WordPress Migration Services Everything You Need to Know

There are few things worse than discovering that your WordPress hosting provider is not up to your standards, especially if youre new to their service. If you find yourself in this situation, employing one of the many WordPress migration services available and jumping ship is a solid plan. While its not the only reason for migrating your site, its a pretty common one.Over time, the community around our favorite CMS has rallied to develop several WordPress migration services – both free and premium – to make this process as painless as possible.In this piece, well introduce you to four services – two free and two premium – and help you to decide which one is right for you along the way. However,  before we get to that, lets talk a bit about WordPress migrations and the most common causes behind them:What is a WordPress migration?Simply put, a WordPress migration is the process of moving a  WordPress install from one server to another without affecting i ts functionality.  There are several reasons why you  would want to go ahead with this, such as:Moving to a better hosting provider. In this context, better could mean anything –  for example,  lower prices or  faster loading times.Pushing  a local WordPress site  to a live server.Moving a site from a subdomain to the main directory.If you fall into any of these categories, and have put off migrating your site because the process sounds complicated, were here to show  you otherwise! Lets take a look at four of the best WordPress migration services available.The best free WordPress migration toolsThe two free tools featured below are manual solutions for migrating WordPress sites. Although theyre  free, both of them are solid  solutions if youre comfortable with migrating your site.1. Duplicator Duplicator WordPress Migration Plugin Author(s): Snap CreekCurrent Version: 1.3.22Last Updated: September 12, 2019duplicator.1.3.22.zip 98%Ratings 17,714,312 Downloads WP 4.0+Requires Duplicator is a WordPress plugin that  enables you to do two things: create a copy – or duplicate – of your site, then install it somewhere else. After installing the plugin, youll find a new Duplicator tab on your WordPress dashboard.  Its here you create and administer your duplicates (or packages), and the process is simple.Each new package includes  an installer, enabling you to set it up elsewhere using a process similar to WordPress five-minute install  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ without the need for Duplicator on your new site.Key featuresProvides you with a list of past copies, and enables you to create new duplicates quickly.Scans your site both before and after the process to ensure it went smoothly.Creates scheduled backups and uploads them to the cloud (via the  premium version).Why you should use DuplicatorDuplicator keeps the migration process simple (which is ideal for first-timers), and runs its own diagnostics to ensure your site is copied over correctly.2. All-in-One WP Migration All-in-One WP Migration Author(s): ServMaskCurrent Version: 7.8Last Updated: October 1, 2019all-in-one-wp-migration.7.8.zip 94%Ratings 24,859,128Downloads WP 3.3+Requires All-in-One WP Migration offers similar functionality to Duplicator, albeit with some slight differences. The plugins  functionality is spread across three sections within its admin screen –  Export, Import, and Backups. The first enables you to create copies of your site, the second handles  uploads, and the third provides a safety net in case your host doesnt play nicely with big files.Moving your site is as simple as installing WordPress on your new server, setting up this plugin, then  using the Import function.Key featuresEnables you to upload your copy via the dashboard, or through File Transfer Protocol (FTP) using its Backup option.Excludes some components from the migration process, such as themes and plugins, if set.Tested extensively across many popular hosting providers.Why you should use All-in-One WP MigrationThis plugin is perfect for users who  dont want to mess around with separate installation scripts, such as Duplicators. All-in-One WP Migration enables you to handle the entire moving process without leaving your dashboard.The best premium WordPress migration servicesUnlike the above tools, the following two WordPress migration services take the entire process off your hands in exchange for a fee. This doesnt necessarily make them any better than a free tool – its simply a matter of convenience and budget. Lets take a look!1. Valet.ioFormerly known as WP Valet, this company rebranded itself to Valet.io partly to shed their image as just a WordPress migration solution. Theyre still one of the most renowned names in the migration business, but they also offer a plethora of management services including security monitoring, premium plugin support, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) audits, and more. Theyre basically a one-stop shop for WordPress users who need any kind of assistance.Key featuresValet.io  can handle WordPress migrations on any scale.They offer plenty of secondary services, including marketing, design, web development, and big-picture strategizing.Why you should use Valet.ioValet.io is the perfect solution for users who need a professional migration service, and are interested in receiving ongoing assistance for their WordPress-related projects.PriceThey handle rates on a case-by-case basis – youll need to get in touch with them for a consultation.2. FantaskticFantasktic is a company dedicated mostly to WordPress migrations. They can even help you migrate your non-WordPress site to a self-hosted WordPress setup in some cases.In addition, they also offer non-migration  support services related to any bugs you encounter  while using WordPress. In fact, when the company launched back in 2013 it was devoted solely to bug fixing, so theyre experienced in a wide variety of areas.Key featuresRegular migration usually takes up to 72 hours – without any downtime.Handles migrations from non-WordPress sites to self-hosted WordPress.Post-migration support, including bug fixes.Why you should use FantaskticWhile Fantasktic offers a whole host of WordPress support services, their primary business lies in migrations. Theyre a good choice for users who just need to get a site up and running  without any hiccups.PriceWordPress migrations start at $99 for a single install, and their support services are priced on a case-by-case basis.ConclusionA WordPress migration is similar to moving into a new apartment – its not necessarily that complicated, and you could  hire people to do it for you, but it always presents a hassle. Fortunately, all of  the WordPress migration services  weve covered in this post are well up to the task. Lets recap:Duplicator (free): A tool to create and redeploy copies of your website, including a dia gnostic process.All-in-One WP Migration (free): This tool enables you to migrate WordPress sites directly  from your dashboard.Valet.io (requires a consult): This migration service doubles as a premium solution for all kinds of WordPress-related services.Fantasktic ($99): A simple migration service with fixed fees.Have you ever had to use any of these WordPress migration services? Share your experiences with us in the comments section below!