Switching to a new hosting provider can feel daunting — but it doesn't have to be. HOSTDOG offers free website migrations for all hosting customers. Our team handles the entire transfer for you, with minimal downtime and at a time that suits your schedule.
What's included in the free migration
HOSTDOG's migration specialists will transfer:
- All website files (HTML, CSS, images, scripts, and everything in your web root)
- Databases (MySQL/MariaDB databases and their content)
- Email accounts and data (mailboxes, forwarders, and filters)
- Control panel settings (DNS zones, cron jobs, redirects where possible)
- SSL certificates (or provision new free SSL after transfer)
This applies to websites of all types — static HTML, WordPress, Joomla, WooCommerce, custom PHP applications, and more.
Prerequisites
Before requesting a migration, make sure you have:
- An active HOSTDOG hosting account (if you haven't purchased one yet, choose a hosting plan first)
- Access credentials for your current hosting provider (control panel login, FTP/SSH details, or a full backup of your site)
Navigate to the HOSTDOG homepage and click the Log in button in the top right corner of the page. Enter your HOSTDOG account credentials on the login page.
Navigate to support → open new ticket and select the website migration department (or general support if that specific option isn't listed).
In the ticket, include the following information so our team can access and transfer your site:
| Information Needed | Details |
|---|---|
| Current hosting provider | Name of your current host (e.g., "Papaki", "OVH", "Hostinger") |
| Control panel URL | The login URL for your current hosting panel |
| Control panel username | Your username at the current host |
| Control panel password | Your password at the current host |
| Website(s) to migrate | List all domains/sites you want transferred |
| Preferred timing | When you'd like the migration to happen (e.g., "weekday evening", "this weekend") |
Alternative: If you'd prefer not to share login credentials, you can provide a full cPanel/hosting backup file instead. Most control panels allow you to download a full account backup.
Once we receive your details, here's what happens:
- Our team reviews your request and confirms the migration scope (usually within a few hours)
- We schedule the migration at your preferred time, or at the earliest convenient window
- We perform the transfer — copying all files, databases, emails, and settings to your new HOSTDOG account
- We verify everything works — checking that your site loads correctly, databases connect properly, and email functions normally
- We notify you with a completion confirmation and any notes about the transfer
After we confirm the migration is complete:
- Preview your site on the HOSTDOG server to confirm everything looks correct. Our team may provide a temporary preview URL, or you can edit your local
hostsfile to preview before changing DNS. - Update your nameservers to point your domain to HOSTDOG (see How to point your domain to HOSTDOG)
- Test everything — browse your site, test forms, check email, verify database-driven features
How long does a migration take?
| Site Type | Typical Duration |
|---|---|
| Simple website (under 1 GB) | 1–4 hours |
| Medium site with database (1–5 GB) | 4–12 hours |
| Large or complex site (5+ GB, multiple databases) | 12–48 hours |
| Multiple websites in one account | 1–3 business days |
The actual transfer time depends on your site's size, complexity, and how responsive your current host's servers are. Our team will keep you informed throughout the process.
Frequently asked questions
We design the migration process for minimal downtime. Files and databases are transferred first, then we coordinate the DNS switch with you. Most visitors won't notice a thing. Any downtime is typically measured in minutes, not hours.
Absolutely. WordPress migrations are the most common type we handle. We transfer the full WordPress installation including the database, themes, plugins, uploads, and configuration. See How to migrate WordPress to HOSTDOG for WordPress-specific details.
No problem. If you have FTP/SFTP or SSH access to your current server, or if you can provide a full backup file, we can work with that. Just include whatever access details you have in the migration ticket.
Yes. We migrate email accounts, their configuration, and the messages stored on the server. If you use IMAP, your email is already synced to the server and will transfer automatically. If you use POP3 with messages stored only on your local device, those local messages won't be on the server to migrate — but we'll set up the accounts so your email client reconnects seamlessly.
The free migration covers all websites within your hosting account. Whether it's one site or ten, our team will transfer them all at no extra cost.
Your original site remains untouched on your current host throughout the migration. We're copying data, not moving it. If anything goes wrong on our end, your live site is unaffected. We don't modify your DNS or anything on your old host until you explicitly approve the switch.