Table of contents

1. Prepare for the move 2. Export content from WordPress.com 3. Import content to WordPress.org 4. Rebuild your site’s design and functionality 5. Redirect traffic and preserve SEO 6. Final cleanup and testing Getting started Additional resources

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WordPress Guide → Hosting → Move From WordPress com To org

Moving from WordPress.com to WordPress.org: A complete guide

If you started your site on WordPress.com, you’ve probably noticed its limits over time—especially when it comes to customization and monetization. Moving to WordPress.org gives you full control over your website, with access to thousands of plugins, themes, and settings that just aren’t possible on the .com platform.

Let’s break down the differences quickly.

WordPress.com is a hosted platform that takes care of all the backend management for you—but it restricts flexibility unless you pay for higher-tier plans.
WordPress.org is the self-hosted version, meaning you install the WordPress software on your own hosting provider. It’s free to use, but you’re responsible for setup, updates, and security.

Most people make the switch because they want:

More control over design and features
Access to plugins and custom code
Freedom to monetize however they want
Better SEO tools and performance options

Good news: the move is absolutely doable, even if you’re not a developer. Here’s how to migrate from WordPress.com to WordPress.org step by step.

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1. Prepare for the move

Choose a reliable web hosting provider

You’ll need a hosting provider that supports WordPress. Look for one-click installs, good support, and solid uptime.

Register a domain name (if needed)

If you used a free WordPress.com subdomain (like yoursite.wordpress.com), now’s a great time to register a custom domain through your host or a registrar.

If you already bought a custom domain through WordPress.com, you can point it to your new host instead of buying another.

Set up a fresh WordPress.org installation

Once your hosting is ready, install WordPress. Most hosts offer a one-click setup, which gives you a clean install where you’ll import your old content shortly.

2. Export content from WordPress.com

Use the WordPress.com export tool

Log in to your WordPress.com dashboard. Go to Tools → Export. Choose the “All Content” option to ensure you get posts, pages, images, menus, and more.

Download the XML file containing your site’s content

Once the export is ready, you’ll download a .xml file. This file includes all your WordPress.com content and will be used to import into your new site.

3. Import content to WordPress.org

Install and run the WordPress Importer plugin

In your new WordPress.org dashboard, go to Tools → Import and choose “WordPress.” If it’s your first time, WordPress will prompt you to install the official Importer plugin—go ahead and install it.

Upload the exported XML file

Select the file you downloaded from WordPress.com and upload it through the Importer tool. Large sites may need to split the file or increase upload limits through your hosting panel.

Assign authors and check for missing media

During import, WordPress will ask if you want to assign content to an existing user or create a new one. Choose what works best, and be sure to check the option to download and import media files.

4. Rebuild your site’s design and functionality

Install your theme or find a similar one

If you used a theme on WordPress.com that’s also available for WordPress.org (like Astra or Hemingway), you can reinstall it. Otherwise, find a similar theme in the WordPress.org theme directory or upgrade to a premium version.

Recreate menus, widgets, and customizations

WordPress won’t automatically import menu locations, widgets, or Customizer settings. You’ll need to manually rebuild your navigation, re-add any sidebar/footer widgets, and configure settings to match your original site.

Reinstall essential plugins

Now you have access to the full WordPress plugin ecosystem. Reinstall any plugins you had on WordPress.com and consider adding SEO tools, backups, caching, and security plugins.

5. Redirect traffic and preserve SEO

Set up WordPress.com’s Site Redirect feature

To keep your old traffic and SEO intact, use the Site Redirect upgrade on WordPress.com. It costs about $13/year and sends all visitors and search engines from your old domain to the new one. (If your site wasn’t really getting much traffic on WordPress.com, you might not need this. Your call if it’s worth it.)

Update internal links and verify redirects

After migrating, go through your posts and pages to fix any internal links that still point to your WordPress.com URLs. A plugin like Better Search Replace can help speed this up.

6. Final cleanup and testing

Check content formatting and media

Review your pages and posts for any formatting issues or missing images. Fix broken galleries, reinsert missing media, and clean up anything that didn’t import perfectly.

Test site functionality and fix any issues

Browse your site like a visitor. Check links, contact forms, comment sections, and any interactive elements to make sure everything works.

Update settings and install analytics tools

Configure basic settings under Settings → General and Settings → Permalinks. Then install tools like Google Site Kit or MonsterInsights to track traffic and performance.

Upgrade your WordPress experience

Moving to WordPress.org unlocks the full power of the platform—custom themes, advanced plugins, better performance, and full ownership of your site. If you’ve been frustrated by limitations on WordPress.com, this move gives you the freedom to build the site you actually want.

Next step: Choose a hosting provider with servers and support team members that specialize in hosting for WordPress. Liquid Web’s WordPress hosting options configure business-class servers and support plans specifically for WordPress websites.

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Click through below to explore all of our WordPress hosting options, or chat with a WordPress expert right now to get answers and advice.