Table of contents

Why move from Squarespace to WordPress? What you’ll need before you migrate Step 1: Export your content from Squarespace Step 2: Set up WordPress and choose a theme Step 3: Import your Squarespace content into WordPress Step 4: Manually recreate pages and layouts Step 5: Set up redirects and update links Step 6: Optimize and customize your new WordPress site Step 7: Launch and test everything Optional: Use a plugin or hire a pro Next steps Additional resources

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WordPress Guide → Vs → Squarespace

How to migrate a website from Squarespace to WordPress

Squarespace is great when you’re just getting started online. It makes designing a website feel easy—but it doesn’t give you much freedom once you want to grow. WordPress is the next step for a lot of website owners who want more control, better SEO, and the ability to customize anything.

If you’re ready to make the switch, this guide will walk you through each step of migrating your site from Squarespace to WordPress—no tech skills required.

Why move from Squarespace to WordPress?

Squarespace works well for simple websites. But as your site grows, you may find yourself hitting some limits.

Common reasons people move to WordPress:

You want more control over how your site looks and works.
You’re tired of paying extra for basic features.
You want to add plugins, tools, or SEO options that Squarespace doesn’t support.
You want to actually own your site and content—not rent it from a platform.

WordPress is open-source, meaning it’s free to use and you can customize everything. You get full ownership of your site, with thousands of themes, plugins, and tools to choose from. It’s a little more work upfront, but the long-term benefits are worth it.

What you’ll need before you migrate

Before you start the move, here are a few things you’ll need:

A domain name: If you already have one on Squarespace, you can keep it and point it to your new WordPress site later.
A web hosting plan: WordPress doesn’t come with hosting built in. You’ll need to sign up for a hosting service.
A fresh WordPress install: Most hosts will install WordPress for you when you sign up.
Access to your Squarespace account: You’ll need to download your content from there.
Optional tools: An FTP program like FileZilla, a plugin to fix image links, and a page builder plugin like Elementor can make things easier.

Step 1: Export your content from Squarespace

Squarespace doesn’t let you export everything at once, and it doesn’t use a standard format. But you can still get your core content out.

Here’s how to export:

Log into your Squarespace account.
From the Home Menu, click Settings > Advanced > Import / Export.
Click the Export button. You’ll see a WordPress logo—click that.
Squarespace will prepare a .xml file. When it’s ready, click to download it.

What the export includes:

Pages
Blog posts
Images (though not always perfectly)
Basic formatting

What it doesn’t include:

Product pages or ecommerce content
Event pages
Audio or video blocks
Custom styles and CSS
Any third-party integrations

If you have content that doesn’t export, copy and paste it manually into a document for safekeeping.

Step 2: Set up WordPress and choose a theme

Now it’s time to set up your new home.

Choose a hosting provider. If you don’t want to deal with server maintenance, look for a hosting provider that offers managed hosting services for WordPress.
Install WordPress. Most hosts will install it automatically. If not, look for a “One-Click Install” option in your dashboard.
Log in to your WordPress site. You’ll use a URL like yourdomain.com/wp-admin.

Once you’re in, choose a theme to control how your site looks. You can:

Use a free theme from the WordPress theme library.
Buy a premium theme that looks like your Squarespace design.
Use a page builder like Elementor to recreate your layout from scratch.

Tip: If you’re not sure where to start, Astra and Kadence are great beginner-friendly themes.

Step 3: Import your Squarespace content into WordPress

Now that WordPress is ready, it’s time to move in your content.

In your WordPress dashboard, go to Tools > Import.
Find the WordPress option and click Install Now.
Once installed, click Run Importer.
Upload the .xml file you downloaded from Squarespace.
Choose to assign content to an existing user (your WordPress username) or create a new one.
Check the box to download and import file attachments (this will try to bring in your images).
Click Submit.

You may notice that some images or formatting don’t look right. Don’t worry—this happens to everyone. You can fix these issues manually or with a plugin likeMedia Sync.

Step 4: Manually recreate pages and layouts

Squarespace uses drag-and-drop layout blocks, while WordPress uses a block editor called Gutenberg. Your imported content won’t look exactly the same, so now it’s time to rebuild.

Start with these steps:

Go to Pages > Add New to start recreating each page.
Use the WordPress block editor to lay out text, images, and buttons.
Want more flexibility? Install a drag-and-drop builder like Elementor or Beaver Builder.
Re-upload or embed any missing media (especially videos or audio files).
Match your fonts and colors using the Customizer or your theme settings.

This part takes the most time, but it’s also where you can improve your site’s design and structure.

Step 5: Set up redirects and update links

To make sure visitors (and search engines) find your new WordPress pages instead of the old Squarespace ones, you’ll need redirects.

Install the Redirection plugin.
Go to Tools > Redirection.
Add each old Squarespace URL as the source and the new WordPress URL as the target.
Save your changes.

Tip: Use a free tool like Broken Link Checker to find and fix any broken links on your new site.

If you’re also moving your domain:

Log into your domain registrar or Squarespace if it’s registered there.
Update your DNS records to point to your new host’s servers.
Your host should give you clear instructions for this step.

Step 6: Optimize and customize your new WordPress site

Now that the core of your site is in place, let’s make it faster, safer, and easier to use.

Install an SEO plugin like Rank Math or Yoast SEO.
Add a caching plugin to speed up your site. Good beginner options are WP Super Cache or LiteSpeed Cache.
Use a security plugin like Wordfence to protect your site.
Install Google Analytics with a plugin like GA4WP or manually with a tracking code.
Customize your menus and widgets under Appearance > Menus and Appearance > Widgets.

WordPress gives you endless options to extend your site—just don’t go plugin-crazy right away. Start with the basics, then add more as you grow.

Step 7: Launch and test everything

Before you announce your new site, double-check everything:

Click through all your pages and posts
Test on mobile and tablet
Make sure images display correctly
Submit your new site to Google Search Console
Set up any email forms or integrations you were using before

If you were using Squarespace for email or ecommerce, now’s the time to set up replacements using WordPress plugins or external tools.

Optional: Use a plugin or hire a pro

Not comfortable doing this yourself? You’re not alone.

Here are some options:

You can hire a WordPress developer to handle the move for you.
Some hosting providers offer migration assistance—check with yours before doing it solo.

Getting started with migrating from Squarespace to WordPress

Squarespace is great for simple websites, but WordPress gives you the power to grow your brand, your audience, and your business on your terms.

If you’re ready to make the move, take it one step at a time. You’ll not only rebuild your site—you’ll make it stronger, faster, and more flexible than ever.

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