Drupal to WordPress Migration Checklist

Looking to seamlessly migrate from Drupal to WordPress?

Drupal and WordPress are both popular CMS platforms, but WordPress stands out for its ease of use, extensive plugin options, and robust community support.

With Drupal 7 reaching its end-of-life on January 5, 2025, it’s crucial to consider migrating before security and compatibility updates end—leaving your website vulnerable.

This guide will walk you through each step of a smooth transition to WordPress, so you can ensure your website remains secure, flexible, and future-proof.

Why Migrate to WordPress Instead of Upgrading from Drupal 7 to 11?

Moving from Drupal 7 to Drupal 11 may seem like a natural path, but many organizations are discovering that a migration to WordPress offers a range of benefits that make it a more efficient and sustainable choice.

Here are some key reasons why WordPress often stands out over a major Drupal upgrade:

Key reasons to make the switch:

• Ease of Use: WordPress is known for being user-friendly. Unlike Drupal, which can feel technical and complex, WordPress lets you manage your content with ease—no advanced coding skills needed.
• Cost-Effective and Quicker to Launch: Moving to WordPress often requires less time and cost than upgrading to Drupal 11. With thousands of ready-made themes and plugins, you can get your site up and running faster without heavy development expenses.
• Better Support and Tools for Growth: WordPress has a massive community and offers tools like SEO plugins, marketing integrations, and security enhancements—all designed to help your site succeed without extra hassle. Plus, you’ll find it easier to get support and resources, thanks to WordPress’s global popularity.
• Flexibility with Design and Customization: WordPress provides flexible design options, whether you want a custom look or to use popular builders like Elementor.
• SEO and Marketing Made Simple: WordPress makes it easier to optimize your site for search engines and connect with essential marketing tools like Google Analytics. You don’t need to be a technical expert to improve your site’s SEO and track results.
• Lower Maintenance and Future-Proofing: With WordPress, updates are straightforward and less likely to disrupt your site. This makes maintenance simpler and keeps your site running smoothly without extensive developer support.

Switching to WordPress is a practical choice for anyone seeking a CMS that’s easy to use, cost-effective, and designed for growth.

It allows you to focus on your content and goals rather than getting bogged down by technical challenges.

Migration Checklist: Moving from Drupal to WordPress

Planning ahead is essential for a smooth migration that maintains your site’s performance and functionality.

Follow this checklist for a successful transition.

1. Define migration goals to clarify what you aim to achieve.
2. Back up your Drupal site to prevent data loss during the process.
3. Follow the steps in “How to Migrate a Drupal Website to WordPress” for a smooth transition.
4. Review and update content as needed, ensuring all functionalities work in WordPress.
5. Optimize speed by adding caching plugins and compressing images.
6. Test performance using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, and adjust as needed.
7. Set up 301 redirects from old URLs to new ones to maintain SEO value.
8. Update your sitemap and submit it to search engines for indexing.
9. Perform checks for broken links, missing images, and confirm forms and interactive elements work.
10. Launch the new WordPress site once all issues are resolved.
11. Monitor performance closely post-launch and address any issues.
12. Schedule regular backups and updates to keep your site secure and optimized.

Following this checklist will ensure a smooth transition from Drupal to WordPress.

Why Migration from Drupal Can be Challenging:

Following are a few points that can make it challenging and may be a wiser choice to hire an expert to handle the migration for you.

• URL mismatches can cause broken links, requiring extensive redirects.
• Content may corrupt or be lost, especially complex fields and media.
• Drupal themes can’t directly transfer, necessitating design re-creation.
• User roles and permissions may need custom setup to replicate Drupal’s granularity.
• SEO metadata often doesn’t transfer, risking SEO drops if not manually reconfigured.
• Some Drupal module functionalities lack exact WordPress plugin matches.
• Plugins can conflict, potentially affecting performance and functionality.
• Database optimization may be necessary to prevent performance issues.
• Admins face a learning curve adjusting to WordPress’s interface and editor.
• Custom Drupal functionalities may break and need manual adaptations.

How to Migrate a Drupal Website to WordPress 

Migrating from Drupal to WordPress can be a straightforward process with the right tools and steps.

Below are the essential steps you need to follow to ensure a smooth migration.

Step 1: Backup Your Drupal Website

• Record of URLs and Content: Keep a record of all URLs and content on your Drupal website to prevent data loss during the migration process.
• Create a Backup: Before starting the migration, make sure to back up your entire Drupal website, including the database, media files, and any custom configurations.

Step 2:  Prepare Your WordPress Environment

• Choose a Hosting Provider: Select a reliable WordPress hosting service and create your domain.
• Install WordPress: Set up WordPress through your hosting provider’s cPanel or dashboard.

