Wix to WordPress migration – Let’s be honest, Wix is great when you’re just starting out. It’s simple, beginner-friendly, and lets you build a website fast. But as your site grows, so do the headaches.
Suddenly, your Wix templates feel restrictive, your search engine rankings aren’t improving, and you realize you don’t have full control over your website. Sound familiar? If so, it’s time for an upgrade.
Migrating to the WordPress platform isn’t just a smart move—it’s a game-changer. Unlike Wix, WordPress gives you complete customization, full SEO control, and access to thousands of plugins to optimize your site. We get it—website migration sounds intimidating. But here’s the good news: most hosting providers offer a one-click install, and we’ll guide you through every step of the process.
And don’t worry about losing your hard work—whether you choose to automatically migrate or manually import your data, we’ll show you how to secure everything, including your Wix store, blog posts, and pages.
If you’re ready to stop feeling boxed in by Wix and start unlocking the full potential of your website, let’s dive into the ultimate Wix to WordPress migration guide for 2025—because your website deserves better.
What are the Major Benefits of Migrating from Wix to WordPress
Let’s see some of the main reasons you should migrate to WordPress from Wix:
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Flexibility and Customization
Wix gives you templates, but customization is restricted. You’re stuck with their design limitations and can’t modify the HTML code freely.
With WordPress, you get unmatched flexibility. You can choose from thousands of premium themes, install powerful plugins, and even switch templates without hassle. Whether you’re running a blog, an online store, or a portfolio, WordPress lets you design it your way.
Ownership and Control
With Wix, you’re basically renting space. You don’t truly own your site, and if Wix changes its rules, you have to follow them.
On WordPress, you own everything. Your website content, design, and functionality are all under your control. Once you purchase web hosting from a new hosting provider, you can manually migrate your site, customize it however you want, and move it anywhere in the future.
Learn More: What is White Label Hosting?
Scalability for Growth
As your site grows, so do your needs. A Wix site might be fine initially, but adding advanced features can become frustrating.
WordPress is built to scale. You can add unlimited pages, products, or functionalities without limitations. Whether you need an online store, a want to create a membership site, or a portfolio, WordPress adapts to your business.
Better SEO Optimization
Wix has basic SEO tools, but WordPress takes it to another level. You can fully optimize meta descriptions, URLs, and images while using powerful SEO plugins like AIO SEO.
You can also redirect Wix URLs properly to maintain your search engine rankings. This means better visibility on Google and more organic traffic to your site.
Stronger Data Security
With Wix, your site’s security is entirely in their hands. If they have an issue, your site could be affected.
WordPress gives you control over data security. With the right web hosting provider, you get automatic backups, SSL certificates, and extra security measures to keep your site safe.
Easier Website Management
Migrating your old Wix website might seem tricky, but once your full migration is done, WordPress makes management easy.
You can manually import your content, set up a custom domain name, integrate Google Analytics, and have full access to powerful tools that Wix doesn’t offer.
Learn More: Google Analytics Alternatives
Essential Preparations Before Migrating
Embarking on the journey to migrate from Wix to WordPress requires careful planning to avoid hiccups and ensure a smooth transition. Preparing in advance not only saves time but also helps you leverage WordPress’s capabilities right from the start.
Audit Your Existing Website
Before migration, conduct a thorough audit of your Wix site. Identify essential pages, blog posts, media files, and functionalities you want to carry over. Note any elements that may need redesigning or updating in WordPress.
Choose the Right Hosting Provider
WordPress requires a hosting provider, unlike Wix’s built-in hosting. Opt for a reliable hosting service that offers fast loading speeds, scalability, and robust security. Managed WordPress hosting providers like DreamHost or Kinsta are excellent choices.
Decide on Themes and Plugins
Explore WordPress themes and plugins before migrating. Whether you want to replicate your Wix design or upgrade to a new look, choosing a theme in advance streamlines the process. Plugins for SEO, forms, and backups should also be identified early.
Back Up Your Wix Content
Even though the migration process involves exporting data, it’s always wise to back up your Wix content. Save your text, images, and videos locally to avoid data loss during the transfer.
Familiarize Yourself with WordPress
Spend some time understanding WordPress basics, like navigating the dashboard, creating posts and pages, and managing plugins. This will make it easier to adjust to the new platform post-migration.
By preparing thoroughly, you can avoid unexpected obstacles and set the stage for a seamless migration process that unlocks the full potential of WordPress.
