Wix to WordPress Migration Made Easy

Wix is a beginner-friendly website builder with drag-and-drop tools, perfect for quickly creating sites without coding. 

However, as businesses grow, many turn to WordPress for its unmatched flexibility, control, and scalability. WordPress powers over 40% of the web, offering endless customization through themes, plugins, and code access.

Common reasons for migrating from Wix to WordPress

Many site owners outgrow Wix as they seek more flexibility, control, and scalability. Key reasons for switching include:

• Full ownership of site files and content.
• Better SEO capabilities with powerful plugins like Yoast SEO.
• Unlimited customization with thousands of themes and plugins.
• Improved website performance and faster loading times.
• Greater scalability to handle growing traffic and complex features.

Wix to WordPress Migration: Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these detailed steps to seamlessly transition your Wix website to the WordPress platform.

1. Prepare for the Migration

Before diving into the technical steps, take some time to plan the structure and design of your new WordPress website.

Consider how you want your pages, menus, and content to be organized.

Take note of any custom features or functionalities you’d like to recreate in WordPress.

The time spent on planning upfront can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

2. Set Up Your WordPress Site

• Choose a Hosting Provider: Select a reliable hosting provider and sign up for a hosting plan.
• Register a Domain: If you already have a domain with Wix, you can transfer it. Otherwise, register a new domain.
• Install WordPress: Follow your hosting provider’s instructions to install WordPress on your domain.

3. Export the Website from Wix

• Log in to Your Wix Account: Go to Wix.com and sign in.
• Navigate to Your Website: Open the Wix dashboard for the site you want to export.

• Copy the Website URL: Copy the URL of your Wix website.

4. Import the WebSite into WordPress

• Access WordPress Dashboard: Log in to your WordPress site.
• Go to Import Tool: Navigate to Tools > Import in the dashboard.

• Choose an Import Method: Paste the copied URL of your Wix website into the import tool.
• Start the Import: Click Continue, review the content, and select Yes, Start Import to begin the process.

Tip: WordPress.com can act as a mediator between WordPress and Wix. Allow the import to complete fully. Once done, you can preview how the imported site looks on your WordPress site.

5. Customize Your WordPress Website

• Select a Theme: Choose a WordPress theme that closely matches your Wix site’s design or hire a web designer for a custom theme.

• Configure Settings: Adjust your theme settings, menus, and widgets to achieve the desired look and functionality.
• Rebuild Custom Features: If your Wix site has custom features, consider using plugins or hiring a developer to recreate them in WordPress.

6. Set Up URL Redirects (SEO Maintenance)

• Create Redirects: Set up URL redirects from your old Wix URLs to the new WordPress URLs using a redirection plugin.

This step helps preserve website traffic and search engine rankings.

7. Test Your Website

• Thoroughly Test Functionality: Ensure all pages, links, forms, and interactive elements work correctly.
• Address Issues: If any plugins or features are not working, update them or seek professional help if needed.

8. Launch Your WordPress Site

• Final Review: Once satisfied with the design and functionality, it’s time to make your site live.
• Monitor Performance: Regularly check for any issues post-launch and keep plugins and WordPress updated.

By following these steps, you can effectively migrate your website from Wix to WordPress, unlocking greater potential for customization and growth!

Essential Plugins for New WordPress Sites

Here’s a list of essential plugins for new WordPress sites:

• Yoast SEO — Optimize your site for search engines.
• GravityForms — Create contact forms and surveys.
• WooCommerce — Add e-commerce functionality.
• UpdraftPlus — Backup your site automatically.
• Wordfence Security — Protect against malware and hacks.
• WP Rocket — Speed up your site with caching.
• MonsterInsights — Connect to Google Analytics for insights.
• Akismet Anti-Spam — Block spam comments.
• Redirection — Manage 301 redirects and fix broken links.

Replicating Wix Features with WordPress Plugins

One of the biggest concerns during migration is losing key features from your Wix site. 

Fortunately, WordPress has a vast library of plugins that can replicate — and often enhance — the functionalities you relied on in Wix.

• Contact Forms: Replace Wix’s form builder with WPForms or GravityForms for flexible, customizable forms.
• Booking & Scheduling: Use Amelia or Simple WP Events to handle bookings and calendar management.
• SEO Tools: Upgrade from Wix’s built-in SEO settings to Yoast SEO or Rank Math for advanced optimization.
• E-commerce: Migrate your store to WooCommerce for a powerful, scalable online shop.
• Image Galleries & Sliders: Use Envira Gallery or Smart Slider 3 for beautiful, responsive image displays.
• Social Media Integration: Install Smash Balloon to seamlessly embed social feeds on your site.

With the right plugins, you can rebuild your site’s functionality — and even unlock new possibilities.

Conclusion

Migrating from Wix to WordPress may seem like a big step, but with careful planning and the right tools, you can build a more flexible, scalable, and feature-rich website. 

WordPress’s vast ecosystem of plugins and themes gives you complete control over your site’s design and functionality, empowering you to grow your online presence without limitations.

Ready to make the switch? Let us handle your Wix to WordPress migration — stress-free and without losing any content. Get started today!