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Key highlights
- Set up your WordPress site before moving content from Wix so you have a safe place to build, test and review the new version.
- Choose the right migration method based on your site size: manual migration, RSS import, a migration tool or professional support.
- Move your key pages, blog posts, images and media files, then rebuild menus, forms and design elements that do not transfer automatically.
- Protect your SEO by mapping old Wix URLs to new WordPress URLs, adding 301 redirects and carrying over important titles, meta descriptions and internal links.
Your website needs can change as your business, audience or content grows. A site that started on Wix may eventually need a different setup for managing content, customizing workflows, adding plugins or building a more flexible SEO structure. For many site owners, that next step is WordPress.
Migrating from Wix to WordPress is possible, but it should be planned carefully. Wix does not offer a full one-click transfer to WordPress, so some parts of your site – such as pages, images, menus, forms, design elements and SEO settings – may need to be moved, rebuilt or reviewed manually.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to migrate from Wix to WordPress safely without losing SEO. We’ll cover the main migration methods, what does and does not transfer, how to protect important URLs and metadata, and what to check after launch so your new WordPress site is ready for visitors and search engines.
Quick overview: How to migrate from Wix to WordPress
To migrate from Wix to WordPress, start by setting up a new WordPress site, then choose how you want to move your content. You can copy pages manually, import blog posts with RSS, use a migration tool or hire a professional if your site is large or business-critical.
At a high level, the process looks like this:
- Review your current Wix pages, blog posts, images and SEO settings.
- Set up your new WordPress site and choose a theme or site builder.
- Move your content using manual migration, RSS import or a migration tool.
- Rebuild menus, forms, design elements and custom features in WordPress.
- Map old Wix URLs to new WordPress URLs.
- Set up 301 redirects for any URLs that change.
- Review page titles, meta descriptions, internal links and images.
- Test the new site before launch.
- Submit your WordPress sitemap in Google Search Console.
- Monitor traffic, rankings and conversions after the switch.
The safest approach is to move your site in stages. Keep your Wix site live while you build the WordPress version, then launch only after your content, redirects, SEO settings and key pages have been reviewed.
Can you migrate from Wix to WordPress?
Yes, you can migrate from Wix to WordPress, but the process is not a full one-click transfer. Wix and WordPress are built differently, so your content, design, settings and site features may not move over in the same format.
For a small website, you may be able to move your pages manually by copying content into WordPress, uploading images and recreating your layout with a WordPress theme or page builder. If your site has a blog, you may be able to move posts using an RSS import or a migration tool. Larger websites may need a more detailed migration plan to protect URLs, SEO metadata, internal links and important pages.
The best approach depends on your site size, content type and how much SEO value you need to preserve. Before choosing a method, review what can transfer automatically and what may need to be rebuilt in WordPress.
Why move from Wix to WordPress?
Many website owners start with Wix because it is simple to use and quick to set up. As your site grows, you may want more control over how your content, design, SEO settings and site features are managed. WordPress can be a good next step when you need more flexibility for long-term growth.
If you’re considering moving from Wix to WordPress, here are the main reasons WordPress may be a better fit as your site becomes more complex:
1. More control over customization
WordPress gives you more control over your site structure, design and functionality. You can choose from thousands of themes and plugins, customize page layouts and add features that fit your website goals. This can be helpful if your site needs more than a basic layout or built-in feature set.
2. More SEO flexibility
WordPress gives you access to SEO plugins and settings that can help you manage titles, meta descriptions, schema, redirects, sitemaps and internal linking. Tools like Yoast SEO can make it easier to review and optimize your pages after migration.
The key is to move carefully. A migration can affect SEO if URLs change, redirects are missing or metadata is not carried over correctly.
3. Room to scale your website
As your content, traffic or business needs grow, WordPress gives you more options to expand. You can add an online store, create custom landing pages, publish more content, build membership areas or connect advanced marketing tools.
4. More ownership over your site setup
With self-hosted WordPress, you can choose your hosting provider, manage your plugins and control more of your website environment. This gives you more flexibility over performance, backups, security and long-term site management.
Once you know why WordPress may be the right next step, the next step is planning the migration. A careful plan helps you decide what to move, what to rebuild and how to protect your SEO before making changes to your live site.
