Moving your website? We'll move it for free.

Section 01 / What we move

What we move

• Website files. Everything in your site folder: themes, plugins, images, uploads and custom code.
• Databases. Your WordPress or other site database, copied and connected to the new copy of your site.
• Email. Your email accounts on your domain, with a plan for switching mail over without losing messages.
• DNS help. We tell you exactly what to change at your domain registrar, or walk you through it, so your domain points to the new site when you're ready.

Every ParsonsHosting account then has a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate, server-side caching, multiple PHP versions, staging with WP Toolkit and offsite backups three times a week (Monday, Tuesday and Friday). Compare plans.

Section 02 / How it works

How it works: 3 steps

1. Tell us about your site.

   Fill in the short form below. It opens a support ticket, and you'll get a reply from our support team the same day, often within an hour, during business hours (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific, 7 days a week).

2. We copy and check it.

   We move your files, databases and email to ParsonsHosting while your old site keeps running. You get a preview to look over before anything changes.

3. You switch, we stay with you.

   When you're happy, we help you update your DNS. We check the live site and email with you afterward, then you can cancel your old host.

Section 03 / The checklist

What you need to send us

• Your domain name (for example yourbusiness.com)
• Where the site is hosted now
• A login for your current host's control panel (cPanel or similar), or a backup file if you have one
• Where your domain is registered, if it's different from your host
• The email accounts you use on the domain
• Anything unusual: a store, a booking system, custom code, or a deadline

Not sure about some of it? Send what you have. We'll ask for the rest. Please don't put passwords in the form; we'll ask for logins securely in the ticket.

Section 04 / Timing

How long it takes

It depends on the size of the site. A simple site can move quickly. A large WordPress store with lots of orders and images can take days of syncing. Either way, the price doesn't change: most migrations are free, even when they take days. We'll tell you the plan and the timing in our first reply, and nothing switches until you've checked the new copy.

Section 05 / Proof story

A site that was already gone

A fishing guide stopped paying his old host, and the host deleted his website. There was no backup to move. Chris rebuilt the site in under an hour with the Website Builder, using snapshots of the old pages from the Wayback Machine. If your move is messier than a normal copy, tell us anyway.

Chris Parsons has been building websites for 20 years and running servers for 10, and meets customers in person in Central Oregon. More about ParsonsHosting.

Section 06 / Questions

FAQ

Will my website go down during the move?

We copy your site to ParsonsHosting while your old site keeps running. You only switch your domain over after the copy is checked and working, so most visitors never notice the move. We'll plan the switch with you so it happens at a quiet time.

What happens to my email?

We move your email accounts too, and we help you with the DNS changes so mail keeps arriving at the right place. Tell us which mailboxes you use and whether you want existing messages copied, and we'll plan the email switch with you.

How much does a migration cost?

Most migrations are free, regardless of the size of the site. The only things that cost extra are server setup or custom server-side changes, and we quote those in advance, before any work starts.

What if my move takes days?

It's still free. A large site, such as a WordPress store with lots of orders and images, can take days of syncing. That doesn't change the price. Only server setup or custom server-side changes are extra, and we quote those first.

Which platforms can you move?

If your current host gives you access to your files and database, as most cPanel and WordPress hosts do, we can usually copy the site over directly. Some hosted site builders don't let you export a whole site. If that's your situation, tell us what you have and we'll tell you plainly what's possible, including rebuilding it in the Website Builder.

Do I need to cancel my old host first?

No. Keep your old hosting active until your site and email are running on ParsonsHosting and you've checked them. Cancelling early can delete your files before we've copied them. Once everything is working here, you can cancel the old account.