How to Move From WordPress.com to WordPress.org

You built your site on WordPress.com and now you've hit the ceiling — limited plugins, forced ads, or a pricing plan that no longer makes sense. Moving to WordPress.org (self-hosted WordPress) gives you full control over your site, your plugins, and your data. The migration is not instant, but it is absolutely doable without a developer if you follow the right order of steps. This guide walks you through the entire process, from exporting your content to pointing your domain at your new host.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: The Key Difference

WordPress.com is a hosted service — Automattic runs the servers and controls what you can install. WordPress.org is the free, open-source software you download and run on your own hosting account. With WordPress.org you can install any plugin, any theme, and you own every byte of your data. The trade-off is that you are responsible for hosting, updates, and security.

Feature	WordPress.com (Free/Starter)	WordPress.org (Self-Hosted)
Plugin installs	Restricted or plan-locked	Unlimited
Theme customisation	Limited	Full access
Ads on your site	Shown on free plans	None unless you add them
Monthly cost	Free to ~$45/mo (Automattic plans)	Hosting cost only (~$5–$30/mo)
You own the data	Partial	Yes, completely

What You Need Before You Start

• A self-hosted WordPress.org hosting account, choose a host that offers one-click WordPress installation.
• Access to your WordPress.com dashboard (Tools > Export).
• Your domain name login credentials if you want to transfer or point your domain to the new host.
• About 30–60 minutes of uninterrupted time.

Step-by-Step: How to Move WordPress.com to WordPress.org

1. Export your content from WordPress.com. Log in to your WordPress.com dashboard. Go to Tools > Export. Choose "Export All" and download the .xml file to your computer. This file contains your posts, pages, comments, categories, and tags.
2. Set up WordPress.org on your new host. Log in to your hosting control panel (cPanel or equivalent) and use the one-click WordPress installer. Choose a temporary domain or subdomain for now, you will point your real domain later. Note the admin username and password it creates.
3. Log in to your new WordPress.org site. Go to yourdomain.com/wp-admin (or the temporary URL your host gave you) and sign in.
4. Install the WordPress Importer plugin. In your WordPress.org dashboard go to Plugins > Add New and search for WordPress Importer (published by WordPress.org). Install and activate it.
5. Run the importer. Go to Tools > Import, click "WordPress", then click "Run Importer". Upload the .xml file you downloaded in step 1. When prompted, choose to assign posts to an existing user or create a new one. Check the box to download and import file attachments so your images transfer across.
6. Rebuild your theme and menus. Your WordPress.com theme will not transfer automatically. Install a matching or new theme from Appearance > Themes, then rebuild your navigation menus under Appearance > Menus (or the Site Editor if using a block theme).
7. Recreate widgets and customisations. Any widgets, custom CSS, or homepage layouts need to be set up again on the new site. Take screenshots of your WordPress.com site before you start so you have a reference.
8. Install essential plugins. At minimum, add an SEO plugin (such as Yoast SEO or Rank Math), a security plugin, and a caching plugin for performance.
9. Test everything on the temporary URL. Check all pages, posts, images, forms, and links before you touch your live domain.
10. Point your domain to the new host. Log in to wherever your domain is registered and update the nameservers to your new host's nameservers (your host will provide these). DNS propagation takes up to 48 hours, though it is usually faster.
11. Update your WordPress.org site URL. Once DNS has propagated, go to Settings > General in your WordPress.org dashboard and confirm both the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) match your real domain.
12. Cancel or downgrade your WordPress.com plan. Once you have confirmed the new site is live and working, you can cancel your WordPress.com paid plan or let it lapse.

What the Importer Does Not Transfer

The WordPress.com export file covers posts, pages, comments, and basic metadata. It does not carry over your theme design, plugin settings, subscriber email lists, paid plan features, or any ecommerce orders. Plan to spend extra time rebuilding your homepage layout and any contact forms or opt-in integrations.

Prefer to Have Someone Do This For You?

Migrations go wrong most often at the DNS step or when images fail to import. If you would rather hand this off entirely, TheAppSense Managed WordPress Hosting includes a done-for-you migration service, we handle the export, import, theme setup, DNS cutover, and post-launch checks so you can focus on running your business.

Moving from WordPress.com to WordPress.org is a one-time process that pays off immediately in flexibility and control. Follow the steps in order, test on a temporary URL before touching your live domain, and keep your WordPress.com account active until you are certain everything is working. The whole migration typically takes under two hours for a small to medium site. Once you are on self-hosted WordPress, you have access to the full ecosystem of plugins, themes, and performance tools that WordPress.com simply cannot offer.

Will I lose my content when I move from WordPress.com to WordPress.org?

No, as long as you export your content from WordPress.com before you start and run the importer correctly on your new site. Posts, pages, comments, categories, and tags all transfer. Images transfer if you check the "download and import file attachments" option during the import step.

Do I need to buy a new domain for my WordPress.org site?

No. You can use the same domain you already have. If it is registered through WordPress.com, you either transfer it to a new registrar or update the nameservers to point to your new host. Updating nameservers is the simpler option and usually takes effect within a few hours.

How long does the WordPress.com to WordPress.org migration take?

The actual import and setup usually takes 1–2 hours for a small site. DNS propagation (pointing your domain to the new host) can take up to 48 hours, though it is often much faster. Plan for your site to be in a transitional state for up to two days.

Will my SEO rankings be affected by the move?

They can be if your URLs change. Try to keep your permalink structure identical on the new site. Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress.org dashboard and match the structure you used on WordPress.com. If any URLs do change, set up 301 redirects (permanent redirects) so search engines and visitors are sent to the correct new pages.

Can I move a WordPress.com site with an online store?

WordPress.com's ecommerce features are not directly exportable to WordPress.org. You will need to manually recreate your products and reconfigure payment settings using a plugin such as WooCommerce. Order history and customer accounts do not transfer automatically. For a store migration, consider getting professional support to avoid losing transaction data.

What happens to my WordPress.com subscribers and followers?

WordPress.com followers (people who follow your blog through WordPress.com's reader) are tied to the WordPress.com platform and do not transfer. Email subscribers collected through a third-party service like Mailchimp can be exported from that service and imported into your new email tool. This is one of the few things you genuinely cannot automate, reach out to your audience and let them know about your new site.