01What you can and cannot take with you
| Squarespace | Wix | |
|---|---|---|
| Design and layout | No | No |
| Blog posts | Yes, in a WordPress-format XML export (one blog) | No official export; copy manually or use tools |
| Basic pages | Partially, in the same export | Copy manually |
| Images | Linked in the export; download separately | Download manually |
| Products | Exported separately as a CSV | Products can be exported; stores cannot be transferred directly, per Wix |
| Domain | Can be transferred out | Can be transferred out |
02Step-by-step migration plan
- 1Inventory every URLList every page and post address; you will need it for redirects.
- 2Export and save contentRun any available export, then copy text and download all images and files.
- 3Choose the new platformA builder, WordPress, or code; Webflow vs WordPress helps decide.
- 4Rebuild the siteRecreate pages, ideally improving the design while you are at it.
- 5Keep URLs or redirect themSame paths where possible; 301 redirects for anything that changes.
- 6Move the domainPoint DNS at the new host, or transfer the domain to a registrar.
- 7Check Search ConsoleSubmit the new sitemap and watch for crawl errors in the following weeks.
03Protecting your search rankings
Rankings attach to URLs. If your old page lived at /services/bookkeeping and the new one at /bookkeeping, Google needs a permanent (301) redirect from the old address to the new one, or the page's history is lost. Google's guidance on site moves describes mapping old URLs to new ones and keeping redirects in place long term.
Also carry over each page's title, description and headings, keep images' alt text, and submit the new sitemap. How to submit a website to Google Search Console walks through that step.
04Moving the domain
If you bought the domain through Wix or Squarespace, you can either point its DNS records at your new host while leaving it registered there, or transfer it to a separate registrar. Transferring takes several days and requires removing the domain's transfer lock and getting an authorization code. Hacker News users moving domains away from Squarespace have reported transfers taking about five business days. Where to buy a domain and what happens when a domain expires cover the domain side.
- Do not cancel the old plan until the new site and domain work.
- Lower DNS record TTLs a day ahead if your provider allows it.
- Check email: if your email uses the domain, its records must move too.
05Is it worth moving?
Move when the platform genuinely limits you: design control, speed, costs at your size, or features you need. Do not move just to change the look; most redesigns can happen on the same platform. If you move, use it as a chance to improve structure and design rather than recreating the same site somewhere else. How to redesign a website with AI covers doing that quickly.
What people who tried it say
Owners discussing Wix and Squarespace on Hacker News and Indie Hackers describe them as easy to start on and hard to leave: migrations mean rebuilding, though simple sites can be redone in days, and domain transfers need patience.
- Ask HN: Are Squarespace and Wix sites worth it?Hacker News
Commenters weigh convenience and no maintenance against lock-in, noting that leaving usually means rebuilding the site.
- From Squarespace to Webflow in 3 weeksIndie Hackers
A founder describes rebuilding a site on Webflow over three weeks, citing more design and spacing control as the reason to leave Squarespace.
Looking for more first-hand opinions? Search Reddit for “how to move a website off wix or squarespace”. We link the live threads rather than summarizing them, so you read them in full.
Our take
the content and the URLs are what matter in a migration; the design is the part you should change anyway. Spend your effort on a clean redirect map and use the rebuild to fix what you never liked.
Where this falls short
Export features change; check the current help pages of Wix and Squarespace before planning. Large stores, member areas and sites with many integrations need more planning than this guide covers.
If you are rebuilding anyway, Orlume can design the new site from a description of your business and publish it in one click; custom domains are on paid plans.
Free to start · No card required · Live in one click
Sources
- 1.How to properly move from Squarespace to WordPress · WPBeginner
- 2.Request: transferring your store from one site to another · Wix Help Center
- 3.Site moves with URL changes · Google Search Central
Researched and written by the Orlume team · Updated October 2026
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