Before you switch web hosts, compare the full cost through your expected contract period, confirm exactly what the new host will migrate, and protect your site, email, and DNS records. You can usually move a website without transferring its domain registration, and keeping the old host active while you test the new setup reduces the risk of an avoidable outage.
Start with the full cost, not the advertised monthly price
Build a like-for-like cost sheet for the period you expect to use the service. An introductory rate can depend on paying for a longer term upfront, and the renewal charge may be different. Include items that are outside the advertised plan or included only temporarily.
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- Current host: contract end date, renewal price, billing frequency, and cancellation terms.
- New host: amount due today, promotional period, required term, standard renewal price, and billing frequency.
- Domain: registration or renewal charge, and whether it is bundled only for the first term.
- Services: email, backups and restores, SSL or security add-ons, and migration assistance.
- Other costs: taxes, cancellation or refund conditions, and any overlap while both hosting accounts remain active.
Compare the actual amount paid over your intended holding period rather than multiplying a promotional monthly figure by 12. Prices vary by provider, plan, market, and term. Bluehost, for example, publishes renewal pricing separately from its plan marketing; check the current details for the specific plan you are considering rather than applying one provider’s figures to another. Bluehost renewal pricing
Do not assume an excluded item is automatically a hidden fee. Check whether it is included, for how long, what it costs when renewed, and how cancellation works.
Decide whether you need to move the domain too
Hosting and domain registration are separate services. A hosting move relocates the website; a registrar transfer changes which company manages the domain registration, contact details, and renewals. If you only want a different web host, you can often leave the domain with its current registrar and change the relevant nameservers or hosting records. ICANN notes that changing hosting providers can avoid the inter-registrar transfer process. ICANN guidance for domain name holders
If you do want to transfer the registration, check the domain’s lock status, expiration date, registration and transfer dates, and whether recent contact changes affect eligibility. ICANN says an Auth-Code is required and must be provided within five calendar days of the registrant’s request. Its FAQ also describes circumstances in which a transfer can be denied, including certain 60-day restrictions. These rules concern domain transfers, not the time it takes to move website hosting; country-code domains and registrar processes may differ. ICANN transfer FAQ
Get the migration scope in writing
“Free migration” does not have a universal meaning. Ask the receiving host to confirm what it will move, what it will test, what you must do yourself, and whether the service has size, site-count, or eligibility limits. Also ask who handles errors and whether extra assistance costs more.
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- Email accounts and existing messages
- DNS records, including mail and third-party service records
- Custom SSL settings, redirects, and scheduled tasks
- FTP accounts and application-specific configuration
- Destination testing and help resolving migration problems
Hostinger’s published migration guide, for example, says its service covers site files and databases but excludes cron jobs, DNS records, custom SSL configuration, and FTP accounts; it directs customers to handle email migration separately. That is Hostinger’s stated scope, not an industry-wide definition of migration. Hostinger migration guide
Back up and inventory the services you depend on
Before making changes, download an independent copy of your site files and database exports. Confirm that the files open or that the backup can be restored; a backup you cannot use is not a reliable recovery plan. Keep a record of the current setup, including items the migration service may omit.
- Website files, database, and any site-specific configuration
- DNS records and current nameservers
- Email provider, mailbox addresses, and messages that must be retained
- SSL settings, redirects, scheduled tasks, FTP accounts, and integrations
An external drive can hold an additional copy of export files, but it is not a substitute for a restorable backup. Hostinger’s instructions for an internal WordPress move describe downloading an export and warn customers to back up email before deleting the original site. Hostinger migration guide
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Keep email and DNS working during the move
Find out whether email is hosted by your web host or by a separate provider. If you use email at your domain, list the mailboxes and preserve messages you need before changing services. Confirm that the destination mailboxes exist and that the DNS records required by your mail provider will remain in place.
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Test the new site before pointing the domain
Use the receiving host’s process for previewing the migrated site before changing public DNS. Test the parts visitors and staff rely on, not just the homepage:
- Key pages, images, downloads, and other media
- Forms, logins, and checkout flows, if the site has them
- Redirects and SSL certificates
- Email sending and receiving
- Any integrations, scheduled tasks, or custom settings needed by the site
Hostinger advises completing its migration before changing DNS so the original site can remain online during the work. That sequence helps reduce risk, but it cannot guarantee zero downtime: the outcome depends on the site, DNS setup, and provider process. Keep the old hosting account active until you have checked the destination and have a current backup. Hostinger migration guide
Compare hosts on the points that affect your move
Once you have a shortlist, compare the same details for each candidate instead of relying on a single “best host” label. The right choice depends on your platform, traffic, location, support needs, and budget.
- Total cost over your intended term, including renewal and add-ons
- Migration scope, eligibility, and responsibility for fixing problems
- Backup frequency, retention, and access to restores
- Email availability and migration support
- Resource limits and compatibility with your site
- DNS and domain control
- Cancellation, refunds, and the cost of keeping both accounts during the transition
Domain-transfer pricing and whether a transfer adds a registration year vary by registrar and TLD. For example, Cloudflare Registrar’s FAQ describes a case in its service where a transfer shortly after renewal may not add another year; it is not a universal rule for registrars or domains. Cloudflare Registrar FAQ
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