Yes. We do this regularly and in many cases at no charge – but please ask before you place the order, because what is involved varies enormously and it affects which package you need.
When it is usually free
If your current host also uses cPanel, a migration is largely mechanical: we can move the files, databases and email accounts across with the structure intact. These are normally done as part of setting you up.
When there may be a charge
- The current host does not use cPanel, so everything has to be moved and reconfigured by hand
- A large or complicated site, or many sites on one account
- Software that needs upgrading or reconfiguring to run on current PHP
- No access to the old host, so the site has to be rebuilt from what can be retrieved
Each case is different, which is why we ask first rather than quoting a number here.
What we need from you
- Access to the current hosting, ideally the control panel
- Where the domain is registered and access to change nameservers
- Whether email is included, and whether existing mail must be preserved
- Any deadline you are working to
How it works
We copy everything across and get it running here while your live site continues where it is. You check it privately using your hosts file. Only when you are happy does the domain point at us, so there is no period where the site is down. See Previewing your site before you point the domain.
Keep the old hosting briefly
Do not cancel it the same day. Give it a week while DNS settles.
