Why Migrate from Wix to WordPress?
Over 43% of all websites use WordPress, while only 1.6% use Wix.
This isn't a coincidence - WordPress offers freedom, flexibility, and ownership that Wix simply cannot match.
If you're reading this guide, you've likely hit the walls of Wix's limitations. Whether it's the inability to access your site's code, export your content freely, or achieve the performance you need, these frustrations are common among growing businesses.
WordPress powers websites from small blogs to enterprise companies like BBC, Mercedes-Benz, and The Walt Disney Company. The migration process, while requiring some effort, opens doors to unlimited customization, better performance, and true ownership of your digital presence.
What You'll Gain with WordPress
- Complete control over your website's code and functionality
- 50,000+ plugins for unlimited functionality expansion
- Superior SEO capabilities and performance optimization
- True data ownership with complete backup and export control
Wix Platform Limitations That Hold You Back
Understanding Wix's limitations helps justify the migration effort. Here are the key restrictions that businesses encounter as they grow:
Code Access
LimitationWix: No FTP or cPanel access
Impact: Cannot modify core files or add custom functionality
WordPress: Full FTP access and unlimited customization
Data Portability
LimitationWix: Limited export options
Impact: Difficult to move content to other platforms
WordPress: Complete data ownership and export freedom
SEO Control
LimitationWix: Limited SEO customization
Impact: Cannot fully optimize for search engines
WordPress: Complete SEO control with plugins like Yoast
Performance
LimitationWix: Cannot optimize loading speed
Impact: Slower websites affect user experience and SEO
WordPress: Full performance optimization control
Third-party Integrations
LimitationWix: Limited app marketplace
Impact: Cannot integrate with many business tools
WordPress: 50,000+ plugins and unlimited integrations
Backup Control
LimitationWix: No direct backup access
Impact: Reliant on Wix for data security
WordPress: Multiple backup solutions and full control
The Data Lock-in Problem
Perhaps the most concerning limitation is Wix's data lock-in. Unlike WordPress, where you own your content and can move freely between hosts, Wix makes it deliberately difficult to export your data. This creates vendor dependency that can hurt your business long-term.
Pre-Migration Checklist
Proper preparation is crucial for a successful migration. Use this checklist to ensure you're ready before starting the migration process.
Essential Preparation Steps
Recommended WordPress Hosting Options
WP Engine
Premium managed WordPress hosting with excellent security and performance
SiteGround
Great balance of price and performance, officially recommended by WordPress
Kinsta
High-performance hosting with Google Cloud infrastructure
Content Export Process
Important Limitation
Wix does not provide a comprehensive export tool. Unlike WordPress, which allows complete data export, Wix requires manual content extraction. This is intentional to prevent easy migration.
Available Export Options
Blog Posts
Wix allows blog post export through Site Actions menu, but this only includes basic text content.
Contact Lists
Customer and subscriber lists can be exported from the Contacts section.
Media Files
Images and other media must be manually downloaded one by one from the Media Manager.
Manual Content Extraction
For page content, product descriptions, and other site elements, you'll need to copy content manually:
Systematic Content Copying Process
- Create a content inventory spreadsheet with columns for page name, URL, content, and images
- Visit each page systematically and copy text content into your spreadsheet
- Right-click and save images directly from each page, maintaining organized folders
- Note special features like contact forms, galleries, or interactive elements
- Document SEO settings including page titles, meta descriptions, and alt text
Third-Party Tools
Some third-party tools claim to help with Wix migration, but results are limited due to Wix's restrictions:
- Website scraping tools can extract visible content but miss backend data
- CMS2CMS offers Wix migration but with significant limitations
- Most tools cannot transfer design elements or Wix-specific functionality
WordPress Setup
Before importing your Wix content, you need a properly configured WordPress installation. This foundation is crucial for a successful migration.
Initial WordPress Installation
Option 1: One-Click Installation (Recommended)
Most quality hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation through their control panel.
Steps:
- Log into your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.)
