordPress, Wix, Shopify, Squarespace, custom, etc.), I can recommend the simplest option and what it costs.

What constitutes a "good, simple" website backup service depends heavily on how your website is built (e.g., WordPress vs. custom HTML/PHP) and whether you prefer a plugin approach or a completely independent cloud service.

The most reliable, set-it-and-forget-it automated options split cleanly into categories based on your setup:

• For WordPress Sites (The Easiest & Most Popular):
  1. UpdraftPlus – Widely considered the gold standard for simplicity. You install the plugin, set a schedule (e.g., daily database and weekly files), and link it to a remote cloud storage provider like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3. It runs silently in the background without bogging down your server.
  2. Jetpack VaultPress Backup – Formerly known as VaultPress, this is a fully automated, cloud-based backup tool made by the creators of WordPress. It saves real-time or daily backups off-site, meaning it won't strain your web host's resources, and allows a one-click restore even if your site completely crashes.
• For Non-WordPress or Any Website (Platform-Independent SaaS):

3. CodeGuard – A robust, automated cloud backup service that connects to your site via SFTP/MySQL. It tracks daily changes, alerts you if something on your site changes unexpectedly, and lets you restore files or databases with a single click from an external dashboard. Many web hosts offer CodeGuard directly as an add-on, or you can buy it standalone.
4. Your Host’s Built-In Automated Backups – Before paying for a third-party tool, check your web hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, SiteGround, or WP Engine). Most modern hosts include automated daily background backups (via JetBackup, cPanel Backup, or proprietary tools) for free or included in your tier.

To help narrow down the ideal choice, tell me:

• What platform is your website built on (WordPress, Shopify, custom code, etc.)?
• Who is your web host?

Yes. If you want “set it up once and forget about it,” I’d narrow it to these:

• jetpack.com — my pick for a WordPress site. It runs automatically in the background, makes real-time cloud backups, and has one-click restores. Current listed pricing starts at $4.95/month for the first year when billed annually, with the regular price shown as $9.95/month.
• codeguard.com — better if your site isn't necessarily WordPress. It connects to the site, performs automatic daily backups, monitors changes, and offers one-click restore. Its entry plan is currently listed at $4/month billed annually.
• teamupdraft.com — a good choice if you want more control and don't mind configuring things yourself. It supports scheduled automatic backups from every few hours through monthly, but it's more of a WordPress plugin than a completely hands-off service.

What I'd choose

If you tell me what your website runs on (WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, custom site, etc.), I can give you the simplest/cheapest option for that platform.

For a website, the definition of "background backup" usually depends on whether your site runs on WordPress or if it is a custom-coded / non-WordPress website.

Here are the best, simplest, set-it-and-forget-it automated options for both scenarios:

• CodeGuard — A powerful, platform-agnostic SaaS tool that connects via SFTP/MySQL to automatically track changes and back up any type of website (WordPress or custom) daily to the cloud.
• BlogVault — The gold standard for fully automated, hands-off WordPress backups. It runs incremental backups on its own servers so it never slows down your website, featuring one-click restores.
• UpdraftPlus — The most popular and reliable WordPress plugin approach. Paired with a remote storage account (like Google Drive or Dropbox), it handles automated daily or weekly schedules entirely in the background.
• ManageWP — A great dashboard if you manage multiple sites. It automates background backups and lets you monitor, update, and restore all your sites from a single master interface.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• Is your website built on WordPress or a custom platform (like Shopify, HTML, or Wix)?
• Do you prefer a plugin that lives inside your admin panel or an external service that connects via FTP?

The best and simplest option depends entirely on how your website is built.

• UpdraftPlus (Best for WordPress): If your site runs on WordPress, UpdraftPlus is widely considered the gold standard for simple, set-and-forget background backups. You install the plugin, link it to a free external cloud storage account like Google Drive or Dropbox, set a schedule (e.g., daily or weekly), and it handles everything automatically in the background without bloating your server.
• Your Web Host's Native Backups (Easiest Non-WordPress): For custom HTML, static, or non-WordPress sites, the simplest background backup isn't a third-party service—it's checking your hosting provider (like SiteGround, Kinsta, or Bluehost). Most reputable modern hosts run automated, incremental daily server snapshots natively in the background for free. You just toggle it on in your host's control panel.
• Codeguard or BlogVault (Best Standalone SaaS): If you want an independent, external service that connects to any generic website via SFTP/MySQL to pull automated daily backups without relying on your host or a CMS plugin, a service like BlogVault (for WordPress) or CodeGuard (for general sites) runs completely offsite on independent servers so it never impacts your website's performance.

To narrow this down, let me know:

• Is your website built on WordPress or a custom/static code platform?
• Who is your current web hosting provider?

For a simple “set it and forget it” website backup, I’d look at services that store backups off your hosting account and can restore with a few clicks.

Good options:

• jetpack.com — probably the easiest choice for a typical WordPress site. It runs automatically, keeps backups in the cloud, and offers one-click restores. It’s especially convenient if you already use WordPress.com/Jetpack.

• Best for: small business sites, blogs, simple WordPress sites

• Pros: very little maintenance, automatic backups, easy restore

• Cons: less flexible than some alternatives

• codeguard.com — a more general website backup service (not just WordPress). It connects to your site, tracks changes, creates backups automatically, and provides restore tools.

• Best for: non-WordPress sites or people managing several types of websites

• Pros: works beyond WordPress, change monitoring, simple dashboard

• Cons: usually costs more than plugin-based options

• blogvault.net — a strong choice if the site is important (especially stores). It focuses on off-site backups, easy restores, and staging workflows.