Check Out: Reasons to Avoid Cheap WordPress Hosting
Step-by-Step Wix to WordPress Migration
In this first phase of the migration process, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know to transfer your content to WordPress. This involves securing a domain and hosting services, installing WordPress, and importing your pages from your Wix site to WordPress. Let’s get started!
Buy a Domain Name and Hosting
Before you can start building your WordPress site, you need to purchase a web host and domain name. Your domain name is the unique web address that visitors will use to find your site, and your hosting provider is the service that stores your website files and makes them available to the internet.
WordPress is a self-hosting platform, meaning you will have to invest in managed web hosting & domain name. Take your time while choosing a hosting platform.
Here are some of the best WordPress hosting providers you can consider:
Other Key steps to follow:
Register or Connect Your Domain: If you already own a domain, you can connect it to your new WordPress hosting by updating the DNS settings to point to your new host.
Transferring Your Domain to WordPress: If you prefer WordPress to manage your domain entirely, you can transfer it by unlocking it from your current provider and using the special authorization code provided.
Set Up DNS Records: Configure DNS records to ensure your domain correctly points to your new WordPress site. This setup helps with website accessibility, emails, and other services.
Manage Your Domain in WordPress: If you transfer your domain, you can handle renewals, SSL certificates, email accounts, subdomains, and other settings directly from your WordPress dashboard.
Troubleshoot Common Issues: If your domain isn’t connecting properly, check for DNS propagation delays, incorrect settings, or expired domain renewals. You can use online tools to diagnose the issue or contact your domain registrar or hosting provider for assistance.
Once your domain is correctly set up, you’re ready to move forward with building your WordPress website!
WordPress Site Set Up
Now that you have a secure domain and a new hosting provider, it’s time to set up your new WordPress site to get started with migration.
Follow these steps for WordPress installation and customizing your site to your liking for an amazing migration.
Know more: Best WordPress Maintenance Service Providers
Install WordPress & Set Up Your Site
After you install WordPress, log in to your WordPress admin panel by adding wp-admin ahead of the domain name.
Customize Your Site
After successfully installing WordPress, you can customize it as you wish. There are a variety of themes and WordPress plugins to help you customize every aspect of your website. You can easily install a WordPress theme for your website from the WordPress directory.
To get started, go to Appearance -> Themes -> Add New.
You can edit each element on your page and experiment with them without touching a line of code, making it easier to adapt as a new WordPress user.
Related: Fastest WordPress Themes with PageSpeed Data
Transfer Your Content Using RSS
Now it’s time to transfer your content. Wix doesn’t easily allow the migration of content from Wix account to WordPress. But, no worries, we have simplified the steps to transferring Wix content to WordPress.
Download the Wix RSS Feed
To get started, download your Wix RSS feed file by adding /feed.xml or /blog-feed.xml to your Wix website URL. This will generate an RSS page containing all your blog content in a code format.
Steps to Save the RSS Feed: You will see a full page of code. Right-click anywhere on the page and click the File Button or save option to download the file. If the file is saving with a .txt file extension, make sure to rename it to .xml before saving it. This step is crucial to ensure the RSS file works properly in WordPress.
Importing the RSS File into WordPress
1. Navigate to Tools -> Import, then click the Install Now link under the RSS heading to set up the importer tool.
2. Save the RSS feed as an XML file.
3. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
Uploading the RSS Feed
After the importer tool is installed, click on the Run RSS Importer option.
- Select the saved RSS file by clicking the File RSS Button in the upload field.
- Click on Upload file and import to start the process.
A confirmation message will appear once the upload and import are complete. You can now view the transferred blog posts by clicking on the Posts section in your WordPress dashboard.
Important Notes
- The RSS migration only transfers blog posts.
- To transfer site content beyond blog posts, such as pages, you’ll need to build those pages manually.
- Ensure your Permalink Settings in WordPress are properly configured for the imported content to display correctly.
Using the RSS import method is a straightforward way to transfer blog content while maintaining the structure and links of your original posts.
Migrate Your Images
Transferring images from Wix to WordPress requires a separate process, as RSS import does not automatically migrate media files. Follow these steps to ensure your images are successfully moved to your new WordPress website.
Download Images from Wix
Since Wix does not provide a direct export feature for images, you’ll need to manually download them:
- Visit your Wix website and navigate to the pages containing your images.
- Right-click on each image and select “Save Image As” to download it to your computer.
- Organize your images into folders to keep them structured before uploading them to WordPress.
Upload Images to WordPress
Once your images are downloaded, upload them to WordPress:
- Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Media > Library.
