Top 5 Powerful Free WordPress Website Migration Plugins

No doubt, that WordPress has refined a lot of maddening problems that a marketer or an entrepreneur usually faces. When thinking of a start-up the first doubt that comes in is how to create a website or what to do if you are not a pro at coding.

WordPress with its variety of services, has become an engrossing corner to digitalize our assets in the form of blogs, web portals, online portfolios, or help forums. Neither does it stay away from being a helping hand to create video sites or promote small businesses. Clearly, WordPress is for all.

Now, when you are friends with this stunning website builder, you can not afford to remain away from its plugins which have added more reasons for digital marketer enthusiasts to completely depend on WordPress. Particularly, aiming to provide seamless website placement, these WordPress website migration plugins add convenience to our website without faulting any database or visuals.

Isn’t it amazing?

So what is the wait for, let’s dive into the blog deeply and acknowledge the top 5 free plugins for WordPress website migration.

WordPress Website Migration Plugin – Free Vs. Premium Plugins

Before getting into the comparison between free and paid plugins for website migration. Let’s understand concisely, what are WordPress website migration plugins.

As WordPress itself defined, migration plugins are the tools that help in migrating websites i.e. moving the website to a new host that too fast, easily as well, and hassle-free. It facilitates in:

• Seamless export of entire website including themes, database, etc.
• Eliminating the complex process and completing the process in fewer steps
• Drag and Drop feature to migrate the zip archives
• Providing access to all hosting environments and boosting the website’s compatibility
• Increasing the speed of the website migration process

In the vast pantry of WordPress plugins, you can find both premium as well as free plugins. And which one to consider among the both can be a daunting task to perform. To make sure your goal and plugin selection align effectively, here is a minute website migration guide to bring the pros and cons for each one to your notice.

Premium WordPress Website Migration Plugin 

Pros:

• If you go for a premium plugin to facilitate your migration, you can enjoy additional features, that will be unavailable in free plugins.
• Premium WordPress website migration plugins also facilitate you with end-to-end support if you face any errors or technical problems.
• Premium versions also ensure that you are aware of all the recent updates.

Cons: 

• It is obvious, that opting for paid versions of migration plugins would also bring the cost disadvantage too as they demand time-to-time subscriptions.
• The premium version comes with additional technicalities that can make things harder to operate, especially when you are a beginner.
• Premium plugins might be unable to mold themselves according to the WordPress colors and themes, which can be an obstacle in your journey to build a website. 

Top examples of Premium WordPress website migration plugin 

1. Duplicator Pro: Supports backup and migration of multiple websites. 
2. Solid BackUps: Offers solid back-up and one-click restoration 
3. Migrate DB Pro: Can transfer your staging or developing site to production in just one click.

Free WordPress website Migration Plugins

Pros:

• Opting for free migration plugins for your WordPress site can be cost-effective for your website
• WordPress plugins also facilitate effortless installation, all you have to do is just search for the plugin with its name in the WordPress plugin pantry and then click on install
• You can enjoy the vast variety of free plugins on WordPress for moving the website to a new host

Cons:

• You will not be able to enjoy the plugin in its full potential, as the free version plugins often lack due to limited accessible features
• Where premium versions can support you dedicatedly, free versions lack You might have to take support of automated customer services or pre-installed solution guidelines.
• Sometimes, free versions are designed by beginners, due to which it might be possible that they came out as poorly coded and designed and bring you undesirable outcomes.

Now as said, there is a big-fat menu for free WordPress website migration plugins in its repository. Also, do not forget that a few free versions can also be a scam or less-resulting. For which it is important to know the best options out of all the available ones.

Hence, so you can enjoy the convenience, here is a perfect guide to reflect the top 5 free versions of WordPress website migration plugins.

Best free WordPress website migration plugin

1. Migrate Guru

Migrate Guru can be the best choice if you want to enjoy the hassle-free process of cloning, moving, or migrating your WordPress website. Migrate Guru with its one-click migration process brings ease and convenience to your fingertips. The plugin has the potential to handle up to 200 GB of data without giving extra load to the server.

 Pros 

• Can easily handle large files for website migration without giving strain to the server. This free plugin lets you enjoy large-sized data transportation without any glitches or compromise on speed

• Can migrate any kind of WordPress website without pressurizing the server, which also prevents any situation of site crashes

• Can be easily operated by a beginner too, as it does not demand a pace in the WordPress dashboard. Just, type in the email address and just follow the steps to log in

• Finally, it’s absolutely free. With no cost, it provides the users with so many advantages, which makes it a great deal 

Cons 

• This plugin is not for you if you are planning to migrate your website from a local host to an online host.

• You have to face the limitations of this plugin, as it only allows you to migrate 5 websites per month. However, you can move these 5 websites as many times as you want

• It breaches privacy by bringing the compulsion to share the email address to notify the update or status of the migration process. And these regular updates about the progress can make you feel irritated 

2. All-in-One WP Migration

Utilized by 60 million websites, this plugin has claimed the trust of many digital enthusiasts. With its beginner-friendly interface, this plugin makes it easy to operate even if you have less technical know-how.