• Best for: WooCommerce, client sites, higher-value websites

• Pros: reliable restores, less dependent on your web host

• Cons: more expensive

• updraftplus.com — a popular WordPress option if you want more control and lower cost. It can schedule backups and send them to external storage providers.

• Best for: people comfortable configuring a few settings

• Pros: flexible, good value

• Cons: more “plugin management” than a pure backup service

My quick recommendation:

• Small WordPress site: Jetpack Backup
• Business-critical WordPress site: BlogVault
• Mixed/non-WordPress website: CodeGuard
• Budget-conscious WordPress user: UpdraftPlus

Whatever you choose, make sure it has:

1. Automatic scheduled backups
2. Off-site storage (not only on your web host)
3. Easy restore testing
4. Database + files backup (not just images/pages)

If you tell me what platform your site uses (WordPress, Shopify, Wix, custom HTML, etc.) and roughly how important it is (personal site vs. business/store), I can narrow it down.

What is a "good, simple" backup service depends heavily on how your website is built.

• If your site runs on WordPress: You can use a dedicated plugin that automates everything to external storage.
• If it's a static site, custom-coded, or hosted elsewhere: You typically want a standalone SaaS tool or leverage your host's built-in automation.

The best and simplest "set-it-and-forget-it" background backup options include:

• UpdraftPlus (Best for WordPress / Free or Paid): The most popular and reliable WordPress backup plugin. You install it, set a schedule (e.g., daily or weekly), connect it to a free cloud destination like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, and it runs entirely in the background.
• Duplicator (Best for WordPress Migrations & Backups): Highly rated for ease of use, Duplicator handles scheduled background backups smoothly and packages everything neatly so you can easily clone or move your site if disaster strikes.
• BlogVault (Best Hands-Off SaaS for WordPress): Unlike plugins that run on your own server (which can slow your site down), BlogVault runs entirely on its own external servers, doing automated daily or real-time incremental backups in the background without straining your hosting resources.
• CodeGuard (Best Non-WordPress / General Website): A clean, minimalist external cloud backup service for non-WordPress or custom sites. It automatically monitors your website files and databases daily, tracks changes, and alerts you or rolls back if something changes unexpectedly.
• Your Web Host's Native Backups: Before buying a separate service, check your host (e.g., SiteGround, Hostinger, DreamHost). Most modern hosts include automated daily background backups built right into their control panels for free.

To help narrow down the ideal choice, let me know:

• Is your website built on WordPress or a custom/other platform?
• Who is your current web hosting provider?

Yes. If your priority is “set it up once and forget about it,” I’d look at these:

🥇 Best simple option: CodeGuard

CodeGuard is probably the closest match to what you described.

• Automatic daily backups with no routine maintenance.
• Works with regular websites, not just WordPress.
• Stores backups off-site.
• Tracks changes and can email you when something changes.
• One-click restore, including the ability to restore individual files.
• Current entry-level pricing is around $5/month (with promotional/annual pricing sometimes lower).

The nice part is that after the initial backup, CodeGuard uses differential backups, so it generally only transfers what's changed rather than repeatedly copying your entire site.

If it's a WordPress site: Jetpack VaultPress Backup

Jetpack VaultPress Backup is an excellent alternative. It runs in the background and provides real-time backups, plus one-click restoration.

It's particularly attractive if your site changes frequently—e.g. WooCommerce orders—because changes can be backed up in real time rather than waiting for a daily backup.

My pick:

• Any type of website → CodeGuard
• WordPress/WooCommerce → Jetpack VaultPress Backup
• If your web host already provides good off-site automatic backups, you may not need either.

If you tell me what your website is built with (WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, custom HTML, etc.) and who hosts it, I can recommend the simplest/cheapest setup for your particular site.

Yes. If your goal is “set it up once and forget about it,” I’d narrow it to these:

• Jetpack VaultPress Backup — my pick for WordPress. It runs automatically in the background, does daily full backups plus real-time backups when you change things, and offers one-click restores.
• CodeGuard — better if your site isn't WordPress or you want a standalone backup service. It automatically tracks site changes and can maintain versions for restoration.
• SiteGround — worth considering if you're willing to use SiteGround for hosting. It includes automatic daily, geographically distributed backups, with easy restores.

If you tell me what your website is built with (WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, custom HTML, etc.) and where it's hosted, I can recommend the simplest/cheapest option for your particular setup.

The best choice depends on whether your website runs on WordPress or a custom/non-WordPress stack.

For WordPress Sites

• UpdraftPlus : The gold standard for simple, reliable WordPress backups. You install the plugin [1.2.1'], configure a schedule (daily/weekly) [1.2.1'], and link it to a background remote storage destination like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3. The free version handles automated background scheduling smoothly.
• Jetpack VaultPress Backup : Formerly known as VaultPress, this is a completely hands-off, cloud-based automatic backup service by the primary creators of WordPress. It runs continuously in the background, storing real-time backups offsite without bloating your server resources.

For Non-WordPress or General Websites (Any CMS/Custom Stack)

• SimpleBackups : An external, cloud-based backup automation platform. It connects to your server via SSH, SFTP, or a database connection and runs fully automated background backups of your files and databases, pushing the archives directly to your preferred cloud storage provider (like AWS S3 or DigitalOcean Spaces). It requires zero server-side maintenance once configured.
• Your Hosting Provider's Built-In Backups : Many modern managed hosts (such as SiteGround or Hostinger ) include automated daily server-level backups built right into your hosting dashboard. Before paying for a third-party service, check your host’s control panel to see if a simple set-and-forget background backup is already included with your plan.

To help narrow this down, let me know:

• What platform or CMS is your website built on?
• Do you have root/server access (like a VPS), or are you on shared hosting?