- Click the Add New button and select all the images you saved.
- WordPress will upload and store these images, making them available for use in your posts and pages.
Update Image URLs in Blog Posts
Since RSS import only transfers text content, the images in your blog posts may still be hosted on Wix. To fix this:
- Manually replace images by editing each blog post and adding the newly uploaded images.
- Use the Auto Upload Images plugin to automatically fetch and upload external images to your WordPress Media Library.
- If needed, update image URLs in the database using the Better Search Replace plugin to ensure they point to your new WordPress-hosted images.
By following these steps, you can ensure all images from your Wix site are successfully migrated to your new WordPress website, maintaining a visually appealing and fully functional site.
Import Your Pages from Wix to WordPress
After getting done with the blog posts, it’s time to import your pages.
There is no automated way to do this, so you must recreate all your pages manually by copy-pasting.
- Once you have activated Elementor, go to pages -> Add new -> Edit with Elementor.
- Open your Wix website, and copy the page. Next, head up to WordPress dashboard, click on pages, then Add new.
- Now, paste the copied content from Wix to this page on WordPress. You have to do the same for all the Wix page.
- If you wish to design the pages, you can use a drag-and-drop page builder like Elementor, which helps you with page layout and design.
- To download Elementor, go to Plugins -> Add New -> Elementor -> install -> activate.
- Once you have activated Elementor, go to pages -> Add new -> Edit with Elementor.
You can use elementor to recreate the same page in WordPress as it was in Wix. On the left, there are many widgets you can drag and drop to the page to build your dream design.
Elementor is one of the most popular page builders and has excellent features which are easy to use for even a beginner. It also has a premium version, which gives you access to all the locked features. The premium version costs around $49/year.
Related: How to Add Custom CSS in Elementor?
Steps after Migrating to WordPress
Congratulations on the successful migration. Now that your content has been transferred and your new WordPress site is up and running, it’s time to take care of some post-migration steps.
Creating WordPress Menu
A navigation menu helps users explore your website easily. It also adds to a good user experience. Here’s how you add a navigation bar.
- Go to WordPress admin dashboard -> Appearance -> Menus.
- Now, give the menu a name & click on create menu.
On the left, you can see ‘Menu Items’; select the pages you want to be shown in the navigation menu. Click on the ‘Save menu’ once done.
You can also choose the display location of the menu in the menu settings below. You will be presented with different menu location settings based on the selected theme.
Related: What Is Mega Menu?
Website Redirection: Wix to WordPress
Now that migration is complete, you must be wondering why redirecting my site is important.
Well, If someone is using the old Wix URL of your website, redirection makes sure that they end up on your new WordPress site. It also helps to sustain the backlinks you have gained from your old Wix site to the new WordPress site.
Now let’s jump on how to redirect the Wix website to WordPress website.
Note: You cannot redirect your Wix to WordPress if you are using the Wix subdomain.
- First, open notepad on your laptop/pc and copy this code (without quotes):
“var hashesarr = {
“#!about/ghit7”:’/about-us/‘,
“#!contact-us/fe37”:’/contact/’,
“#!dog-article/c6hg”:’/dog-article/’
};
for (var hash in hashesarr) {
var patt = new RegExp(hash);
if (window.location.hash.match(patt) !== null) {
window.location.href = hashesarr[hash];
}
}”
We have added 3 example URLs in the following format:
“#!about-us/c1it7”:’/about/’,
The first part of the string, #!about/ghit7, is to be replaced with your old Wix domain name or URL, and the second part, /about-us/, with the URL of the new WordPress page.
- Now you have to do this manually for each page of the website.
- Once you are finished with the entire process, save this file as redirects.js.
- Next, upload this file to your public_html/wp-admin/js directory on your website’s server.
- You can use the File Manager on your web hosting account or an FTP client to upload the file.
Lastly, edit your theme’s functions.php file (Appearance -> Theme editor -> Theme functions) and add this code at the bottom of the file (without quotes).
“function wpb_wixjs () {
wp_enqueue_script( ‘wixredirect’, get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . ‘/js/redirects.js’, array(), ‘1.0.0’, true);
}
add_action(‘wp_enqueue_scripts’, ‘wpb_wixjs’);”
Save changes. And finally, the redirection also has been done. You can try it for yourself if it works. Type in your old URL and see if the redirection worked.
Related:
- How to Avoid Multiple Page Redirects?
- What Is 301 Redirect?
- How to Redirect 404 Page to the Home Page in WordPress?
