Can I move my website to a new host?
Yes, you can move your website to a new host—but only if you own your domain and have access to your site's files. The process involves exporting your content, pointing your domain to the new host, and uploading everything there. How smoothly it goes depends on what platform you're currently on and whether the builder gives you full access to your code.
- Own your domain outright so no builder can lock you in.
- Export your files and database before switching hosts.
- Point your domain's nameservers to your new host.
- Some builders make exports easy; others make it painful.
- Owning your code means you're never trapped.
What actually stops you from moving your site?
The biggest blocker is not owning your domain. If your current builder registered it for you and won't transfer it, you're stuck. The second blocker is not having access to your site's code and files. Some builders lock you in by refusing exports or making them deliberately hard.
If you own the domain and can export everything, moving is just logistics—not impossible, just tedious.
Domain ownership is the legal right to control where your site lives; without it, your builder controls your address.
How do you actually move the files over?
The process is usually: export your content (pages, images, database), download your code if it's available, set up your new host, upload everything there, then update your domain's nameservers to point to the new host. Nameservers are like a phone book—they tell the internet where your domain should go.
The hard part isn't the mechanics; it's that every platform exports differently. Template builders like Wix or Squarespace make exports clunky on purpose. Done-for-you builders that give you code ownership make it straightforward.
- Export all pages, images, and content from your current builder.
- Download your site's code and database files.
- Sign up for hosting at your new provider.
- Upload your files to the new host.
- Update your domain's nameservers to point to the new host.
- Test everything before canceling your old host.
Moving a website is a technical task, not a legal one—the real barrier is whether your builder lets you access your own files.
What's the difference between owning your domain and owning your code?
Domain ownership means you registered the domain (yourshop.com) and control it forever—you can move it to any registrar or builder anytime. Code ownership means you have the actual HTML, CSS, and database files that make your site work, so you can host it anywhere.
You can own your domain but not your code (template builders do this). You can own your code but not your domain (if the builder registered it for you). Ideally, you own both.
Domain ownership and code ownership are separate rights; you need both to be truly free to move.
Why would you want to move in the first place?
You might move because your current host is slow, expensive, or doesn't have features you need. You might switch builders because you've outgrown them or found one that fits your workflow better. Or you might move because your current builder is holding your domain hostage and you want out.
The real reason to care about portability now is so you're never forced to stay with a builder you don't like.
Moving your website is rarely urgent, but the ability to move is worth planning for before you build.
How does SiteFly handle this?
SiteFly builds your site for you first, and you own the code outright. That means you can export it, host it anywhere, and move it whenever you want. You also own your domain—there's no lock-in. If you decide to leave, you take everything with you.
The point isn't that you'll move; it's that you could if you wanted to. That freedom changes how you feel about the platform.
SiteFly gives you code ownership and domain control, so moving your site is always your choice, never your builder's trap.
Questions people also ask
What happens to my email if I move my website to a new host?
Email is separate from hosting. If your email is tied to your domain (you@yourshop.com), it stays with your domain registrar or email provider, not your host. Moving your website doesn't touch your email unless you actively change your email settings.
How long does it take to move a website to a new host?
The actual upload takes minutes to hours depending on file size. The waiting part—for nameserver changes to propagate across the internet—takes 24 to 48 hours. Plan for a full business day of downtime if you're moving during business hours.
Will moving my website hurt my Google rankings?
If you set up redirects properly and keep your domain the same, no. If you change your domain or forget redirects, Google sees it as a new site and you lose ranking history. Moving your host without changing your domain is invisible to Google.
What if my current builder won't give me my files?
You're stuck unless you own your domain and can move it elsewhere. Some builders will export your content if you ask nicely; others refuse on principle. This is why owning your domain and code matters before you build.
Can I move my website without technical skills?
If your new host offers migration services, yes—they'll do it for you. Otherwise, you'll need someone technical to handle the export, upload, and nameserver changes. It's not rocket science, but it's not drag-and-drop either.
Current plans and prices live on the pricing page, and the FAQ answers the questions we hear most.