Migrate your website from Wix to WordPress requires careful planning and execution, but with the right approach, it’s a manageable process that offers substantial benefits. WordPress provides greater flexibility, ownership, and customization options than Wix, making it an attractive platform for growing websites.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the complete migration process step by step, ensuring you understand not just what to do, but why each step matters. Let’s transform your website migration from a stressful experience into a successful transition.
Table of Contents
Why Migrate from Wix to WordPress?
Before diving into the how, let’s briefly explore why you might consider this move:
- Greater control: WordPress gives you complete ownership of your website files and database
- Flexibility: Access to thousands of themes and plugins for unlimited customization
- Cost-effectiveness: Potentially lower long-term costs, especially for growing websites
- SEO capabilities: More robust search engine optimization tools and options
- Scalability: Better equipped to handle traffic growth and additional functionality
Pre-Migration Preparation
Assessing Your Current Wix Website
Start by taking inventory of what you currently have on your Wix site:
- Document all pages, posts, and their URLs
- List all media files (images, videos, PDFs)
- Note any forms, contact information, and specialized functionality
- Identify your most important content and features
This inventory will serve as your migration checklist to ensure nothing gets left behind.
Choosing the Right WordPress Hosting
Your WordPress site needs a home. Unlike Wix’s all-in-one platform, WordPress requires separate hosting. Look for:
- Reliability: Uptime of at least 99.5%
- Performance: Fast server response times
- WordPress support: One-click WordPress installation
- Security: Regular backups and SSL certificate inclusion
- Scalability: Room to grow as your site expands
Popular WordPress hosting options include Bluehost, SiteGround, and WP Engine, with plans ranging from $3-$30+ per month depending on your needs.
Domain Considerations
You have two options for your domain during migration:
- Keep your domain with Wix temporarily: This allows you to build your WordPress site without disrupting your current site
- Transfer your domain to your new host: This requires additional steps but centralizes your web assets
If you purchased your domain through Wix, you’ll need to either transfer it to another registrar or keep it there while pointing it to your new WordPress host.
Step-by-Step Migration Process
Step 1: Set Up Your WordPress Environment
- Purchase hosting: Sign up with your chosen WordPress host
- Install WordPress: Most hosts offer one-click installation
- Select a theme: Choose a WordPress theme that resembles your Wix site’s design or start fresh
- Install essential plugins: At minimum, install:
- Yoast SEO (for search optimization)
- Wordfence (for security)
- WP Forms (for contact forms)
- Classic Editor (if you prefer the traditional WordPress editor)
Step 2: Export Content from Wix
Wix doesn’t provide a direct export function for your entire site, which is one of the main challenges in this migration. You’ll need to manually export what you can:
- Blog posts: If you have a Wix blog, export your posts by going to Blog Manager → Settings → Export Blog For all other content, you’ll need to use manual methods:
- Copy page content: Copy text content from each page into a document
- Download images: Save all images from your Media Manager to your computer
- Document forms: Take screenshots and notes of form fields and settings
- Save product details: If you have an online store, document all product information
Step 3: Import Content to WordPress
Now it’s time to transfer your content to WordPress:
- Create pages: Recreate your site structure by adding pages in WordPress
- Transfer content: Copy text content into the WordPress editor for each page
- Upload images: Add your downloaded images to the WordPress Media Library
- Rebuild forms: Use WP Forms or Contact Form 7 to recreate your contact forms
- Import blog posts: If you exported your Wix blog, use WordPress’s import tool (Tools → Import → RSS)
Step 4: Recreate Design and Functionality
Your content is now in WordPress, but your design and functionality need attention:
- Customize your theme: Use the WordPress Customizer to adjust colors, fonts, and layouts
- Add widgets: Recreate sidebars and footers using WordPress widgets
- Install additional plugins: Add plugins for any specific functionality your site needs
- Rebuild navigation: Create menus that match your Wix site’s navigation structure
For more complex design elements, you might consider:
- WordPress page builders like Elementor or Beaver Builder
- Custom CSS for specific styling needs
- Premium themes that more closely match your original design
Step 5: Test Thoroughly
Before going live, test everything:
- Check all pages: Verify content, formatting, images, and links
- Test responsiveness: Ensure your site works well on mobile devices
- Test functionality: Forms, search, e-commerce features, etc.
