Complete Review: Akeeba Backup (updated 2025)

one name consistently stands out when discussing Joomla website backups: Akeeba Backup. Developed by Akeeba Ltd.. Whether you are managing a personal blog or a commercial enterprise website, safeguarding your data is paramount, and Akeeba Backup rises to this challenge with robust features, reliability, and flexibility.

Akeeba Backup: A Comprehensive Review for Joomla Site Administrators

Originally released over a decade ago, Akeeba Backup has matured into a professional-grade backup solution. It is available in both a Core (free) version and a Professional (paid) edition, each providing scalable functionality depending on your needs. This review explores Akeeba Backup’s functionality, usability, documentation, and overall value in a Joomla-based environment, helping administrators and developers determine whether this extension suits their operational and disaster recovery requirements.

Functionality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Full-Site Backup Capabilities

At its core, Akeeba Backup enables you to take complete backups of your Joomla site, including files and databases. This is not a partial or selective tool; it creates comprehensive snapshots of your entire installation.

File System Backup

Akeeba Backup allows you to back up all website files including templates, media, components, and language files. You can also exclude certain folders and files through its intuitive filter interface.

Database Backup

The extension supports both full database backups and selective backups, allowing administrators to exclude specific tables (e.g., logs or sessions) to reduce backup size.

Archiving and Compression Formats

Akeeba Backup supports multiple archive formats such as:

• JPA (JoomlaPack Archive) – Proprietary but highly optimized.
• ZIP – Standard and widely supported.
• JPS – Encrypted format for added security.

Automation and Scheduling

CRON Jobs Integration

One of the most powerful features of Akeeba Backup is its support for automated backup scheduling using CRON jobs. With a command-line tool or browser-based pseudo-CRON URLs, you can:

• Automate daily or weekly backups.
• Combine with third-party task schedulers like cPanel’s CRON manager.

Remote Storage Support

The extension integrates with various remote storage platforms, including:

• Amazon S3
• Dropbox
• Google Drive
• OneDrive
• WebDAV
• FTP/SFTP

Full Site Restoration with Kickstart or ANGIE

Akeeba Backup’s restoration process is renowned for its simplicity and power. It consists of two core components: Kickstart (for extracting the backup archive) and ANGIE (for restoring the site configuration and database). Together, they provide a streamlined and user-friendly method for recovering, migrating, or duplicating a Joomla site.

Option 1: Extracting the Backup Archive with Kickstart

Akeeba Kickstart is a lightweight PHP script that allows you to extract backup archives directly on your web server. Instead of manually unpacking the archive locally and uploading thousands of files via FTP, Kickstart performs extraction quickly and efficiently on the server itself.

1. Upload the kickstart.php file and your backup archive (e.g., .jpa, .jps, or .zip) to your site's root directory.
2. Access kickstart.php in your browser (e.g., https://yoursite.com/kickstart.php).
3. Kickstart extracts the archive contents directly into the current directory.
4. Once complete, it automatically launches the ANGIE restoration interface.

Kickstart also offers:

• File overwrite rules (skip, rename, or replace existing files).
• Support for archive extraction into subdirectories.
• Basic file permissions configuration during extraction.

Security Recommendations for Kickstart

Because kickstart.php is a publicly accessible file, it should only be uploaded temporarily. Always:

• Delete kickstart.php and any backup archives after use.
• Restrict access via .htaccess or temporary password protection if restoring on a live site.

Option 2: Restoring the Site Using ANGIE

Once Kickstart completes the extraction process, it automatically launches ANGIE (A New Generation Installer), a comprehensive restoration script bundled with every backup created by Akeeba Backup.

ANGIE guides you through the full restoration process, including:

• Database restoration – You can restore to the original database or a new one. ANGIE supports updating database prefixes and handles SQL import automatically.
• Configuration.php regeneration – ANGIE rewrites Joomla’s configuration file with the correct path, database, and URL settings.
• Server environment adaptation – It detects new hosting paths and allows URL changes if you're restoring in a new domain or subdirectory.

