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Quick Answer
To migrate a WordPress site, back up the files and the database, copy both to the new host, import the database, update the configuration file, test the copy, and only then point your domain’s DNS at the new server. You can do this yourself with a migration plugin or by hand. You can also hand the job to the host: as of October 2026, InterServer, Hostwinds and Cloudways each list free website migration on their official pages.
Key Takeaways
- A WordPress site has two parts to move: the files (themes, plugins, uploads) and the database (posts, pages, settings).
- DNS should change last, after you have tested the copy on the new host.
- InterServer states that its team handles the migration process (checked October 2026).
- Hostwinds lists Free Website Migration on its shared hosting page and sends instructions to preview the migrated site.
- Cloudways lists Free Managed Migration on its pricing page and offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card required.
What Gets Moved in a WordPress Migration
A WordPress migration moves two things: the site files and the database. The files include your theme, plugins and uploaded media. The database holds your posts, pages, comments, users and settings. A third item, your domain’s DNS, is not moved but redirected, so visitors reach the new server.
Step-by-Step: Migrate WordPress Yourself
The manual route works on any host and costs nothing beyond your time. Follow the order below, because skipping the test step is the most common way to cause downtime.
Step 1: Back Up Everything and Keep the Old Site Running
Make a full backup of the files and the database before you touch anything. Download it to your own computer, not only to the old host’s server. Keep the old hosting account active until the move is finished and tested, so you always have a working fallback.
Step 2: Prepare the New Hosting Account
Sign up for the new plan and note the temporary address or server IP the host gives you for testing. Confirm that the plan allows the number of domains you need. Hostwinds, for example, lists 1 domain on Basic, 4 domains on Advanced and no domain limit on its top shared tier (checked October 2026).
Create an empty database and a database user on the new host. Write down the database name, user name, password and host name.
Step 3: Copy the Files
Copy the whole WordPress folder to the new account. You can use FTP, SFTP, the control panel’s file manager, or a migration plugin that packages the site into one archive. Keep the folder structure identical, including the wp-content folder with your themes, plugins and uploads.
Step 4: Export and Import the Database
Export the database from the old host as a file, usually with phpMyAdmin or a command-line dump. Import that file into the empty database you created on the new host. Large databases can hit upload limits in a browser tool, in which case use the command line or ask the new host’s support to import it.
Step 5: Update wp-config.php
Open the wp-config.php file in the copied folder and enter the new database name, user, password and host. Leave everything else as it was. If the new host uses a different table prefix or folder path, adjust those values to match.
Step 6: Test Before You Switch DNS
Test the copied site on the new host before any DNS change. Many hosts give you a temporary URL, and you can also edit the hosts file on your own computer so your browser loads the new server while everyone else still sees the old one.
Check the following on the copy:
- Home page, a few posts and your most important pages load without errors.
- Images and media display, which confirms the uploads folder was copied.
- Forms send mail, and the login page works.
- Permalinks resolve. If posts return not-found errors, save the permalink settings again in the WordPress admin.
- Plugins that depend on a domain license or API key still work.
Step 7: Point DNS to the New Host
After the copy passes your checks, change the domain’s nameservers or its A record to the new host. DNS changes spread gradually, so some visitors will reach the old server for a while. Keep the old account running during this period and avoid publishing new posts or accepting orders on either copy until the change has spread.
If your domain is registered at the old host, you can leave the registration where it is and change only the DNS records. Moving the registration is a separate task. InterServer lists a domain registration or transfer price of $7.99 with any web hosting package (checked October 2026).
Step 8: Finish Up and Cancel the Old Plan
Once all traffic reaches the new server, install or confirm your SSL certificate, check that backups run on the new host, and test email. Cancel the old plan only after that. Read the old host’s cancellation terms first: InterServer’s terms of service, for instance, state that services must be cancelled at least three days before automatic renewal (checked October 2026).
Let the Host Move It: Providers That List Free Migration
Letting the host handle the move is the least risky option if you are not comfortable with databases and configuration files. Three providers in our research list free migration. Each describes it differently, so read the wording below.
| Provider | Migration claim | Entry price (checked October 2026) | Control panel |
|---|---|---|---|
| InterServer | Team handles the migration process | $2.50 first month, then $7 per month | DirectAdmin |
| Hostwinds | Free Website Migration on shared hosting | Basic from $6.99 per month | cPanel |
| Cloudways | Free Managed Migration | Managed cloud servers from $11 per month | Cloudways platform |
InterServer’s first-month price and its renewal price are both stated on its official web hosting page. Hostwinds and Cloudways publish no renewal price in our sheets, so check the current price on each pricing page before you pay.
