A valid backup contains two things together — the files and the database — is stored somewhere other than the hosting, and has been restored at least once before you needed it. A copy you have never restored is not a backup; it is a hope.
Most people who lose a site had "backups" — on the same server that failed, or missing the database.
What it must contain
1. The files. Themes, plugins, images, uploads. This is what you see.
2. The database. Posts, pages, settings, users, orders. This is what you do not see — and it matters more. A site with its files but no database is an empty site.
A copy with one and not the other restores nothing.
Where to keep it
The rule: never store the backup on the server you are backing up. If the server dies, the copy dies with it.
| Location | Suitable? |
|---|---|
| The same hosting | No as your only copy |
| Your own machine | Yes |
| Cloud storage (Drive, Dropbox) | Yes |
| A dedicated backup service | Yes, and the least effort |
Two is best: one at the provider (fast to restore) and one with you or in the cloud (survives what the first does not).
How often
According to what you would lose:
| Type of site | Frequency |
|---|---|
| A brochure site that rarely changes | Monthly, and before every edit |
| A blog publishing weekly | Weekly |
| A site changing daily | Daily |
| A store that sells | Daily at minimum |
The question that sets your frequency: how many hours of work can you afford to lose? Make the gap between backups shorter than that.
What providers offer
Most plans include automatic backups, but the details vary enormously:
- How many copies are kept? Some keep exactly one, overwritten each time — so if you notice the damage two days later, it is gone.
- How far back? Two weeks beats two days.
- Is restoring free? Some providers charge for it.
- Does it include the database? Ask explicitly.
Ask all four before buying, not after the incident. We list the pre-purchase questions in hosting contract terms.
Prices on this page are read from our table the moment you open it, not typed into the text. Check the comparison page for the latest figures before buying.
Taking a manual backup
From your control panel:
Files — File Manager → compress the site directory → download the archive.
Database — phpMyAdmin → select the database → Export → download the SQL file.
Five minutes. Do it before any large change: a WordPress update, a theme switch, an unfamiliar plugin.
Testing — the step everyone skips
A backup you have never restored does not know it works.
Test it at least once:
- Create a temporary subdomain, or use a local environment.
- Upload the files and import the database.
- Open the site — does it work? Do images appear? Does the admin open?
This exercise reveals what nothing else does: a missing directory, a truncated export, a config pointing at an old path.
Do it today, not on the day of the incident.
Three common mistakes
A copy only on the same server. The number one mistake by a wide margin.
Automatic backups nobody verified. A schedule that stopped months ago and no one noticed. Check the date of the last copy.
A copy with no database. You think you have a site; you have an empty theme.
After restoring
- Check inner pages work, not just the homepage
- Check permalinks (they may need re-saving to rebuild)
- Confirm the contact form still delivers
- Change passwords if the restore followed a compromise
- Measure speed to confirm nothing broke
The short answer
Three rules are enough:
- Files and database together — one without the other is useless.
- A copy off the hosting — even if only on your laptop.
- Restore it once — before you need to.
And if your plan lacks daily backups and your site deserves them, upgrading is cheaper than losing it. Compare what plans include on the comparison page — Hostinger's Unlimited at EGP 139 a month includes daily backups.
Read next: What is web hosting? · The best hosting company · Cheapest web hosting · Hosting contract terms · Compare plans
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