Before you migrate from Wix to WordPress
A smooth migration starts with a clear picture of your current site. Review the pages, content, media, settings and features you want to carry over, then decide what should be moved as-is and what should be rebuilt in WordPress.
Start with your most important pages. These may include pages that bring in organic traffic, generate leads, support sales, attract backlinks or explain your main products and services. If these pages change during the migration, they should be handled carefully.
Next, review your current URLs, page titles, meta descriptions, images, forms, menus and any custom features you want to recreate. Some items may transfer through an import method or migration tool, while others may need manual setup in WordPress.
Wix to WordPress migration checklist
Prepare the following:
| What to prepare | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Wix login access | Lets you copy content, manage settings and access site assets |
| WordPress installation | Gives you a destination site for your migrated content |
| Current URL list | Helps you create redirects and avoid broken links |
| Important page titles and meta descriptions | Helps preserve SEO relevance after migration |
| Images and media files | Some files may need to be uploaded manually |
| Forms, menus and custom features | These often need to be rebuilt in WordPress |
| Google Search Console and analytics access | Helps you monitor traffic, rankings and conversions after launch |
Also decide whether you want to keep the same URL structure in WordPress. If your new WordPress URLs are different from your Wix URLs, create a 301 redirect plan so visitors and search engines land on the correct pages after migration.
Best ways to migrate from Wix to WordPress
There are several ways to migrate from Wix to WordPress. The best option depends on your site size, content type, technical comfort level and how much SEO value you need to protect.
A small website may be easier to move manually. A blog-heavy site may be a better fit for an RSS import. If your site has many pages, images, forms or important rankings, a migration tool or professional support may help reduce manual work.
Use the table below to compare your options before choosing a method.
| Migration method | Best for | What it can help move | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual migration | Small websites with a few pages | Page copy, images and basic layout | Takes time and requires manual rebuilding |
| RSS import | Wix blogs | Blog post content | Does not move full site design, static pages, menus or forms |
| Migration tool | Larger sites with more content | Pages, posts and media depending on the tool | Still requires review, cleanup and SEO checks |
| Professional migration | Business-critical websites | Content, structure, redirects and quality checks | Costs more than doing it yourself |
Each method has trade-offs. The sections below explain how each option works, when to use it and what to check before launching your new WordPress site.
Method 1: Manual migration
Manual migration means moving your Wix content into WordPress yourself. This usually involves creating new WordPress pages, copying content from Wix, uploading images, rebuilding menus and recreating your site layout with a WordPress theme or page builder.
This method gives you the most control, but it can take time. It works best for smaller websites with a limited number of pages or for site owners who want to review each page carefully during the move.
Typical steps include:
- Set up a new WordPress site.
- Create matching pages in WordPress.
- Copy page content from Wix.
- Upload images and media files.
- Rebuild menus, forms and page layouts.
- Review each page for formatting, links and SEO metadata.
Method 2: RSS import for blog posts
The RSS method can help move Wix blog posts into WordPress. It is mainly useful for blog content, not full website migration.
With this approach, you export your Wix blog content through an RSS feed, then import it into WordPress. After the import, you should review each post because images, formatting, internal links and metadata may still need manual updates.
This method may work well if your main goal is to move blog posts, but it will not recreate your Wix design, static pages, menus, forms or full site structure.
Method 3: Wix to WordPress migration tool
A migration tool can help automate parts of the Wix to WordPress migration process. Depending on the tool, it may help move pages, posts, images and other media into WordPress.
This option can save time for larger sites, but it should not be treated as a complete set-it-and-forget-it migration. After using any migration tool, review your pages carefully for missing images, broken links, formatting issues, missing metadata and redirect gaps.
A migration tool can be helpful when:
- Your site has many pages or posts
- You want to reduce manual copy and paste work
- You have a lot of media files
- You still plan to review the migrated content before launch
Method 4: Professional migration
If your website brings in leads, sales, organic traffic or important business inquiries, professional migration support may be worth considering. An expert can help move content, rebuild important pages, set up redirects, check SEO settings and test the site before launch.
