Moving WordPress to another host is more than copying visible pages. The destination needs the right database, uploads, themes, plugins, and URL references, while the public domain, email, and external services need their own cutover plan. A migration plugin handles part of that work. Choosing one that matches your access and site size can prevent an awkward discovery halfway through the move.
All-in-One WP Migration, Duplicator, and Migrate Guru represent three useful approaches: a portable WordPress import file, a package with an installer, and a transfer processed through a migration service. This comparison uses official sources reviewed on October 12, 2026. Vendor speed claims are not independent test results, and we have not performed a timed migration with these products.
Define the move before choosing the tool
Write down the source size, destination access, database type, WordPress version, and whether this is a single site or a multisite operation. Distinguish a host change from moving a local development site, and a complete network from extracting one subsite. A tool suitable for one path may not support another. Also decide how content created during the move will be handled; a completed copy can already be stale if new orders or comments arrived afterward.
| Plugin | Migration model | Free starting point | Important cost or dependency |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-in-One WP Migration | Export and import a .wpress file | Export and upload-based import | Host upload limits; paid extensions for extra workflows |
| Duplicator | Archive and installer workflow | Manual packages and migration | Destination file/database access; Pro for advanced workflows |
| Migrate Guru | Service-assisted host-to-host transfer | Free migration service | External processing, reachable destination, monthly site quota |
All-in-One WP Migration
All-in-One WP Migration exports the WordPress site into a .wpress file and imports that file at the destination. The official directory says the free edition can export sites of any size and restore through the Import screen, with the receiving host determining the upload limit. Avoid older blanket claims that every free import has the same fixed ceiling. Inspect the limit shown on the actual destination.
This model is convenient when you can install WordPress and the plugin at both ends and want a portable transfer artifact. The tradeoff is moving and protecting that artifact. Ensure the destination has enough working space, and follow your host’s approved handling process for files containing private site data. A nominally successful import still needs checks for URLs, media, logins, and application behavior.
The Unlimited Extension page advertises $69 per year for up to 50 sites. Its FAQ says usage consumes the year’s allowance even after removal, and temporary domains count except localhost. The same page also discusses a $99 Pro offer, so the two offers should not be collapsed into one price. Confirm the purchased extension, current renewal terms, and how source and destination usage is counted.
Multisite and cloud workflows have separate extension considerations; the product name does not mean every paid integration is included. Consult the official helpdesk for your route. A paid upload workaround also does not replace sufficient disk capacity or destination permissions. Budget for the actual environment rather than interpreting marketing about limits as an unconditional compatibility guarantee.
Duplicator
Duplicator builds a package that can be moved with an installer, providing a different route from importing through a fresh WordPress administration screen. Its free directory edition supports manual migration and copying. This is relevant when you can work with destination files and a database and want to understand the package installation process. The official knowledge base separates installation paths and their requirements.
The advantage is a reusable deployment artifact; the limitation is that someone must handle the receiving environment correctly. Check archive creation, available space, database access, and the destination’s supported installer workflow before changing the live domain. A person comfortable only with a WordPress dashboard may prefer another approach, while a developer may value the explicit setup steps.
The current pricing page lists Basic for two sites with a normal price of $79, Plus for five at $199, Pro for twenty at $399, and Elite for one hundred at $599. Introductory offers are separate, and the page explicitly says renewals occur at full price. The rendered promotional amounts were not exposed clearly during research, so no first-year discount is quoted here.
Paid features vary by tier. The page places multisite network support and subsite migration in Pro, while Basic includes advanced migration and backup tools. Duplicator Cloud Storage is separately priced. Count the required migration capability and site allowance first; purchasing the smallest tier merely because it says Pro can leave an essential network operation outside your license.
Migrate Guru
Migrate Guru uses its own infrastructure to process transfers rather than asking the source host to perform all migration work locally. The directory describes support for sites up to 200 GB, automatic URL rewriting, and serialized data handling. Those are vendor-described capabilities, not a guarantee that your particular large site will finish within a stated time. Connectivity and destination configuration still matter.
The service is free, with the official FAQ limiting usage to five site migrations per user per month; each of those sites can be moved repeatedly. Developers can request a higher limit. This is a service quota, distinct from a paid activation license. No premium Migrate Guru renewal charge was established in the reviewed material, and no paid add-on is presented as necessary for its basic migration workflow.
Localhost moves are excluded. The directory also excludes moving an individual multisite subsite to another domain or inserting a site into a multisite subdivision. For a supported host-to-host move, confirm the destination WordPress/plugin setup and migration-key process; FTP or cPanel details may serve as a fallback. These constraints can decide the choice before any performance comparison is useful.
External processing is an architectural dependency. Review the service’s data-handling terms against your site’s requirements, and make sure its connections can reach the destination. The FAQ expressly says Migrate Guru is not a backup service. Temporary transfer processing should not be confused with a retained recovery copy or an ongoing restore plan.
Choose by access and destination
Choose All-in-One WP Migration when a dashboard-based export/import workflow fits both hosts and the destination can accept the transfer file. Choose Duplicator when a package-and-installer process fits your access and technical workflow. Choose Migrate Guru when an eligible host-to-host move benefits from service processing and its external dependency and quota are acceptable.
For localhost or a special multisite restructuring, check supported paths first. A feature list for whole-site migration is insufficient evidence for extracting one subsite. Ask the host about migration restrictions and disk space before buying an extension. Where available, validate the destination on a temporary approved hostname before public cutover.
A migration plugin does not finish the cutover
Plan DNS and TLS separately, including any mail records that must remain in place. Review hard-coded links, redirects, scheduled tasks, payment callbacks, and third-party licenses. A copied plugin can still point at a production service or need reactivation. Our redirect plugin comparison covers URL-routing choices when paths change, while the backup comparison addresses the separate recovery requirement.
For a site accepting transactions or registrations, agree on a content freeze or final synchronization procedure. Check the destination’s forms, account access, media, and commerce settings using your approved verification process. Do not assume a package automatically merges activity written to the old host after export. The tool transfers data; the operator owns the timing.
The directory/API minimums are WordPress 3.3/PHP 5.3 for All-in-One WP Migration, WordPress 5.3/PHP 7.4 for Duplicator, and WordPress 4.0/PHP 7.0 for Migrate Guru; all declare testing through WordPress 7.1.3. These old minimums are not recommendations to run unsupported software. Compare its minimums and tested versions with both environments, especially when changing PHP or WordPress branches. None of these products converts incompatible application code into compatible code simply by moving it to a newer server.
Conclusion
The clearest choice follows the migration path: All-in-One WP Migration for importable WordPress files, Duplicator for explicit packages and installation, and Migrate Guru for supported service-assisted transfers. Site quotas, paid-tier boundaries, destination access, and cutover planning matter more than unverified speed promises. Confirm those requirements before starting the move.