InterServer
InterServer says its team handles the migration process so you can move your website without downtime, stress or hidden costs. The standard plan costs $2.50 for the first month and then $7 per month, so the first-year cost on monthly billing is $79.50 (checked October 2026). For the full price picture, see our guide to web hosting renewal prices.
Pros
- Free migration handled by InterServer’s team.
- Unlimited storage and email accounts for normal website and email use.
- Domain registration or transfer for $7.99 with any web hosting package.
Cons
- Weekly backups rather than a more frequent schedule.
- DirectAdmin instead of cPanel, which matters if your tools or tutorials assume cPanel.
- The standard plan renews at $7 per month after the $2.50 first month.
Hostwinds
Hostwinds lists Free Website Migration on its shared hosting page. After the migration, Hostwinds provides instructions to preview the migrated website, which lets you test before DNS changes. Shared plans come with cPanel, nightly backups, free SSL certificates and a free dedicated IP.
Pros
- Free migration with a preview of the migrated site.
- Nightly backups and cPanel on shared plans.
- 24/7/365 support through live chat or ticket.
Cons
- Basic is limited to 1 domain.
- Entry price of $6.99 per month for Basic is higher than InterServer’s $2.50 first month.
- Renewal prices are not listed on the pages we checked, so the long-term cost is not clear up front.
Compare Hostwinds shared plans
Cloudways
Cloudways lists Free Managed Migration and a 3-day free trial with no credit card required. It is managed cloud hosting, so you pick a cloud provider such as DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS or Google Cloud rather than buying a traditional shared plan. Managed cloud servers start at $11 per month, with 24/7 support.
Pros
- Free managed migration and a no-card trial, so you can test the move before paying.
- Automated backups and free staging, which suit testing site changes.
- Managed servers, so you do not run the server yourself.
Cons
- Starts at $11 per month, which is higher than Hostwinds Basic at $6.99 per month.
- Bandwidth beyond the plan limit is pay-as-you-go, at $0.02 per GB on DigitalOcean and $0.12 per GB on AWS.
- The monthly price depends on the cloud provider and location you choose, so the final bill is harder to predict.
See Cloudways managed cloud pricing
Which Option Should You Choose? Best For Each Situation
- Choose the manual route if your site is small, you are comfortable with FTP and a database import, and you want the lowest cost.
- Choose InterServer if you want a human to move the site and prefer to pay month to month.
- Choose Hostwinds if you want cPanel and a preview of the migrated site before you change DNS.
- Choose Cloudways if you want a managed server and a trial before you commit.
Do not take an unmanaged VPS for a first migration unless you are ready to run a server yourself. Where a VPS is the goal, pair it with a managed option; see our shared hosting vs VPS comparison and our cheap web hosting roundup. For provider detail, read the InterServer review and the Cloudways review.
How We Evaluated These Hosts
- We read each provider’s official pricing or product page on 2026-10-07 and use only the figures and claims published there.
- We looked for an explicit free migration statement on each page.
- We compared entry price, panel, backups and the conditions attached to each plan.
- We have not run migrations on any of these hosts, so we make no claim about speed, downtime or success rate.
FAQ
How long does it take to migrate a WordPress site?
It depends on site size and DNS, and no host in our research publishes a fixed time. The copy itself can finish quickly for a small site, while DNS changes spread gradually after you switch. Keep the old account active until the new site is tested and all traffic reaches it.
Will my site go down during migration?
Not if you follow the order: copy, test, then change DNS. The old site keeps serving visitors until DNS points elsewhere. InterServer says its team handles migration so you can move without downtime, but that is the host’s own statement, so keep a backup and test the copy first.
Do I need a plugin to migrate WordPress?
No. You can copy the files and database by hand with FTP and a database import. A migration plugin packages the site into one archive and can save time on small sites. Large sites often move more reliably by hand or through the new host’s migration service. Test the copy either way.
Which hosts offer free WordPress migration?
InterServer, Hostwinds and Cloudways each list free migration on their official pages as of October 2026. InterServer says its team handles the process, Hostwinds lists Free Website Migration, and Cloudways lists Free Managed Migration. Confirm the current scope and any limits with each host’s support before you sign up.