This option usually costs more, but it can reduce the risk of missed pages, broken links, lost metadata or technical issues. It is often a good fit for larger websites, eCommerce sites and sites with strong existing SEO performance.
Once you choose a migration method, you’ll need a WordPress site ready to receive your content. If you plan to use Bluehost as your host, set up the WordPress environment first so you can build and review the new version before launch.
How to migrate Wix to WordPress using Bluehost
If you choose Bluehost as your WordPress host, you can set up your new WordPress site before moving content from Wix. This gives you a place to install WordPress, choose a theme, add essential plugins and review your migrated content before launch.
Step 1: Sign up for Bluehost hosting
Start by choosing a Bluehost WordPress hosting plan that supports WordPress. After you create your account, you can access your Bluehost dashboard to manage hosting settings, install WordPress and prepare your new site.
At this stage, keep your Wix site live while you build the WordPress version. This helps you avoid downtime and gives you time to review the new site before switching visitors over.
Step 2: Install or access WordPress
After your account is ready, install or access WordPress from your our dashboard. Depending on your plan and setup flow, WordPress may be available through the guided onboarding process or you may need to start the installation from your hosting dashboard.
Once WordPress is ready, log in to your WordPress dashboard and review the basic settings. Check your site title, permalink structure, user access, visibility settings and SSL status before moving content.
Step 3: Choose a WordPress theme
Once WordPress is ready, choose how you want to build the new version of your site. You can start with a lightweight WordPress theme or use our AI website builder to create a website foundation in just a few minutes.
This can be helpful if you want a faster starting point instead of rebuilding every page from scratch. You can use the AI-generated structure as a base, then customize the layout, copy, images and navigation to match your migrated Wix content.
As you build, focus on:
- Mobile responsiveness
- Clean page structure
- Fast loading
- Easy editing
- Plugin compatibility
- Clear navigation
After the initial design is in place, review each page manually. Make sure your content matches the original page intent, important images are added, forms work correctly and SEO metadata is updated before launch.
Step 4: Move your Wix content to WordPress
If you use Bluehost’s migration tool, follow the prompts in your Bluehost dashboard to start moving content from your Wix site to WordPress.
The process may include:
- Access the migration tool from your Bluehost dashboard.
- Enter your Wix website URL.
- Select the content you want to move, such as pages, posts, images and media files.
- Start the migration.
- Review the imported content in WordPress.
After the migration, check every important page manually. Make sure the copy is complete, images load correctly, links point to the right pages, forms are working and SEO settings are updated.
Even when a migration tool saves time, it should not replace a full review. Some content, formatting, design elements, metadata or internal links may still need manual cleanup before launch.
Step 5: Add essential WordPress tools
After your content is in place, add the tools you need to manage SEO, performance, security and backups. Keep this setup lean. Too many plugins can make the site harder to manage and may affect performance.
Our plans include features such as Yoast SEO, SSL, CDN, caching, malware scanning, backups and managed WordPress updates. Use these as part of your launch setup where they are available on your plan.
For migration review, focus on:
- SEO settings, including titles, meta descriptions, XML sitemap and schema.
- SSL, so the site loads securely.
- Backups, so you can restore the site if needed.
- Caching and CDN, to support performance.
- Security settings, including malware scanning where available.
- Forms, if your Wix site had contact forms or lead capture forms.
- WooCommerce, if you are rebuilding an online store.
Step 6: Review your WordPress site before launch
Before making the WordPress site live, review the setup carefully. Bluehost offers staging on its WordPress hosting plans, which can help you test changes before publishing them to the live site.
Check that your important pages are created, images load correctly, menus work, forms submit properly and calls to action point to the right place. Review page titles, meta descriptions, headings, image alt text and internal links.
Also keep a list of your old Wix URLs and match them to the new WordPress URLs. If any URLs change, you will need 301 redirects before or immediately after launch.
Step 7: Launch and monitor
Once the site has been reviewed, launch the WordPress version. After launch, test your most important pages again, confirm redirects work and submit the new XML sitemap in Google Search Console.
Continue monitoring indexing, 404 errors, redirect issues, rankings, traffic and conversions. If something drops unexpectedly, check redirects, metadata, internal links, page content and indexability first.
