JetBackup is backup software for hosting servers that lets account owners back up and restore their own files, databases and email.
JetBackup is a backup tool that hosting providers add to control panels such as cPanel. It takes regular copies of hosting accounts and stores them, often on separate backup servers. The part most site owners notice is the self-service screen inside cPanel, where you can browse your backups and restore something yourself without opening a support ticket.
For example, if a plugin update breaks your site on Tuesday, you could open JetBackup, pick Monday's backup and restore just your public_html folder and database, leaving your email untouched.
What JetBackup can back up and restore
- Full account: everything at once, useful after a serious problem.
- Files and folders: a single file, a theme or your whole website directory.
- Databases: individual MySQL databases.
- Email accounts: mailboxes and their messages.
- Cron jobs, DNS zones and SSL certificates, depending on how the host sets it up.
You can also download a backup to keep your own copy.
How JetBackup works
JetBackup usually uses incremental backups. The first backup copies everything. Later ones only copy what has changed, which saves storage and makes daily or more frequent backups practical. Each restore point still looks like a complete snapshot when you browse it.
The host decides how often backups run, where they're stored and how long they're kept. That last part is called backup retention. For example, a host might keep daily copies for 14 days. Once a backup falls outside the retention window, it's deleted.
Why JetBackup matters for your website
Backups are your last line of defence against mistakes, failed updates, hacked sites and accidental deletions. A self-service tool means you can fix things in minutes, at any hour. It also lets you restore only what you need. Rolling back your whole account to fix one file would also undo recent emails and orders.
Common JetBackup mistakes
- Restoring too much: a full account restore overwrites newer email and data. Restore only the files or database you need.
- Waiting too long: if a hack went unnoticed for weeks, clean backups may already be outside retention.
- Relying on one copy: download an occasional backup of important sites and keep it somewhere else.
- Not testing: try a restore to a staging site now and then so you know it works.
JetBackup vs plugin backups
Plugin backups run inside WordPress and use your account's resources. JetBackup runs at server level and covers email and databases too. Many people use both.
JetBackup at AblePage
AblePage uses JetBackup for the automatic daily backups included on every plan. Backups are kept for 10, 15, 20 or 30 days on Lite, Growth, Premium and Elite, and you can restore them yourself from cPanel at any hour. If you'd rather not do it yourself, support can run the restore for you.