Moving your website from one platform to another feels like a big decision. You’ve built something on Squarespace, but now you’re hitting walls that WordPress could break through. You may need more control over your site’s functionality, or you’re looking to reduce monthly costs while gaining access to thousands of plugins and themes.
The Squarespace to WordPress migration process might seem complex at first, but with the right approach, you can move your entire site without losing content, rankings, or momentum. This guide breaks down exactly what you need to know.
Summary
- Platform Benefits: WordPress offers unlimited customization, lower long-term costs, and complete ownership compared to Squarespace’s restricted ecosystem.
- Migration Process: The five-step process covers WordPress setup, content export from Squarespace, data import, image migration, and DNS configuration.
- Key Challenges: Design recreation, product catalog migration, and SEO preservation require the most attention and planning during transition.
- Best Practices: Using staging environments, implementing 301 redirects, and maintaining complete backups ensure a successful migration without ranking loss.
- Technical Requirements: Image migration needs special plugins, custom code requires manual transfer, and third-party integrations need reconfiguration on WordPress.
Why People Use WordPress Over Squarespace?
The choice between WordPress and Squarespace comes down to control, scalability, and long-term costs. WordPress powers over 43% of all websites globally, and there are concrete reasons why businesses make the switch.
Complete Ownership and Flexibility
With WordPress, you own your entire website and can host it anywhere. Squarespace locks you into its ecosystem, limiting where and how you can grow. If Squarespace changes its pricing or features, you’re stuck with those changes. WordPress gives you complete control over every aspect of your site.
Cost Structure Comparison
Squarespace charges monthly fees that increase as you need more features. The Advanced Commerce plan costs $40 per month just to access features like abandoned cart recovery and subscriptions. WordPress itself is free, and quality managed hosting often costs less than Squarespace plans while offering better performance. Wix vs WordPress for ecommerce shows similar cost advantages when comparing website builders to WordPress.
| Feature | Squarespace | WordPress |
| Monthly Cost | $16-$40+ | $3-$50 (hosting only) |
| Plugins/Extensions | Limited library | 60,000+ free plugins |
| Custom Code | Restricted | Unlimited access |
| Platform Lock-in | Yes | No |
| SEO Control | Basic | Advanced |
Unlimited Customization Capability
Squarespace offers templates with limited modification options. WordPress provides unlimited design possibilities through themes, page builders, and custom code. If you can imagine a feature, there’s likely a WordPress plugin for it. From advanced membership systems to complex booking engines, WordPress handles requirements that Squarespace simply cannot support.
Advanced SEO and Performance Control
WordPress gives you granular control over meta tags, schema markup, URL structures, and site speed optimization. Squarespace handles SEO basics but restricts advanced optimization techniques that can make the difference in competitive markets.
The Wix to WordPress migration guide demonstrates how businesses often migrate between platforms to access better features. The same logic applies when moving from Squarespace to WordPress, you’re investing in a platform that grows with your needs rather than constraining them.
5 Steps When Migrating From Squarespace to WordPress?
A successful Squarespace migration to WordPress requires methodical execution. These five core steps form the foundation of any migration project.
Step 1: Set Up WordPress Hosting and Installation
Before touching anything on Squarespace, you need a working WordPress environment. Choose a managed WordPress hosting provider that offers strong performance, security, and support. Many hosts provide one-click WordPress installations that get you up and running in minutes.
Your hosting choice impacts everything from site speed to security. Look for providers offering SSD storage, CDN integration, automatic backups, and staging environments. Managed hosting costs more than basic shared hosting but saves countless hours in maintenance and troubleshooting.
Step 2: Export Content From Squarespace
Squarespace’s export tool handles basic content but has significant limitations. Navigate to Settings > Advanced > Import/Export in your Squarespace dashboard, then select the WordPress export option. This downloads an XML file containing your pages, blog posts, text blocks, and gallery pages.
What Squarespace does not export: product pages, images (only URLs), audio files, video files, custom CSS, custom JavaScript, comments, and most third-party integrations. You’ll need separate strategies for these elements.
Step 3: Import Content Into WordPress
With your XML export file ready, go to Tools > Import in your WordPress dashboard. Install and run the WordPress Importer plugin, then upload your Squarespace XML file. During import, assign content to WordPress authors and choose whether to download and import file attachments.
The import process creates posts and pages in WordPress while preserving basic content structure. However, formatting often needs adjustment since Squarespace and WordPress handle content differently. Check several pages after import to identify formatting issues requiring attention.
Step 4: Migrate Images and Media
Images require special handling since Squarespace doesn’t include them in the standard export. Install the Auto Upload Images plugin, which scans your imported content for Squarespace image URLs, downloads those images, uploads them to WordPress, and updates all image references automatically.
To trigger the plugin, edit all posts and pages containing images. Use bulk edit functionality to update multiple posts simultaneously, which forces the plugin to process all images at once. For sites with hundreds of images, this approach saves hours compared to manual migration.
Step 5: Update Domain DNS Settings
Once everything works correctly on WordPress, point your domain to the new hosting environment. Log into your domain registrar (wherever you purchased the domain) and update nameservers to point to your WordPress host. DNS changes typically take 24-48 hours to propagate globally.
