Useful Guide on How to Switch from Wix to WordPress

Are you thinking of switching from Wix to WordPress?

We do agree that Wix is used for creating websites quickly and easily. The only reason why Wix users think of switching to WordPress is its limitations.

They have very few options to work with and in case if there is a requirement for additional features, then the cost is too high.

So, to bring the best solution to this problem, it is suggested to consider Wix to WordPress website migration.

What is Wix?

Wix is a cloud-based website building platform, which lets you create a website or online store in a simple and hassle-free way in just a few seconds. No matter, whether you are just a beginner and don’t have technical skills, you can easily use it.

When to use Wix?

Its powerful template editor gives you complete freedom clubbed with full creative control. You don’t even have to deal with the coding part at all! You can easily update and edit a website with great ease and complete control.

It has useful tools such as ADI, SEO, and analytics for users, so that they can get robust performance for their website. Whatever your niche may be, Wix has suitable templates, tools, and apps that suit your needs. 

You can use Wix when you want to:

• Host an online forum
• Build an online store for selling digital and physical products
• Collect contact details
• Book an appointment
• Do blogging

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a web publishing software, which can be used to create a website, app, or blog. This open-source CMS is designed by the community and is loaded with features mostly required by website creators.

You need not have the technical knowledge to build a website using this user-friendly platform. It allows you to customize each aspect of the website in your desired manner.

When to use WordPress? 

It has a plethora of forums, WordPress blogs, online documentation, dedicated resources, courses, and a lot more. Apart from creating a simple blog, it is possible to create large and complex websites for online stores and businesses. This CMS is designed with crucial elements like security, performance, and SEO, regardless of its focus or size aspect. 

You can use WordPress for:

• Online Portfolios
• Affiliate Websites
• News sites
• E-commerce store
• Community hubs
• Business websites development

Why Transfer Wix to WordPress?

Here, we will help you to know the reasons which call for Wix to WordPress website migration:

Ownership

With Wix, you don’t get ownership of your website at all. Whereas when you use WordPress you get ownership of everything from a domain name, website, hosting to content. 

Themes and Design options

• When you use Wix, you would often be bounded with limitations in themes and design options. It has around 500 HTML templates, which comprises of code, which cannot be edited in any case.
• This is not the case with WordPress. Its Theme Directory has about more than 5,000 free and 1000s of premium themes. This gives you freedom in design and theme options to choose from.

Limitations

• Being a basic cookie-cutter platform, Wix limits your website in numerous ways. WordPress is a free and open-source CMS, which has endless possibilities.
• The main reason as to why WordPress has gained much popularity and demand among other platforms is that it is fully customizable and fits your specific needs in the best possible way.

SEO Aspect

In Wix, you need to manually set up for SEO options in the correct way, so that it gives you the desired results. Whereas in WordPress it offers amazing SEO plugins (Yoast SEO, Rank Math SEO, AIO SEO Pack), which proves helpful in optimizing your website and its content in the best way.

Plugins and Apps

With Wix, you get hundreds of free and premium applications in its App market.

With WordPress, it is altogether different as it has over 59,000+ WordPress plugins, which when added to the website can add great functionality to your website.

Website Development and Support Cost

• Even though you can use Wix Free version, but the only drawback is its annoying ads can drive you crazy. Its paid plans can vary anywhere between $10-25 monthly based on your specific needs.
• With WordPress, you just need to pay $10/year for domain name registration and only a few dollars/month for hosting purposes.

Steps to migrate from Wix to WordPress

Before you decide to migrate to WordPress from Wix, you need to take into consideration a few important things and pre-migration steps.

Pro Tips: Always consult a trusted WordPress development company for WordPress migration services from any other CMS to avoid any website development and design issues.

Step 1: Purchase Hosting

• You should sign-up in order to available hosting service for WordPress website.
• After selecting the hosting provider and type of hosting you require, you should then probably select a suitable plan, which has suitable bandwidth, security, and storage required for your website.

Step 2: Temporary Domain

• To move all the content from Wix, you should set up a temporary domain. It will be a different URL altogether as your old site would be still LIVE.
• This temporary domain step is applicable only if you are using a premium domain in Wix, if you are using a free site, then it is not required at all.

Step 3: Install WordPress

• After you purchase hosting, then you can install WordPress on your website. It has been observed that several quality hosts offer single-click installation in cPanel.
• This makes it easy and quick to use. It gives you complete control and freedom to customize your website by making use of plug-ins and themes.

Step 4: Change New Website’s Permalink Settings

It is very important to change the permalink structure of your website via WordPress dashboard for the purpose of optimizing it for websites. The permalink settings you do will help in determining the address of each blog post. 

Step 5: Select & Install Theme

In WordPress, you have several themes to choose from. You can install the desired best WordPress theme from the WordPress dashboard. Apart from free themes, there are premium themes available too. 

Step 6: Use RSS Feed

• First of all, you need to locate your RSS Feed. This can be achieved by adding /feed.xml at the end of your website URL. Once RSS opens, right-click on any part of the page and select the option ‘Save As’.
• One important thing to remember is that please change the file extension to .xml before you save it to your desktop.
• After this, in the WordPress dashboard go to Tools and then select option Import. Scroll down a bit, there you will find the RSS importer and then in it click Run importer. Click select file from the desktop and click upload file and then import button.

NOTE: With RSS feed, you can transfer only your posts, in case of media and pages, you need to import them separately.

Benefits of Wix to WordPress Website Migration

1. Ease of use 

Wix platform is basically for beginners and for those users, who don’t require complex web presence. But it has a major drawback such as limited design and development options.

With WordPress, the learning curve is steeper, but the flexibility it offers is simply amazing. It is easy to use, you don’t require in-depth coding knowledge at all. 

2. Customization and design

We do agree that with Wix, you get design and customization options, but there is a limitation to it as well.

On the contrary; with WordPress, you can make unlimited customizations to any aspect of your website in the desired manner. The selection of themes and templates offered by WordPress is unparalleled compared to Wix. 

>>More: 10 Tips to Optimize Your WordPress Website for Mobile Users

3. Functionality and Plugins

Themes help in creating the look and feel of your website, but still, you need specific functionalities. This is the situation where you would require plug-ins and apps.

With Wix, you get over 200 apps, which can be added to your website.

WordPress offers 59,000+ plugins mostly of which are free. With WordPress you get the option to make use of advanced features to your website, thereby ensuring the best user experience.

4. Pricing

This is one of the important factors which website owners have to consider at the time of deciding on a website builder and marketing perspective. It also includes expenses like maintenance charges and set-up costs.

Even though Wix is a free website builder, but still you have to bear advertisements on your website. Besides this, you don’t even have the right to use a custom domain name.

WordPress is a free open-source platform. You just need to pay for hosting and a unique domain name. Other costs include premium plug-ins and themes and not to mention developer costs too.

5. Blogging

Even though Wix allows you to add blogs to your website, but still it has been observed that several users find the lack of a commenting system as a downside of this platform.

On the other hand, WordPress is best as it has a native commenting system and waits there’s more to it. It offers attractive blog layouts and advanced content functionality. 

6. Migration

When it comes to the migration process with Wix, it becomes very difficult to move your data to other platforms. It requires a manual procedure to download pages, images, and other website content.

With WordPress, the whole migration process becomes much simpler. With just one click, you can export all the data of your website and can migrate it to other platforms of your choice.

Related Article >> Wix vs WordPress – Which is Best For You?

FAQs

Conclusion

Are you ready to unleash the true potential of your website have full control over its customization? Look no further! Get in touch with professional custom WordPress development company today and transform your Wix site into a fully customizable and powerful WordPress website.

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