Web hosting guide
Hosting backups: how website backups work on a hosting plan
Updated on ยท 8 questions answered
A hosting backup is a saved copy of your website's files and its database, made by the hosting company on a schedule. If the site breaks or is hacked, you restore the copy and the site returns to the state of that day.
What does a website backup contain?
A full backup has two parts. The files are the software, themes, plugins and uploads. The database holds the posts, pages, orders and settings. A backup with only one of the two cannot bring back a whole site.
What is the difference between daily and weekly backups?
The difference is how much work you can lose. With daily backups the newest copy is at most one day old. With weekly backups it can be seven days old.
| Schedule | Newest copy is at most | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 7 days old | A site that changes a few times a month |
| Daily | 1 day old | A blog with regular posts, a business site with forms |
| Daily and on demand | As old as your last manual backup | A store, or any site before an update |
Which backups do the plans we tested include?
The Hostinger pricing page lists these backups for the 2 plans in our list that state one:
| Plan | Hosting type | Backups |
|---|---|---|
| Hostinger Unlimited | Web hosting | Daily backups |
| Hostinger Cloud Startup | Cloud hosting | Daily and on demand backups |
The Hostinger coupon code page has the tested discount on each plan.
Where should backups be kept?
In at least one place outside the hosting account. A backup on the same server is lost if that server fails. The WordPress backups guide gives the same advice: keep several copies, in different places.
How do I restore a website from a backup?
- Open the backups page in the hosting control panel.
- Choose the date you want to return to.
- Choose what to restore: files, database or both.
- Confirm. The current version is replaced by the copy.
- Open the site and check the newest pages, the forms and the login.
How long does a hosting company keep backups?
A fixed number of days or copies, stated in the plan. Older copies are deleted to make room for new ones. Download a copy yourself before a redesign or a move, so it does not expire.
Is a daily backup an extra charge?
On some plans, yes. A plan can include weekly backups and sell daily backups as an add-on in the cart. The guide on hidden hosting costs lists the add-ons to look for before you pay.
Do I need my own backup if the plan includes one?
Yes. The plan's backup protects against a broken update. It does not protect you if the account is closed or the copy is older than the problem. A second copy on your own computer or in cloud storage costs little and covers both cases.