Switching web hosts is more common than you might think, and it doesn't have to be scary. Whether you're escaping poor performance, saving money, or upgrading to a better service, this guide walks you through the process step by step.
Before You Switch
Don't cancel your old hosting until you've confirmed everything works on the new host. Overlap your billing by at least one month to give yourself a safety net.
⚠️ Never cancel your old host first. Always migrate first, verify everything works, then cancel. DNS propagation can take 24–72 hours.
The Migration Process
- Back up everything — files, databases, emails. Download a complete copy to your local machine.
- Sign up with the new host — don't transfer your domain yet.
- Upload your files — use FTP/SFTP to move all website files to the new server.
- Migrate your database — export from old host (phpMyAdmin), import to new host. Update your config files with new database credentials.
- Test using a temporary URL or hosts file — verify the site works before switching DNS.
- Update your DNS — change your domain's nameservers to point to the new host.
- Wait for propagation — allow up to 72 hours for DNS changes to fully propagate worldwide.
- Monitor & confirm — check your site from multiple locations and devices.
- Cancel old hosting — only after you're completely satisfied with the new setup.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Forgetting to migrate email accounts and their existing messages
- Not updating hardcoded database connection strings
- Missing subdomains or addon domains
- Forgetting SSL certificate setup on the new host
- Cancelling before DNS has fully propagated