It is also easy to install, all you have to do is:

1. Install the plugin
2. Export it to wrap your database into one file
3. ‘Drag and Drop’ the plugin to the WordPress dashboard 

Pros 

• Trusted by various big corporations and government bodies like NASA, Harvard University, IBM, Stanford University, etc. which makes it a testament to its commitment to perfection and seamless functioning

• No limitation on the host or operating system, which makes it compatible with all web hosting platforms improving our website migrating experience

• Seamless auto-replacement of website URL during migration, which eliminates the efforts of users and brings them automated solutions

• Mobile-friendly infrastructure as a benefit makes it a cherry on the cake. This way the website migration will not affect the user experience 

Cons 

• In the free version of this plugin, you have to face a limit on file size. You can only enjoy migration if your file size is equal to or less than 512 MB, making it difficult for the user

• Limited features, to enjoy other features you have to go for paid features. As features like multisite extension, WP CLI commands, lifetime updates are only accessible if you have the premium version

• The slow performance often makes it difficult to adhere to the process, hence it is not the best option if you have website urgencies 

 
3. Duplicator 

Duplicator is also a great option to install if you want a plugin that supports a user-friendly interface, effortless website migration, and simplified backup utility. It utilizes serialized and base64 serialized replacement which ensures a hassle-free process.

Pros 

• Provides the benefit of Zero Downtime during the migration of the website, ensuring uninterrupted access for users and ensuring seamless functionality throughout the transition process

• To eliminate the chaos, it wraps all the related files into one well-organized file, ensuring that every crucial component is well-integrated and easily accessible, thereby streamlining the migration process and reducing the possibilities of errors or data loss

• It does not require SQL scripts for import or export during the website migration process which makes it easy to be operated by someone who has less technical knowledge. It also indicates the solid and user-friendly backend of this plugin

• It has a step-by-step guide that highlights how to operate the plugin functions effectively. This lets the users know the direct and convenient direction to achieve the goal                                                                                                                                   

Cons 

• Like every plugin, this one also lacks additional features like a streamlined installer, cloud storage, one-click restore, and strong database support; until and unless you have the premium version

• It might be a little difficult to connect with the FTP server when using the duplicator, due to inherent issues like firewall restrictions and network configuration problems. This can complicate the migration process, especially for less technical users

• The free version does not facilitate scheduled backups, compelling users to manually initiate each backup. This can be inconvenient for those who need regular, automated backups to ensure consistent data security 

4. UpdraftPlus

With its one-click restoration and backup system UpdraftPlus has gained popularity among all other website migration packages. With the aid of Google Drive and DropBox, the plugin facilitates a faster backup process. This way, faster backups have also become its USP.

With this plugin tool, you can chuck away all your worries about your website being hacked or damaged due to human errors, UpdraftPlus brings the magic stick to provide you with seamless backup plans that will revive your website to the older version. 

Pros 

• Quick and secure backups, restraining any possibility of data loss or corruption. This feature provides peace of mind and reliability, inevitable for maintaining the ethics and consistency of your online presence

• Not only with the premium version, but automated back-ups are also available in the free version. This makes it a plus point for the users, as they can avail of a premium feature without any cost

• This plugin provides versatility, allowing users to back up and transfer a wide compass of files and data beyond their WordPress site, making it a panoramic solution for broader data management

• With more than 15 cloud storage options available, UpdraftPlus brings impressive storage solutions for users 

Cons 

• Not suitable for high-activity e-commerce websites. This can result in scrappy backups or elongated downtime during the backup process. This will gradually start impacting site performance and user experience.

• Many users have shared their feedback about experiencing issues with speed during the migration process. This limitation can be displeasing for those managing extensive data transfers or complex websites, affecting overall efficiency and user experience.

• For additional features like advanced logging and mathematical optimization, you have to buy the premium version as they would be unable to the free version. 

5. WP Migrate DB 

Right from full-site exportation to automated backups, Migrate DB is one of the best choices if you are looking for a plugin that can conveniently migrate your WordPress website. With its commitment to easy and hassle-free task completion, it has gained the trust of 3,00,000 plus users.

Pros 

• WP Migrate DB brings convenience with its ‘find and replace’ option and serialized data structure. It also simplifies database migrations by enabling seamless data management updates of content across WordPress sites.

• Automated data restoration services in WP Migrate DB ensure consistent security of WordPress site data, implicitly creating backups that are crucial for safeguarding potential data from any probable loss or corruption.

• WP Migrate DB provides butter transitions between the development and production process, ensuring seamless and hassle-free transfer of alterations made during website staging. 

Cons 

• Its interface can be overwhelming for users new to WordPress migrations. This complexity may pose challenges for beginners seeking uncomplicated migration solutions without broad technicalities.

• Features like priority email support and push/pull migrations between WordPress sites are exclusive to the premium version. WP Migrate Pro offers enhanced support and comprehensive site transfer capabilities for developers which the free version lacks.

• High dependency on third-party tools like phpMyAdmin for importing exported SQL files, which requires additional setup and familiarity. Due to this limitation, users can face a lot of issues in balancing the website, plugin, and third-party tools altogether. 

Conclusion 

In crux, WordPress has always been a support for all those who are interested in building websites and online portfolios. To add more functionality and convenience there are WordPress website migration plugins. These plugins ensure you do not feel perplexed while migrating the website and ensure quick restoration.

However, the features differ as there are various free and paid migration plugin packages. This is why it is important to know the benefits and credibility each one provides.

FAQs

1. What do I need to install plugins like Migrate Guru?

All you need is:

• Your email address
• A domain for a new host with WordPress installed
• Details about FTP of your destination 

2. What are the key features to look for a WordPress migration plugins?

To be called an ideal migration plugin, it must have features like a beginner-friendly interface, one-click restoration, high speed, and efficiency.

 3. How to know if the free plugins are secured and can be used without any fear?

You can check reviews and scroll through testimonials to check their credibility. But on a safer site, ensure that before initiating the migration process from any plugin you have a backup of your website.

4. Will using migration plugins affect my website’s SEO?

No, if your website has applied SEO effectively it can not be harmed with migration plugins. Most of the plugins ensure to provide seamless and hassle-free migration. But you can check your SEO has remained untouched by:

• Checking permalinks
• Updating internal linking
• Monitoring site performance