WordPress vs Wix Infographic: Quick Summary
Adding Essential WordPress Plugins
To get the most out of your new WordPress site from migration, it’s essential to add the right plugins. Plugins are third-party tools that can help you optimize your new site for search engines, track your site’s performance, and more. Here are some essential plugins you would need on your new WordPress site:
AIOSEO
AIOSEO (All in One SEO) is a powerful WordPress plugin designed to simplify search engine optimization (SEO) for your website. It’s user-friendly, making it accessible even if you’re not an SEO expert.
What It Helps Achieve:
Improved Search Rankings: Optimizes your site to rank higher on search engines like Google, driving more organic traffic.
Content Optimization: Provides tools and suggestions to optimize your content for targeted keywords, ensuring better visibility.
Technical SEO: Handles complex SEO tasks like generating XML sitemaps, adding meta tags, and managing redirects, making sure your site meets search engine standards.
On-Page SEO Analysis: Offers a comprehensive analysis of your pages and posts, highlighting areas for improvement to boost your SEO efforts.
Local SEO: Enhances your site’s local SEO, helping your business show up in local search results and Google Maps.
Related: Best WordPress AI Themes
Learn SEO with Seahawk SEO blogs & SEO glossary
Google Analytics
After successfully migrating, you should know there’s a powerful tool that helps you decode your audiences’ behavior. If you’re looking to better understand your website’s traffic and user behavior, there’s no better tool than Google Analytics. This powerful plugin allows you to track your site’s performance, monitor your visitors’ behavior, and gain valuable insights into your audience’s preferences and interests.
With features like real-time analytics, custom reports, and audience segmentation, Google Analytics is an essential tool for any website owner looking to optimize their site and maximize their online impact.
Might Help: How to Add Google Analytics to Your WordPress Site?
These posts will help you further with plugins:
- WordPress Image Optimization Plugins
- Best WordPress Live Chat Plugins
- Best WordPress SEO Plugins
- WordPress Backup Plugins
- Best WordPress Contact Form Plugins
- Best Redirect Plugins For WordPress
Common Challenges When Migrating
If you are new to migrating from Wix to WordPress, there are some common challenges that you might face:
Lack of Automated Tools
Wix does not provide an easy way to export content, so migrating content requires a lot of manual effort. This includes downloading the Wix RSS feed file, copying and pasting content from Wix pages to WordPress pages, and manually recreating pages in WordPress.
Preserving SEO
Maintaining your SEO is a hectic task when migrating. Migrating from Wix to WordPress can significantly impact SEO, as Wix does not provide the same level of SEO customization as WordPress.
This means that users may need to take additional steps to preserve their SEO rankings during migration.
Learning Curve
WordPress has a relatively higher learning curve than Wix, especially regarding customization and plugin management. This means that users may need to invest time in learning how to use WordPress and its features.
Adapting to the WordPress Interface
When sifting to another platform, users must be ready for environmental changes. The interface of WordPress is different from Wix, and users may need to spend time adapting to the WordPress interface and learning how to use its features.
Managing Technical Aspects
Migrating to WordPress from Wix can be challenging from a technical point of view. Users need to be well-versed in managing redirects, setting up mail servers, and integrating with third-party services.
Website Layout
Remember, when migrating from Wix to WordPress may require a website redesign. This can be because the page builder plugins in WordPress may not have the same level of flexibility as Wix.
Mail Server Integration
Wix needs a mail server, which can be challenging when integrating with third-party mail services like Google Suite. Here, users may need to take additional steps to ensure that their contact forms and mail servers are properly integrated.
While these challenges can pose difficulty for users in the initial phase, it’s also easy to overcome them by investing some time in learning how to use WordPress and its features. One must also take additional steps to preserve SEO and manage technical aspects of the migration process.
At Seahawk, we offer professional help, especially when it comes to complex tech aspects of the migration process. Contact us today!
Performance and Speed Optimization Tips after Migration
You’ve moved to WordPress from Wix successfully but now your site might feel a bit sluggish. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Here are five easy-to-follow tips to speed up your new WordPress site:
- Clean up your plugins – less is more for a faster website Take a good look at your plugins. Do you really need all of them? Each plugin adds code to your site, which can slow it down. Remove any you don’t use. For the ones you keep, make sure they’re up to date and from trusted sources. Sometimes, one well-made plugin can replace several others.
