“Free website migration” can mean anything from a full, tested move of your website, email and DNS to a migration plugin and a help article. Neither is wrong, but they’re very different jobs. Before you sign up, ask exactly what gets moved, who does the work, how it’s tested and what happens to your email.
Key takeaways
- Some hosts move everything for you. Others give you a tool and leave the rest to you.
- Email, DNS records and redirects are the parts most often left out.
- A good move is tested on a temporary address before the domain is switched over.
- Keep the old hosting running until you’re sure everything works on the new server.
What does “free website migration” usually mean?
There’s no standard definition. In our experience, offers fall into three rough levels:
| Level | What happens | Who does the work |
|---|---|---|
| Self-serve | A plugin or tool copies the site | You |
| Basic copy | The host copies files and database | Host, with you checking and switching DNS |
| Full move | Site, email and DNS moved, tested and switched over | Host, start to finish |
A self-serve tool is fine for a simple site if you’re comfortable with hosting panels. For a business site with email and an online shop, the difference between levels is the difference between a quiet weekend and a lost week.
What is often left out?
- Email. Mailboxes, old messages and passwords are often excluded, or moved without the old mail.
- DNS records. Mail, verification and email security records can go missing when DNS moves. Lost records are a common cause of email failing after a move.
- Extra sites. Many offers cover one website. Subdomains, staging copies and second sites may cost extra.
- Website builders. A Wix or Squarespace site can’t simply be copied to new hosting. It needs rebuilding, as our guide to moving from Wix to WordPress explains.
- Redirects. If page addresses change, old links and search rankings need redirects.
- Testing. Some hosts copy the site and call it done. Nobody checks the forms or checkout.
What should I ask before I accept a free migration?
- Who does the move? You, with a tool, or the host’s staff?
- What’s included? Files, database, email accounts, old mail and DNS records.
- How many sites? Check subdomains and second sites.
- How is it tested? Ask whether they check pages, forms and checkout on a temporary address before switching.
- When does the switch happen? Pick a quiet time, and freeze content changes and orders if needed.
- What if something breaks? Ask who fixes it, and how long the old copy is kept.
Also ask who will change the DNS. If your domain, DNS and email are with different companies, make a list before the move starts. A domain and DNS management service keeps those records in one place, so nothing gets lost.
What does a good migration look like?
A careful move follows the same pattern, whatever the host. Our step-by-step website migration plan covers it in detail. In short:
- Lower the DNS TTL first. TTL controls how long DNS records are cached, and a longer TTL means changes “take longer to go into effect” (Cloudflare). Google suggests lowering it at least a week before a move.
- Test before switching. Check the site on the new server using a temporary address.
- Keep the old hosting running. Google advises shutting it down only “when you’re confident” that visitors are reaching the new server (Google Search Central).
- Redirect changed addresses. If URLs change, Google recommends permanent 301 or 308 redirects, kept for at least a year (Google Search Central).
Leaving a big provider brings its own quirks, such as email bundled with the hosting or domains held in the same account. Our guide on how to move a website from GoDaddy covers them.
What’s included with our hosting?
Every plan includes free website migration, along with free SSL. Your site moves to NEXTDC data centres in Brisbane and Melbourne. Ask us every question on the list above before you sign up, and we’ll tell you exactly what your move involves.
If you’re not sure which plan fits, compare our hosting plans. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee if the new home isn’t right.
Frequently asked questions
Will my website go down during a migration?
It shouldn’t, if the move is planned. The site is copied and tested on the new server while the old one keeps running. When the domain switches, visitors move across gradually as DNS updates. Shops may pause orders briefly so no sales are lost between the final copy and the switch.
How long does a website migration take?
A small WordPress site can usually be copied and tested within a day or two. Larger sites, shops and email take longer. Allow extra time before the switch for lowering the DNS TTL, and keep the old hosting for a few weeks afterwards in case anything was missed.
Will my email move too?
That depends on the host and on where your email lives now. If email is with your current web host, it needs moving as well. If it’s with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, it stays put, but its DNS records must be copied exactly. Ask before the move starts.
Does migrating my website affect SEO?
Not if the addresses stay the same and the new server is fast and reliable. If page addresses change, set up permanent redirects from each old address to its new one. Google recommends keeping those redirects for at least a year.
What does a paid migration cost if it isn’t free?
It varies widely with the size of the site, the email involved and how much testing is done. Before paying, compare against hosts that include the move. A free migration that covers email, DNS and testing is worth more than a cheap plan with a paid move.
Sources
- Time to Live (TTL), Cloudflare docs
- Change your hosting without URL changes, Google Search Central
- Site moves with URL changes, Google Search Central