Step 3: Install the FG Drupal to WordPress Plugin

• Access Plugins Section: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to the “Plugins” section.
• Search and Install: Use the search feature to find “FG Drupal to WordPress” and install the plugin.

Step 4: Run the Drupal Importer

• Navigate to Import Tools: Go to Tools > Import in the dashboard.
• Run the Importer: Click on the “Run Importer” link under the Drupal option to start the configuration.

Step 5: Gather Drupal Database Information

• Access cPanel: Use the cPanel File Manager to locate your Drupal settings.php file, usually found in public_html > drupal > sites > default

• Extract Parameters: Open the settings.php file to find the necessary database parameters (database name, username, password, host) and copy them.

Step 6: Export Data from Your Drupal Website

• Export Database: Download the database file (usually a .sql file) to your local system as an additional backup.
• Export Content via FTP: Use FTP to export your Drupal website’s data, including images, files, and other media content, ensuring nothing is lost during the migration.

Step 7: Configure Migration Settings

• Input Database Parameters: Paste the copied parameters into the relevant fields in the WordPress plugin settings.
• Test the Database Connection: Click the “Test Database Connection” button to ensure the details are correct.

Step 8: Update User Roles and Permissions

Map User Roles: In Drupal, user roles and permissions might differ from WordPress. Ensure that these roles are mapped correctly during migration to avoid issues with access.

Step 9: Mapping Integrations

Identify Third-Party Integrations: Review any third-party integrations you use on Drupal (CRM systems, email marketing tools, etc.).

You may need to find WordPress-compatible alternatives or set up new integrations for your WordPress site.

Step 10: Generate Redirect Links

• Redirect Old URLs: To preserve SEO rankings and ensure visitors don’t encounter 404 errors, create 301 redirects for URLs likely to change during the migration.
• Use Redirection Plugin: You can use a plugin like “Redirection” to manage these redirects in WordPress.

Step 11: Run the Drupal Importer

• Run the Importer: Click on the “Run Importer” link under the Drupal option to start the configuration.
• Navigate to Import Tools: Go to Tools > Import in the WordPress dashboard.

Step 12: Customize Migration Behavior

• Set Migration Preferences: Fill out any additional options in the “Behavior” section according to your migration needs.
• Start the Migration: Click on the “Start / Resume the Import” button to initiate the migration process.

Step 13: Modify Internal Links (Optional)

• Ensure Link Integrity: After the migration is complete, use the “Modify Internal Links” option to update links within your content for proper functionality.

3 Most Common Challenges in Drupal to WordPress Migration

Migrating from Drupal to WordPress can bring a few challenges that may complicate the process.

Being aware of these issues and taking preventative steps can help ensure a successful migration.

1. Data Loss

A frequent challenge in migration is the risk of losing critical content, including pages, posts, and media files.

Differences in data structures between Drupal and WordPress can result in missing or misaligned content, impacting site functionality and user experience.

How to avoid this: Create a complete backup of your Drupal site before beginning the migration.

Conduct a test migration in a staging environment to detect and resolve any data loss issues before the final migration.

2. Compatibility Issues

Some Drupal features, such as custom content types, modules, or taxonomies, may lack direct counterparts in WordPress, potentially causing functionality loss or requiring extensive reconfiguration.

This can result in a site that doesn’t perform as expected or lacks key features from the original Drupal setup.

How to avoid this: Carefully assess which features are essential and research suitable WordPress plugins or alternatives ahead of time.

Create a detailed list of Drupal functionalities, then identify WordPress solutions that can replicate or even improve these features for a seamless transition.

3. URL Structure Changes

During migration, changes to the URL structure can harm SEO by causing broken links and a drop in search engine rankings.

Significant URL changes can also disrupt user bookmarks and external links, leading to lost traffic.

How to avoid this: Retain the same URL structure where possible and implement proper 301 redirects for any modified URLs.

This will help preserve search rankings and ensure visitors can still access your content.

Additionally, update your sitemap and submit it to search engines to ensure your new URLs are indexed correctly.

Conclusion

Transitioning from Drupal to WordPress can unlock new possibilities for your website. WordPress offers a user-friendly interface and a vast library of plugins to boost functionality and improve the user experience.

However, be prepared for potential challenges like data loss, compatibility issues, and URL structure changes during the migration.

Plan thoroughly, do your research, and implement these actions for a smooth migration.

Or instead Let us handle the migration for you. With our expertise, we’ll ensure a smooth and seamless transition, so you can focus on what matters most—your business.

Contact us today to get started!