Five-provider migration-policy comparison
Free Website Migration Policies Compared
“Free migration” can mean a self-service plugin, conditional courtesy transfer, staff-assisted website copy, complete cPanel account transfer, or a limited offer that excludes email, DNS, domains, multisite, bulk moves, or complex applications.
Hostinger, DreamHost, SiteGround, and Namecheap publish free routes for qualifying migrations, but the covered platform and service level differ. Bluehost publishes conditional courtesy routes plus separate paid website, email, and cPanel services. Compare the exact source platform, destination plan, size, site count, email, DNS, and staff involvement—not the word “free.”
Independent provider verification dates
Migration policies were checked provider by provider.
A shared article date does not imply that every source was reviewed in one provider account or that eligibility is guaranteed.
- Hostinger
- Bluehost
- Dreamhost
- Siteground
- Namecheap
Standardized migration-policy matrix
| Provider | Published routes | Website scope | DNS / domain | Main limitation to verify | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HostingerIncoming migration | Free staff-assisted route for eligible websites hosted elsewhere. | Files and databases; WordPress, cPanel/WHM, and other-panel workflows are documented. No bulk migrations. | Not included in the standard website transfer; migrate separately. | DNS records and custom SSL configuration are not included; point the domain after testing. | Eligibility, site compatibility, credentials, site count, destination plan, and excluded account-level services. |
| BluehostCourtesy and professional services | Conditional courtesy routes plus paid website, email, and Pro cPanel services. | Courtesy limits vary by cPanel access, source type, site/account count, and data size. Paid website service covers one site. | Separate paid migration per mailbox for professional/external email; cPanel webmail treatment depends on migration route. | Customer performs the final DNS change. Domain transfer is separate. | Which courtesy route applies, size/account limits, root or hosting access, and whether the $149.99 site or $199 cPanel route is required. |
| DreamHostAutomated, manual, and professional | Free WordPress automated plugin, free manual migration, and professional services. | Automated route is WordPress-specific. Professional pricing and eligibility differ for standard hosting, DreamPress, and non-WordPress sites. | Do not assume external email is included; verify the selected service and recreate DNS/mail separately when required. | DNS pointing remains a distinct final step. | WordPress.com, local development, multisite, non-WordPress, subdirectory, and professional-service restrictions. |
| SiteGroundWordPress Migrator and paid professional transfer | Free self-service WordPress Migrator; professional migration sold per site. | Migrator can move multiple eligible WordPress sites. Professional service transfers the specified application files and database. | Confirm mailboxes separately; domain-based email is not established by the website-transfer scope alone. | Domain registration transfer is separate. Customer controls final DNS pointing. | Local sites, full multisite, non-WordPress applications, the main application selected, and current professional-service price. |
| NamecheapFree migration assistance | Staff-assisted cPanel and non-cPanel migration routes plus EasyWP self-service tooling. | Full cPanel transfers can preserve account data; partial and non-cPanel moves require compatibility review and may need manual configuration. | Can vary by route. Confirm whether full cPanel mail data is included or whether mailbox import is separate. | Keep the old account active, test before nameserver changes, and delay cancellation through propagation. | Source access, cPanel/full-backup availability, destination resource limits, malware/compatibility checks, and exact email scope. |
Original provider-policy matcher
Migration Policy Matcher
Select the actual source environment and services. The result identifies which official provider routes deserve research; it does not guarantee eligibility or a successful migration.
Provider-by-provider decision notes
Hostinger
Compare when: you want staff-assisted transfer of an eligible site and can migrate email and account-level configuration separately.
Check first: site count, compatibility, source access, excluded services, and whether final synchronization is needed.
Bluehost
Compare when: your site fits a courtesy route or paid professional help is acceptable.
Check first: cPanel/root access, site and data limits, one-site paid scope, email price, DNS responsibility, and current quote.
DreamHost
Compare when: a WordPress automated plugin, manual route, DreamPress migration, or professional service matches the project.
Check first: platform, destination product, multisite, WordPress.com, local setup, and email/DNS work.
SiteGround
Compare when: you can use the WordPress Migrator or prefer a clearly priced professional transfer.
Check first: WordPress eligibility, multisite/local restrictions, application count, domain transfer, and mailbox handling.
Namecheap
Compare when: the source is cPanel-compatible or you want staff to assess a non-cPanel transfer.
Check first: full-backup access, account limits, compatibility, email scope, destination capacity, and cancellation timing.
Questions to send every migration team
- Is this exact source platform and destination plan eligible?
- How many websites, databases, mailboxes, and gigabytes are covered?
- Will files, database, configuration, email, DNS, SSL, cron jobs, FTP accounts, and redirects move?
- Is the route automated, self-service, courtesy staff assistance, or paid professional service?
- What access credentials, backups, maintenance window, and customer actions are required?
- How is the destination tested before public DNS changes?
- Who performs DNS updates and final data synchronization?
- What happens if the migration fails or exceeds limits?
- Is a post-migration review or resynchronization included?
- When is it safe to cancel the source account?
Frequently asked questions
Does free website migration include email?
Not reliably. Several website-transfer routes exclude email, and others include only certain cPanel mailboxes. Treat email as a separate workstream until the provider confirms the exact mailboxes, messages, aliases, filters, DNS, and destination product in writing.
Is a migration plugin the same as professional migration?
No. A plugin is generally self-service software. Professional migration adds staff involvement, but its scope, price, testing, DNS work, email handling, and post-migration support still need verification.
Can a provider reject a free migration?
Yes. Compatibility, malware, site size, account count, credentials, unsupported platforms, destination limits, multisite, complex configuration, or missing backups can affect eligibility.
Claim-level official citations
Verify the migration details at the provider source.
These pages support the material policy and workflow claims in this guide. Open the exact source again before starting a transfer because eligibility, pricing, limits, and procedures can change.
Research method and verification record
Free, conditional, self-service, and paid migration routes across five beginner hosting providers
Prepared by Nathan Lackey. Provider-controlled claims were checked against official documentation on August 3, 2026. The page distinguishes sourced policy facts, workflow guidance, editorial cautions, and reader-entered tool results.
Page-specific update history
Updates require a verified migration-policy or editorial change.
- August 4, 2026: Initial guide, original decision tool, official-source records, contextual internal links, and mobile comparison layout published.
- Provider verification: The comparison date and article source records are maintained independently from unrelated site rebuilds.
- Future revisions: Record the previous value, new value, official source, editor, and verification date after a substantive policy, price, scope, or workflow change.
Continue the migration research path
Use the next guide before changing DNS or canceling hosting.
Move through the remaining migration guides in the most useful order: choose the right route, execute the transfer, and confirm whether a switch is actually necessary.
How to Switch Web Hosts Without Downtime
Build the migration sequence and keep the old site available until validation is complete.
WordPress Hosting Migration Checklist
Track files, database, email, DNS, SSL, redirects, analytics, and search visibility.
When Should You Change Web Hosts?
Decide whether to optimize, upgrade, or switch using documented evidence.