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:
Greater control and customization – WordPress allows for code modifications, plugin installations, and unlimited design flexibility.
Better SEO performance – Wix has limited SEO options, whereas WordPress provides advanced SEO tools.
Lower long-term costs – Wix requires ongoing monthly payments, while WordPress only requires hosting and a domain.
Unlimited expansion – Create e-commerce stores, membership sites, automation, and other functionalities using thousands of plugins.
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:
Copy all text content – Manually copy and paste your pages and blog posts into a document.
Download images – Right-click on images and save them to your computer.
Record URL structures – Keep track of your site’s structure for SEO-friendly redirects.
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:
Elementor (Pro or Free) – A powerful drag-and-drop page builder.
Divi – A premium theme with an integrated visual editor.
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:
Import text content – Manually create pages and posts in WordPress.
Upload images – Add them to the WordPress Media Library.
Recreate contact forms – Use plugins like Contact Form 7 or WPForms.
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.
Use an SEO plugin (Yoast SEO or Rank Math) – Optimize your site for search engines.
Verify indexing – Submit your new site to Google Search Console.
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:
Check links and functionality – Click through your website to identify any errors.
Test loading speed – Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.
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.