Free website migration can reduce the work involved in changing hosts, but the word “free” does not describe a complete scope. Some providers supply a WordPress migration plugin; others move an eligible website for you. Email, domain registration, DNS changes and live-store order synchronisation may need separate arrangements.
This comparison covers ten hosting providers with advertised free migration options or tools. It is a shortlist for checking suitability, not a speed benchmark or a claim that one host is best for every website. Official provider pages were checked for this update; confirm current eligibility before purchasing.
Compare 10 hosting providers with free website migration options
| Provider and official details | Available option | Question before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Hostinger | Advertises free website migration. | Confirm your source platform and destination plan are eligible, and identify what happens to email. |
| Bluehost | Offers WordPress migration tools or services. | Confirm the method available for your plan and whether human assistance covers the whole site. |
| SiteGround | Provides a free WordPress Migrator plugin. | A self-service plugin and a technician-led transfer are different services; confirm any manual transfer charge. |
| Kinsta | Documents free migrations for standard WordPress installations. | Explain unusual configurations and agree a cutover plan for active stores. |
| DreamHost | Documents a free automated WordPress migration option. | Distinguish the plugin from a professional paid transfer service. |
| InMotion Hosting | Offers WordPress transfers with selected plans and services. | Ask which transfer allowance and assistance apply to your exact plan. |
| Cloudways | Documents free managed migrations for Cloudways Autonomous. | Check the chosen product’s current eligibility; do not assume every Cloudways product has identical terms. |
| GreenGeeks | Advertises migration assistance with a detailed migration policy. | Confirm free allowances, source control panel compatibility and manual transfer charges in writing. |
| MilesWeb | Advertises free website migration with hosting. | Confirm the selected plan’s transfer scope, email handling and post-move tests. |
| hosting.com | Advertises free website migration. | Ask for the exact files, databases, email and DNS work included in your move. |
What does free WordPress migration include?
A standard WordPress copy usually involves the database and the files needed to run the website. Your agreement should also identify who configures the destination, checks the site, updates DNS and resolves transfer-related failures. Do not assume that a free tool includes troubleshooting of every theme or plugin.
Website transfer is different from domain transfer
Moving website files does not necessarily move domain registration. You may keep the domain with the existing registrar and update its DNS records to point to the new host. Treat registrar access and website access as separate requirements, and retain business ownership of both.
Email migration needs its own checklist
Ask where mailboxes are hosted, whether existing messages will be copied and which DNS records must remain. A website may load correctly while email delivery fails. Test incoming and outgoing messages after the move, including messages sent by your contact form.
WooCommerce migration needs a final data handover
An active store can receive new orders while a copy is being prepared. Agree how orders, stock changes and customer accounts created after the first copy will reach the destination. Use a controlled cutover window and test payments, shipping, transactional email and stock changes before reopening normal ordering.
Choose a host for the workload after migration
The free transfer is a one-time benefit. Evaluate renewal cost, storage limits, backups, restoration support, resource limits and the maintenance work included afterwards. For an Indian audience, test response times from relevant locations rather than choosing only by the advertised data-centre label.
Explain your website to the provider: a brochure site, WooCommerce store, booking system and membership site have different requirements. Ask what happens when usage exceeds the plan and whether an upgrade requires another migration. Keep the written response with the proposal.
Website migration checklist before changing DNS
- Inventory: list the website, subdomains, databases, mailboxes, scheduled tasks and external integrations.
- Backup: keep a recoverable copy of files and database, with a known restoration process.
- Record the baseline: save important URLs, redirects, SEO metadata and analytics configuration.
- Preview: test the destination using the host’s supported preview method.
- Check functionality: test login, enquiry forms, search, bookings and checkout as applicable.
- Agree the cutover: name the person responsible for DNS and for reconciling new data.
- Retain rollback: keep the old service until the new site, data and email have been verified.
The official WordPress migration guide is useful for understanding the files and configuration involved. For business planning, pair this checklist with our website maintenance guide.
Protect SEO during a hosting move
If the domain and page paths stay the same, preserve their content, canonical tags and indexability. Remove staging-only restrictions from the production copy. Where URLs genuinely change, create a relevant redirect map and test the destinations. Check HTTPS, images, sitemap accessibility and key pages after launch.
Hosting migration does not guarantee better rankings. Monitor errors and search performance, but avoid treating every short-term fluctuation as proof that the new host caused it. If speed was the reason for moving, repeat the original performance checks under comparable conditions.
When VYLINO can help plan the move
If your WordPress site needs content, layout or functionality checks alongside a hosting migration, send VYLINO the current URL, platform, approximate size and business-critical features. We can discuss the website work and coordinate requirements with your chosen host. Contact contact@vylino.com with the brief. For diagnosis before moving, read why a dedicated server becomes slow.
Frequently asked questions
Is free website migration the same as free hosting?
No. A provider may waive an eligible transfer fee while still charging for hosting. Compare the hosting term, renewal price, migration scope and any paid assistance.
Will a free migration include my email accounts?
Not necessarily. Ask whether mailboxes and historical messages are included, and who will configure and test email DNS records. Do not cancel the old service until mail delivery has been verified.
Can a Shopify store be copied to WordPress with a hosting migration tool?
That is a platform migration, not a standard WordPress hosting transfer. Products, customers, orders, URLs, design and integrations need a separate migration plan. Confirm what can be exported and what must be rebuilt.
Can I migrate a WooCommerce store without losing orders?
Plan a final data synchronisation or controlled maintenance window. Identify which orders and stock changes occur after the initial copy, reconcile them and test checkout before the new site becomes the only live store.
Will changing hosting damage my SEO?
It need not, but broken URLs, inaccessible pages, missing content and accidental noindex settings can create problems. Preserve the existing structure where possible and verify redirects, canonical tags and indexing settings.
How long does website migration take?
Timing depends on website size, access, the provider’s queue, testing and DNS changes. Request an estimate for your actual site rather than relying on a universal two-hour or same-day promise.