Bluehost offers free website migration for qualifying WordPress sites when you sign up for a new hosting plan. The free migration covers one WordPress site and is available within 30 days of account creation. Sites that do not qualify, or additional sites beyond the first, can be migrated for a fee through Bluehost's paid migration service.
What Qualifies for Free Migration?
To be eligible for Bluehost's free migration, your site must meet these requirements:
- Running WordPress.org (not WordPress.com)
- WordPress version 4.7 or later with PHP 7.0 or later
- Total file size under 2 GB
- Database under 40 MB
- Migration requested within 30 days of account creation
- One site only. Additional sites require payment.
Domain name transfers are handled separately and are not included in the migration. Email accounts are also not migrated. If you are running WordPress Multisite, each subsite counts as a separate site for migration purposes. The free offer covers only one site, so a Multisite network with multiple subsites will require paid migrations for anything beyond the first.
WooCommerce and Large Database Migrations
WooCommerce stores are eligible for Bluehost's free migration, but the 40 MB database limit catches many store owners off guard. A WooCommerce site with even a moderate order history can easily exceed this limit. Before submitting your migration request, check your database size in phpMyAdmin on your current host.
If you are over 40 MB, you have a few options:
- Clean up the database first. Delete old order records, post revisions, transients, and spam comments. Plugins like WP-Optimize can reduce database size significantly before you check again.
- Use the paid migration service. Bluehost's paid migration has no database size cap and is the safest option for large stores where order history needs to be preserved completely.
- Migrate manually. Tools like Duplicator Pro or All-in-One WP Migration can handle large databases, though you will need to manage the file transfer yourself.
For WooCommerce stores, also confirm that your product images total under 2 GB. Stores with large image libraries often exceed this limit before the database becomes an issue.
Preparing Your Current Site for Bluehost Migration
Most migration problems are caused by the source site, not the destination. A few checks before requesting the migration will reduce the chance of missing files, broken pages, or post-migration errors.
- Update WordPress, themes, and plugins. Running outdated software is the most common cause of compatibility issues after migration. Update everything on your current host before Bluehost’s team copies your site.
- Remove unused plugins and themes. Every inactive plugin adds files that get copied over. Deactivate and delete plugins you are not using. This also reduces the migration file size.
- Check your current site URL settings. In WordPress, go to Settings > General and note your WordPress Address and Site Address. Confirm they match your domain (for example, https://yourdomain.com with no trailing slash). Mismatches here cause redirect loops after migration.
- Note any hardcoded references. If your theme or page builder has hardcoded the old host’s server paths (common in Elementor and Divi), those references break after migration. Run a quick content scan in your current admin to spot unusual file paths.
- Export a manual backup. Even though Bluehost handles the migration, take your own backup first. Export your database via phpMyAdmin and download your files via FTP/SFTP. If anything goes wrong during the migration, you have your own copy to work from.
- Disable caching plugins temporarily. Before migration, deactivate caching plugins like WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache. Active caches can interfere with file transfer or cause the migrated site to serve stale cached content instead of freshly transferred files.
- Check your DNS TTL. If you will be moving your domain’s DNS to Bluehost after migration, reduce the TTL (time to live) on your A record to 300 seconds (5 minutes) at least 24-48 hours before you plan to switch. This speeds up DNS propagation when you make the final switch.
How to Request Free Migration on Bluehost
Step 1: Create Your Bluehost Account
Sign up for a Bluehost hosting plan. The free migration must be requested within the first 30 days of your account being active. If you already have an account and it has been fewer than 30 days, you can skip this step.
Step 2: Go to Migration Services
In your Bluehost dashboard, navigate to the Marketplace and locate Migration Services. Enter the URL of the WordPress site you want to migrate. Bluehost will run a compatibility check to confirm your site meets the eligibility requirements.
Step 3: Install the Bluehost Migration Plugin
Bluehost will direct you to install the Bluehost Website Migration Plugin on your existing (old) WordPress site. Install and activate it, then follow the in-plugin steps to connect your old hosting credentials to your new Bluehost account. The plugin handles the file and database transfer automatically.
Step 4: Review and Finalise
Once the migration is complete, Bluehost's team will contact you to confirm. Review the migrated site thoroughly before going live. Check pages, posts, images, plugins, and contact forms. Issues found after going live may require additional work to resolve, so take time to check everything at this stage.
