BackupBuddy vs WPvivid Benchmark Comparison
Backup Scope
| Component | BackupBuddy | WPvivid |
|---|---|---|
| Database | ||
| Plugins | ||
| Themes | ||
| Uploads | ||
| WordPress Core | ||
| wp-config.php |
Plugins that back up less data may appear faster but provide less protection.
Analysis
Written from this matchup's measurements. No editorial figures.
BackupBuddy vs WPvivid: the record
Across 5 recorded battles, WPvivid leads 5 to 0. It has taken every decided run in this matchup, which is a consistent result rather than a close one. Elo currently has them at 491 (BackupBuddy) against 715 (WPvivid).
Backup and restore speed
Backing up, BackupBuddy averages 6.0s against 7.5s for WPvivid. Restoring, it is 47.6s against 2.9s. The two phases disagree: BackupBuddy takes the backup by 20% while WPvivid takes the restore by 94%. Which one counts depends on what you are protecting against. Backups run on a schedule and their cost is ongoing; a restore happens once, on your worst day, and that is usually the minute you care about.
What each one actually backs up
Both plugins archive the same set of content, so the timings below compare like with like. Where that is not true, this section says so.
Archive format and size
BackupBuddy writes a ZIP archive, deflating each entry as it goes, averaging 53 MB. WPvivid writes a ZIP archive, deflating each entry as it goes, averaging 39 MB. That leaves WPvivid about 15 MB smaller per backup, which compounds against every copy you retain. Both compress, so the difference in size reflects what each one packed rather than whether it bothered to squeeze it.
Which should you choose?
If your backup window is the constraint, BackupBuddy finishes first; if recovery time is what keeps you up, WPvivid is the one that gets you back sooner; if you are paying for retention, WPvivid writes less per copy. Every figure above links to the run that produced it, including the logs, so none of this has to be taken on trust.
Common questions
- Which is faster, BackupBuddy or WPvivid?
- On the runs recorded so far, BackupBuddy backs up faster, averaging 6.0s against 7.5s. The restore goes the other way: WPvivid recovers faster. Speed alone does not settle it, because the two plugins do not always archive the same content.
- How big are the backups?
- BackupBuddy averages 53 MB per backup and WPvivid averages 39 MB, measured on the same site profiles. Multiply by however many copies you keep before deciding the difference is academic.
- How does Backup Arena measure this?
- Both plugins run inside identical Docker containers against the same WordPress snapshot, on six hosting profiles ranging from constrained shared hosting to a dedicated box. Each configuration runs a discarded warm-up followed by three measured iterations, and the site is reset to a verified snapshot between every run. A backup that will not restore is a loss regardless of how quickly it was written.
- How much should I trust these numbers?
- This matchup has 5 recorded battles, which is enough to be indicative and not enough to be final. Every run is published with its logs so you can check the workings, and reruns can be requested.
Stats
By Site Profile
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