Advanced Options and Migration Use

ANGIE is ideal not just for site recovery, but also for site migration or cloning. You can use the same backup file to move your site from:

• Local development to a live server.
• One hosting provider to another.
• One domain to a staging subdomain.

ANGIE’s interface allows you to change URL paths, database credentials, and even Joomla security settings during restoration.

Post-Restoration Cleanup

ANGIE will prompt you to complete important cleanup steps:

• Remove the installation folder.
• Delete kickstart.php and the backup archive from the server.
• Verify file and folder permissions, especially for logs and tmp directories.

Robust Error Handling

If issues arise during restoration—such as incomplete extraction, timeout errors, or permission issues—ANGIE and Kickstart provide:

• Detailed error messages and log files.
• Step-by-step recovery guidance.
• Options to retry or adjust problematic settings during the restoration.

This robust support ensures that even users without advanced technical skills can successfully restore their Joomla sites in most hosting environments.

Security and Integrity Checks

• Backup archives can be password protected (Pro).
• You can optionally scan backups post-creation to verify integrity.
• Download tokens can be used to securely pull backups via URL.

Ease of use: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Installation and Setup

Quick and Seamless Installation

Installing Akeeba Backup is as straightforward as any Joomla extension. The installation package is available in the Joomla Extensions Directory (JED) or directly from Akeeba's website.

Configuration Wizard

Upon first launch, the user is guided through a Configuration Wizard which automatically detects the server environment and sets optimal backup parameters. This is particularly helpful for novice users.

User Interface

Dashboard Overview

The control panel is clean, well-structured, and offers quick access to:

• Take Backup Now
• Manage Backups
• Configuration
• Scheduling Information

Profiles for Custom Use Cases

Backup Profiles allow users to create customized configurations for different scenarios — e.g., full site backup, database-only, files-only, etc.

Filters and Exclusion Rules

Users can easily set up filters to exclude:

• Folders
• Files
• Database tables

Restoration Process

ANGIE Interface

Restoring a site with ANGIE is a guided, step-by-step process. Even users unfamiliar with databases or configuration.php editing can complete a restoration by following the interface prompts.

Troubleshooting During Restoration

Should issues arise (e.g., timeout errors, permission problems), ANGIE provides error logs and suggestions, making problem-solving approachable.

Support / Documentation: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Documentation

Extensive Official Documentation

Akeeba offers an impressively thorough documentation suite:

• User Guide (PDF and web format)
• Tutorials (with screenshots and examples)
• Developer resources and API references
• Glossary and troubleshooting section

Multilingual and Searchable

Documentation is searchable and available in multiple languages, reflecting Akeeba’s global user base.

Community Support

Joomla Forums

Akeeba Backup has an active presence on Joomla community forums where users frequently help each other troubleshoot and optimize usage.

GitHub and Issue Tracker

For advanced users, Akeeba maintains a public issue tracker where bugs can be reported and discussed.

Professional Support (Pro Edition)

Purchasers of the Professional version gain access to:

• Priority ticket-based support
• Fast response times
• Developer-level assistance

Training and Tutorials

• Akeeba’s YouTube channel includes installation walkthroughs, backup tutorials, and restoration guides.
• External sites also offer training sessions and courses featuring Akeeba as a key tool for Joomla administrators.

Conclusion

Akeeba Backup remains the gold standard in Joomla backup solutions. It is reliable, secure, well-documented, and highly customizable. Both beginners and seasoned administrators can benefit from its automation, restoration tools, and remote storage capabilities.

Whether you’re managing a small blog or an enterprise portal, Akeeba Backup is indispensable for ensuring business continuity and rapid disaster recovery.

Final Summary

Akeeba Backup is a must-have extension for any Joomla site owner serious about data integrity and continuity. It offers unmatched flexibility, robust feature sets, and an approachable user experience. While the Professional version unlocks more advanced capabilities, even the free version can fully serve many Joomla users. From scheduled backups to full site migrations, Akeeba has proven itself indispensable in modern Joomla site management.