Most hosts provide detailed instructions for updating DNS settings. Some even offer free domain transfers to simplify management. During DNS propagation, some visitors might see your old Squarespace site while others see the new WordPress site, this is normal and resolves once propagation completes.
| Migration Stage | Time Required | Complexity Level |
| Export from Squarespace | 15-30 minutes | Low |
| Import to WordPress | 30-60 minutes | Medium |
| Image migration | 1-3 hours | Medium |
| Design recreation | 4-20 hours | High |
| DNS update | 5 minutes (plus 24-48h propagation) | Low |
Similar to processes outlined in Webflow vs Wix comparison, migrating between platforms requires careful planning and execution of each technical step.
What Are the Challenges When Moving From Squarespace to WordPress?
Every Squarespace to WordPress migration guide must address the real obstacles you’ll encounter. Understanding these challenges beforehand helps you plan effectively and avoid costly mistakes.
Design, Recreation, and Theme Selection
Squarespace excels at beautiful templates, but those designs don’t transfer to WordPress. You’ll need to either find a similar WordPress theme or hire a designer to recreate your Squarespace look. Page builders like Elementor or Divi can help replicate complex layouts, but expect to invest significant time in this phase. Many businesses underestimate design work and end up with a WordPress site that looks nothing like their original Squarespace design.
Product Migration for Ecommerce Sites
Product migration becomes particularly complex for online stores. Squarespace doesn’t export product catalogs in a WordPress-compatible format. You’ll need to manually recreate products in WooCommerce or use third-party migration tools. This includes product descriptions, images, variants, pricing, inventory levels, and categories.
For extensive catalogs, consider data migration services or working with a WordPress ecommerce expert who can automate the process and ensure product data, variations, and inventory transfer accurately.
Custom Code Transfer Requirements
Any custom CSS or JavaScript you added to Squarespace must be manually moved to WordPress. These customizations often need adjustment since Squarespace and WordPress use different HTML structures. If you relied heavily on custom code for specific functionality, budget extra time for testing and debugging on WordPress.
SEO Preservation Strategies
URLs must remain identical or include proper redirects. Meta titles, descriptions, and schema markup need recreation in WordPress. Internal links require checking and updating. Image alt tags should transfer, but verify this. Any mistake here can tank your search visibility. The top requested features for Wix show how platform limitations often drive migration decisions, but rushing the SEO component creates bigger problems than staying put.
| Challenge | Risk Level | Mitigation Strategy |
| Design accuracy | High | Use a similar theme + page builder |
| Product data loss | High | Export products separately via CSV |
| Broken internal links | Medium | Use the link checker plugin after migration |
| Image quality degradation | Medium | Download originals before import |
| Custom functionality loss | High | Document all customizations beforehand |
Third-Party Integration Disconnections
Email marketing tools, analytics platforms, payment processors, and booking systems connected to Squarespace won’t automatically work on WordPress. Each integration requires reconfiguration, which means potential data gaps during the transition. Create a complete inventory of all connected services before starting your migration.
Performance Optimization Requirements
WordPress requires more active management than Squarespace. While WordPress can deliver faster load times, you need to configure caching, optimize images, choose fast themes, and monitor performance. Squarespace handles these details automatically. This trade-off between control and convenience means WordPress demands more technical attention, especially as your site grows.
Content Structure Changes
WordPress organizes information differently than Squarespace. Categories, tags, custom post types, and taxonomies offer powerful content organization but require thoughtful setup. Poor content structure decisions early in migration create technical debt that becomes expensive to fix later.
What Are the Best Practices When Migrating From Squarespace to WordPress?
Following proven best practices during your Squarespace to WordPress migration process dramatically improves outcomes. These strategies come from hundreds of successful migrations and help avoid common pitfalls.
Create Complete Backups Before Starting
Download every page, image, and piece of content from Squarespace. Screenshot your entire site, including mobile views. Export your product catalog if running an ecommerce store. This backup serves as reference material and insurance if something goes wrong. Squarespace doesn’t offer traditional backup restoration, so this export represents your only safety net.
Build on a Staging Environment First
Never migrate directly to a live domain. Most quality hosts offer staging environments where you can build and test your WordPress site privately. This approach lets you work through problems without visitors seeing half-finished pages or broken functionality. Only move to your live domain after thorough testing confirms everything works correctly.
Map Your Content Structure
Document all Squarespace pages, their URLs, and how they connect. Identify which pages are most important for traffic and conversions. This mapping exercise reveals content organization opportunities and helps plan your WordPress structure. You might discover that some pages should become blog posts, or that content needs restructuring for a better user experience.
Implement 301 Redirects for Every URL
If your permalink structure differs between Squarespace and WordPress, visitors and search engines need redirects to find the right content. Use a redirect plugin like Redirection or Yoast SEO Premium to create redirect maps. Test every redirect manually to confirm it works. Missing redirects equals lost traffic and damaged SEO.