Step 5: Connect Your Domain
After confirming the migrated site looks correct, connect your domain name to your Bluehost hosting. Update your domain's nameservers to point to Bluehost if your domain is registered elsewhere. The Bluehost support team can assist if you run into any propagation issues.
Migration Timeline: What to Expect
Most users want to know how long the process takes from start to finish. Here is a realistic day-by-day breakdown:
- Day 1: You sign up, install the migration plugin, and submit your request through the Bluehost Marketplace.
- Days 2-3: Bluehost contacts you to begin the process. Response time is typically 2 to 3 business days. If you have not heard back after 3 business days, contact Bluehost support directly with your ticket number.
- Days 3-4: The actual file and database transfer begins. For a standard WordPress site under 500 MB, this usually completes within a few hours. Larger sites may take 12 to 24 hours.
- Day 4-5: Bluehost notifies you that the migration is complete. You review the copied site on a temporary URL before it goes live.
- Day 5-7: You update your nameservers to point to Bluehost. DNS propagation takes up to 48 hours, during which your site may briefly show the old host or the new host depending on location.
In total, budget 5 to 7 days from account creation to your site being fully live on Bluehost. If your 30-day window is running short, contact Bluehost support as soon as you sign up rather than waiting.
What to Do If Migration Issues Arise
Even a clean migration can leave problems that are not immediately obvious. Here are the three most common issues and how to fix them.
Hardcoded URLs Pointing to the Old Host
WordPress stores your site URL in the database, and some themes and plugins also hardcode the old domain in their settings or in the wp_options table. After migration, pages may look correct but links, images, or stylesheets may still reference the old domain.
Run a search-and-replace on the database using a plugin like Better Search Replace or WP-CLI's search-replace command. Replace the old domain with the new Bluehost domain (or the same domain if you are keeping it) across all tables. Check both http:// and https:// variants.
Missing Media Files or Broken Images
If the migration timed out partway through or your uploads folder was particularly large, some files may not have transferred. Check your wp-content/uploads folder in Bluehost's File Manager or via FTP and compare it to the original host. Manually upload any missing folders.
Plugins That Require Reconfiguration After Migration
Some plugins store server-specific paths or API credentials that need to be re-entered after a migration. Caching plugins in particular often need to be flushed and reconfigured on the new host. Deactivate and reactivate your caching plugin, regenerate any API keys, and re-enter SMTP settings for contact forms and email plugins.
Paid Migration Options
If your site does not meet the eligibility requirements, or you need to migrate more than one site, Bluehost offers paid migration through its Marketplace. Pricing varies by the number of sites and complexity of the migration. If you prefer to handle it yourself, migration plugins such as Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration can move a WordPress site manually at no extra cost, provided you are comfortable with the process.
After the Migration: What to Check
Once Bluehost completes the migration, verify the site before you update DNS and go live:
- Preview on the new server. Confirm the homepage loads, images appear, and links work using any temp URL Bluehost provides.
- Log in to WordPress admin and confirm your content, plugins, and settings are intact.
- Test WooCommerce (if applicable). Browse a product page, add to cart, and check checkout in test mode.
- Test forms and email. Submit a contact form and verify you receive the notification.
- Update DNS when ready. Change your A record or nameservers to Bluehost. Allow 15 minutes to 48 hours for propagation.
- Clear caches post-cutover. Purge your caching plugin, browser cache, and CDN once DNS has propagated.
What If I Miss the 30-Day Free Migration Window?
The free migration offer expires 30 days after account creation. Options if you miss it:
- Bluehost paid migration - no site-size cap, available any time. Contact support for current pricing.
- Plugin-based migration - Duplicator, All-in-One WP Migration, or Migrate Guru handle the move at no extra cost for most site sizes.
- Manual migration - export the database via phpMyAdmin, transfer files via SFTP, and import on Bluehost.
If you are just past the 30-day mark, Bluehost support has occasionally honored the free migration as a goodwill exception.
Final Word: Does Bluehost Offer Free Migration?
Yes. Bluehost offers one free WordPress migration for new accounts within the first 30 days, subject to site size and compatibility requirements. Additional sites or sites that do not qualify can use the paid migration service or a manual plugin-based approach.
