How to Move a Website From Wix to WordPress

Wix is a great place to start as a newbie website builder. With its simple drag-and-drop functionality and easy-to-use interface, it’s no wonder why so many people trust Wix to get their site up and running. But after a while, you might want WordPress’s robust platform, flexibility, and control—without breaking the bank. 

Nearly half of all websites are now powered by WordPress, and it’s one of the most popular content management systems out there. With its open-source platform and extensive range of customizations available through plugins, themes and widgets, WordPress allows you to create a fantastic website with minimal effort, all at a fraction of the cost. 

Luckily for you, switching from Wix to WordPress is easier than ever. 

So, if you’re looking for more control over your website design, more features to choose from, and lower costs when running your site, understanding the Wix to WordPress migration process is a must to ensure it’s smooth and you don’t lose valuable time and content. By taking the plunge, you’ll be joining the millions of other website owners who have discovered the power of WordPress.

Wix vs WordPress

You can’t argue that Wix is a quick and straightforward way to establish your initial web presence, but you may need more as your business grows. To help you understand when the time is right for a transition as you scale, let’s explore a few of  the key differences between Wix and WordPress.

• Price: Wix has free and paid plans ranging from $14-$49/month, while WordPress is free but may incur hosting, domain registration, theme, or plugin costs. 
• SEO: Wix provides basic SEO tools but lacks technical SEO functionality; WordPress grants granular control over code and supports popular SEO plugins. 
• Support: Wix has dedicated support, and WordPress has a global community with easy to find answers on forums, YouTube, and a robust array of online resources. 
• Customizability: Wix provides a more simple interface, whereas WordPress offers more customization options.
• Scalability: WordPress is better for growing businesses, and Wix is simpler for smaller projects. 
• Ownership: WordPress allows complete ownership of your site and content, whereas, with Wix, it’s hosted on their servers. 
• Integration: There are more third-party integration possibilities with WordPress due to its open-source nature; Wix offers a more controlled environment. 

Now you’ve seen the clear benefits WordPress can offer, here’s how to start the process!

Part 1: Prepare to Migrate

Preparing to migrate your website can seem daunting, but don’t worry—it’s a relatively straightforward process. Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way! 

1. Assess your current Wix site: Take inventory of what you have, such as pages, posts, images and other content. 
2. Choose a hosting plan: Research WordPress-compatible hosting providers and select the one that best suits your needs. Buddy commonly recommends WP Engine and SiteGround for hosting.
3. Install WordPress: Once you’ve selected a host, install WordPress on that platform to begin the migration process. 
4. Pick a theme, or use a page builder: Select an attractive theme for your website (there are thousands of free options available), or, use a free page build.
5. Prepare your Wix RSS file: Locate the RSS feed on your existing Wix site by adding “/feed.xml” or “/blog-feed.xml” to the URL. 
6. Change permalink settings: To make your website easier for search engines to find, optimize by changing the permalink structure to “Post Name.” 

You’ve not got a solid foundation for the Wix to WordPress migration, and you’re ready to take the next step and transfer your website. And if you’ve made it this far and you’re getting antsy about pulling the trigger, remember: you can always call in a pro to finish the job!

Part 2: Migrating From Wix to WordPress

You now have a few different options to choose from to complete your data transfer.

Using RSS Feed (For Blog Posts and Images) 

RSS feeds (Really Simple Syndication—seriously, that’s what it stands for) are an easy way to migrate website content from one platform to another because they allow you to quickly and reliably transfer all of your posts, images, videos, and more with just a few clicks. Follow these steps:

1. Import Wix Blog Posts 

   1. Download the Wix RSS file from your Wix website dashboard. 
   2. Navigate to your WordPress dashboard, hover over “Tools” and select “Import”.
   3. Install the RSS importer plugin and run it to begin the process. 
   4. Upload the feed.xml file you downloaded from Wix into this plugin in order to import all of your blog posts from Wix into WordPress. 

2. Transfer Images

1. Install and activate the Auto Upload Images plugin on your WordPress site.
2. Re-save all posts to import images from Wix into your newly created WordPress website. 

This plugin will automatically search the content of each post for any image and upload it directly to your new site’s media library, so if you follow these steps you should be good to go. 

Common problem: Poor formatting in the WordPress RSS feed can break it due to errors in the XML markup language. 

Troubleshooting solution: Use a plugin like WPCode that includes smart code validation, and an external tool like W3C Feed Validation Service to identify and fix any issues.

Manually Copy/Paste (For Pages and Content) 

If you’re not comfortable doing a digital dance, there’s always the tried-and-true method of copy/paste. It may be old-school, but it’s a sure bet you already know how to handle this Wix to WordPress strategy.

1. Recreate Wix pages in WordPress

   1. This method of data transfer can be done by highlighting the text on your old site, copying it, then pasting it into a new WordPress page. 
   2. Take advantage of all the styling options available in WP such as font size, color schemes, images etc, to customize to your wishes.

2. Create a Contact Form

To create a contact form page on your new WordPress site that functions similarly to the one on your Wix site, you’ll want to use a plugin like WPForms. 

Common problem: Unwanted formatting may be transferred when copying and pasting content from Wix to WordPress, causing inconsistencies in fonts, colors, and styles that don’t match the theme. 

Troubleshooting solution: Use “Paste as Plain Text” or paste into a plain text editor first to remove formatting, then manually apply desired styling with the WordPress editor.

Using an Automated Migration Plugin (For Complete Site)

You can use a tool like CMS2CMS to export your complete site from Wix to WordPress automatically. This migration plugin makes it easy for you, as it will transfer all content, images, pages and more with just a few clicks of the mouse. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Sign up for CMS2CMS and create your account.
2. Set up the connection between your Wix and WordPress sites.
3. Once connected, you can select the content that you would like to transfer over from Wix to WordPress.
4. Click “Start Migration” and wait until it completes—it’s that easy!

Common problem: Migration may encounter timeout errors, server restrictions, or incompatibilities between platforms. 

Troubleshooting solution: Check server logs for specific error messages and consult the hosting provider if needed. Adjust server settings if they cause a timeout and ensure both source and target sites are properly configured for migration. Consider consulting with plugin support if issues persist, and back up your site before making adjustments.

Part 3: Cleaning Up the Details

No job would be complete without tying up loose ends. Here are some final things to check post-transfer.

• If you had a custom domain on Wix, follow the transfer process; alternatively, purchase a new domain if needed. 
• Go to Appearance > Menus in your WordPress website and create/customize your main navigation menu. 
• Use a custom script to manually add URL redirects if you had a custom domain on Wix. 
• Choose plugins that offer desired features for your website. 
• Notify your readers of the new site and market it on social media. 
• Take time to inspect your WordPress site to make sure everything is working as expected and looks correct.

You Can Always Ask a Buddy for Help!

Migrating from Wix to WordPress is a big step, but it can pay off with increased security and performance of your website. Your hard work will be worth it when you benefit from improved SEO rankings, more control over design and content, and even the possibility of access to additional features like e-commerce capabilities. 

If you want to sidestep the entire process and save yourself a ton of headaches, reach out to the Buddy WDD experts for a helping hand. At Buddy, we understand the importance of having a great online presence and work hard to make the design and development process as simple and pain-free as possible. 

Let’s work together to make your website experience smooth, streamlined, and a standout in your industry!