Install Essential Plugins Early
At minimum, you need SEO (Yoast or Rank Math), security (Wordfence or Sucuri), caching (WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache), and backup (UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy) plugins. Installing these early ensures your site launches with proper protection and optimization. Adding plugins after launch can cause configuration conflicts or data loss.
| Best Practice | Priority | Impact on Success |
| Complete pre-migration backup | Critical | Prevents data loss |
| Staging environment testing | Critical | Catches issues before launch |
| URL structure planning | High | Preserves SEO value |
| 301 redirect implementation | Critical | Maintains search rankings |
| Plugin selection and setup | High | Ensures security and performance |
Test Mobile Responsiveness Thoroughly
Choose a WordPress theme that looks great on all devices and test every page on phones and tablets. Mobile traffic often exceeds desktop traffic for many sites, and a poor mobile experience tanks conversions regardless of how good your desktop site looks.
Preserve All Metadata
Each page’s title tag, meta description, Open Graph tags, and schema markup should transfer to WordPress. This data significantly impacts how your site appears in search results and social shares. Use an SEO plugin to ensure all metadata carries over correctly.
Document Your Migration Process
Note which plugins you installed, what settings you changed, and how you solved specific problems. This documentation helps troubleshoot issues after launch and provides a roadmap if you need to migrate another site. In the future, you will thank the present you for this record.
Schedule Migration During Low-Traffic Periods
If analytics show traffic dips on Sunday nights, that’s your migration window. Lower traffic means fewer visitors potentially experiencing issues during the transition. For ecommerce sites, avoid migration during sales, holidays, or peak buying seasons.
The Wix Studio website costs guide demonstrates how different platforms handle pricing and features. Apply similar analytical thinking to your WordPress migration, weighing short-term migration costs against long-term platform benefits.
Run Parallel Testing Before DNS Cutover
Keep your Squarespace site live while testing WordPress thoroughly. Use a temporary URL or staging domain to access WordPress and verify everything works. This parallel approach gives you time to fix problems without rushing or causing downtime.
Key Takeaways
Successful Squarespace to WordPress migration requires planning, technical execution, and attention to detail. Here’s what matters most:
- WordPress offers significantly more flexibility and lower long-term costs than Squarespace, making migration worthwhile for growing businesses.
- The five-step migration process (setup, export, import, media migration, DNS update) provides a reliable framework, though each step requires careful execution.
- Design recreation and SEO preservation present the most significant challenges; budget adequate time for both to avoid compromising your site’s effectiveness.
- Best practices like staging environment testing, complete backups, and proper 301 redirects separate successful migrations from problematic ones.
- Professional migration services make sense for complex sites, ecommerce stores, or when your time is better spent on business operations than technical execution.
Final Thoughts
Migrating from Squarespace to WordPress represents a strategic investment in your website’s future. While the Squarespace migration to WordPress demands upfront effort, you gain a platform that scales with your business rather than constraining it. The flexibility, cost savings, and customization options available through WordPress justify the migration work for most companies.
Every migration presents unique challenges based on your site’s complexity, content volume, and custom features. Some businesses complete migrations in a weekend, while others require weeks of careful work. What matters most is following a methodical approach that preserves your content, maintains SEO value, and delivers a WordPress site that meets your goals.
If the technical aspects feel overwhelming or your site requires complex functionality, consider professional migration services. Expert developers handle the technical details while you focus on business operations. The cost of professional service often proves less expensive than fixing mistakes from rushed DIY migrations.
Ready to explore how WordPress can transform your website’s capabilities? Our team specializes in platform migrations that preserve your hard-earned SEO value while unlocking WordPress’s full potential. Schedule a call with WordPress development agency to discuss your specific migration needs.
FAQ
Is Squarespace Still Good in 2026?
Yes, for simple sites and users wanting minimal technical management. It excels for portfolios and basic business sites but lacks the advanced functionality and cost efficiency that growing businesses need.
Is SEO Better on WordPress or Squarespace?
WordPress offers superior SEO through advanced plugins, technical control, and faster performance optimization. Squarespace handles basics adequately but can’t match WordPress’s granular optimization capabilities.
Can I Keep My Domain if I Leave Squarespace?
Yes. Either transfer your domain to another registrar or update DNS settings to point to WordPress hosting while keeping domain registration with Squarespace.
Should I Switch From Squarespace to WordPress?
Switch if you need advanced functionality, lower costs, extensive customization, or plan significant growth. Stay if you prefer hands-off management and have a simple site without expansion plans.
How Long Does a Squarespace to WordPress Migration Take?
Simple sites take 4-8 hours. Complex sites with ecommerce, custom features, or large content libraries require 20-40 hours. Professional services handle migrations in 1-2 weeks.
Will I Lose SEO Rankings During Migration?
Not if done correctly. Implement 301 redirects for all URLs, preserve metadata, maintain identical URL structures where possible, and thoroughly test before DNS cutover.
What Happens to My Squarespace Subscription After Migration?
Cancel it once DNS fully propagates and WordPress site functions correctly. Keep it active during migration for reference and rollback options if needed.
Can I Migrate Squarespace Ecommerce to WooCommerce?
Yes, but products require manual recreation or CSV import tools. Product descriptions, images, variants, and inventory must transfer separately from the standard XML export.