Also Check: Best WordPress Speed Optimization Plugins
- Pick a speedy, no-frills theme that gets the job done Fancy themes with lots of features can really bog down your site. Instead, go for a simple, lightweight theme. Look for themes that advertise fast loading times. Remember, you can always add features later if you need them. Start with the basics and build from there.
- Shrink your images so they load in a snap Big, high-resolution images look great but can really slow down your site. Use an image optimization tool to compress your images before uploading them. Aim for file sizes under 100KB if possible. Also, use the right file format – JPEGs for photos, PNGs for graphics with transparent backgrounds.
Read More: What Is Image Compression & Why It Matters?
- Set up a caching plugin to serve pages faster Caching creates a static version of your pages, so they don’t need to be generated from scratch each time someone visits. This can really speed things up. Popular options include W3 Total Cache and WP Super Cache. Just install one, turn it on, and you should see a speed boost right away.
- Spread your content globally with a Content Delivery Network A CDN stores copies of your site on servers around the world. When someone visits your site, they get the content from the server closest to them. This can really speed things up, especially if you have visitors from different countries. Cloudflare is a popular and easy-to-use option to get started with.
Post Migration Security Measures
Transitioning from Wix to WordPress opens up a world of customization and control, but it also comes with new security challenges. Unlike Wix, which is a closed ecosystem with built-in security measures, WordPress is an open-source platform.
This means while you have more flexibility and options, you also have more responsibility for securing your site. WordPress’s popularity makes it a common target for hackers, and without the right precautions, your site could be at risk.
Here are some key security measures to take:
- Lock down your login page like it’s Fort Knox: Set up two-factor authentication and limit login attempts. This makes it much harder for the bad guys to break in.
Also Read: How Do I Find My WordPress Login URL?
- Keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugins fresh as a daisy: Always update to the latest versions. Old software can have security holes that hackers love to exploit.
- Use a tough security plugin: Install a reputable security plugin. It’ll watch your site 24/7 and alert you to any fishy business.
- Back up your site more often: Regular backups are a lifesaver if something goes wrong. It’s like having a time machine for your website.
Discover More: Best WordPress Backup Plugins
- Choose a protective hosting provider: A good host will have built-in security features and expert support to help keep your site safe.
- Scan for malware regularly: Run regular malware scans to catch any nasties that might have snuck in.
- Use strong passwords: Create complex, unique passwords for all your accounts. A password manager can help with this.
Also Check: Learn How to Remove Malware from WordPress Site
Conclusion
Migrating from Wix to WordPress can be a heavy task, but not when we have explained the entire WordPress migration process step by step in a simplified manner.
In this post, we elaborated on the step-by-step migration process and how you can customize your new WordPress website. We provided you with two solutions for your migration. Either you can do it yourself or you can get help from professional WordPress Experts.
Nevertheless, we hope that this Wix to WordPress migration guide helps you in a seamless transition.
We offer various WordPress Conversion Services. Choosing to opt for a professional Wix to WordPress migration service? Contact us now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you transfer from Wix to WordPress?
Yes, you can transfer your website to WordPress from Wix. The process involves exporting your content from Wix and then importing it into your new WordPress site.
Can I use Wix with WordPress?
While you can’t directly integrate Wix and WordPress on the same website, you can use them separately for different purposes.
Can you combine the Wix site and WordPress?
Combining Wix and WordPress on a single site is not straightforward due to their different architectures. Choosing one platform for your new site is recommended to ensure consistency and ease of management.
Can I transfer my website from Wix?
Yes, you can transfer your website from Wix to another platform, such as WordPress. This process involves exporting your Wix pages, posts, and overall content, setting up a new WordPress site, and importing the content to ensure a smooth transition.
How long does it take to migrate from Wix to WordPress?
The timeline will take depends on the size of your existing Wix website, your current SEO settings, and your familiarity with the WordPress website.
Can I migrate any website to WordPress?
Yes, you can migrate any website to WordPress. Have a look at our site migration services:
XD to WordPress Migration
Figma to WordPress Migration
PSD to WordPress Migration
Sitecore to WordPress Migration
Is Wix or WordPress better?
WordPress is more than 40% of the internet, and its customization and flexibility are unmatched. Even in usability, WordPress hails the flag. Here’s our detailed analysis of Wix vs. WordPress for you to make the right choice for your business. We have done in-depth comparisons based on SEO, price, usability, design, support, etc.
Can I transfer my domain registration out of Wix?
Yes, you can easily transfer your domain out of Wix. All you have to do is log into your Wix account, go to the Domains tab, and click on the Transfer Domain button.
