What Is Website Migration?
Moving your website to a new host doesn't have to be stressful. This guide explains what website migration is, when it makes sense, how to do it without downtime, and which UK hosts will do it for free.
Website Migration in One Sentence
Website migration is the process of moving a website — its files, databases, emails, and configuration — from one hosting environment to another. Think of it like moving house: you pack everything up, transport it to the new address, test that the lights and plumbing work, then redirect your post.
How Does Website Migration Work?
Four steps, whether you do it yourself or your new host handles it for you.
💡 Think of it like…
Moving house. You pack boxes (backup), hire a removal van (transfer files), get the keys and check everything works in the new place (test), then redirect your post to the new address (update DNS). You keep the old keys until all your post arrives at the new address.
Step 1: Back up everything
Before touching anything, you create a full backup of your website files, databases, emails, and DNS settings. This is your safety net — if anything goes wrong, you can restore your site exactly as it was.
Step 2: Copy files and databases to the new host
Your website files are transferred to the new server — typically via SFTP, a migration plugin, or the new host's migration tool. Databases are exported from the old server and imported into the new one. For WordPress sites, plugins like Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration make this nearly one-click.
Step 3: Test on the new server before going live
Using a temporary URL or hosts-file trick, you preview your site on the new server to check everything works — pages load, forms submit, images display, and emails send. You fix any issues while your live site still runs on the old host.
Step 4: Update DNS and go live
Once you're happy, you update your domain's DNS records to point to the new host. DNS changes propagate across the internet over 24–48 hours. During this window, some visitors may still hit the old server — which is why you keep the old account active until propagation completes.
Types of Website Migration
Not all migrations are equal. Here are the four main types and how complex each one is.
Host-to-Host Migration
Most common
Moving your entire website from one hosting provider to another. Your domain stays the same — only the servers change. This is what most people mean by "website migration."
Examples: Switching from Bluehost to SiteGround, upgrading from shared to VPS at a new provider
Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
Platform Migration
CMS or builder change
Changing the underlying technology your site runs on — for example, moving from Wix or Squarespace to WordPress, or from WordPress to Shopify. Content, URLs, and design all need to be rebuilt or converted.
Examples: Wix to WordPress, WordPress to Shopify, custom PHP to Next.js
Difficulty: Moderate–Hard
Domain Migration
URL change
Changing your domain name (e.g., old-brand.co.uk to new-brand.co.uk) while potentially keeping the same host. Requires careful 301 redirect mapping to preserve SEO rankings and avoid broken links.
Examples: Rebranding, moving from .com to .co.uk, merging two domains
Difficulty: Moderate
Server-Type Upgrade
Same or new host
Moving from one hosting type to another — typically shared to VPS, or VPS to dedicated/cloud. Can happen within the same provider or as part of a host change. Usually involves some reconfiguration.
Examples: Shared to VPS, VPS to cloud, managed shared to managed cloud
Difficulty: Easy (same host) – Moderate (new host)
Pros & Cons of Migrating Your Website
Reasons to Migrate
Better performance and speed
A faster server means quicker page loads. If your current host is sluggish, migrating to a provider with modern infrastructure, SSD storage, and UK data centres can cut load times dramatically.
Lower costs or better value
Renewal price shock is the #1 reason sites migrate. Moving lets you lock in competitive intro pricing elsewhere, or get more resources (storage, bandwidth, support) for the same budget.
Superior support
Tired of waiting 45 minutes for live chat? Many hosts offer faster, more knowledgeable support. Migrating to a provider with 24/7 UK-based phone support can save hours of frustration.
Room to grow
If your site is hitting resource limits, migrating to a host with more scalable infrastructure (VPS, cloud, or managed plans) gives you headroom without rebuilding from scratch.
Better security and compliance
Not all hosts offer free SSL, automatic malware scanning, or GDPR-compliant UK data centres. Migrating can close security gaps and give you peace of mind.
Access to modern features
Staging environments, Git deployment, automatic backups, CDN integration, HTTP/3 — many older or budget hosts lack features that modern providers include by default.
Risks & Downsides
Risk of temporary downtime
DNS propagation takes 24–48 hours. While most visitors switch seamlessly, there's a window where some traffic may still hit the old server. Poor planning can extend this disruption.
Email disruption
If your email is tied to your hosting (e.g., [email protected]), migration can cause email gaps. Messages sent during DNS propagation might arrive at the old or new server unpredictably.
