Best Free Backup Plugin for Including External Folders in WordPress Backups?

  • Is there a backup plugin that allows me to add a folder from outside the main WordPress directory? Specifically, I want to include a folder from the root directory of my website [public_html/anotherfolder] in the backup process. I asked UpdraftPlus support and they said this feature is available in the premium plan. Is there a recommended free plugin that can do this?

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  • Hallo @elsoar

    Currently, most popular free WordPress backup plugins, like UpdraftPlus and BackWPup, only support backing up the WordPress directory and database, without allowing you to include folders outside the WordPress installation directory (such as public_html/anotherfolder). Typically, adding external folders to a backup is considered an advanced feature, which is why it is often included only in premium versions of backup plugins.

    However, if you’re looking for a free solution, there are a couple of approaches you could try:

    1. Custom Script and Backup Plugin Combination

    • You can create a custom backup script to zip the folder public_html/anotherfolder and store it in a directory inside your WordPress installation (e.g., public_html/wp-content/uploads/backup/).
    • Once that folder is within the WordPress directory, use a free plugin like UpdraftPlus (free version) or BackWPup to back up the entire WordPress directory, which will now include your custom folder.

    2. Manual Inclusion Using cPanel/Hosting Backup

    • Some hosting providers offer built-in backup solutions that allow you to specify which folders you want to back up. You could manually include both the public_html/anotherfolder directory and the WordPress folder in those backups.

    While these options may require manual setup or workarounds, they could help you achieve the goal without purchasing a premium backup plugin.

    If you specifically need a WordPress plugin that directly handles this feature for free, it is unlikely such a plugin exists with the required level of flexibility.

    Thread Starter elsoar

    (@elsoar)

    Thank you, sir, for your assistance.

    Indeed, solution number 1 is the best, and I have tried but I haven’t found a way to continuously transfer files to another folder within the WordPress folders.

    Is there a backup plugin that allows me to add a folder from outside the main WordPress directory? Specifically, I want to include a folder from the root directory of my website [public_html/anotherfolder] in the backup process.

    Does it mean your WordPress installation is in, say, public_html/wordpress/?

    I’m asking because you said the directory you need to backup is “outside the main WordPress directory”.

    If your installation is in public_html, then public_html/anotherfolder is actually INside (not outside) the main WordPress directory, but outside the content directory wp-content. And if this is the case, then a couple of free backup plugins — including even BackWPup that @elsoar mentioned — support this.

    Thread Starter elsoar

    (@elsoar)

    @gappiah

    Thank you very much, sir, for your assistance.

    I would like to point out that my WordPress directory is located at: https://public_html/wordpress/

    And the directory I want to include in the backup plugin is: public_html/anotherfolder

    I believe, in this case, it is outside the main WordPress directory.

    Secondly, I have installed the BackWPup plugin but I could not find the option you included in the screenshot in your reply.

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