- Find "WordPress" or "One-Click Install" option
- Choose domain and directory (usually root)
- Create admin username and strong password
- Complete installation and note login details
Option 2: Manual Installation
Download WordPress from wordpress.org and upload via FTP. This gives you more control but requires technical knowledge.
Requirements:
- FTP access to your hosting account
- Database creation privileges
- Basic understanding of file structure
Essential Initial Configuration
Immediate Security Steps
- Change default "admin" username to something unique
- Install security plugin (Wordfence or Sucuri)
- Enable automatic updates for WordPress core
- Set up regular backups with UpdraftPlus
Essential Plugin Installation
SEO & Performance
- • Yoast SEO or RankMath
- • WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache
- • Smush or ShortPixel (image optimization)
Functionality
- • Contact Form 7 or WPForms
- • Elementor or Beaver Builder
- • UpdraftPlus (backups)
Step-by-Step Migration Process
Follow this systematic approach to migrate your content from Wix to WordPress. Each step builds on the previous one, so complete them in order.
Audit Your Current Wix Site
2-4 hoursDocument all pages, content, images, and functionality
Choose WordPress Hosting
30 minutesSelect reliable hosting with WordPress optimization
Export Wix Content
1-2 hoursUse available tools to extract text and images
Detailed Export Process:
- • Export blog posts via RSS feed
- • Download all images from Media Manager
- • Copy page content manually into spreadsheet
- • Export contact lists from Contacts section
- • Screenshot complex layouts for reference
Set Up WordPress
1 hourInstall WordPress and configure basic settings
Choose Theme & Design
3-6 hoursSelect and customize WordPress theme
Import Content
4-8 hoursManually import and format all content
Content Import Strategy:
- • Create pages/posts in WordPress dashboard
- • Upload images to Media Library first
- • Format content using WordPress editor
- • Set up menus and navigation structure
- • Configure widgets and sidebars
Recreate Functionality
2-4 hoursAdd plugins and recreate Wix features
SEO Setup & Redirects
2-3 hoursConfigure SEO and set up 301 redirects
Critical SEO Tasks:
- • Set up 301 redirects from old Wix URLs
- • Configure XML sitemaps
- • Add meta titles and descriptions
- • Set up Google Analytics and Search Console
- • Verify all internal links work correctly
Testing & Launch
2-4 hoursTest thoroughly before switching domains
Pro Tip: Parallel Development
Build your WordPress site on a staging domain or subdirectory while your Wix site remains live. This allows thorough testing before switching your main domain, minimizing downtime and reducing risks.
SEO Preservation During Migration
Critical Warning
Poor migration planning can devastate your search rankings. Follow these steps carefully to maintain or improve your SEO performance during the transition.
Pre-Migration SEO Audit
Document Current SEO Status
Search Rankings
Use tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or free Google Search Console to document current rankings
Traffic Sources
Export Google Analytics data showing organic traffic patterns and top pages
URL Structure
List all important URLs that currently rank well or receive significant traffic
Meta Data
Copy all meta titles, descriptions, and structured data from your Wix site
URL Migration Strategy
Wix uses a different URL structure than WordPress. Planning your URL migration is crucial for maintaining search rankings.
Wix URL Example
yourdomain.com/about-1Wix adds numbers and uses limited customization
WordPress URL Example
yourdomain.com/aboutClean, customizable URLs that are SEO-friendly
301 Redirect Implementation
Redirect Methods
Plugin Method (Recommended)
Use "Redirection" plugin for WordPress to manage redirects through dashboard
.htaccess Method
Add redirect rules directly to .htaccess file for better performance
Server-Level Redirects
Configure redirects at hosting level for fastest processing
Example Redirect Configuration
Add these rules to your .htaccess file or use the Redirection plugin interface
Common Problems & Solutions
Even with careful planning, migrations can encounter issues. Here are the most common problems and their solutions.
!Images Not Displaying Properly
Problem: Images appear broken or don't load after migration.
Causes: Incorrect file paths, missing alt text, or file format issues.