- Review SEO settings: Set up permalinks, meta descriptions, and alt tags
Step 6: Set Up Redirects
To maintain SEO value and prevent visitors from encountering broken links, you’ll need to set up redirects from your old Wix URLs to your new WordPress URLs:
- Install a redirect plugin: The Redirection plugin is a popular choice
- Map old URLs to new ones: Create 301 redirects for each important page
- Create a custom 404 page: For any missed URLs, have a helpful 404 page that guides visitors
Step 7: Switch Over Your Domain
When you’re ready to go live:
- If keeping domain at Wix: Update DNS settings to point to your WordPress host
- If transferring domain: Follow your new host’s domain transfer process
- Wait for propagation: DNS changes can take 24-48 hours to fully propagate
| Feature | Wix | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Setup | Easy, all-in-one solution | Requires separate hosting and installation |
| Cost | $14-$49/month for premium plans | $3-$30/month for hosting + free WordPress |
| Design Flexibility | Limited to Wix templates and editor | Unlimited with thousands of themes and plugins |
| SEO Control | Basic built-in tools | Complete control with specialized plugins |
| Content Ownership | Platform-dependent | Full ownership of all content and data |
| Scalability | Limited for large sites | Highly scalable for any size website |
| Technical Skill Required | Minimal | Moderate learning curve |
| E-commerce Capabilities | Built-in with business plans | Extensive with WooCommerce or other plugins |
| Migration Difficulty | Challenging to export | Easy to back up and move |
Post-Migration Tasks
Optimize Your New WordPress Site
With your site successfully migrated, take these steps to ensure optimal performance:
- Install a caching plugin: WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache can dramatically improve load times
- Optimize images: Use Smush or similar plugins to compress images without quality loss
- Set up Google Analytics: Install Google Analytics to track visitor behavior
- Submit your sitemap: Use Yoast SEO to generate and submit a sitemap to Google Search Console
Maintain Your WordPress Site
Unlike Wix, WordPress requires regular maintenance:
- Update WordPress core: Keep your installation current with security updates
- Update plugins and themes: Regularly check for and install updates
- Back up your site: Use a solution like UpdraftPlus for regular backups
- Monitor security: Stay vigilant with security plugins and best practices
Common Challenges and Solutions
- Content formatting issues: Use the Classic Editor plugin if you encounter formatting problems
- Image migration problems: If images don’t transfer properly, try downloading and uploading them individually
- SEO ranking fluctuations: Expect temporary ranking changes; they typically stabilize within a few weeks
- Plugin conflicts: If you experience issues, try deactivating plugins one by one to identify conflicts
FAQs About Wix to WordPress Migration
How long does it take to migrate from Wix to WordPress?
For a small to medium site, expect to spend 1-3 days on the complete migration process. Larger sites with extensive content or e-commerce functionality may require 1-2 weeks for a thorough migration.
Will my SEO rankings be affected by migrating from Wix to WordPress?
Some temporary fluctuations are normal, but with proper 301 redirects and maintaining your content and keywords, your rankings should recover and potentially improve within a few weeks after migration.
Can I migrate my Wix store to WordPress?
Yes, but it requires additional steps. You’ll need to set up WooCommerce on WordPress and manually recreate your products, including descriptions, images, pricing, and inventory. Consider using a specialized e-commerce migration service for large stores.
Is it possible to keep my Wix site running while building my WordPress site?
Absolutely! This is actually recommended. Build your WordPress site on a temporary URL or subdomain, and only switch over when everything is ready. This ensures zero downtime during the transition.
Conclusion – Migrate your website from Wix to WordPress
Migrating from Wix to WordPress requires careful planning and execution, but the benefits of increased control, flexibility, and scalability make it worthwhile for growing websites. By following this comprehensive guide, you can ensure a smooth transition while preserving your content, design elements, and SEO value.
Remember that the migration process is an excellent opportunity to reevaluate your website’s structure, design, and content strategy. Take advantage of WordPress’s extensive capabilities to not just recreate your Wix site, but to build an improved version that better serves your visitors and business goals.