Migrating a website from Wix to Wordpress is a strategic move for those seeking greater flexibility, lower long-term costs, and better SEO performance. While Wix offers a user-friendly visual editor, its limitations can hinder your website’s growth. Moving to WordPress gives you full control over functionality, design, and content.
Why Migrate from Wix to WordPress?
Wix is a great platform for beginners who want to quickly create a website without technical knowledge. However, if you need advanced features, better SEO, and full website control, WordPress is the better choice. Key reasons for migrating include:
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Greater control and customization – WordPress allows for code modifications, plugin installations, and unlimited design flexibility.
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Better SEO performance – Wix has limited SEO options, whereas WordPress provides advanced SEO tools.
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Lower long-term costs – Wix requires ongoing monthly payments, while WordPress only requires hosting and a domain.
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Unlimited expansion – Create e-commerce stores, membership sites, automation, and other functionalities using thousands of plugins.
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More hosting choices – You can select a hosting provider based on performance and cost.
Step 1: Backing Up Your Wix Content
Wix does not offer a direct export option, so you need to migrate everything manually. Follow these steps:
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Copy all text content – Manually copy and paste your pages and blog posts into a document.
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Download images – Right-click on images and save them to your computer.
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Record URL structures – Keep track of your site’s structure for SEO-friendly redirects.
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Backup forms and interactive elements – Identify alternatives for these features in WordPress.
Step 2: Choose a Hosting Provider and Install WordPress
Unlike Wix, where hosting is included, WordPress requires separate hosting.
Step 3: Selecting a WordPress Theme
Since Wix offers a visual editor, you may prefer a similar experience in WordPress. Recommended themes:
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Elementor (Pro or Free) – A powerful drag-and-drop page builder.
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Divi – A premium theme with an integrated visual editor.
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Astra or GeneratePress – Fast, lightweight, and SEO-friendly themes.
Step 4: Transferring Content from Wix to WordPress
Because Wix does not allow direct content export, you need to migrate manually or use third-party tools:
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Import text content – Manually create pages and posts in WordPress.
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Upload images – Add them to the WordPress Media Library.
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Recreate contact forms – Use plugins like Contact Form 7 or WPForms.
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Set up menus and links – Ensure navigation matches your original site structure.
Step 5: Configuring URL Structure and SEO Optimization
A platform migration can affect SEO rankings, so it’s important to maintain URL integrity. If you must change URLs, use 301 redirects via the Redirection plugin.
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Use an SEO plugin (Yoast SEO or Rank Math) – Optimize your site for search engines.
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Verify indexing – Submit your new site to Google Search Console.
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Generate and submit an XML sitemap – Helps Google index your new site faster.
Step 6: Testing and Launching Your New WordPress Site
Before launching your WordPress site, ensure everything works correctly:
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Check links and functionality – Click through your website to identify any errors.
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Test loading speed – Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.
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Redirect your domain to new hosting – Update DNS settings with your domain registrar.
Migrating from Wix to WordPress requires manual effort but provides significant benefits:
Lower long-term costs – No more monthly subscription fees.
Better SEO – More optimization options and faster indexing.
Greater customization – Expand functionality with thousands of plugins.
Full website control – No design or feature limitations.
If you’re unsure about handling the migration yourself, consider hiring professionals to ensure a seamless transition to WordPress.