How much does a website migration cost?
A website migration costs anywhere from nothing, for a simple WordPress host-to-host move handled by the new host or a plugin, to roughly $500–$2,500 for a small site moved professionally, $2,500–$7,000 for a business site with an active blog, and $7,000–$20,000 or more for a large content site or WooCommerce store. Moving from Wix, Squarespace or Shopify costs more than a WordPress-to-WordPress move, because the site has to be rebuilt rather than copied.
Those ranges come from our WordPress migration cost breakdown, which builds them from published freelance and agency rates. The estimator above prices your own move from an illustrative agency rate card: a base price for the platform you're leaving, plus pages, store size, traffic and integrations.
What does the estimator return for common moves?
These are the estimator's own results. Run your numbers above for the full breakdown.
| Move | Estimated cost | Timeline | Expected downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-page WordPress site to a new host, under 1,000 visitors a month | $700–$1,000 | 2–4 days | Under 15 minutes |
| 60-page WordPress site to a new host, 5,000 visitors a month | $1,200–$1,800 | 4–7 days | Under 15 minutes |
| 40-page Squarespace site to WordPress, 5,000 visitors a month | $1,650–$2,450 | 6–10 days | Under 15 minutes |
| 40-page Wix site to WordPress, 5,000 visitors a month | $1,900–$2,850 | 6–11 days | Under 15 minutes |
| Shopify store with 300 products to WooCommerce, 20,000 visitors a month | $4,300–$6,300 | 13–22 days | 15–60 minutes with checkout paused |
| 120-page custom site with integrations to WordPress, 20,000 visitors a month | $5,200–$7,650 | 14–25 days | A planned 1–3 hour window |
Why does the platform you're leaving matter so much?
A WordPress-to-WordPress move copies files and a database, so the content structure carries straight over. Every other platform needs its content re-mapped into WordPress:
- Wix can't export a site at all. Wix says sites must run on Wix's servers, so pages and design are rebuilt by hand and blog posts come across in pieces. Our Wix to WordPress guide lists what you can and can't export, and Wix vs WordPress helps if you're still deciding whether to move.
- Squarespace exports a WordPress-format file, but it leaves out store pages, products, drafts and styling.
- Shopify stores carry products, customers and orders, and each needs mapping into WooCommerce and testing at checkout.
- Custom sites are the least predictable, because nobody knows what's underneath until someone looks.
Should you use a migration plugin or hire someone?
For a straightforward WordPress site moving between hosts, a plugin is often enough. Duplicator has a free version and paid plans under $100 a year, and many hosts include a free migration with a new plan. Hire help when any of these apply:
| Situation | Why a plugin alone falls short |
|---|---|
| You're leaving Wix, Squarespace or Shopify | There's no WordPress site to copy; it has to be rebuilt |
| You run a WooCommerce store | Orders placed during the move have to be synced, and checkout re-tested |
| URLs are changing | Every old URL needs a 301 redirect, or you lose rankings and backlinks |
| You have custom code or integrations | Each one needs checking on the new server |
| The site brings in real revenue | A failed cutover costs more than the migration fee |
A free host migration usually covers the files and database. It rarely covers redirect mapping, plugin conflicts or a full test pass. For a brochure site that's fine; for a store, budget for help.
How long does a website migration take, and how much downtime is there?
The estimator's timelines run from a few days for a small WordPress move to three or four weeks for a large store or custom rebuild. Most of that time is building and testing on a staging copy while the old site stays live, so the actual switch is short:
- Most sites: under 15 minutes, because the switch is a DNS change to a site that's already tested.
- WooCommerce stores: 15–60 minutes with checkout paused while the last orders and customers sync.
- Sites with integrations: a planned 1–3 hour window at your quietest time.
DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to reach everyone, but the old site keeps serving visitors until they do. How long WordPress migration downtime lasts explains how to keep it to minutes.
How do you migrate without losing SEO?
Google's guidance on site moves with URL changes comes down to mapping every old URL to a new one, using permanent server-side redirects, keeping them for at least a year and submitting the new sitemap. Google says it can take a few weeks for most pages of a small or medium site to settle. Migrating WordPress without losing SEO covers the details, and the 15-step migration checklist puts them in launch-day order.
What costs sit outside the migration fee?
Budget separately for the new hosting plan (the hosting cost calculator sizes it), any theme or design changes, and someone's time to check every page after launch. If you're changing the design at the same time, you're really pricing a redesign: see website redesign cost.
If you'd like us to quote the move, enter your email under your estimate.
