Free Website Migration: What Hosts Move and What They Leave Behind
“Free website migration” answers one question: who pays for a defined move. It does not, by itself, tell you who moves your email, changes DNS, checks a checkout form, or stays awake if the site breaks after launch. Before choosing a host for the free move, pin down what the offer covers.
First identify which migration is being offered
A host may offer a self-service WordPress plugin, an assisted transfer by its team, or a paid professional service for more complicated sites. All three can appear on the same website. SiteGround documents a no-extra-cost WordPress Migrator plugin and a separate manual transfer path; its manual-transfer description covers application database files, website files and configuration of the main site. Hostinger describes free migration from an external provider but excludes some cases, including WordPress multisite and moves between certain Hostinger accounts or plans. The scope is tied to the current policy and the site being moved, not to the word “free” in a banner.
| Job | Ask before ordering |
|---|---|
| Website files and database | Who performs the copy, and is the current CMS or custom application eligible? |
| Email accounts and old messages | Are mailboxes and historical messages included, or is there a separate email migration? |
| Domain and DNS | Who updates web records, nameservers, MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC? Is registrar transfer required? |
| Plugins, licenses and integrations | Who reactivates paid tools, payment webhooks, forms and SMTP settings? |
| Test and rollback | Will the team test pages and forms before DNS changes, and how long should the old host stay active? |
Your website, domain and email can live in three places
Moving site files does not transfer domain registration. Usually you can leave the domain at its current registrar and change only the DNS records that point web traffic to the new site. If you change nameservers, first copy all records that control email and verification. Our domain versus hosting guide explains the separate services; the step-by-step website move covers the cutover.
Email deserves its own line in the handoff. Hostinger’s manual-transfer documentation says website migrations do not include email services and directs customers to a separate email process. SiteGround provides an Email Migrator tool distinct from its WordPress Migrator. Neither example proves what a third host will do for your mailboxes. Ask whether the service moves the accounts, old messages, aliases, forwarders and DNS records, and whether a separate product or fee applies.
“Zero downtime” needs a test plan
Build the destination while the old site remains online. Test the destination URL or temporary host mapping for pages, mobile layout, forms, logins, checkout, redirects and media. Then change the web DNS records at the scheduled time. DNS caches can still send some visitors to the previous server for a while, so keep it running until the transition settles and you have verified orders and mail. For a store, plan how to handle orders or comments written during the overlap; two live databases can diverge.
Keep a backup you control before handing over access. A host’s automated migration is useful, but it is not your independent rollback copy. Our backup guide lists the files, database and restoration details worth saving.
When is paying for a migration sensible?
A simple WordPress brochure site may be well served by a self-service plugin. Multisite, custom apps, large stores, old PHP versions and complex email setups are different projects. Ask for a written scope and price for the actual work rather than buying the cheapest hosting plan and discovering that your site is the exception in the footnotes. Bluehost, for example, documents distinct self-service, limited eligible free and professional migration routes; eligibility depends on the product and situation.
The pre-purchase message to send support
“I have [CMS/version], [site size], [number of sites], [mail provider and mailbox count], [DNS provider], and [store or membership features]. Which migration route applies to this plan, what will your team move, what must I do, what costs extra, and who handles post-move testing?” Save the reply with your order. If email stays where it is, use our DNS checklist for keeping mail working. If support cannot answer the scope, the free migration is not yet a plan.
Sources checked September 25, 2026: SiteGround transfer options, SiteGround email transfer, Hostinger migration eligibility, Hostinger website-versus-email scope and Bluehost eligibility guidance. Recheck current terms before purchase.