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Key highlights
- Migrating WordPress from WPX hosting to Bluehost is straightforward with Bluehost’s free built-in migration tool, most transfers complete in under two hours with no developer needed.
- Before you begin, back up your WPX hosting site, confirm your domain registrar and check your billing cycle to avoid being charged after you have already moved.
- 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 full control over every file and database record.
- Your WPX hosting site stays live throughout the entire process. Your site only switches to Bluehost once you update your nameservers and DNS propagation completes, so there is no website migration downtime at any stage.
- Bluehost includes free migration, a free domain for the first year and fixed monthly pricing, giving you professional grade WordPress hosting without the premium price tag of WPX hosting.
WPX hosting built its reputation on speed and customer support. But speed comes at a price, and for small business owners or independent site owners managing a single WordPress site, that price is hard to justify when renewal comes around.
If you have been weighing the cost against what you actually use, you are probably already looking for a better fit.
This guide walks you through everything you need to migrate hosting from WPX hosting to Bluehost. From backing up your site and choosing the right migration method, to pointing your domain and verifying your site is live on Bluehost with nothing left behind.
Why migrate from WPX hosting to Bluehost?
WPX hosting is a premium managed WordPress host known for fast load times and responsive support. But its pricing is built for agencies and high-traffic sites. If you are running a small to mid-sized WordPress site, you are likely paying a premium for capacity you do not fully use.
Here is how the two hosts compare on the factors that matter most:
| Feature | WPX hosting | Bluehost |
| Starting price | $11.99/mo* | $3.99/mo* |
| Uptime guarantee | 99.95% | 99.99% |
| 24/7 support | Live chat | Live chat + phone |
| Free domain | Not included | Included (first year) |
| Free migration | Yes, done by WPX team | Yes, self-service tool |
| Sites allowed on entry plan | 5 | 1 |
| WordPress pre-installed | Yes | Yes |
*Note: Please note that pricing is subject to change. Refer to the website for the most up-to-date details.
Here is why WordPress site owners choose to migrate hosting from WPX hosting to Bluehost:
Cost at renewal: WPX hosting’s entry plan is priced for performance-focused users managing multiple sites. If you are running one WordPress site and do not need that infrastructure, Bluehost gives you the same WordPress-optimized environment at a significantly lower price point
No site allowance restrictions: WPX hosting limits the number of sites on each plan. Bluehost’s entry plans are straightforward and built around the needs of single site owners without unnecessary upsells
Fixed predictable pricing: WPX hosting pricing scales with your plan tier. Bluehost charges a fixed monthly rate so you always know what to expect at renewal
Free self-service migration: Bluehost’s migration tool lets you move your WordPress site from WPX hosting to Bluehost on your own schedule, without waiting on a support team to initiate the transfer for you
How to prepare before migrating from WPX hosting 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 WPX hosting site
Start by creating a full backup of your WPX hosting site before you do anything else. This includes your WordPress files and your database. Log into your WPX hosting dashboard and download a complete backup to your local machine so you have a copy that exists independently of WPX hosting’s servers.
If anything goes wrong during migration, this backup is your safety net.
Confirm where your domain is registered
WPX hosting is a hosting provider, not a domain registrar. Your domain is likely registered with a third party such as GoDaddy, Namecheap or Google Domains. Log into your registrar account to confirm where your domain lives and make sure you have access to the DNS settings.
You will need this access after migration to update your nameservers and point your domain to Bluehost.
Check your email setup
WPX hosting does provide email hosting as part of its plans. If you are using WPX email, you will need to migrate your email setup to Bluehost or a third-party provider like Google Workspace before you update your nameservers. Check your current email configuration and note your existing email DNS records before you begin.
Note your WPX hosting billing cycle and cancellation terms
WPX hosting bills on a monthly or annual cycle. Do not cancel your WPX hosting plan the moment migration is complete. Keep your account active until your Bluehost site is fully live, DNS has propagated and you have verified everything is working correctly. Check your renewal date so you know how much time you have before the next charge.
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 WPX hosting to Bluehost: step by step
There are two ways to migrate hosting from WPX hosting 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 WPX hosting 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 WPX hosting site and click Connect
- Click Yes, Continue to Login, you will be redirected to your existing WordPress site on WPX hosting
- 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 WPX hosting site while the transfer is in progress. Any edits made during migration may not carry over to Bluehost.
Method 2: Manually migrate from WPX hosting to Bluehost
Manual migration gives you complete control over every file and database record that moves to Bluehost. It is best suited for WPX hosting 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 WPX hosting server. You will find your FTP credentials in your WPX hosting dashboard under the hosting details 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 WPX hosting control panel 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 WPX hosting 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 WordPress from WPX hosting to Bluehost, the site migration tool is the faster and lower-risk path. Use manual migration only if your WPX hosting 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. Where you do this depends on where your domain is registered.
Log into your domain registrar’s account, find your domain’s DNS settings and replace the existing nameservers with 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 WPX hosting site while others land on Bluehost. This is normal and temporary.
Pro tip: Keep your WPX 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 WPX hosting, confirm they are working correctly on Bluehost
Email: If you were using WPX hosting email, confirm your email is routing correctly through Bluehost or your third-party provider after the nameserver update
If everything checks out, your migration is complete. You can now cancel your WPX hosting plan according to their cancellation terms.
Final thoughts
WPX hosting is a strong platform, but strong does not always mean the right fit. If the pricing no longer makes sense for the size and needs of your site, moving to Bluehost is a practical decision.
Migrating hosting from WPX hosting to Bluehost gives you WordPress-optimized performance, free migration, a free domain for the first year and 24/7 support at a price that works for growing sites. 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 WPX hosting site, including your files and database, directly from your Bluehost dashboard without paying an additional fee or waiting on a support team to initiate the transfer.
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 your 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 WPX hosting site stays live throughout the entire migration process. There is no website migration downtime at any stage. Your site only switches over to Bluehost once you update your nameservers and DNS propagation completes. With the right preparation, visitors will not notice any interruption.
Not necessarily. If your domain is registered with a third-party registrar, you simply need to update your nameservers to point to Bluehost. If your domain is managed through WPX hosting, you have the option to transfer it to Bluehost or keep it where it is and update the nameservers only.
Yes. Bluehost’s site migration tool is designed for non-technical users. You do not need coding knowledge or FTP experience to use it. The tool connects to your existing WordPress site, transfers your files and database automatically and notifies you by email when the migration is complete.
If you were using WPX hosting’s email service, you will need to migrate your email setup after moving hosts. Bluehost includes email hosting as part of your WordPress hosting plan, so you can set up your existing email addresses on Bluehost. Make sure your email DNS records are updated correctly when you point your domain to Bluehost to avoid any disruption.
Do not cancel immediately after migration. 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 WPX hosting plan according to their terms and check your billing cycle to avoid being charged for an additional month.
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