Free WordPress Backup Plugin with Verified, Safe Restores
Backup Restore Verifier is a free WordPress backup plugin that does more than copy your files. It saves your database, plugins, themes and uploads into one zip, writes a SHA-256 checksum for every file, and checks the whole archive before it restores anything. If a backup is damaged or has been tampered with, the plugin rejects it instead of half-applying it and leaving your site broken.
Everything runs on your own server. There’s no account to create, no cloud service and no telemetry, and the plugin makes no external requests at all.
Why verified backups matter
Most site owners only find out a backup is bad when they try to restore it. A zip can be cut off by a timeout, a file can go missing, or a disk can fail quietly. Backup Restore Verifier is built around one rule: never restore something you haven’t checked. Before a restore starts, it checks the archive format, compares every checksum against the manifest and blocks unsafe file paths. Only then does it touch your site.
What’s included in the free version
- One-click Backup Now: full backups that run in chunks and can resume, so large sites don’t time out halfway.
- Scheduled backups: run them hourly, twice daily, daily or weekly through WP-Cron, or switch them off.
- Retention control: keep the last N backups, and older ones are removed automatically after each successful run.
- Backup before updates: an optional backup right before plugin, theme or WordPress core updates, with a Restore button in the admin notice.
- Safe restore with rollback: maintenance mode, a snapshot taken before the restore, and an automatic rollback if something fails.
- Protected storage: backups live in a locked folder under
wp-content, and only administrators can download them. - Failure alerts: email notices through your site’s normal WordPress mail.
- Health card: a quick look at PHP, WordPress, ZipArchive and free disk space.
How to install the free backup plugin
- Enter your email below to get the download link.
- In WordPress, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin and upload the zip.
- Activate it, open Backup Restore Verifier and click Backup Now.
- Open Settings to choose a schedule, retention and alert email.
Download Backup Restore Verifier free
It’s free, with no site account needed. Just enter your email and the download starts right away.
Get the free plugin
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Upgrade to Pro: off-site storage, migrations and more
The free plugin keeps your backups on your own server, which works for many sites. If you also want copies stored safely off-site, or you move sites between hosts, Backup Restore Verifier Pro adds:
- Remote storage destinations, including S3, SFTP and Google Drive
- Incremental backups that save only what changed
- Site migration to a new host or domain
- Database encryption for stored backups
See Backup Restore Verifier Pro
Frequently asked questions
Is this WordPress backup plugin really free?
Yes. The free version is fully usable on its own and covers manual and scheduled backups, verified restores and rollback. It shows no nag screens. The only Pro mention is a link in its row on the Plugins screen.
Does it send my data anywhere?
No. The plugin makes no HTTP requests, sends no telemetry and sets no cookies. Failure alerts go through your own site’s mail setup.
Where are my backups stored?
In a protected folder inside your uploads directory, locked with deny-all rules. On nginx, add one short location rule to block web access.
Will a restore overwrite my site blindly?
No. The archive is checked first. The restore then turns on maintenance mode, snapshots the parts it will replace, applies your selected components and rolls back where possible if something fails.
Does it work on multisite?
Not yet. On multisite the plugin won’t run jobs, so it can’t leave a partial result.
What happens if I delete the plugin?
By default your settings, history and backup files are kept, so a reinstall picks them up again. You can tick “Delete all data” in Settings first if you want a full cleanup.
What do I need to run it?
WordPress 6.3 or newer, PHP 7.4 or newer, and the ZipArchive extension, which most hosts include.