Duplicator vs Duplicator Pro Benchmark Comparison
Backup Scope
| Component | Duplicator | Duplicator Pro |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Duplicator vs Duplicator Pro: the record
Across 5 recorded battles, Duplicator Pro leads 3 to 0 with 2 drawn. It has taken every decided run in this matchup, which is a consistent result rather than a close one. Elo currently has them at 789 (Duplicator) against 952 (Duplicator Pro).
Backup and restore speed
Backing up, Duplicator averages 19.1s against 15.9s for Duplicator Pro. Restoring, it is 8.0s against 8.5s. The two phases disagree: Duplicator Pro takes the backup by 17% while Duplicator takes the restore by 6%. 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
Duplicator writes a ZIP archive, deflating each entry as it goes, averaging 83 MB. Duplicator Pro writes a ZIP archive, deflating each entry as it goes, averaging 74 MB. That leaves Duplicator Pro about 9 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, Duplicator Pro finishes first; if recovery time is what keeps you up, Duplicator is the one that gets you back sooner; if you are paying for retention, Duplicator Pro 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, Duplicator or Duplicator Pro?
- On the runs recorded so far, Duplicator Pro backs up faster, averaging 15.9s against 19.1s. The restore goes the other way: Duplicator recovers faster. Speed alone does not settle it, because the two plugins do not always archive the same content.
- How big are the backups?
- Duplicator averages 83 MB per backup and Duplicator Pro averages 74 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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