Jetpack does a dozen things when all you wanted was reliable backups. A single-purpose plugin does that job lighter. Here are the alternatives, and how to switch safely.
Jetpack is a Swiss Army knife: backups, security, stats, social sharing, a CDN, and more, all bundled into one plugin that also wants an account connection to run. If the only blade you ever open is backups, you are carrying the rest as dead weight, along with the performance cost and the dependency. A dedicated backup plugin does that single job better, lighter, and often for free, and it keeps your backups somewhere you control. Here are the alternatives worth switching to, and the one careful step that keeps you covered while you move.
The Short Version
If backups are all you want, replace Jetpack with a single-purpose plugin. UpdraftPlus is the default choice: free, hugely popular, and it sends backups to your own cloud storage. WPvivid is fully free and adds migration, BlogVault and Solid Backups are premium set-and-forget options for stores and agencies, and Duplicator is the pick if you also move sites. One catch when switching: restore points do not transfer between plugins, so keep Jetpack’s backup running for about 30 days while the new tool builds its own history and you confirm a test restore works.
Why “backups only” is the smart move
Jetpack bundles many features into one heavy plugin, and every feature you do not use is still code loading on your site and another thing that can break or slow you down. It also leans on an account connection to function. A dedicated backup plugin flips that: it does one job, stays light, and lets you decide exactly where your backups live, whether that is Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, or your own server. For a site owner who just wants a reliable safety net and a fast site, single-purpose wins on every count that matters.
The best backups-only alternatives
UpdraftPlus. The most-installed backup plugin on WordPress, running on millions of sites, UpdraftPlus offers a genuine free tier, scheduled and on-demand backups, one-click restore, and support for your own cloud storage out of the box. For most people leaving Jetpack, this is the obvious landing spot.
WPvivid. The most generous free option, WPvivid bundles backups, migration, and staging into a free plugin, with features some competitors put behind a paywall. If you want to avoid upgrade pressure entirely, start here.
BlogVault. A premium, off-site service that stores incremental backups on its own servers so the work never bogs down your site. It includes built-in staging and a central dashboard, which makes it a favorite for WooCommerce stores and agencies managing many sites.
Solid Backups. Part of the SolidWP ecosystem, it combines automated backups, easy restores, and migration in one package, and every plan includes cloud storage so you are not scrambling to connect a destination.
Duplicator. The migration specialist. If you also plan to clone, move, or spin up staging copies, Duplicator gives you the best migration tooling with backups included, so one plugin covers both jobs.
Your host, or Jetpack Backup on its own. Before adding anything, check whether your host already includes daily automatic backups, since many quality managed hosts do. And if you genuinely like Jetpack’s backups but not the rest, you can run Jetpack VaultPress Backup as a standalone product without the full plugin.
How they compare at a glance
| Plugin | Free tier | Storage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| UpdraftPlus | Yes | Your own cloud | Most sites leaving Jetpack |
| WPvivid | Yes, generous | Your own cloud | Free backups + migration |
| BlogVault | No (premium) | Off-site, included | Stores and agencies |
| Solid Backups | No (premium) | Cloud included | All-in-one backup + restore |
| Duplicator | Yes (Pro paid) | Your own cloud | Migrating and cloning |
| Host backups | Often included | Host-managed | Set-and-forget on good hosts |
How to switch without losing your safety net
Here is the part most guides skip. Restore points do not transfer between backup tools, so you cannot move your existing Jetpack restore history into UpdraftPlus or anything else. That does not mean you have to go unprotected, it just means you overlap. Install the new plugin, run a full backup, and verify it can actually restore by testing it on a staging copy, not just trusting that the file exists. Keep Jetpack’s backup active for around 30 days as a fallback while the new tool builds up its own restore points. Only once the new plugin has a history you trust and a proven restore do you cancel Jetpack. You keep continuous coverage, you just do not carry the old history across.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Jetpack for backups only?
Sort of. Jetpack’s backup is available as a standalone product, VaultPress Backup, so you can pay for just that. But if you want to leave Jetpack entirely, a dedicated plugin like UpdraftPlus does the same job without the rest of the bundle.
What’s the best free Jetpack backup alternative?
UpdraftPlus and WPvivid both have strong free tiers. UpdraftPlus is the most widely used, while WPvivid packs backups, migration, and staging into its free version with fewer paywalls.
Will I lose my old backups if I switch plugins?
Your existing restore points stay with Jetpack and do not transfer to a new plugin. Keep Jetpack’s backup running for about a month while the new tool builds its own history, so you always have a fallback.
Do I even need a backup plugin?
Maybe not. Many good managed hosts include automatic daily backups, so check what you already have before installing anything. If your host does not, or you want backups in your own storage, a plugin is worth it.
Which alternative is best for a WooCommerce store?
BlogVault, because its off-site incremental backups and built-in staging handle busy, transaction-heavy sites without slowing them down. Solid Backups is another strong all-in-one option for stores.
How do I make sure my backups actually work?
Test a restore. A backup file is only useful if it restores cleanly, so run a test restore on a staging site after setting up any new plugin, rather than assuming the saved file is good.
The Bottom Line
You do not need a twelve-in-one plugin to solve one problem. If backups are all you want from Jetpack, move to a tool built for exactly that: UpdraftPlus or WPvivid if you want free and self-directed, BlogVault or Solid Backups if you want premium and hands-off, Duplicator if you also migrate. Switch by overlapping, verify a real restore, and only then cut Jetpack loose. Your site gets lighter, your backups land where you choose, and your safety net never has a gap. For more upkeep, see how to fix a WordPress updating error and how to vet a plugin before you install it.