We bring you the absolute best free and premium WordPress migration plugins for any type of website.
When it comes to migrating a WordPress website, the option to do it manually can be tricky. (You NEED experience!)
We know that this usually takes a lot of time and effort.
That’s why a migration plugin is the best solution for you. (You DON’T NEED experience!)
This post covers:
- How we tested the best WordPress migration plugins?
- Top free & premium WordPress migration plugins
- FAQs about WordPress migration plugins
These plugins can download and transfer all your website’s files. Nothing will be left out – from themes and posts to media files and the user database!
Safely migrate your website now hassle-free!
How We Tested The Best WordPress Migration Plugins?
After testing 30 plugins, we found that not all do what we wanted them to do.
Which is a bummer because when you do a site migration, you want all files and database migrated (unless required otherwise), right? But a poor-performing plugin won’t do it comprehensively.
This is why we invested extra hours in ensuring the plugins we list tick all the boxes.
We first checked for reviews and ratings, which gave us a more general idea of the plugin’s quality. Second came update frequency and reading through the documentation and contacting customer support.
Some plugins already failed during these first steps!
But the thirteen promising ones required in-depth tests and reviews.
It’s important to us that a plugin has a great user experience through its simplicity (of use). Not all users have advanced skills, so we always approach the testing phase with a beginner in mind. (This eliminated two more.)
This helped us answer a simple question: “How quickly can we start the migration process?” (We were left with the final nine at this stage.)
Moreover, we also examined whether or not the plugin offers backups and storage, which both are bonus points.
And then one of the more important tests: The quality of migration.
Will the plugin migrate all files (themes, plugins, media & code files) and database (posts, pages, comments, categories, tags, users & WordPress configurations)? Will anything fail to migrate? Does the plugin offer partial migrations?
Remember, if you use Kinsta, they offer free WordPress migrations, regardless of your chosen plan.
THE ULTIMATE 2:
- Best Overall Migration Plugin: Super Backup & Clone
- Best Free Migration Plugin: All-in-One WP Migration
Don’t miss our how to install a WordPress plugin tutorial to do it successfully.
Top Free & Premium WordPress Migration Plugins
1. Super Backup & Clone (Premium)
Our first choice for this list is a HIGH-QUALITY, extremely powerful Super Backup & Clone.
This migration plugin helped us with backups (or you can pick a dedicated free WP backup plugin), clones, and migrations.
And we guarantee it’ll help you, too.
Super Backup & Clone connects to cloud services like Google Drive, Rackspace, Amazon S3, etc.
You can take a snapshot of your entire website’s database and restore it at any time.
Fast and reliable, which is precisely what we were looking for ULTIDA and our clients.
This is an excellent option with unlimited possibilities to migrate any type of website!
Super Backup & Clone features:
- 1,700+ sales
- 3.4/5 ratings (works smoothly!)
- Supports WordPress Multisite
- Easy to set up
- Price: $35 (may vary)
2. All-in-One WP Migration
If you are looking for the most famous free WordPress migration plugin, the All-in-One WP Migration is what you need.
This plugin is a POWERFUL tool to migrate your website without needing technical knowledge. (We let our newbie client use it, and she learned everything on the fly!)
We really like the quick “drag-n-drop” function for unpacking your website file in a new location.
This plugin is our favorite free solution for migrating a website with 0 knowledge.
All-in-One WP Migration features:
- 5+ million active installations
- 4.6/5 ratings
- Regular updates
- Available in 50+ languages
- Supports any host or operating system
3. Duplicator
Duplication is another great and ALL-AROUND migration plugin to backup or migrate your website.
This free WordPress migration plugin allows you to copy, move or clean your website with just a few clicks. We dig quick solutions a lot!
You can backup your files on a local device if you want to do further development with Duplicator.
The power of Duplicator is also in the zero downtime policy when moving, migrating or cloning your WordPress site.
Yup, we highly recommend it!
Duplicator features:
- 1+ million active installations
- 4.9/5 ratings
- Improves your workflow (!)
- Option for site duplication
- Manual & scheduled backups
4. Migrate Guru
If you are looking for a way to simplify the migration process of your website, this is a great solution.
You can transfer sites with a size of UP TO 200 GB with Migrate Guru.
Migrate Guru also offers its servers for managing the website transfer, so you will not have to worry about the pressure on your site.
This free WordPress migration plugin is excellent for migrating multisite networks and large file sizes.
