Whether you're switching hosting providers, moving off a page builder, converting a static site to WordPress, or consolidating multiple sites, "migration" covers a lot of different situations — and the cost varies a lot depending on which one you're actually doing. Here's a straightforward breakdown.
What Counts as a "Website Migration"?
People use the word migration for several different jobs. It usually means one of these:
- Hosting migration — moving the same WordPress site from one host to another, no design or platform changes
- Platform migration — moving from Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace into WordPress
- Static-to-WordPress migration — converting a hand-coded HTML site into WordPress
- Site consolidation — merging multiple smaller sites or subdomains into one
Each has a different scope, risk profile, and price. If you're specifically moving off Shopify, see the Shopify to WooCommerce migration guide for that path in detail. If you're moving a static HTML site, see HTML to WordPress conversion.
Migration Pricing Breakdown
| Migration Type | Starting Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress hosting migration | $150+ | Same site, new host — files, database, DNS, SSL |
| Static HTML to WordPress | $500+ | Same design, converted into a manageable theme |
| Platform migration (Shopify/Wix/Squarespace) | $700+ | Product data, images, and redirects rebuilt |
WordPress Hosting Migration — Starting at $150
This is the simplest case: same WordPress site, same design, just a new host. The work involves cloning the database and files, updating DNS, verifying SSL, and checking that nothing broke in the process — forms, checkout, cached pages, redirects. For a small site this typically takes a day; for a WooCommerce store with a lot of content and orders, it can take longer to verify everything migrated cleanly.
Platform Migration (Shopify/Wix/Squarespace to WordPress) — Starting at $700
This is closer to a rebuild than a simple transfer, since these platforms don't export cleanly into WordPress. Product data, images, and customer information need to be extracted and reimported, the design needs to be rebuilt (or converted from a design file — see Figma to WordPress if you have one), and URLs need careful redirect mapping to avoid losing search rankings.
Static HTML to WordPress Migration — Starting at $500
Covered in detail on the HTML to WordPress page — same visual design, converted into a manageable WordPress theme, with URLs and SEO preserved.
What Actually Drives the Cost Up
- Number of pages and products — more content means more to verify after the move
- Custom functionality — booking systems, membership areas, or custom integrations need to be rebuilt or carefully ported, not just copied
- SEO history — a site with years of rankings needs careful URL mapping and redirects; a brand-new site has much less to protect
- Downtime tolerance — a migration planned around a maintenance window costs less than one that requires zero downtime with staged cutover
How to Migrate Without Losing Google Rankings
- Map every URL — old URL to new URL, with 301 redirects for anything that changes
- Preserve meta titles and descriptions — don't let a migration accidentally wipe out SEO work already done
- Keep the sitemap current — submit the updated sitemap to Google Search Console right after launch
- Monitor GSC for the first few weeks — watch for crawl errors or sudden indexing drops and fix them immediately
- Test everything before DNS cutover — forms, checkout, search, and navigation should all be verified on a staging URL first
Skipping the redirect mapping step is the single most common cause of ranking loss after a migration — it's not the platform change itself, it's broken URLs.
Should You Migrate or Rebuild?
If your current site's design is outdated or was never built well, a migration is a good moment to reconsider a proper rebuild instead of moving over the same design. See the full website development process for what that looks like, or custom website development if you have specific functionality that needs to be preserved or improved along the way.
Planning a migration? I handle WordPress hosting migrations, platform migrations, and static-to-WordPress conversions — SEO-safe, with a clear fixed quote before anything starts. WhatsApp: +880 1761-679353
Related Reading
- How to Migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce
- HTML to WordPress Conversion Service
- How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Hacked WordPress Site?
- Website Maintenance Plans
- How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website?
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Google rankings drop after migrating?
Not if it's done correctly. Proper redirect mapping, preserved meta tags, and a submitted sitemap mean most sites see no meaningful ranking impact. Rankings drop when migrations are rushed and redirects are skipped.
How long does a typical migration take?
A simple hosting migration can be done in a day. A platform migration (Shopify/Wix to WordPress) usually takes 1-3 weeks depending on catalog size and design complexity.
Do I need downtime during migration?
Usually minimal to none — the new site is built and tested on a staging URL first, and DNS is only switched once everything is verified working.
Can you migrate a site you didn't build?
Yes. Most migration projects involve sites originally built by someone else — a short discovery step confirms exactly what needs to move before quoting.
