Guide

How to Migrate from Shared Hosting to Managed WordPress (2026)

Step-by-step migration guide from shared hosting (Bluehost, Hostinger, GoDaddy) to managed WordPress on SiteICO.

Why Migrate from Shared Hosting?

Shared hosting served you well as a beginner. But slow speeds, security concerns, and renewal price shock mean it's time to upgrade. Managed WordPress hosting gives you better performance, automatic updates, and AI tools -- without the complexity of VPS management.

Step 1: Back Up Your Current Site

Install the UpdraftPlus plugin on your existing site. Create a full backup (files + database). Download the backup files to your computer.

Step 2: Create Your SiteICO Account

Sign up at siteico.com and create a new site. It's live in one second.

Step 3: Install UpdraftPlus on SiteICO

From your new SiteICO dashboard, install UpdraftPlus on the new site. Upload your backup files and click Restore.

Step 4: Update DNS

Point your domain's DNS to SiteICO. We provide the exact records in your dashboard. SSL is automatic -- no manual certificate setup.

Step 5: Verify Everything

Check all pages, forms, and functionality. Test on mobile and desktop. Run a speed test to see the difference.

What You'll Notice

  • Faster load times -- FrankenPHP serves pages 2-3x faster
  • AI content tools -- Generate blog posts and SEO content automatically
  • No renewal shock -- $9/mo stays $9/mo
  • Container isolation -- Your site runs in its own Docker container

Start building with SiteICO

Deploy your WordPress site in under 1 second. Follow our guides to get the most out of the platform.

No credit card required.