Why Doesn't MainWP Include Backups in the Dashboard?

MainWP focuses on site management features rather than building native backups. We offer backup extensions that connect with top-tier providers and free API-based backups for popular hosting platforms.

MainWP focuses on site management rather than building a native backup system. Dedicated backup tools already solve this problem well, and creating our own would divert resources from features that make MainWP more valuable for managing your sites.

Why Not Native Backups?

Backups for a self-hosted Dashboard managing multiple child sites come with complex requirements:

• Storage management across multiple sites
• Different hosting environments and configurations
• Scheduling and retention policies
• Restoration procedures that vary by host
• Ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting

Building and maintaining a native backup solution would slow development of core management features.

How MainWP Handles Backups Instead

MainWP provides two approaches to backups:

Backup Extensions

Extensions connect MainWP with established backup providers:

Extension	Provider
BackWPup	BackWPup
BackupBuddy	BackupBuddy
Time Capsule	Time Capsule
UpdraftPlus	UpdraftPlus
WPVivid	WPVivid

API Backups (Free)

API Backups trigger backups directly through your hosting provider at no additional cost:

• cPanel and Plesk
• Kinsta, Cloudways, GridPane
• Vultr, DigitalOcean, Linode

This approach lets you use backup services built specifically for that task while MainWP focuses on site management.

---

Related Resources

• Manage Backups - Configure backup extensions and API backups
• Backup Extensions - View all backup options