Key facts
- Wix states its sites can't be exported to an external host, so moving means a rebuild
- Squarespace's export covers some content, such as blog posts and basic pages, but not store pages, product blocks or styling
- GoDaddy's website builder doesn't provide a full site export either
- Rebuilds usually go to WordPress, which you own outright and can take to any host
- Domain transferred into your control; email moved without losing messages
- 301 redirects keep Google rankings and inbound links
- Hosting: £1 a day + VAT; rebuild quoted
Why people leave website builders
Website builders are a quick way to get online. The trouble starts later, when you realise you're renting rather than owning:
- Prices rise and add-ons pile up, and you can't easily take the site elsewhere.
- You can't change the code underneath, so certain features or speed improvements are out of reach.
- You can't hand the site to a developer of your choice; they have to work inside the builder.
- If the account lapses or is suspended, the site goes with it.
Owning your site means the files and database are yours, on hosting you control, and any developer can work on it.
What can and can't be moved
It's worth knowing this before you start, because it shapes the plan:
- Wix: Wix's own help centre says sites built with Wix can't be exported to an external host. The site has to be rebuilt; text and images can be copied across.
- Squarespace: has an export to a WordPress-compatible file covering basic pages, a blog and its posts, galleries, and text and image blocks. Store pages, product blocks, styling and custom CSS aren't included, and images need moving separately.
- GoDaddy website builder: doesn't offer a full site export, so it's treated as a rebuild too.
Your domain name is different: it can almost always be transferred away. And your content is yours, even if the builder's design isn't portable.
How we move you
- Inventory: we list every page, form, product, blog post and the current URL of each.
- Rebuild: usually in WordPress, matching your current design or refreshing it. Shops go to WooCommerce.
- Content: imported where an export exists, copied carefully where it doesn't.
- Redirects: builder URLs often look different, so every old address gets a 301 redirect to its new home.
- Domain and email: we transfer the domain to your control and move DNS to Cloudflare. If your email sits with the builder or with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, we keep it working through the switch.
- Go live: SSL on, daily backups running, old builder plan cancelled once you're happy.
What it costs
Hosting is dijitul Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT, including the domain renewal, SSL, Cloudflare DNS and daily backups. The rebuild is quoted before we start, based on the number of pages and features. A small brochure site is a modest one-off cost; a shop with many products takes longer. Once it's done, you own it, and you can take it to any host, including away from us.
Is a builder still right for you?
Sometimes, yes. If your site is a few pages, you edit it yourself often and you're happy with the monthly fee, a builder can be fine. Moving makes sense when you want control, need features the builder can't do, want a developer to help, or are paying more each year for less. If you're unsure, ring 01623 650333 and we'll give you an honest view. More for small firms on small business hosting.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move my Wix website to another host?
Not as it is. Wix says sites built on Wix can't be exported to an external host. You can move your domain and copy your text and images, but the site itself must be rebuilt, usually in WordPress. dijitul does this on a quoted basis and hosts the new site for £1 a day + VAT.
How do I move from Squarespace to WordPress?
Use Squarespace's export to create a WordPress-compatible file, import it into WordPress, then move images and rebuild anything the export misses, such as store pages, product blocks and styling. Add 301 redirects for changed URLs. dijitul can handle the whole move and hosts WordPress for £1 a day + VAT.
Will I lose my Google rankings if I leave Wix or Squarespace?
Not if the move is done carefully. Keep the same domain, map every old URL to its new page with a 301 redirect, keep page titles and content similar, and submit a new sitemap in Google Search Console. dijitul builds the redirect map as part of every rebuild.
What's the best alternative to Wix for a small UK business?
For most small businesses, WordPress on managed hosting. You own the site, any developer can work on it and you choose where it's hosted. dijitul rebuilds builder sites in WordPress, quoted up front, then hosts them with daily backups and UK support for £1 a day + VAT.
Can I keep my domain name if I leave my website builder?
Yes. Domains can be transferred to another registrar, or kept where they are and pointed at new hosting. If the builder registered it for you, you'll need the transfer code. dijitul handles the transfer and includes one domain renewal a year in Complete Hosting.
Do I really own my website on Wix or Squarespace?
You own your content and usually your domain, but not the site in a portable form. The design and the platform underneath belong to the builder, and the site can't run anywhere else. Owning your website means files and a database you can take to any host.
Related
Set it up and forget about it
Managed hosting, Plesk, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups and your domain for £1 a day + VAT. We move your site for you.