UpdraftPlus vs BlogVault Cost and Pricing Comparison

If your WordPress site had a piggy bank, it would want you to read this first. Backups are boring until something breaks. Then they become the most exciting thing in the world. Today, we are comparing UpdraftPlus and BlogVault by cost, pricing, and value.

The quick difference

Both tools help you back up your WordPress site. That means they save copies of your files and database. If your site crashes, gets hacked, or breaks after an update, you can restore it.

But they work in different ways.

• UpdraftPlus is a WordPress backup plugin. You install it, connect storage, and control the backup setup.
• BlogVault is more like a backup service. It handles backups on its own servers and gives you a dashboard to manage them.

Think of it like lunch.

• UpdraftPlus is buying groceries and cooking at home.
• BlogVault is ordering a meal that arrives hot and ready.

Both can feed you. One is cheaper. One is easier.

UpdraftPlus pricing in simple words

UpdraftPlus has a free version. That is a big deal. For many small websites, the free version may be enough.

The free version lets you:

• Back up your WordPress files.
• Back up your database.
• Send backups to remote storage like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3.
• Schedule automatic backups.
• Restore from backups.

That is a strong free offer. It is one reason UpdraftPlus is so popular.

Then there is UpdraftPlus Premium. Pricing can change, but it usually starts around $70 per year for a small number of sites. Larger plans cost more and support more websites.

Typical plan levels are based on site count:

• Personal: for a few sites.
• Business: for more sites.
• Agency: for many client sites.
• Enterprise: for large teams or lots of sites.

Premium features often include:

• More remote storage options.
• Site migration tools.
• Database search and replace.
• Incremental backup options.
• Better reporting.
• Priority support.

There is one important thing to remember. With UpdraftPlus, you often bring your own storage. That may mean Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon S3, or another service.

So the plugin may be cheap. But storage may add a small extra cost. Sometimes it is free. Sometimes it is not. It depends on how big your site is and where you store backups.

BlogVault pricing in simple words

BlogVault is a paid service. It does not compete mainly on being the cheapest. It competes on convenience.

BlogVault pricing is usually based on:

• How many websites you have.
• How often backups run.
• How long backups are stored.
• Whether you need staging.
• Whether you need extra security features.

BlogVault plans often start at a higher yearly price than UpdraftPlus Premium. For one site, entry pricing is commonly around the low hundreds per year, depending on the plan and billing cycle.

Higher BlogVault plans can include:

• Real-time backups.
• Longer backup history.
• WooCommerce-friendly backups.
• One-click staging.
• Easy site migration.
• Uptime monitoring.
• Security scanning or related security tools, depending on the package.

The key difference is this. BlogVault includes offsite storage as part of the service. You do not need to connect your own cloud storage account in the same way.

That makes the price higher. But it also makes the setup easier.

Cost comparison table

Feature	UpdraftPlus	BlogVault
Free plan	Yes	Usually no full free plan
Starting cost	Low, free option available	Higher, paid service model
Storage included	Usually no, you connect your own	Yes, offsite storage included
Best for	Budget users and DIY site owners	Busy owners, agencies, and stores
Ease of restore	Good, but more manual	Very easy and guided
WooCommerce value	Can work well with the right setup	Strong, especially with real-time backups

The hidden cost of “cheap”

Let’s be honest. Cheap is lovely. Everybody likes cheap. Cheap buys coffee. Cheap buys pizza. Cheap also makes your accountant smile.

But backups are not only about price. They are also about time.

With UpdraftPlus, you may spend time setting up remote storage. You may need to test restores. You may need to make sure backup files are not too large. You may need to check if backups are actually running.

That is not scary. It is just work.

With BlogVault, much of that work is handled for you. You pay more, but you save time. The system runs backups on BlogVault servers. It also makes restores simple.

So the real question is not only “Which one costs less?”

The better question is “How much is my time worth?”

When UpdraftPlus is the better deal

UpdraftPlus is often the better value if you have a simple site. It is also great if you enjoy control.

Choose UpdraftPlus if:

• You have a blog, brochure site, or small business website.
• You want a free backup plugin.
• You already use Google Drive or Dropbox.
• You are comfortable with WordPress settings.
• You can test your backups now and then.
• You do not need real-time backups.

