WordPress Website Migration

Migrating a live WordPress site is where things go wrong: broken image URLs, mixed-content errors, lost emails, downtime that costs orders, or the dreaded “Error establishing a database connection” on the new server. We move the entire stack — files, database, media, emails, DNS, redirects — with zero downtime and a written rollback plan, so you land on the new host with nothing broken and nothing lost.

Symptoms we solve

• Current host is slow, oversold, or has poor support — you need to move now
• Domain change or brand rename requires a full URL rewrite across the site
• Moving from localhost / staging / cPanel to a modern cloud host (Cloudways, Kinsta, WP Engine, Hostinger, DigitalOcean)
• Previous migration attempt broke images, redirects, or WooCommerce checkout
• Site is too big for one-click migrator plugins (Duplicator, All-in-One WP Migration crashing at 512 MB / 2 GB limit)
• WooCommerce, LMS, or membership site — cannot afford any downtime or lost orders during the switch
• Email (Google Workspace / Zoho) must keep flowing during the DNS change
• SSL / HTTPS setup on the new host is failing or throwing mixed-content warnings

Our diagnostic process

1. Inventory — site size (files + database), plugin/theme list, PHP version, active integrations, and any custom cron jobs or server-side scripts.
2. Traffic & order snapshot — for WooCommerce/LMS, we snapshot last order ID, last user ID, and revenue baseline so nothing is missed after cutover.
3. DNS & email audit — current nameservers, TTL values, and all MX / TXT / SPF / DKIM records (email must not break during DNS switch).
4. Target-host compatibility check — PHP version, MySQL/MariaDB version, disk quota, and any plugin known to break on the new stack.
5. URL rewrite plan — for domain changes, we generate the full old-URL → new-URL map (posts, media, hard-coded serialized data).
6. Rollback plan — old host stays live and untouched until cutover is verified; DNS can be reverted in minutes.

Deliverables

• Complete file transfer: WordPress core, wp-content, uploads, custom code, mu-plugins
• Full database migration via mysqldump / WP-CLI — not a plugin export (works for any size)
• Search-replace for domain / URL changes with serialized-data safety (WP-CLI, not naive SQL)
• SSL / HTTPS installed and validated on the new host; mixed-content issues fixed
• All plugins, themes, and PHP configuration verified compatible on the new stack
• Email routing preserved — MX / SPF / DKIM records mapped and re-installed before DNS switch
• 301 redirects for changed URLs (if any) at web-server level, not just plugin
• DNS cutover during a low-traffic window with lowered TTL — typical downtime under 5 minutes
• Post-migration smoke test: 30+ URL checklist, WooCommerce checkout, contact form, admin login, cron jobs
• Written migration report + rollback instructions + 7-day support window

Timeline

• Day 0 — kickoff, access + DNS access shared, inventory + rollback plan locked
• Day 1 — files + database copied to new host, search-replace applied on staging
• Day 1–2 — SSL installed, plugins verified, cron jobs re-scheduled, 30-point smoke test on staging URL
• Day 2 — DNS TTL lowered to 300s in preparation for cutover
• Day 2–3 — cutover during low-traffic window: final sync, DNS switch, SSL re-verified, redirect activation
• Day 3–7 — monitoring window: 404s, order flow, email delivery, and analytics traffic all verified daily

Standard migrations complete in 24–48 hours. WooCommerce / multisite migrations quoted after inventory.

Pricing

• Standard Move — $49 · Single WordPress site up to 2 GB, host-to-host. Files + DB + DNS switch + basic smoke test.
• Pro Migration — $129 (most chosen) · Full URL search-replace, SSL setup, 20-point QA checklist, rollback plan on standby, 7-day post-launch support.
• WooCommerce / Multisite — $349 · Store or multisite network migration. Order & customer data preservation, cron reconfiguration, 7 days of post-launch monitoring.
• Enterprise — from $499 · High-traffic, multi-server, or CDN-fronted stacks. Quoted after inventory.

All plans are fixed price and covered by our zero-downtime commitment — if the new site is not verifiably working after cutover, we roll back at no cost and refund.

Frequently asked questions

How much downtime should I expect?

Under 5 minutes in most cases. We lower DNS TTL 24 hours in advance, keep the old host live until cutover, do a final sync, then switch DNS. Because DNS TTL is short, most visitors see the new host within minutes, and the old host serves anyone still on cached DNS — so no one sees a broken page.

Will my email break when DNS changes?

No. We audit and preserve every MX / SPF / DKIM / TXT record before the switch. Google Workspace, Zoho, Microsoft 365, and self-hosted email all stay intact — we only change the A / AAAA records that point web traffic.

Can you migrate a WooCommerce store without losing orders?

Yes. We snapshot the last order ID before cutover, do a final delta sync of the wp_posts, wp_woocommerce_order_items, and wp_usermeta tables during the DNS switch, and verify the last order matches. Zero orders lost, ever.

What if something goes wrong on the new host?

The old host stays live and untouched until cutover is verified. If anything is off, we revert DNS — typical rollback is under 10 minutes. Because we lowered TTL first, the rollback propagates fast.

Do you handle domain changes and full URL rewrites?

Yes. Domain changes require a proper serialized-data search-replace (WP-CLI or Better Search Replace) — not naive SQL, which corrupts serialized plugin/theme settings. We also install 301 redirects at web-server level for the old domain.

Which hosts do you recommend after migration?

For most WordPress sites: Cloudways, Hostinger Cloud, or Kinsta depending on budget. For WooCommerce and high-traffic sites: WP Engine, Kinsta, or a tuned DigitalOcean stack behind Cloudflare. We are not affiliated with any host — the recommendation is based on your workload.

Ready to migrate?

Send your current site URL and target host on WhatsApp for a free 10-minute inventory. We’ll quote a fixed price and a cutover window — no obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you want to know about WordPress Website Migration

Straight answers. No fluff. Click any question to expand.

• Will my site experience downtime during the migration? +

  • No — we stage the migration, verify it, then flip DNS.
  • Live site keeps serving until the new host is fully tested.
  • Typical visible downtime: under 5 minutes (DNS TTL).
• Are emails, databases, and media files migrated too? +

  • Yes — full stack: files, database, media library, users, and settings.
  • Email accounts (cPanel/Plesk) are re-created with matching passwords.
  • DNS records (MX, SPF, DKIM) migrated so mail keeps flowing.
• Do I need to buy the new hosting first? +

  • You buy the hosting; we handle everything after that.
  • We can also recommend a host based on your traffic and budget.
  • SSL is re-issued (free Let's Encrypt or paid, your choice).
• Will my SEO rankings be affected? +

  • No — URLs, redirects, and canonical tags are preserved.
  • We keep the same permalink structure and 301 any changed URLs.
  • Search Console + Analytics are re-verified on the new host.
• How long does the migration take? +

  • Small sites: 2–6 hours. Large stores: 12–24 hours.
  • You get a status link with live progress updates.

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