Solutions:
- • Re-upload images to WordPress Media Library
- • Use "Broken Link Checker" plugin to find missing images
- • Update image paths in content to use WordPress URLs
- • Optimize images for web using compression tools
!Contact Forms Not Working
Problem: Wix contact forms cannot be directly transferred to WordPress.
Solutions:
- • Install Contact Form 7 or WPForms plugin
- • Recreate forms with same fields as Wix versions
- • Set up email notifications and confirmations
- • Test thoroughly before going live
!Design Doesn't Match Wix Site
Problem: WordPress theme doesn't replicate Wix design exactly.
Solutions:
- • Use page builders like Elementor for similar flexibility
- • Consider custom theme development for exact match
- • Focus on improving design rather than exact replication
- • Use WordPress's superior customization options as advantage
!SEO Rankings Drop
Problem: Search rankings decrease after migration.
Solutions:
- • Verify all 301 redirects are working correctly
- • Submit new sitemap to Google Search Console
- • Monitor Google Search Console for crawl errors
- • Be patient - rankings often improve after initial dip
!Slow Loading Speed
Problem: WordPress site loads slower than expected.
Solutions:
- • Install caching plugin (WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache)
- • Optimize images using compression tools
- • Choose better hosting if current provider is slow
- • Remove unnecessary plugins and themes
Post-Migration Tasks
Your migration isn't complete once the content is transferred. These post-migration tasks ensure your WordPress site performs optimally and maintains security.
Migration Success Checklist
Ongoing Optimization
Performance Monitoring
- •Monitor site speed with GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed
- •Set up uptime monitoring with UptimeRobot
- •Regular performance audits and optimization
Security Maintenance
- •Regular WordPress and plugin updates
- •Weekly security scans and monitoring
- •Automatic daily backups
Get Professional Migration Help
While this guide provides comprehensive instructions for DIY migration, many businesses benefit from professional assistance to ensure a smooth, error-free transition.
Why Choose BKND Development for Your Migration?
Migration Expertise
- 50+ successful platform migrations completed
- Zero data loss guarantee
- SEO preservation and improvement
Complete Service
- Content migration and optimization
- Custom design implementation
- Performance optimization and security setup
Our Migration Process
Site Audit
Complete analysis of current site
Content Export
Safe extraction of all data
WordPress Setup
Optimized installation & configuration
Launch & Support
Go live with ongoing support
Ready to Escape Wix Limitations?
Get a free migration consultation and discover how WordPress can transform your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export my entire Wix website automatically?
Unfortunately, Wix doesn't provide a complete export tool. You'll need to manually copy content, download images, and recreate the design in WordPress. This is one of Wix's major limitations compared to WordPress.
Will I lose my SEO rankings when migrating from Wix?
Not necessarily. With proper 301 redirects, meta tag migration, and content optimization, you can maintain or even improve your SEO rankings. WordPress often provides better SEO capabilities than Wix.
How long does a Wix to WordPress migration take?
For a basic site, expect 15-30 hours of work. Complex sites with e-commerce or custom functionality can take 40+ hours. Professional migration services can complete this in 1-2 weeks.
What can't be transferred from Wix to WordPress?
Wix-specific apps, certain design elements, contact forms (structure only), and some advanced animations. However, WordPress alternatives often provide better functionality.
Do I need technical skills to migrate from Wix?
Basic migrations require some technical knowledge, especially for SEO setup and redirects. For complex sites or if you're not comfortable with technical tasks, professional migration is recommended.
Can I keep my domain when switching to WordPress?
Yes, you can transfer your domain to WordPress hosting or point it to your new WordPress site. This process maintains your brand identity and existing traffic.
Take Control of Your Website Today
Migrating from Wix to WordPress is more than just a platform change - it's a strategic decision that unlocks unlimited growth potential for your business. While the process requires effort and planning, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investment.
WordPress's flexibility, extensive plugin ecosystem, and superior SEO capabilities position your business for sustainable online growth. You'll never again face the frustration of platform limitations holding back your vision.
Whether you choose to tackle the migration yourself using this guide or work with professionals like BKND Development, the important thing is to start. Every day you remain on Wix is a day you're not realizing your website's full potential.
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