WordPress migration cost typically runs $250–$2,500 for professional help, depending on whether you are moving hosts, changing domains, or rebuilding from another platform. DIY costs less in dollars and more in risk — especially for stores, multisite networks, or sites where downtime has a price tag.
Everything below is an estimate, not a quote. Actual fees depend on your inventory, plugin stack, and how many URLs change. A 15-minute consult produces a fixed fee before work starts.
Cost ranges by migration type
| Migration type | Typical estimate (USD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Simple blog — host-to-host, same domain, under 2GB | $250–$600 | 1–3 days |
| Business site — host move + cache/CDN reconfiguration | $400–$900 | 2–4 days |
| Domain change with redirect map | $350–$800 | 2–5 days |
| WooCommerce store — host or domain move | $600–$1,500 | 3–7 days |
| Wix to WordPress | $800–$2,000 | 2–4 weeks |
| Squarespace to WordPress | $800–$2,000 | 2–4 weeks |
| Webflow to WordPress | $1,000–$2,500 | 2–5 weeks |
| WordPress multisite network | $1,000–$2,500 | 1–2 weeks |
| Staging-to-production push (scoped) | $200–$500 | 1–2 days |
| Fix a broken migration (repair job) | $300–$1,200 | 1–5 days |
These align with the pricing table on WordPress migration services.
What drives the price up
Site size and complexity
File size matters less than database complexity. A 500MB site with 80 plugins and WooCommerce Subscriptions is harder than a 3GB media-heavy blog with five plugins.
Price drivers:
- Database row count (posts, orders, revisions, Action Scheduler queue)
- Number of active plugins, especially page builders and ecommerce extensions
- Custom code in theme functions.php or mu-plugins
- Multisite vs single site
- Multilingual setup (WPML, Polylang) with duplicate content paths
URL and domain changes
Same-domain host moves are the cheapest migration category. Every URL that changes needs a 301 redirect, Search Console update, and testing. A rebrand with 200+ indexed URLs adds hours of redirect mapping and QA.
See change WordPress domain without losing SEO.
Platform source
Host-to-host WordPress moves are copy-and-verify work. Platform moves are rebuild projects:
- Wix: limited export; pages often rebuilt manually
- Squarespace: blog exports via XML; commerce and pages need custom handling
- Webflow: CMS export plus design recreation in WordPress
Platform migrations include content QA, URL mapping, and often design parity work. Guides: Wix, Squarespace, Webflow.
Ecommerce and transactional plugins
WooCommerce migrations require checkout testing, payment gateway re-authentication, webhook URL updates, tax/shipping recalculation checks, and email template verification. A broken checkout discovered on Monday morning costs more than the migration fee.
Downtime requirements
Standard migrations accept 5–30 minutes of DNS propagation blur. Zero-downtime cutovers — reverse proxy, database sync, careful sequencing — add $200–$500 to the estimate. Details: migrate WordPress without downtime.
Failed previous attempts
Repair jobs cost $300–$1,200 because the first step is forensic: find what the previous migration broke (serialized data, wrong URLs, partial file copy), restore from backup if possible, then redo the move correctly. See fix WordPress migration errors.
DIY cost breakdown
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Your time (4–16 hours for simple host move) | Opportunity cost |
| Premium migration plugin (All-in-One WP Migration unlimited) | ~$69 one-time |
| Duplicator Pro | ~$79/year |
| New hosting (annual) | $50–$600+/year depending on host |
| Domain/DNS | Usually unchanged |
| Downtime revenue loss | Variable — often the hidden cost |
DIY is rational when the site is small, non-transactional, and you have staging access on both hosts. It is not rational when the site generates leads or sales daily. Decision guide: when to hire WordPress migration help.
What is included in a professional migration fee
A scoped migration at $250–$2,500 (estimate) typically includes:
- Pre-migration inventory and checklist execution
- Full backup of source
- File and database transfer with serialization-safe URL updates
- SSL and HTTPS configuration
- Permalink and redirect setup
- Form, checkout, and email testing
- Post-migration monitoring checklist
- Rollback plan documentation
What is usually extra
| Add-on | Typical estimate (USD) |
|---|---|
| Content rewriting during platform move | $50–$150/page |
| Custom theme build on destination | $2,000–$8,000+ (separate project) |
| SEO redirect map for 500+ URLs | $300–$800 |
| Ongoing hosting management | Monthly retainer |
| Performance optimization post-migration | $300–$1,200 |
| Multilingual URL structure rebuild | $500–$1,500 |
Free host migration vs paid developer
Many hosts advertise "free WordPress migration." That usually means:
- File and database copy to their server
- Basic DNS guidance
- No guarantee on plugin reconfiguration, email, forms, or SEO verification
Free migration is a customer acquisition tool, not a finished deliverable. If the host migration fails or skips testing, you pay a developer for a repair job anyway.
How to get an accurate quote
Bring this to a consult:
- Live URL and destination URL (if different)
- Hosting provider on both ends
- Approximate page/post count
- Ecommerce yes/no — order volume if yes
- Whether URLs or domain change
- Plugin list or screenshot of Plugins screen
- Previous migration attempts and what broke
Fixed-fee quotes beat hourly billing for migrations. Hourly opens the door to scope creep when the database has corrupted serialized options or a plugin hard-coded the old domain in fourteen places.
Cost vs risk matrix
| Site profile | DIY risk | Recommended budget |
|---|---|---|
| Personal blog, <50 posts, same domain | Low | DIY or $250–$400 |
| Local business site, contact form, same domain | Medium | $350–$600 |
| Content site, 500+ posts, ad revenue | Medium–High | $500–$900 |
| WooCommerce, <100 orders/month | High | $600–$1,200 |
| WooCommerce, 100+ orders/month | Very high | $900–$1,500+ |
| Platform switch (Wix/Squarespace/Webflow) | Very high | $800–$2,500 |
| Multisite network | Very high | $1,000–$2,500 |
FAQs
Is $250 enough for a real WordPress migration?
Yes, for a straightforward same-domain host move on a small site with no ecommerce and a clean plugin stack. It is not enough for platform switches, multisite, or stores with custom checkout flows.
Why do Webflow migrations cost more than Wix?
Webflow exports CMS content but not the full design system. Recreating interactions, responsive layouts, and CMS relationships in WordPress takes more build time than a Wix page rebuild.
Do migration costs include hosting?
No. You pay the hosting provider separately. Migration fees cover the move, configuration, and verification.
Can I reduce cost by doing part of the work myself?
Yes. Common split: you provision hosting and DNS access; the developer handles transfer, search-replace, testing, and cutover. Saves 1–2 hours but not the critical verification steps.
Are there hidden costs after migration?
Watch for: new SSL requirements, premium plugin re-licensing on the new domain, CDN reconfiguration, email deliverability fixes, and Search Console re-verification. A good migration scope lists these upfront.
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Get a fixed-fee estimate for your site. WordPress migration services start with a scoped consult — no surprise invoices.
Book a free 15-minute migration consult.
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