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Key highlights
- Bluehost’s free site migration tool lets you move your WordPress site from Namecheap to Bluehost in under two hours, no technical skills or developer required.
- Before you start, back up your Namecheap site, check your email configuration and review your billing cycle so there are no surprises mid-migration.
- This guide covers two migration paths: the Bluehost site migration tool for a fast, code-free transfer and manual migration via FTP and phpMyAdmin for those who want hands-on control over every file and database record.
- Your Namecheap site stays live throughout the entire process and only switches to Bluehost once you update your nameservers and DNS propagation completes.
- Bluehost includes free migration, a free domain for the first year and WordPress-optimized hosting at a fixed monthly price, making it a straightforward upgrade from Namecheap shared hosting.
Namecheap is where a lot of WordPress journeys begin. The pricing is low, the domain registration is straightforward and it gets you online fast.
But as your site grows, you start noticing the gaps. Support takes longer than you would like. WordPress-specific tools are limited. And when something breaks, you are largely on your own.
If that sounds familiar, you are in the right place.
This guide walks you through everything you need to migrate hosting from Namecheap to Bluehost. From backing up your site and choosing the right migration method, to pointing your domain and confirming your site is fully live on Bluehost with nothing left behind.
Why migrate from Namecheap to Bluehost?
Namecheap is best known as a domain registrar that also offers hosting. For getting a site online quickly, it works. But for WordPress site owners who need reliable performance, dedicated support and tools built around WordPress, it has clear limitations.
Here is how the two hosts compare on the factors that matter most:
| Feature | Namecheap | Bluehost |
| Starting price | Free | $3.99/mo |
| Uptime guarantee | 99.9% | 99.99% |
| 24/7 support | Live chat + ticket | Live chat + phone |
| Free domain | Not included on all plans | Included (first year) |
| Free migration | Not included | Yes, free |
| WordPress-specific tools | Basic | Built-in, WordPress-optimized |
| WordPress pre-installed | Yes | Yes |
Here is why WordPress site owners choose to migrate hosting from Namecheap to Bluehost:
WordPress-optimized hosting: Namecheap offers general shared hosting that supports WordPress. Bluehost is built specifically for WordPress, with pre-configured settings, built-in caching and a dashboard designed around WordPress site management
24/7 phone and live chat support: Namecheap support is limited to live chat and ticketing. Bluehost gives you 24/7 live chat and phone support so you always have a real person available when something needs fixing
Free migration built in: Namecheap does not offer a free migration tool. Bluehost’s site migration tool is included with every WordPress hosting plan and lets you move your site without paying extra or relying on a third party
Free domain for the first year: Unlike Namecheap’s hosting plans, Bluehost includes a free domain registration for the first year, which means one less thing to pay for when you make the switch
How to prepare before migrating from Namecheap to Bluehost?
Taking 30 minutes to work through these steps before you begin will save you from the most common issues that slow people down mid-transfer.
Back up your Namecheap site
Create a full backup of your Namecheap site before you do anything else. This includes your WordPress files and your database. Log into your Namecheap hosting dashboard, navigate to cPanel and use the Backup Wizard to download a complete backup to your local machine.
If anything goes wrong during migration, this backup is what you fall back on.
Confirm where your domain is registered
Namecheap is both a domain registrar and a hosting provider, which means your domain is likely registered directly with Namecheap. Log into your Namecheap account and confirm this under the Domain List section. Make sure you have access to your domain’s DNS settings as you will need to update your nameservers after migration to point your domain to Bluehost.
Check your email setup
If you are using Namecheap’s email hosting or Private Email service, your email setup will be affected when you update your nameservers after migration. Note your current email DNS records before you begin. You can choose to migrate your email to Bluehost or continue with a third-party provider like Google Workspace. Either way, having your records documented before you start prevents any disruption after the switchover.
Note your Namecheap billing cycle and cancellation terms
Check when your Namecheap hosting plan renews and what the cancellation process involves. Do not cancel your Namecheap account as soon as migration is complete. Keep it active until your Bluehost site is fully live, DNS has propagated and you have verified everything is working correctly. Canceling too early risks losing access to your files or email before the transition is done.