Potential data loss
Without a proper backup, files or database entries added between the backup and DNS switch can be lost. Dynamic sites (e-commerce stores, forums) need extra care to avoid missing orders or posts.
SEO risk if done incorrectly
Changing URLs without 301 redirects, losing SSL certificates, or suffering extended downtime can hurt your search rankings. Google re-crawls take days to weeks to recover.
Time and effort required
Even with a free migration service, you still need to test, verify, update DNS, check emails, and troubleshoot. Budget a few hours minimum for a simple site, or days for complex setups.
Learning a new control panel
Every host has its own dashboard — cPanel, Plesk, custom panels, or cloud consoles. There's always an adjustment period learning where settings, backups, and email management live.
When Should You Migrate?
Time to Move
Renewal prices doubled
Your intro deal expired and the hosting bill jumped from £3/mo to £12/mo. Time to shop around.
Slow site despite optimisation
You've compressed images, cached pages, and minimised code — but the server is still the bottleneck.
Support is unreachable
Tickets take days, live chat queues are 30+ minutes, and phone support doesn't exist.
Outages are becoming regular
You've had multiple unexpected downtimes in the past few months and your host blames "server maintenance."
You've outgrown shared hosting
Your site gets 50,000+ monthly visitors and you need VPS or cloud resources to handle the load.
Missing critical features
No staging, no automatic backups, no free SSL, no UK data centre — your host is stuck in 2015.
Wait — Don't Rush
Your site is brand new
If you launched last week, give your current host a chance. Migration adds complexity you don't need yet.
A minor issue can be resolved
A slow page or one support ticket doesn't justify full migration — escalate first.
You're mid-campaign or launch
Don't migrate during a product launch, peak sales season, or marketing campaign. Wait for a quiet period.
You don't have a backup plan
If you can't create a full backup or don't know how, get help before attempting migration.
The Website Migration Checklist
Follow these 8 steps in order to minimise risk and avoid downtime.
Full backup created
Download a complete backup of files, databases, and emails. Store it locally AND in cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox).
New hosting account set up
Purchase and configure your new hosting plan. Don't cancel the old account yet — you'll need it during the transition.
Files and databases transferred
Use SFTP, a migration plugin, or the new host's migration tool to copy everything across.
Email accounts recreated
Set up matching email addresses on the new server. Forward old accounts during transition.
SSL certificate installed
Ensure HTTPS works on the new server before switching DNS. Most hosts offer free Let's Encrypt SSL.
Test on temporary URL
Preview the site using the new host's staging URL or by editing your local hosts file. Check every critical page.
DNS records updated
Point your domain's A record (and any other records) to the new host's IP. Lower TTL 24 hours before to speed propagation.
Post-migration verification
After DNS propagates, check: pages load, SSL works, forms submit, emails send/receive, redirects work, analytics tracking fires.
UK Provider Migration Support
Many UK hosts will migrate your site for free. Here's what each provider offers.
| Provider | Free Transfers | Method | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiteGround | 1 free (plugin-assisted) | SG Migrator plugin | WordPress sites only for free migration |
| Kinsta | Unlimited free | Managed by Kinsta engineers | WordPress only; standard & complex migrations |
| Cloudways | 1 free | Cloudways WordPress Migrator | WordPress only; additional migrations from £25 |
| IONOS | 1 free (on managed plans) | IONOS migration service | Must request via support ticket |
| Bluehost | 1 free (basic) or £99 full | Migration team | Free covers 1 site; complex sites charged |
| DreamHost | Free via plugin | DreamHost Automated Migration | WordPress only; manual migrations extra |
| Fasthosts | No free migration | Self-service only | Provide cPanel access for manual move |
| HostArmada | Unlimited free | HostArmada migration team | All plan types; usually completed within 24 hours |
💡 Tip: Even hosts that don't offer free migration often have detailed migration guides in their knowledge base. Always check your new host's documentation before paying for a third-party migration service.
Related Guides
Website Migration — Frequently Asked Questions
How long does website migration take?
Will my website go down during migration?
Can I migrate my website myself, or do I need a professional?
Will migration affect my SEO rankings?
What about my emails — will they be affected?
How do I migrate a WordPress site specifically?
Do I need to transfer my domain as well?
What is DNS propagation and why does it take so long?
What should I do if something goes wrong during migration?
Is it worth paying for a managed migration service?
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Last updated April 2026 · Based on testing of 23 UK hosting providers · Written for beginners · Affiliate disclosure