For example, imagine you run a simple food blog. You post once a week. Your site does not change every hour. A daily backup is probably fine. UpdraftPlus Free or Premium may be enough.

Here, BlogVault might feel like hiring a bodyguard for a sandwich. Nice, but maybe not needed.

When BlogVault is the better deal

BlogVault makes more sense when downtime is expensive. It is also useful when your site changes often.

Choose BlogVault if:

• You run a WooCommerce store.
• You get orders during the day.
• You cannot afford to lose recent data.
• You manage client websites.
• You want simple one-click restores.
• You want staging included.
• You want backups stored away from your hosting server.

For example, imagine you run an online shop. A customer places an order. Then your site breaks. If your last backup was from yesterday, that order could be missing. That is bad. That is the kind of moment where real-time or more frequent backups matter.

In that case, BlogVault may be worth the extra cost.

Storage costs matter

This is one of the biggest pricing differences.

With UpdraftPlus, remote storage is usually your responsibility. If your website is small, free cloud storage may be enough. If your site is large, you may need a paid storage plan.

Large sites can eat storage fast. Images, videos, backups, and old backup copies all add up.

With BlogVault, storage is built into the price. That makes the monthly or yearly fee higher. But it also makes the bill easier to understand.

So compare the full cost. Not just the plugin price.

• UpdraftPlus total cost: plugin cost plus storage cost plus your time.
• BlogVault total cost: service plan cost, with storage and management included.

Renewal pricing and long-term cost

Backups are not a one-time thing. You need them every year. Forever. Like brushing your teeth, but for your website.

UpdraftPlus Premium usually renews yearly. Some licenses may include renewal discounts, depending on the current offer. The free version can stay free, but you may miss premium tools.

BlogVault also usually bills monthly or yearly. Annual billing often gives a better rate. Higher plans cost more, especially if you need real-time backups or several sites.

For one small site, UpdraftPlus is usually the lower long-term cost. For many sites, the math depends on your workflow. Agencies may like BlogVault because it saves time across many client websites.

What about migrations and staging?

This is where pricing gets sneaky.

You may think you only need backups. Then one day you need to move your site. Or test a plugin update. Suddenly, migration and staging become very useful.

UpdraftPlus Premium includes migration tools. This can save money if you move sites now and then. It can also help if you build sites for clients.

BlogVault often includes staging and migration in its plans. The staging feature is very beginner-friendly. You can test changes away from your live site. Then you can push changes when ready.

If you use staging often, BlogVault may feel better. If you only migrate once in a while, UpdraftPlus may be enough.

Which is cheaper?

The short answer is UpdraftPlus.

It has a free option. Its paid plans usually start lower than BlogVault. If you already have cloud storage, your extra cost may be small.

But cheaper does not always mean better. It means cheaper.

BlogVault is more expensive because it includes more service. You get offsite storage, automatic handling, simple restores, and often staging. For busy sites, that can be a bargain.

So the answer depends on your site.

• Lowest cost: UpdraftPlus Free.
• Best budget paid option: UpdraftPlus Premium.
• Best hands-off option: BlogVault.
• Best for busy stores: BlogVault with frequent or real-time backups.

Simple buying advice

If your site is small, start with UpdraftPlus. Set up backups. Send them to remote storage. Test a restore. Do not skip that last step. Untested backups are like umbrellas with holes.

If your site makes money every day, look at BlogVault. Especially if you sell products, take bookings, or manage memberships. Losing recent data can cost more than the backup plan.

If you are an agency, compare time savings. BlogVault may cost more per site, but it can reduce panic. Panic is expensive. Panic also causes bad coffee choices.

Final verdict

UpdraftPlus wins on price. It is affordable, flexible, and has a generous free version. It is a smart choice for bloggers, small businesses, and anyone who likes to control their own setup.

BlogVault wins on convenience. It costs more, but it gives you a managed backup system with included storage and easy restores. It is ideal for important sites, online stores, agencies, and people who want fewer backup headaches.

Here is the simplest way to choose. If you want to spend less money, choose UpdraftPlus. If you want to spend less time and worry, choose BlogVault.

Either way, please back up your site. Future you will be grateful. Future you may even dance a little.