**Last Updated: March 2026 | By HostPicksHub Team**
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Switching hosting providers sounds intimidating, but with the right approach, it’s surprisingly straightforward. Whether you’re moving for better performance, lower prices, or improved support, this guide walks you through every step.
## Before You Start
**Don’t cancel your old hosting yet.** Keep both accounts active during the migration to avoid any downtime. Only cancel the old account after confirming everything works on the new host.
**Create a full backup.** Download a complete backup of your website files and database before making any changes. Store it somewhere safe — your local computer or cloud storage.
**Check your new host’s features.** Make sure the new provider supports everything your site needs — PHP version, database type, email accounts, SSL certificates, etc.
## Method 1: Use Your New Host’s Free Migration Service
Most reputable hosting providers offer free website migration as part of their onboarding process. This is the easiest and safest method.
How it works: You provide your old hosting account login details to your new host’s migration team. They handle the entire transfer, including files, databases, email accounts, and configurations. Once complete, they notify you to verify everything.
Hosting providers that offer free migration include Hostinger, Hosting.com, SiteGround, and most other major companies.
## Method 2: Use a WordPress Migration Plugin
If you’re running WordPress, plugins make migration simple:
**Duplicator** is one of the most popular migration plugins. It packages your entire site (files and database) into a single archive. You then upload this archive to your new host and run the installer.
**All-in-One WP Migration** offers an even simpler process. Export your site from the old host and import it on the new host. The free version handles sites up to 512MB.
**UpdraftPlus** is primarily a backup plugin, but it can also restore backups to a different server, effectively migrating your site.
## Method 3: Manual Migration
For non-WordPress sites or if you prefer full control:
1. Download all website files from your old host via FTP or File Manager.
2. Export your database through phpMyAdmin (if applicable).
3. Upload all files to your new host via FTP.
4. Create a new database on your new host and import your database backup.
5. Update your site’s configuration file to point to the new database.
6. Update your domain’s nameservers to point to the new host.
7. Wait for DNS propagation and test everything.
## Updating DNS
The final step in any migration is pointing your domain to the new hosting provider. Log into your domain registrar, find the nameserver settings, and update them to the values provided by your new host.
DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate fully. During this period, some visitors may see the old site and others the new one. This is normal and temporary.
## Post-Migration Checklist
After migration, verify everything works correctly:
– All pages load without errors
– Images display correctly
– Forms work and submit properly
– SSL certificate is active (HTTPS with padlock)
– Email accounts function correctly
– Internal links point to the correct URLs
– Site speed is equal to or better than before
Once everything checks out, you can safely cancel your old hosting account. We recommend keeping the old account active for at least a week after migration as a safety net.