Set up your Bluehost hosting account
Sign up for a Bluehost WordPress hosting plan before you begin the migration. Once your account is active, log into your Bluehost portal. The site migration tool is available from your dashboard and ready to use as soon as your account is set up.
How to migrate from Namecheap to Bluehost: step by step
There are two ways to migrate hosting from Namecheap to Bluehost. The first uses Bluehost’s built-in migration tool and requires no technical experience. The second is a manual process that gives you direct control over every file and database record that moves. Choose the method that fits your comfort level and site setup.
Method 1: Migrate using the Bluehost site migration tool (recommended)
Bluehost’s free migration tool connects directly to your existing WordPress site on Namecheap and handles the file and database transfer automatically. Here is how to use it:
- Log into your Bluehost portal
- Click Add Website
- Select Transfer WordPress Website
- Wait while Bluehost prepares your account, then click Start Transfer
- Enter the URL of your current Namecheap site and click Connect
- Click Yes, Continue to Login, you will be redirected to your existing WordPress site on Namecheap
- Log in with your WordPress username and password
- Click Yes, I approve this connection
- Wait while Bluehost connects to your site, the status will change from Connecting to Connected
- Your files and database transfer automatically from this point
- You will receive a confirmation email when migration is complete. Click Go to site to verify everything has transferred correctly
Pro tip: Do not make any changes to your Namecheap site while the transfer is in progress. Any edits made during migration may not carry over to Bluehost.
Method 2: Manually migrate from Namecheap to Bluehost
Manual migration gives you complete control over every file and database record that moves to Bluehost. It is best suited for Namecheap sites with custom configurations that require direct handling of files and databases, or when Bluehost support recommends this path for your specific setup. While it involves working with FTP, phpMyAdmin and your WordPress database directly, it ensures everything transfers on your terms, including your custom templates and site-specific configurations.
Step 1: Transfer your website files
Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your Namecheap server. You will find your FTP credentials in your Namecheap cPanel under the FTP Accounts section. Download your entire WordPress installation, including the wp-content folder, wp-config.php and all core files, to your local machine. Once downloaded, connect to your Bluehost server via FTP and upload the files to the public_html directory.
Step 2: Export your WordPress database
Log into your Namecheap cPanel and open phpMyAdmin. Select your WordPress database, click Export, choose the Quick export method and save the .sql file to your local machine.
Step 3: Create a new database on Bluehost
Log into your Bluehost control panel and open MySQL Databases. Create a new database, create a new database user and assign that user full permissions to the new database. Note the database name, username and password as you will need these in Step 5.
Step 4: Import your database
In your Bluehost control panel, open phpMyAdmin and select the new database you just created. Click Import, upload the .sql file you exported from Namecheap and run the import.
Step 5: Update your wp-config.php file
Open the wp-config.php file you transferred to Bluehost in Step 1. Locate the database configuration section and update the following values to match your new Bluehost database credentials:
define('DB_NAME', 'your_new_database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'your_new_database_username');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_new_database_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');Save the file and re-upload it to your Bluehost public_html directory via FTP.
Step 6: Fix your permalinks
Log into your WordPress dashboard on Bluehost. Go to Settings, then Permalinks. Without changing anything, click Save Changes. This refreshes your .htaccess file and ensures your URLs resolve correctly on the new server.
Step 7: View your site
Before updating your nameservers, preview your migrated site on Bluehost using a temporary URL or by editing your local hosts file. Confirm your pages, posts, images and plugins are all intact before pointing your domain to Bluehost.
Bluehost site migration tool vs manual migration
Not sure which method suits your situation? Here is a quick comparison:
| Factor | Bluehost site migration tool | Manual migration |
| Technical skill needed | None | Intermediate to advanced |
| Time to complete | Under 2 hours | 2 to 4 hours |
| Risk of error | Low | Higher without prior experience |
| Best for | Most WordPress site owners | Developers who want full control |
| Cost | Free | Free |
For most users migrating hosting from Namecheap to Bluehost, the site migration tool is the faster and lower-risk path. Use manual migration only if your Namecheap setup has custom configurations that require hands-on handling.
