Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you buy through them. This is a researched guide, not a claim of hands-on testing.
Moving to WordPress.com begins with choosing what you want to bring. A full-site migration, a content-only import, and a transfer between accounts are different jobs. Selecting the wrong method can either leave important functionality behind or overwrite a destination you meant to preserve.
If this operating setup fits your needs, check the current WordPress.com offer while you compare the requirements below.
Choose the migration scope
WordPress.com’s current import guide says full-site migration can include content, media, plugins, and theme. It replaces the destination site’s contents. Content-only import brings posts, pages, comments, categories, tags, and media while leaving the original theme and plugins behind.
If you want a fresh design and only need the articles, content-only import can be appropriate. If the existing site has critical custom functions, a full-site path deserves consideration. Migrating from a different website builder generally brings supported content rather than recreating its exact design.
Account transfer is another operation: it gives the existing WordPress.com site to a different account without rebuilding it. Do not confuse changing the owner with changing the host.
Verify software compatibility first
Current paid plans permit plugins, but the platform lists incompatible components. Check every required plugin and any theme-dependent functionality before moving. Cache, backup, security, automated-content, and file-management tools are common areas to inspect.
Record external licenses and integrations. Forms, newsletter services, payment gateways, and scheduled tasks may need credentials or a new domain authorization after migration. A complete-looking design is not proof those functions work.
Back up source and destination
Save a complete source backup and an editorial export. If the destination already contains content, preserve it before a full migration. The official guide explicitly warns that full-site migration replaces the destination.
Choose a fresh destination when possible. Importing into a site with valuable existing content creates an avoidable reconciliation job. If you need to combine publications, plan categories, duplicate posts, URLs, and media deliberately.
Inventory URLs and search-sensitive settings
Record existing article paths, category pages, important backlinks, and redirects. Keep the same domain and paths where practical. A redesign does not require changing every URL.
If paths change, create a mapping from each meaningful old URL to the most relevant new page. Do not redirect unrelated retired articles to the homepage. A useful visitor arriving from an old link should reach content that actually answers the original need.
Check titles, descriptions, indexing settings, canonical behavior, and verification records after import. A site accidentally left private or blocked from indexing can look fine to its administrator while remaining inaccessible to search systems.
Select assisted or self-service work
The current guide describes assisted migration and self-service migration for WordPress sites, along with content import options. Published timing estimates are not guarantees for every site. Large media libraries, unsupported components, or unusual configurations can require more work.
Ask what is included in the selected process and what you must verify yourself. Supply the relevant access securely. Keep the old host available until the new site passes acceptance checks.
Plan the content freeze
Pause edits during the final copy or agree on a synchronization method. For a blog, a short publishing freeze can simplify the move. For a store or membership site, new transactions and registrations require a more careful cutover plan.
Record when the source copy was made. If you publish afterward, make sure those changes are included before switching traffic. Otherwise the site can lose recent work even though the migration itself completed successfully.
Connect the domain without breaking mail
Domain registration, DNS, hosting, and email are distinct layers. You can often retain the registrar while changing website routing. Follow the documented connection method for your account.
If changing nameservers, copy the whole DNS zone. Preserve MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and service-verification records. If changing only website records, leave unrelated mail routing intact. A website migration should not become an accidental mailbox move.
Verify the new site
- Homepage, archives, and representative article URLs.
- Menus on desktop and mobile.
- Images, downloads, and embedded media.
- Forms and outgoing notifications.
- Mail delivery in both directions.
- Affiliate redirects and disclosure placement.
- Search indexing and analytics configuration.
- Backups and recovery access in the new plan.
Check logged-out views. Review any lost design features after content-only import, and inspect plugin-specific settings after a full move. Test the actual business functions rather than limiting verification to a screenshot.
Cancel old services only after acceptance
Keep a rollback path until the site is stable. Then review the old host’s subscriptions individually. Do not cancel domain registration or email if those services remain there.
Remove migration access, update the operating documentation, and save a new backup. Record who owns the account and how recovery works. The move is an opportunity to clean up control, not just change hosting invoices.
Frequently asked questions
Will content-only import copy my theme?
No. The guide says the theme and plugins stay behind.
Does full migration preserve destination posts?
It replaces the destination’s contents. Back up or use a new destination.
Do I need to move the registrar too?
Not necessarily. Use the documented domain connection method while preserving DNS and mail.
Choose the smallest complete move
Bring the content and functionality you need, preserve stable URLs, and verify the new site before retiring the old setup. A migration is complete when the publication works for visitors and can be maintained by its owner.
Next step
Check WordPress.com through my affiliate link against the requirements above before purchasing. Compare the current checkout and renewal terms, and keep a copy of the offer you accept.
Sources and review date
Official documentation checked October 5, 2026. Features, offers, and account eligibility can change. Editorial recommendations are based on the documented scope, not independent performance benchmarks.
- Migration and import guide
- Plugin access
- Compatibility limitations
- Theme behavior
- Plan tools
Build the business behind the tools
The tools in this guide are part of a bigger picture. At Ecommerce Paradise, I teach how to build and run a high-ticket ecommerce business. Start with a clear business model, then choose the tools that help you execute it.
If you are still figuring out the model, read my high-ticket dropshipping guide. You will understand the relationship between your store, suppliers, customers, and profit before spending money on software.
For product research, use my high-ticket niches list to explore categories and narrow down your ideas. Go deep before you go wide.
Next, work through my supplier sourcing guide so you know how to research manufacturers and approach them about becoming an authorized dealer.
My business formation checklist helps you organize the legal and financial setup. Use it to prepare your questions and confirm the requirements that apply to your business.
Get help putting the pieces together
If you want me to help you work through your next decisions, check out my private coaching. Bring your actual questions so we can focus on what is holding you up.
If you want a complete business build, take a look at the done-for-you store service. Review the scope and choose the support that fits your situation.
Trevor Fenner is the founder of Ecommerce Paradise. His main projects are Ecommerce Paradise, Supplier Paradise, and Review Paradise, which is currently in development. TrevorFenner.com publishes research-based reviews and practical guides to online business tools and remote-work services, with clear affiliate disclosures.