Migrate Guru features:
- 100,000+ active installations
- 4.9/5 ratings
- One-click migration
- Compatible with every web host
- Email alerts for migrate status
5. WP Migrate Lite
WP Migrate Lite is another great option for migrating a website to another host that we really enjoyed testing.
You get MORE CONTROL over how the migration and transfer will go through with this plugin.
This plugin will complete a MySQL data dumb that will export your database.
In addition, WP Migrate Lite does most of the work of replacing the file paths and URLs. You will get an SQL file on your computer when this is done.
Next, for the migration to occur, you must utilize the phpMyAdmin to import the SQL file to the correct database.
Note: The process will be effortless even if you’re doing it for the first time.
WP Migrate Lite features:
- 300,000+ active installations
- 4.5/5 ratings
- Well documented
- Supports serialized data & arrays
- Frequent updates
6. UpdraftPlus
If you are looking for a plugin to backup and restore your website’s files to a new location, this one’s for you.
You can backup your ENTIRE website with just one click with UpdraftPlus. Also, the restoration process happens with 1 click, too.
This plugin completes backups with the help of cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox.
This free WordPress migration plugin is a perfect choice for those who want a plugin that will help them with backups and migration.
UpdraftPlus features:
- 3+ million active installations
- 4.8/5 ratings
- Great support
- Multiple cloud integrations
- Advanced reports
7. Backup Guard
Backup Guard is another all-in-one plugin for backups, file restorations and migrations. However, the migration feature is only available on the PRO version of the plugin.
This WordPress migration plugin will allow you to backup and upload files to other locations like Dropbox.
Backup Guard has a clean interface and many practical features that we enjoyed using.
This plugin is excellent for those who don’t mind purchasing a Pro version to have an all-in-one plugin that will help them with many tasks.
Backup Guard features:
- 40,000+ active installations
- 4.5/5 ratings
- Choose custom folders & tables
- Allows to download backups
- Scheduled backups
8. Backup Migration
If you are looking for a plugin designed mainly for a faster backup process and has a migration function, this plugin is for you.
You can start a manual backup process or schedule a standard weekly (daily or monthly!) backup process with Backup Migration.
Besides, this plugin allows you to define which files you want to backup. However, the free version ONLY allows a maximum size of 2GB. (Pro version supports unlimited sizes.)
We highly recommend Backup Migration if you need a speedy site migration.
That’s. It. Enjoy.
Backup Migration features:
- 80,000+ active installations
- 4.8/5 ratings
- Great support
- Easy to use
- One-click backup process
9. WP Engine Automated Migration
With our last option for this comprehensive list, we have the WP Engine Automated Migration plugin.
You can migrate your website in a few easy steps with this free WordPress migration plugin.
You have to provide the plugin with your WP Engine SFTP credentials, and the plugin will handle the rest.
SO COOL.
This plugin is here to help you migrate your website easily and quickly. Remember, the plugin allows you to work with other projects during the ongoing migration process.
WP EAM features:
- 30,000+ active installations
- 4.9/5 ratings
- Does search & replace for you
- Supports migration of multiple sites
- No technical knowledge required
FAQs About WordPress Migration Plugins
What are WordPress migration plugins?
WordPress migration plugins help you move your WordPress site from one server or domain to another. They automate transferring your site’s files, databases, plugins, and themes, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal downtime.
Can migration plugins handle large websites?
Most WordPress migration plugins are capable of handling large websites. However, for very large sites with extensive media files or databases, it’s advisable to choose a plugin specifically designed for large-scale migrations or consider a professional service to ensure a seamless transfer.
Do these plugins preserve SEO settings during migration?
Good WordPress migration plugins aim to preserve your SEO settings during the transfer. They maintain URL structures, meta tags, and other SEO-related configurations to prevent a negative impact on your search engine rankings.
Are WordPress migration plugins user-friendly for beginners?
Many WordPress migration plugins are designed with a user-friendly interface, making them accessible even for beginners. They often provide step-by-step guides and simple processes to initiate and complete the migration without requiring advanced technical knowledge.
Can I use a migration plugin for backup purposes?
While WordPress migration plugins are primarily designed for transferring sites, many can also be used for backup purposes. They can create complete copies of your site, which can be restored in case of data loss, website crashes, or for setting up staging environments.
How do I choose the best migration plugin for my needs?
Consider factors such as ease of use, compatibility with your current and target hosting environments, support for large or complex sites, security features, and cost. Popular options like Duplicator, All-in-One WP Migration, and UpdraftPlus offer various features tailored to different migration requirements.
::
Note: This article was originally published on April 12, 2022. But our team regularly reviews it and updates it with necessary improvements for accuracy.