Final steps after migration
Your files and database are on Bluehost. Before you call the migration done, there are two things left to take care of: pointing your domain to Bluehost and verifying your site is running correctly.
Point your domain to Bluehost
To make your site live on Bluehost, you need to update your domain’s nameservers. Since your domain is most likely registered with Namecheap, here is where to make that change.
Log into your Namecheap account, go to Domain List and click Manage next to your domain. Under the Nameservers section, switch from Namecheap BasicDNS to Custom DNS and enter Bluehost’s nameservers:
ns1.bluehost.com
ns2.bluehost.com
Save the changes. DNS propagation can take anywhere from a few hours to 48 hours to complete globally. During this window, some visitors may still see your Namecheap site while others land on Bluehost. This is normal and temporary.
Pro tip: Keep your Namecheap hosting account active until propagation is fully complete. Do not cancel early or you risk taking your site offline before Bluehost is fully serving it.
Test your migrated site
Once your domain is pointing to Bluehost and propagation is complete, run through this checklist before considering the migration closed:
Homepage and key pages: Open your site and click through your main pages to confirm content and layout are intact
Images and media: Check that images load correctly across pages and posts
Forms and plugins: Submit a test form and verify your active plugins are functioning as expected
SSL certificate: Confirm your site loads on https and the padlock is showing. Bluehost includes a free SSL certificate on all plans
Site speed: Run a quick speed check using Google PageSpeed Insights to confirm performance on the new server
Redirects: If you had any 301 redirects configured on Namecheap, confirm they are working correctly on Bluehost
Email: If you were using Namecheap’s email hosting or Private Email service, confirm your email is routing correctly after the nameserver update
If everything checks out, your migration is complete. You can now cancel your Namecheap hosting plan according to their cancellation terms. Note that canceling your Namecheap hosting does not affect your domain registration if you choose to keep it there.
Final thoughts
Namecheap is a solid starting point for getting a WordPress site online. But starting points are not always where you stay.
Migrating hosting from Namecheap to Bluehost gives you a platform built specifically for WordPress, with free migration, a free domain for the first year, 24/7 phone and live chat support and fixed pricing that scales with your site. Follow the steps in this guide and your site will be live on Bluehost with nothing left behind.
Ready to make the switch? Get started with Bluehost WordPress hosting today and bring your site over for free.
FAQs
Yes. Bluehost includes a free self-service migration tool with all WordPress hosting plans. You can transfer your Namecheap site, including your files and database, directly from your Bluehost dashboard without paying an additional fee or relying on a third-party migration service.
Yes. Since Namecheap is also a domain registrar, many users choose to keep their domain registered there after switching hosts. You do not need to transfer your domain to Bluehost. Simply update your nameservers to ns1.bluehost.com and ns2.bluehost.com from within your Namecheap account and your site will resolve to Bluehost while your domain stays with Namecheap.
Using the Bluehost site migration tool, most transfers complete in under two hours. Manual migration typically takes two to four hours depending on your site size and familiarity with FTP and phpMyAdmin. After migration, allow an additional 24 to 48 hours for DNS propagation to complete once you update your nameservers.
No. Your Namecheap site stays live throughout the entire migration process. There is no downtime at any stage. Your site only switches over to Bluehost once you update your nameservers and DNS propagation completes. Visitors will not notice any interruption during the transfer.
No. Transferring your domain is optional. You can keep your domain registered at Namecheap and simply point it to Bluehost by updating your nameservers. If you would prefer to consolidate your domain and hosting under one provider, Bluehost does support inbound domain transfers, but it is not a requirement for migration.
If you are using Namecheap’s email hosting or Private Email service, your email setup will be affected when you update your nameservers. Before making the switch, document your existing email DNS records. You can migrate your email accounts to Bluehost, which includes email hosting on all WordPress plans or continue with a third-party provider like Google Workspace by updating your MX records accordingly.
Always cancel after. Wait until your Bluehost site is fully live, DNS propagation is complete and you have tested your site thoroughly, including pages, plugins, forms and email. Once everything is confirmed, cancel your Namecheap hosting plan. If you are keeping your domain at Namecheap, make sure you only cancel the hosting portion and not your domain registration.
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