Once your WordPress site is set up, focus on protecting the SEO value your Wix site already has.
How to migrate from Wix to WordPress without losing SEO?
SEO issues usually happen when URLs, metadata, internal links or important content change without a plan. To reduce risk, start with your highest-value pages. These may include pages that bring organic traffic, generate leads, drive sales or have backlinks.
Match each important Wix URL to its new WordPress URL. If a URL changes, add a 301 redirect to the closest matching page. Avoid sending all old URLs to the homepage.
Also move or recreate key SEO elements, including:
- Title tags
- Meta descriptions
- H1s
- Image alt text
- Internal links
- Schema, if used
- Canonical tags, if needed
After launch, submit your new XML sitemap in Google Search Console. Then monitor indexing, 404 errors, redirects, clicks, rankings and conversions.
Post-migration checklist: What to check after moving from Wix to WordPress
After you migrate from Wix to WordPress, review the new site before considering the move complete. Use this checklist to catch missing content, broken features and SEO issues early.
| Check | What to review |
|---|---|
| Important pages | Make sure key pages and blog posts are live and complete |
| Images and media | Confirm images, videos and downloads load correctly |
| Menus and navigation | Test header, footer and menu links |
| Forms and buttons | Check contact forms, lead forms, CTAs and checkout buttons if used |
| Mobile layout | Review important pages on mobile and tablet |
| Internal links | Make sure links point to the new WordPress URLs |
| Redirects | Test old Wix URLs and confirm they redirect to the right WordPress pages |
| SEO metadata | Check title tags, meta descriptions, H1s and image alt text |
| Sitemap | Submit the new XML sitemap in Google Search Console |
| Tracking | Confirm analytics, conversion tracking and Search Console are working |
| Security | Enable SSL and check that pages load over HTTPS |
| Backups | Set up backups before making major changes after launch |
A short-term traffic fluctuation can happen after a migration. If traffic or conversions drop sharply, review redirects, indexability, metadata, page content and internal links first.
Final thoughts
Migrating from Wix to WordPress is a big step, but it does not have to feel overwhelming. With the right plan, you can move your content, protect your important URLs and set up a WordPress site that gives you more flexibility as your website grows.
Bluehost can help you start that process with WordPress hosting built for setup, site management, SSL, performance and everyday website needs. You can prepare your new WordPress site, review your pages and make the switch when everything is ready.
Ready to move from Wix to WordPress? Get started with Bluehost WordPress hosting and build your new site with the flexibility, tools and support you need for long-term growth.
FAQs
Yes, you can migrate from Wix to WordPress, but it is not usually a full one-click transfer. Some content can be moved manually or with an import method or migration tool, while design, menus, forms, SEO settings and custom features may need to be recreated in WordPress.
It depends on the size and complexity of your site. A small site with a few pages may be simple to move manually. A larger site with blog posts, forms, media files or important SEO rankings may need more planning, a migration tool or professional support.
You can lose SEO if URLs change without redirects, metadata is missing, internal links break or important content is removed. To reduce risk, create a URL map, set up 301 redirects, move key title tags and meta descriptions, submit your new sitemap and monitor Google Search Console after launch.
Your Wix website data should not be lost if you plan the migration carefully, but not every element transfers automatically. Page content, blog posts and images may need to be moved or reviewed manually. Wix-specific templates, apps and design elements usually need to be rebuilt in WordPress.
The timeline depends on your site size and migration method. A small site may take a few hours to a few days. A larger site with many pages, images, forms, redirects or SEO requirements may take longer because each important page should be reviewed before launch.
No, you do not always need coding knowledge. Many small sites can be moved manually using the WordPress editor, an RSS import or a migration tool. Coding knowledge may help if you need advanced design changes, custom functionality or a more complex site rebuild.
Yes, you can usually keep your domain. Depending on where your domain is registered, you may either update DNS settings to point to your new WordPress hosting or transfer the domain to another provider. Make sure the new WordPress site is ready before changing domain settings.
Bluehost can help you set up the WordPress side of the migration with WordPress hosting, guided site setup, SSL, performance tools and access to WordPress features. You can prepare your new site, review migrated content and launch once your pages, redirects and SEO settings are ready.
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