Searches for WordPress migration jumped again this week, and no wonder: hosting prices keep shifting, and slow servers cost rankings. The good news? Moving a WordPress site in 2026 is far easier than its reputation suggests. In this guide, we cover three proven migration methods and the checklist that keeps your site online during the move.

Before you migrate: a ten-minute checklist

First, take a full backup of files and database, and store it off the server. Next, write down your current PHP version, because a host running an older PHP can break a modern theme. Then check what your site actually runs with our free WordPress Theme Detector, and update the theme, plugins and core. A clean, updated site migrates with far fewer surprises. Finally, lower your domain’s DNS TTL to 300 seconds a day in advance, so the switchover propagates quickly.

Method 1: migrate with a plugin

For most people, this is the answer. Duplicator (1+ million installs, already tested up to WordPress 7.1) packages your entire site into a single archive plus an installer script. You upload both to the new server, open the installer in a browser, and the wizard rebuilds the database and rewrites the URLs for you. In addition, All-in-One WP Migration and UpdraftPlus offer the same idea with different limits on file size. For a typical site under a few gigabytes, the whole move takes under an hour.

Method 2: let your new host do it

Here is the option people forget: most quality WordPress hosts now migrate your site for free when you sign up. Typically you submit your old login details, and their team or automated tool moves everything within a day. Consequently, this is the safest route for beginners, because someone else owns the tricky parts. If you are switching hosts anyway, compare our WordPress hosting picks – free migration is now a standard checkbox worth demanding.

Method 3: manual migration for full control

Large stores and locked-down sites sometimes need the old-school route. In short: export the database with phpMyAdmin or WP-CLI, copy the wp-content folder over SFTP, import both on the new server, and update wp-config.php with the new credentials. After that, run a search-and-replace for the old URL – WP-CLI’s wp search-replace handles serialized data correctly, which a raw SQL replace does not. This method has no size limits and no plugin overhead, but every step is on you.

After the move: DNS, SSL and final checks

Point your domain’s DNS to the new server only after the site works on a temporary URL. Then issue a fresh SSL certificate, and force HTTPS before you test. Next, open the permalinks settings and click Save once, which rebuilds the rewrite rules. Finally, click through your forms, your checkout and your search, and watch the error log for a day. If you migrated to escape a slow theme rather than a slow host, consider whether a custom-built theme would fix the real problem. And if you have not updated core in a while, see what changed in WordPress 7.1 before you jump two versions at once.

Updated on August 31, 2026 by Miloš Novaković in Blog, Guides.

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